wolfie11

No ride share.  You might be able to rent a car if one is available at the local Avis.

Given the hundred plus excursions available it would be easier if you listed excursions you are interested in.  If you google the suspension bridge it will have photos that will help you determine if you can do it or not. It’s about 1/2 mile on boardwalks to the other side of the 200 foot bridge.  There are some stairs involved.

2 hours ago, donaldsc said:

 

We did an AK cruise this year that started on late April.  We had no problem w Glacier Bay.  Note to the OP - is your April cruise date a firm date and why did you pick that date?

 

DON

Likely it’s one of the very early, very cheap NCL cruises.  The ones with the bad weather and missed ports, and where most of the excursions haven’t started yet and a lot of the stores are closed.

1 hour ago, packedandready said:

We're doing the 8 hr train to Bennett Lake. Information says there will be a motorcoach (bus) back. Is there a better side to sit on the bus for better scenery? 

Left.  Better scenery and possible bears eating dandelions on that side.

1 hour ago, packedandready said:

Is there one side of the bus better for scenery than the other? 

Well, it’s out and back so no. 

Get an Air Press and make your own coffee.

Not just rain, but fall storms with high winds and waves.  Much higher chance of a missed port.

No bear spray on the ship. Bear encounters are rarer than people think.  Bears aren’t really that interested in people anyway.

1 hour ago, RocketMan275 said:

Did it ever occur to you that the people living in that port, many making their living from the cruise passengers, might actually prefer large numbers?  Did it ever occur to  you that those advocating for fewer visitors might be  a minority?

If they were a minority, the vote to limit cruise ships would never pass.  I would ask you to name me three ports where the majority of the inhabitants make their living off of cruise ship passengers.  Even in the Caribbean, the emphasis is on private islands, cruise ship shore excursions and shopping in cruise ship-owned stores.  Very few Alaskans depend on the cruise ships as a main source of income, nor do Europeans in the big cruise ports.  Many local business owners in Bar Harbor lose money when the town is flooded with cruisers. More is not better as far as many local residents are concerned.

14 minutes ago, Coral said:

The view on the train both ways is the same. That is why I think it is a good idea to do a train one way and van the other direction. The views are different.

 

I agree with @Vagabond Knight The views are stunning.

Lake Bennett is always on way on the train and bus/van the other.

2 minutes ago, JamesIowa said:

Now that is naive. Friend, that’s how the world works. NCL does not make these policies. Of course they try to influence them in their interest, do you live under a rock?

So you agree that NCL is a bully with only its bottom line as a standard of behavior.  While you firmly asserted a few posts above that it is totally the responsibility of the port to control its numbers through its people, policies, and laws, you have no problem with NCL roaring into town and spending millions of dollars to buy or influence people, subvert their laws, and overtax their infrastructure. 

Duplicate

6 hours ago, JamesIowa said:

The responsibility rests solely with the destination, its people, policies and law. 

That’s the most naive thing I’ve read in quite a while.  What do you think happens when a port town decides they want to limit ships?  When local citizens put together a petition to try and get ship limits on the ballot?  The cruise lines rush in, form political PAC’s, funnel millions into ads about how wonderful the cruise ships are and how much they love the locals.  They support politicians who support the cruise lines.  And if in spite of their efforts, a limit to the ship numbers actually passes, they bring in an army of lawyers and start filing lawsuits. If they can get away with it, they offer bribes to local officials to keep the cruise ships coming.  It took Venice 10 years to stop the cruise ships.  

You can walk into pretty much any bar in SE Alaska and get WiFi for the cost of a beer or coke.  Your cellular plan should work in the ports. ATT is the best.  You may have to move around to find a good line to a cell tower and it can be slow when 20,000 cruisers are in port with you.

1 hour ago, MtnSeaGirl said:

Did you do the Tundra Tour ?  

Shuttle bus.  It goes the same distance but it’s not an official tour.  Cost is $33.

I went two days ago and it was amazing as always.  We saw moose, caribou, dall sheep, a bear, a porcupine, ptarmigan, and Arctic ground squirrels.  The weather was nice and the mountain was out.  Yes, it’s disappointing to not be able to go all the way in, but it’s still “worth it” to me.  The road probably won’t be fixed until 2027 or later.  The permafrost is thawing everywhere and there are more problems than just Pretty Rocks.  If you want to wait 4 or 5 or 10 years for it to be “worth it” that’s fine, but I’ll still go every chance I get.

The maple-glazed bacon in Razzle Dazzle is very, very dangerous!!! I also love their avocado toast and the buckwheat French toast.  I go to the taco place in the galley for muffin, egg, and hollandaise sauce and then down to the end for bacon or ham to go with it.  The fruit bento boxes are good, and there’s a great assortment of yogurts, muesli, parfaits, chia seed, and other healthy options.

2 hours ago, Brandis said:

Do you mean too early season-wise or the start time of the tour?

DNHT started May 12, TWT started May 20.

2 hours ago, greeneme said:

We're planning the 8 hr Chilkoot Bennett Scenic Journey in August and considering the bus first.

How would that choice be as compared to the train first? Does it even matter much?

I don’t think it matters much.  I prefer the train first as it’s the first train out in the morning.

13 minutes ago, lahlah57 said:

Yes....alot of work no meat! All it does is make me mad!

Sorry but I maintain that fresh, local Dungeness crab is far superior to the frozen king crab caught several months earlier.  Most of the king crab currently offered for sale to tourists in Alaska is not even from Alaska.  Previously it has come from Russia, but that source has been banned, so it will likely be from South America. If you’re thrilled by the idea of coming to Alaska and paying $100 for a leg or two of frozen, foreign crab, go right ahead.  It leaves more of that delicious Dungeness for the locals at much cheaper prices.

27 minutes ago, The Traveling Man said:

NCL is an American corporation, listed on the NYSE as NCLH.  Its corporate headquarters is located in Miami.  It owns ships which are registered in a country other than the USA.  It also is the only major cruise line which owns and operates a ship which is US flagged and registered.  I'm not an attorney, nor do I play one on TV, but I imagine a clever enough lawyer could find a way to bring NCL to court in the USA.

Wrong.  They are incorporated in Bermuda and domiciled in the US.  Huge difference.

16 hours ago, zabs said:

I think it depends on your age. We are in our 60s and long time Celebrity cruisers. Tried Virgin this past winter and didn’t care for it at all. The ship’s design is very contemporary which we did not find to be comfortable in terms of public seating as well as the furniture in our cabin. You must wear a wristband at all times and the software required to make reservations for shows and activities 

was not reliable. The food was wonderful but navigating the reservation system for the restaurants was frustrating. We found the evening entertainment to be repetitive over the course of 7 days. At the risk of turning some people off I have to be honest and say I wasn’t happy that (most) of the public restrooms were gender neutral. Just not our cup of tea. 

. 

It has nothing to do with age.  It’s about attitude.  If you’re hung up on your elite status and your privileges or expect the staff to kowtow and call you sir or ma’am, this is not a cruise for you. If you want to let loose and have fun, don’t mind a little risqué, and are open minded, you’ll love it!

3 hours ago, DarrenM said:

Great stuff on the music front.

 

Anyone playing their own stuff works for me. Can always respect that.

 

Tribute acts I can do without.

 

Looks like I might need to add another 300 dollars to the tab.

 

We easily downed more than 10 cocktails between us last week. so theres 130 dollars a day straight away. Thats without the coffees, and the beers and the whiskies at the end of the night.

There were no tribute shows on my recent Virgin cruise.  I loved all the shows (I haven’t been to a show on a big box cruise line in years) and the music in the lounges was great!  

If you want free crab, sail Viking.  They have it available every night.

13 hours ago, ColdCruise said:

I wonder if the proclivity to change ports frequently and often after final payment would be of interest to some Attorneys General or as class action for violating truth in advertising laws or other laws against bait and switch tactics?

 

people seem to sue over all kinds of stuff most people just shrug off…latest one I read about was a class action suing Reeses because the actual Reese’s bats and pumpkins don’t look like the drawings on the wrappers 

 

Or the federal government which I recall reading is going to force airlines, hotels,resorts and other travel related businesses to disclose all their fees in the up front pricing rather than lure you in with a low price, then add the fees and taxes at checkout?

NCL is a foreign corporation operating foreign-flagged vessels.  It’s difficult to sue them in the US as they full well meant it to be when they set up it up.