MauiMomma4

Was there a review done for this trip?

We picked up 7504 which is another variation of the same room for our Alaskan cruise in 2015. Looking forward to a bit of extra space. :)

I'm looking at 7504 for our 2016 cruise...can't wait! Do you have pictures? What'd you think?

TIA - MauiMomma

I was just there last week and the Nugget Falls trail was closed due to flooding. I was really looking forward to that. Don't know how often that happens, but since it was closed,, and cold and raining, we spent only about 45 minutes at the glacier. We did not use the shuttle tho, we rented a car for the day.

We are debating getting a rental car for this port, what else did you do that you might not have without a car?

I'm curious to find out how it went!

Our trip isn't until next June/July but I'm so glad I started the planning process early. So much to see and do that's it's hard to narrow down the choices. I may still change my mind about some activities...we shall see! In any case, I'm certain that whatever we end up doing, it'll be awesome and exciting. 😊

Loved your review and am a little sad that I've reached the end of the novel. I can't wait for my family trip next July!

Would love a picture of FOV 8000 if you've made friends with them!

Thank you for sharing your journal. What a lovely mom/daughter trip - so far, sounds like you both had a fabulous time! Love the detail in your novel - can't wait for the rest!

Wonderful - thanks for sharing the link!

Would love copies as well! Is it downloadable?

Day #4 / Icy Straits / June 15th

In Port 9:00a.m.- 6:00p.m.

 

 

- Majorie dropped us off in town at the local bar. We were hoping that some lucky crabber had brought in some dungees crab that just opened that morning as we heard the bar cooks them up right outside , but I guess they wouldn't be in until the next day. Dang 1 day early.

Do you recall the name of the bar? Fresh caught crabs sound fabulous!

Great review, thank you for taking the time to post!

My little boy has his heart set on a train ride. We've decided that we'll stick with the plan of getting a rental car in Skagway, and try to fit the train ride in at the tail end of the trip. We'll have a rental car in Seward and a rental in Anchorage. I figure that we'll have the time and cars to backtrack a little if we catch the train from Seward into Anchorage on Saturday evening.

I sure hope it's doable.

Any advice about changing the order of activities that I had previously mentioned once I add this train ride in?

Also...looking at the train ride - is the huge price difference between Adventure class and Gold class really worth it? My understanding is that even in Adventure class, you'll have access to a 2nd floor dome but no reserved seating in this class.

Thanks for your input!

When is this trip? For "snow" you've got to look at being there before early June.

 

 

 

I'm assuming you are planning a car rental, a van may be difficult to obtain, so get that firmed up first before you think of solid plans.

 

 

 

There is no "time" to recommend. These activities can involve wide ranges. I instead suggest you just remain open and do the activities based on the priority interests, then add the lessor activities if you have time. It's a mistake, to "schedule" open ended activities with a group, in my opinion. You also have missed several, possible interesting stops, that may change your current ideas, especially with you mentioning it's a "long way away".

 

 

 

Your current "Saturday", allows only short times at three activities, and a 2 hour drive. Seavey's is a fixed time. "Sunday" is skimpy- for clarification- it's Crow Creek Mine, plenty of open time that may be beneficial to have stayed in Seward until this morning?

 

 

 

Your last day- I'm assuming you are considering a guided Matanuska glacier hike? I would schedule that in the am, allow 4 hours, then the open afternoon allows varied options.

 

 

 

Again, in my opinion, there is no need to firm things up at this point. You are touring a limited area. You could double book a hotel, if you can't decide staying in Girdwood or Seward, but your other days, would be fixed.

We'll be there the first week of July in 2016. Someone suggested Hatchers Pass as possibility of seeing snow, but I guess weather varies by season and year. If there's no snow, I'm sure it'll still be beautiful views!

Is it not possible to go up the Matanuska glacier, or the state park there, on your own? Is a guide required?

Thank you all for the excellent suggestions! Sounds like public transportation in Vancouver is much more accessible and reliable than other places we've been. Any money that we can save on transportation means more activities or better food!

I so appreciate all of your help! I'm sure as we get closer to travel I'll more questions but at least now I've got a better handle on it and feel less overwhelmed.

Thanks xlxo - great tips! How much time would you allocate for the locations on day 2?

Thanks AKStafford! How much time would you allocate for each location?

Aloha! We finish our cruise in Seward at 5am on a Friday, and plan to return home on Tuesday. Haven't booked our flights yet, but my best guess based on flight schedules this year is that it'll most likely be an early AM flight Tuesday morning - which leaves me with 4 days of post-cruise exploring.

Hubby and I are travelling with the kiddos ages 9, 11, 13, & 19. None of us have been to Alaska, and will be excited at every new experience. Some of the things I've got on the list, so far, include:

Kenai Fjords cruise (looking at the 9 hour one, but worried that it might be too long?)

Seward SeaLife Center

Exit Glacier

Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Seavey's Ididaride Dog Sled

Hatcher's Pass (hoping for some snow)

Kinkaid Park (hoping for a moose sighting)

I know it's totally subjective, but how long would you allocate for each stop? As a rough (really, really rough) plan:

Friday: Disembark, Kenai Fjords tour, spend the night in Seward

Saturday: SeaLife Center, Exit Glacier, Seavey's Ididaride Dog Cart Tour, possibly spend the night in Girdwood

Sunday: Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Gold Creek Mine, spend the night in Anchorage

Monday: Kinkaid Park (skip if we've seen enough moose...), Hatcher's Pass, Matanuska Glacier, spend the night in Anchorage

Tuesday: Fly out

Suggestions from those in the know - too much? too little? If you were playing tour guide for our family - what would you do?

I appreciate the help - I know it's a long way away, but I've heard that you've got to book things super early for Alaska!

Thank you...:)

Aloha! We'll be in Vancouver in July 2016, prior to our Alaska cruise. Hubby and I will be travelling with our kids, ages 9, 11, 12, & 19. I'd like some feedback - am I trying to fit in too much, or can I squeeze more in? Any suggestions?

Looking at flight schedules this year, my best guess is that we'll arrive mid-morning (10ish) on a Wednesday for a cruise that departs on Friday (sail away is 4:30p).

Wed: Gaslamp district and Granville Island

Thur: Grouse Mountain, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Salmon Hatchery

Fri: Explore Stanley Park

I haven't booked a hotel or car yet, but I'm guessing that renting a van will be cheaper than paying individual fares on public transport?

Thanks for the help!

Thanks so much for the tips so far. Taking lots of notes so I can look into it more.

Kids are B8, G10, B12, G18 & G18.

Any suggestions on shore excursions you think they'd enjoy would be welcome. I know some people are totally against cheesy touristy activities, but we think they can be fun and are open to it. We were looking at panning for gold, a lumberjack show, and checking out snow dogs at an Iditarod camp.

Sorry if these are silly questions...but a momma's gotta do what she's gotta do to make all the kiddies wishes come true. :) I know we've still got a loooooong wait for this trip, but it's never too early to start planning when you've got 7 people to juggle and you've been talking about this trip for YEARS.

I realize that there will be snow on the mountains, and obviously, a lot of ice and glaciers as we take our cruise to Alaska - but the only thing on my daughter's wish list right now is to get to play in some snow. Living in Hawaii, it rarely snows, and we've never had the chance to take her to the top of the mountain when it does.

We'll be doing the Northbound cruise from Vancouver to Seward, stopping in Ketchikan, Icy Strait, Juneau, and Skagway. We'll be arriving in Vancouver a few days early and touring around Seward/Anchorage for 3-4 days post-cruise. Is there anywhere that we can take her to play in some snow?

And...where would be the best place to see a moose? That's at the top of the little boys wish list. Are there any tours that you can recommend that's geared towards viewing some wildlife?

I appreciate your help!

From what I have read, you have to be checked in and on board two hours before you are to leave. I would believe it is the same for the Spirit as it is for the Jade...:cool:

Thank you!

Check-in opens at 12:00 pm, but we don't leave the port until 1:00 am.

I'm trying to maximize my time in Venice, and don't want to spend any unnecessary time on the ship. I understand that if you check in this early, you can leave the ship and come back. But what's the latest that you can check in?

Are there any benefits to checking in earlier in the day?