Cruise to Alaska?

[kajamelu4]

Anyone been on a cruise to Alaska? What cruise line? Problems? What should we not miss? Did you add a land tour also, or just the water part?What's the most casual line? (We don't care anything about dressing up. T-shirts and jeans are our way of life.) My hubby has agreed to take us on one, now just got to decide which one. And quickly. I have heard they really fill up fast. Any thoughts??

[JunkMan]

We took a Princess cruise a couple of years ago. Had a great time. Went one way from Vancouver up to Anchorage and spent a few days sightseeing in Vancouver before the cruise and also in Anchorage before flying back home.

The boat was very laid back. There was one Formal night for dinner, but you had other eating options if you didn't want to dress up. We have also been on Carnival Cruises, which are very laid back, and good ships too.

Our ship went into Glacier Bay, only 2 ships are allowed into Glacier bay each day, so most cruises visit other bays. Don't know how much better Glacier Bay is compared to others, but it is one of the reasons that we chose our particular cruise.

If I remember right, the best deals were in February. Although the boats do fill up, people really don't seem to start booking until after the first of the year.

We took one of the cheapest cabins, figuring that we wouldn't spend much time there anyways, and the rest of the package is the same. The cabins are all basically the same, you just pay a lot more for the location and if it has a window or not. We didn't mind walking a little further to get back to our cabin, and when we wanted to watch the scenery we went to one of the public areas.

[TRAIL-OF-TEARS]

I have never been on an Alaskan cruise but my parents just got back from one they liked it but said it was very rough, most days they had to spend in the cabin or the casino. We have been on two Caribbean cruises the first on Carnival it was a wonderful 7 day cruise. We were in the middle of the ship on the 3rd deck we had ocean view but rarely opened the curtains because the window was always covered with spray while traveling so you could not see anything. The cabins were very large and the bathroom was huge you could have put three people in the shower. This last cruise was a 5 day on Royal Caribbean aboard the Empress of the Sea, the little boat. I was glad when it was over. The cabin was 7’ wide and 12’ deep that is with a bathroom and a closet, you had to go outside to change your mind. You had to get out of the shower to soap up then get back in to rinse off. We were on the 9th deck the only thing above us was the night club. The club would start up at 10:00pm and shut down at 3:00-3:30am I know this because I could hear it perfectly. On both cruises we caught up with tropical storms on the return trip, being in the middle of the ship and at the lower level was much smoother. I would agree with Junkman the less expensive cabins are just fine, they might even be better. The RC cruise was twice the price of the Carnival go figure. I would try to get a room away from the clubs and the engine if you can. I am not bad mouthing RC as a whole (my parents love that cruise line) I just did not like that ship.

[purplepickup]

We took a two week tour to Alaska thru Princess too. We flew to Anchorage where we spent two days then got on a train with the domed windows that went to Fairbanks. The train only went about 25 mph so we could see lots of wildlife and scenery. We stopped at Mt McKinley for the night at a very nice log lodge then on to Fairbanks the next day. We stayed at Fairbanks for a couple of days where we went on a paddlewheel riverboat ride on the Chena and Tanana Rivers. The riverboat stopped to visit an Athabascan Indian village showing traditional native shelters & lifestyles, and stopped to meet Susan Butcher and her famous Iditarod sled dog team. While going down the river we watched bush pilots take off and land, and there were native fish wheels to catch salmon all along the shoreline. While in Fairbanks we also visited the University of Fairbanks which has a neat natural history museum and the campus has lots of native stuff like totems, etc. Somewhere there we did a whitewater rafting trip too.

Then we flew back to Anchorage and got on a cruise ship that took the inside passage back to Vancouver. Along the way we went thru college fjiord, glacier bay,......stopped at Skagway, Haines, Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan. At each of the stops there were a number of things we could do if we wanted, like helicopter rides onto glaciers, sea plane rides back into the bush, ....almost anything you could think of. I went salmon fishing in Juneau and caught some huge king salmons that I had smoked and sent home. We did a lot more than I've mentioned. Every day was full but comfortable. Lodging was always very nice and they had more food than you could possibly eat everywhere we went.

I don't know if they offer that same package anymore but it was definitely a trip of a lifetime. We went as a family....my brother and his wife, and my mom and dad. Dad died shortly after that but before he did he made some narrated videos that are done well enough to pass for professional travel videos. In fact a local access vision TV station had them on as a documentary. Dad was real proud.

If you are thinking of going I would highly recommend it. Hopefully others here will give you some more tips. Alaska is a big place and we only touched a small part of it, but it sure was worth it.

[alaska teardrop]

Kajamelu4 - When and for how much time are you coming to Alaska? I've never traveled on a cruise ship, but I have taken the Alaska Marine Ferry from Bellingham, Wa. to Haines, Ak. www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs . The prices were just recently reduced 30%. If you take your teardrop, you can schedual to get off and on a latter ferry. For instance, camp in Junaeu, take a small boat tour of Glacier Bay and continue on another ferry. You can,t stay in your trailer while underway (it's down on the car deck), however, you can camp out on deck, stay in a sleeping lounge or rent a cabin. Or any combination that fits your schedual. Good food and drink on board or bring your own. When you get to Haines, you're hooked up to all the connected roads in Alaska. Now that's casual and a very special trip. Be sure to come by. Fred - the worlds' farthest North teardrop builder.

[Chris C]

George,

You've just described the trip of my dreams. Hope to do that someday. I'd also like to do so teardrop traveling up there some day. Oh well, I'd have to find someone to stay home and make money to pay the bills while away.

[madjack]

AT...when you say "all connected roads" do you include the AlCan in that ...if so a tear camping trip as you described and then back down the AlCan....man that would be a trip worth.....priceless
madjack

[ssrjim]

Anyone been on a cruise to Alaska? What cruise line? Problems? What should we not miss? Did you add a land tour also, or just the water part?What's the most casual line? (We don't care anything about dressing up. T-shirts and jeans are our way of life.) My hubby has agreed to take us on one, now just got to decide which one. And quickly. I have heard they really fill up fast. Any thoughts??

We did NCL in early June, had a great time. No rough water and it was freestyle cruise. Means no assigned seating or times and no cothing requirments. We went into G. Bay as well and got very close to the ice. If you are interested here is a link to my photos:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLandin ... share&Ux=1

Be sure to click the Browse all 6 albums button or you will only see Victoria.

[alaska teardrop]

Madjack, Yes. From Haines the Haines Highway, #7, follows the Chilkat and Klehini Rivers to the Yukon border. The Haines Cut-Off Highway, #3, takes you to the AlCan , #1, at Haines Junction. All good road even in winter. East to Whitehorse and America or West to Alaska on the AlCan. Of course, the trip could be made in reverse - wind down on the boat. Let me know when you're comin' - room to camp in my woods. So, on the subject Mad man, I've been thinkin' about a "Top of the World Teardrop Gathering" in Deadhorse for those up to the challange. What do you think? Fred - the worlds' farthest North teardrop builder.

[madjack]

...like Costner, in "Field of Dreams", build it and they will come.
On such a trip, a tear would be the ideal way to do it and such a trip would be a dream trip for many and it would certainly be a challenge. You would have to start talking it up and planning well in advance...like for summer '07, to give everyone, who might want to take up the challenge, plenty of time to plan in advance and block out the time to do it(how far is it from Seattle to Deadhorse)
You could look at the plans(ongoing) for Pamplin '06 as a guide to your planning and have a couple of get togethers for the Alaska folks just to get your feet(hands too) warm and to get an idea of the problems involved in planning such a get together.
One thing we all seem to be good at is dreamin' and schemin'
madjack

p.s. ...the thought is mind boggling...a convoy of tears up the AlCan...man, what a trip that would be

[kajamelu4]

Thanks for all of the replies! It sounds like a wonderful thing to do. No teardrop on this trip however, since 5 kids will be along. I would love to be able to just pull out, and drive where ever my heart desires. See everything and anything.
Just came back from Carlsbad Caverns. Went to Roswell on the way home. And then by the Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo. Watched a guy try to eat the 72 oz. steak at the Big Texan. My kids love the cheesy tourist stuff. (Wonder where they get that????)

Perhaps one of these years, when the kids are older, maybe I can drive up north. Never been farther than South Dakota. Oh well........dreaming, dreaming, .............

[alaska teardrop]

Kajamelu4, Keep on dreamin'. As the new trailer plates say "Alaska b4udie" or "Alaska b4itmelts" or how about "Alaska b4urtdrops".

[JunkMan]

I've been thinkin' about a "Top of the World Teardrop Gathering" in Deadhorse for those up to the challange. What do you think? Fred - the worlds' farthest North teardrop builder.

Sounds great! I did the AlCan on a Harley in 1992 to celebrate the AlCan's 50th anniv and included Anchorage, Homer, and Dawson City, Yukon in our tour. Really want to take the wife up the AlCan (did it with a Harley buddy last time), although we are thinking of pulling our 5th wheel this time, since we would probably take at least a month to do it (did it in 28 days on the Harley).

[mincey]

Our Alaskan cruise was similar to George's. But we went the opposite direction. We cruised Holland America and loved it! This was our first cruise, and it was also our wedding and honeymoon. My mom and stepdad joined us, not only for our wedding but it was also their 10th anniversary. We sailed on the msVeendam last Aug 2004 from Vancouver to Seward, and continued on land from Anchorage to Denali and ending in Fairbanks. On the cruise we stopped at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, and cruised Glacier Bay. Since it was our honeymoon, we sprung for a veranda cabin and it was worth it or us. The crew on Holland America is a Polynesian crew and they were fabulous. There were only two formal nights in the dining room, but there are other good dining option if you don't want to dress up. The rest of the nights are casual. In general, Alaskan cruises are more informal overall. We wore jeans most of the time on the ship.

When we were docked in Juneau, after getting our nuptial outfits on, we were taken by limo to the vital statistics office to get our marriage license. Then we went to the airport and that is where our flowers were waiting. We donned snow boots, then got on a helicopter, and were flown over the Juneau ice fields, and landed on top of Herbert Glacier. We got out, and that is where our wedding ceremony took place. It was so awesome!

I would definitely recommend taking an Alaskan cruise, and would highly recommend Holland America, especially if you don't like crowded ships and want lots of deck space. The land tour was worth it too. While in Denali we took a day long trip 60 miles into Denali, and saw all kinds of wildlife and a gorgeous view of Mt. McKinley. My mom had cruised Princess in the Carribean and Mediterranean before, but she was very impressed with Holland America.

Best of luck!!

Cheryl

PS. I haven't posted all our photos yet, but the wedding ones have been put online. Go to http://www.kodakgallery.com/mincey and scroll down until you see the wedding album and click on that. Enjoy!

[Guest]

Two years ago we took the Princess Cruise. However we flew into Fairbanks, and took the train from there to Anchorage. We stopped at Denali for a day and had a great time. From Anchorage to Seward was by bus. I found that most of the tour guides on the land side of the trip were retired school teachers (four out of five). Other than some repair issues on the train the whole 11 day trip was just fabulous. My wife and I are contemplating taking the trip again for our 30th anniversary.

Regardless of which cruise line you take, plan as many of your side trips ahead of time as you can. They fill up fast.

Bring a good pair of binoculars. They sell them on the ships, but they cost way too much.

Bring warm clothes. It does get cold in Glacier Bay and College Fiord.

Have lots of fun.