Best Alaska Cruise Planning

Hard-Deck · 03-12-2009, 07:48 PM

Thanks upfront for any replies from you all.

Previously we were planning a Hawaii vacation. We're now set on planning an Alaskan cruise out of Seattle. SHMBO wants to treat me for a cruise for my recent promotion.

Best deals? Would it be through the cruiselines themselves, a travel agent, or for you Vets or those in the know, ITT on base/post?

LakeCleElum · 03-12-2009, 09:45 PM

I live in the Seattle area and had many friends fly in for the cruise. I also worked a summer in Alaska on a fishing boat.

Your biggest concern should be weather. Try to plan on July, Aug or Sept and then plan for many cloudy days and some rain. Other months, lots of rain. Don't pay for parking while you are on the cruise, it will be expensive. If you fly in-out, downtown Seattle hotels can be expensive. A cab ride to/from the airport is not that bad, it's less than 10 miles. The cruise ship docks are right near the downtown area.....

Basically, don't go for the weather, go for the scenery - I wasn't that impressed, but some seem to like it........

Laneco · 05:41 AM

Look into a fall trip, which in Alaska is the end of August, early September. Get into Anchorage, then head up to Denali. It's about 4-5 hours in a motor-coach to get to Denali and a little slower on the train. This transportation is available through most cruise lines as an "in-land" excursion.

When you get to Denali, head out in one of the buses through the park. It's the only way you can get deep into the park. Arrange a night's stay in Kantishna. A bus can take you through the park at a leisurely wildlife viewing speed to Kantishna (about 90 miles in). For best wild-life viewing, hop a morning bus. The lodge there has good food. Spend some time hiking and enjoying Wonder Lake. You also get good views of the mountain (Denali) from there. If you want to bring or rent a bicycle, you can use the camper buses to go into the park. They will drop you off wherever you want but you must keep bicycles on the road (dirt road). You can also flag down any camper bus and get a ride back the other way if space is available, should you choose to end your ride early.

There are other side trip adventures as well. Rafting, obviously hiking, bike tours and helicopter tours come to mind. My company operates the park in conjunction with the native peoples, most notably the Doyon tribe. Even that late in the year, it is daylight until 10 or 10:30pm and light again very early (4:30 or so if I recall correctly).

Everything that Alaska is promised to be - it is. This is wide open, wild country. It is a place for the adventurous of spirit. I spent two weeks last fall working up there and will be back up at the park for a month in May. I'm not just looking forward to it, I actually dream about going back...

angela

Moses · 03-13-2009, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laneco

I'm not just looking forward to it, I actually dream about going back...

angela

There are only a few places that I feel physically/spiritually drawn to. Alaska is one. It would be difficult if not impossible to experience Alaska from a cruise ship and harbor towns. You need to hike over the tundra and feel it's softness under your feet. You need to spend some time on a river. You'll think you're in a wildlife park. Alaska is spectacular, but you need no get out and touch it to appreciate it. I would highly recommend a week long rafting trip.

Open tundra in Katmai.

Dueller · 03-13-2009, 06:24 AM

I'll agree with Moses on this. I understand you may have time constraints, but a cruise is not the way I would want to experience AK. If you're adventuresome the rafting trip is a plan.

A few years ago ex-g/f and I took the inside passage from Belingham all the way up. She had driven her ratty old Isuzu Trooper from Miss to Seattle. I flew up and met her. We loaded onto the ferry and at the end of the line we offloaded and went north on the ALCan, looped over to the Denali Highway, then back down to the Kenai Peninsula and finished off in Anchorage. Sold the trooper and paid for our flight home plus a good part of our trip. Took about 3-4 weeks, but we just drifted off the beaten path as we saw fit. Camped some; stayed in cabins/guest houses some. Wonderful experience.

August/September seems to be the best time to go....Contrary to popular belief, AK has 4 distinct seasons: Winter, July, August and September.u

onewhippedpuppy · 03-13-2009, 06:43 AM

Pretty much my dream vacation. If I had to make a list of places to go, Alaska is #1. Take lots of pictures.

sammyg2 · 03-13-2009, 07:10 AM

Take lots and lots of money and industrial strength mosquito repellent.
And lots of money. $8 for a regular cup of coffee type of money.

MRM · 03-13-2009, 07:58 AM

My wife got us to go on one last summer. We really liked it and learned a lot. We went out of Vancouver and spent a long weekend there before sailing on Sunday. The two vacation experiences in one were really great.

Weather is an issue. Summer is the best time to go, of course. We went in late August. We were told that the early summer when the sun really is up almost 24 hours a day is better, but I like Vancouver in August. I always thought the best week to go to that part of the world it the last week of July/first week of August. When you hit nice warm weather up there, you'd never believe it wasn't always like that. It really is incredible.

As for the cruise, there are two types of Alaska cruises. The first covers the southern cities. We took that one and visted Ketchikan, Juneau and Sitka. All were outstanding. We also spent a day cruising through the glaciers. It was really cool.

The really wild stuff is best seen in the cruises that take you farther north. The ultimate is to take a two week cruise that takes you one week on the boat, and then the second week over land to the Denali national park by train and then all over the land. Some day we'll do that one.

Even on the cruise we went on we were able to see very wild stuff just by going to the local cab stand and asking a cabbie to take us somewhere fun. We got to see more and better stuff than anyone did on the packaged tours for a fraction of the cost.

When you choose a boat and room, go out of your way to get a nice boat, you'll really appreciate the extra boat amenities, but you dont have to get a room with a balcony. If you have the bucks to burn, a suite in the front of the boat is best for viewing, but it realy isn't necessary.

There are rooms that don't have windows, and you should avoid them. The next level up from that are outside cabins that have tiny little windows. Avoid them too. They really aren't much better than no window. The next step up from there is a cabin with a large fixed window that is almost as large as the outside wall. That is the room to get. It gives you the impression that you are looking through a closed patio door, and you don't really want to sit outside on a deck anyway, because it will get cold at night. The large window rooms are really the best bang for the buck by far.

The cruise industry is really hurting now, so go to vacationstogo.com for reduced cruise price packages. You'll be amazed at the options. It's probably nothing a travel agent can't get for you, but you're in more control and see the selection better.

varmint · 03-13-2009, 08:23 AM

do you want to go on a cruise or do you want to go to alaska? they are very different things. the people on packaged tours looked herded like cattle.

i rode up last time. next time i'll probably fly and ship the bike. there are many options from renting a bmw gs to a full on rv.

Hard-Deck · 03-13-2009, 08:47 AM

All,

Thanks for your input and advice. Your points have been well taken and we've adjusted to giving ourselves more time to plan this right.

To answer Varmint's Q, and the sense from others; we do love to sail....our own boat because we're sailors. The trip to Alaska is not meant to be herded like sheep, but it's to experience Alaska.

So.....we're going to drop back 10 yards, plan for getting to Alaska and experiencing it the right way.

Years ago when I was a military pilot I flew over Alaska and I swear I flew over land for hours that had not been walked on by man. I've told many people that if I were ever AWOL, start searching in AK.

Much appreciation to all of you.

Snapper

Seahawk · 03-13-2009, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moses

I would highly recommend a week long rafting trip.

Not to hijack, but the right rafting trip on the right river is one of the best experiences anyone can have.

When I was a white water guide in the late 70's, early 80's one of my favorite late season trips was a five day float we had on the lower Kalamath River, downstream from Happy Camp, Ca.

In those days the clientele was an interesting mix, with lots of high profile folks. The first day on the river everyone was still checking their watches, looking for something to DO...and lots of questions: how far have we gone, when's lunch, how far to the put in for tonight, etc.

By the end of the second day it gets a lot less involved with the customers.

By the end of the third day everyone is on river time.

I highly recommend it. The best groups, btw, were the fishermen and women since the lower Kalamath is not a rough white water experience and they were there to fish. I learned a lot.

Anyway, enjoy your trip!

varmint · 03-13-2009, 08:51 AM

didn't realize you had a boat. can't imagine a more ideal way to go. i remember the harbors at homer and seward having a few private sailboats.

get a book called "milepost" off amazon.

Hard-Deck · 03-13-2009, 08:54 AM

Varmint,

Oh...maybe I misspoke into confusion. We do have a sailboat, but we will not be taking it to Alaska on this trip, we'll fly, or possibly drive.

ONE DAY we'll sail up there, but that'll require much more time and planning and it'll be worth all of it for sure.

For now, our 10 day trips in our boat to the San Juans are the cat's ass.

I'm looking up 'Milepost' now.

Snapper

Seahawk · 03-13-2009, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snapper33

Years ago when I was a military pilot I flew over Alaska and I swear I flew over land for hours that had not been walked on by man. I've told many people that if I were ever AWOL, start searching in AK.

We'll have to compare notes some day. I flew in a flight of five Blackhawk helos from Connecticut to Alaska, delivering them from the factory to the Alaskan National Guard.

We were a LOT lower than you, and slower, but the scenery was better

varmint · 03-13-2009, 09:03 AM

milepost is the size of a big city phone book. it is a mile by mile listing of every gas station, hotel, scenic vista, tourist trap, national park, fishing spot, hunting regulation, restaurant, taxidermist, gold panning stream, etc. updated every year.

if you're in skagway, and need a guitar string, look to milepost. it is that detailed.

Hard-Deck · 03-13-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahawk

.... but the scenery was better

Absolutely no doubt to that brother. Even if I flew NOE it's a survival game, not a sightseeing tour like Helo drivers get. Someday I'm gonna' buy a Tripacer and see things I've missed.

Hard-Deck · 03-13-2009, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by varmint

milepost is the size of a big city phone book. it is a mile by mile listing of every gas station, hotel, scenic vista, tourist trap, national park, fishing spot, hunting regulation, restaurant, taxidermist, gold panning stream, etc. updated every year.

if you're in skagway, and need a guitar string, look to milepost. it is that detailed.

And, for $20 bucks, it's one of the best book deals out there. Thanks for the tip.