jennat

Nana57.....it is stressful to figure out what to wear.

I brought a fleece jacket, it was very light weight but warm. I also brought a light pair of gloves, a hat and a scarf. I used them all. Mostly from the wind on open decks. It was all I needed. We did have a nice week though. The sun was warm.

Fireflymd....thank you so much for your kind words. I'm glad you enjoyed it.:D

Kings girl...funny....whoop there it is!

EMED2010....you won't regret it....and definately do the bears in Katmai (even though right now you are thinking "oh h*ll no" Best experience ever. Loved the ATVs too.

Great, great trip!

Redhead621 - thanks

JimAOk1945 - thanks for sharing. Awesome pictures. I loved the ones of the whale (tail).

WOW! What a great review!

Thanks so much. It was fun to go and also fun to relive in the review!

Jen,

I posted the above, before I started to really read your review. It was amazing, and the pictures, WOW. When you stare "open mouthed" at a picture, I can only imagine what seeing that same view in person, must be like. It's a trip you'll remember forever, and thanks so much for taking us along. :D:

It was amazing and is still my favorite trip we have taken. Definitely go if you haven't already!

Wow, some review, almost 85,000 views :eek::eek::eek:

I know, crazy right???

It was an awesome trip!

Awwww, Thanks so much. We didn't take a cruise this year but rather did land based vacations. We went to the BVI and just got back last night from Atlantis on Nassau.

Hopefully we will cruise again next year.

mwwaaaa!

Truthfully, I would say, yes. I can't remember specifically but it was a MUCH more casual cruise. Like I said, I wore jeans and tennies and I NEVER do.

Look at some of the pics of people to get an idea. I can't even remember what pics I posted but it is really casual for a cruise.

Anyone going this summer, be sure and post a link to your reviews, or atleast let me know how it went and if you did any of the same things I did.

Have a great one!

As far as I can remember, yes it was warm. Stepping out on the veranda in the evening, not so much. Remember people dress very differently so you are in jeans, tennis shoes, etc. as difficult as that is to imagine.

klingeroncruiser - thanks!

Jen:

 

This is the second time I've read your review. I think it will live on forever on these boards! Thanks for taking the time to post it. I only wish I could figure out how to post photos from Photobucket on these boards. Ugh!

 

Can you provide some more information on the Copper Whale B&B? I saw the pics, but there wasn't a lot of commentary.

 

Thanks in advance.

The Copper Whale B& B was fine. There was only either metered parking or a garage a couple blocks down. The rooms were adequate.....There was absolutely nothing to complain about and I don't think they could do anything to improve upon what was there. The grounds were well attended and the rooms were clean and nice. That being said, for whatever reason, it didn't blow me away. I can't say why. Would we stay there again, absolutely but more likely, we would look for somewhere else. Like I said, no reason at all.

I know this probably doesn't help at all. It was located about 4 or 5 blocks from the main area of downtown. Very walkable.....

Thanks for the nice comments :D

Jen! OMG. Ok, so I read this when you posted it (pre Oasis) and then I died laughing when you posted our Oasis trip. Hilarious, both of them.

 

And, now?

 

WE'VE BOOKED THE SAME TRIP!

 

Ok, so it's a year and a couple of weeks later. And with our family instead of you. But still, this is going to be HUGE in planning.

 

Thank you. Thank you. THANK YOU!

 

P.S. I showed my daughter (Lauren) the post-trip bear excursion and she is BEGGING me to do it. BEGGING ME. As in "we can leave Dad/Mason and they can parasail (um Alaska?) but you and I ARE GOING!".

 

After we went through the photos and I shut down last night I realized I didn't even know WHERE that was. LOL. Going back to check. So utterly excited. Only 471 days to goooooo

Funny how things work. you will love this trip. I have said it before and I will say it again, favorite trip of all time. I can't wait to get back to Alaska. I would definitely do what we did in the Kenai Penninsula instead of doing Denali (of course you are going to find others who tell you the opposite). The bear thing was the most amazing experience. You just can't describe it. So peaceful and not scary and I am scared of my shadow so it is not rational.

We did the bear "thing" in Katmai national park so if you are in the Kenai penninsula and drive to the end you get to Homer. Then we fly to Katmai.

The ATV was awesome also. Definately check that out.

We actually wouldn't change anything we did except the flight seeing in Ketchikan (which a lot of people love)....not me so much :)

Feel free to ask any questions and don't forget I have a ton of Alaska movies on you tube to help you get excited.

Yeah for you. I am so happy for you. Maybe we will go too, as your travel guides, or room stewards, or baggage carriers, anything........

We are actually looking to raft the Grand Canyon that May so probably can't do both, dang it.....someday!

ALSO, definitely do the Fjords tour in Seward.....

Good to hear from you!

Thanks so much. Have a wonderful time and tell us about it when you get back!

We really liked Dyea Dave in Skagway.....

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1434211&page=7

Here are some pics, Skagway starts at post 201

We loved all of our excusions so much that we joke, when we go back we will do the exact same things. All except, didn't love the flightseeing in Misty Fjords. many do though.

I have it all detailed in the above review if you need other ideas. Have a wonderful trip. We loved Alaska!

Thanks for the kind words :D

Here are a couple more movies I finished

This one is just the highlights of the ports of call and Kenai

Here are moments on board the ship

http://www.youtube.com/user/jennatfleck?feature=watch#p/a/u/0/L6le3tmuIYU

ATVing in Palmer

http://www.youtube.com/user/jennatfleck?feature=watch#p/a/u/0/L6le3tmuIYU

And lastly, Hubbard Glacier

http://gallery.me.com/flipfloppincastaways#100922

And I am officially done with the Alaska videos....yea!

I have finished a couple more videos from our Alaska trip if anyone is interested.

Skagway

Which was beautiful. just a reminder, we went with Dyea Dave into the Yukon to Emerald Lake

and

Juneau for our cloudy whale watching....

We would like try to copy your trip. I liked the order you did things as well but I guess we could reverse it depending on dates for cruise and what my DH wants to do for his bday (it's the end of July). My guess is my college daughter will want to go too so we would have to be back by second week of Aug.

 

The only thing we would not try is the ATV. One of my DD's is mentally disabled and that would not work for her. But everything else would!

 

Thanks again for taking the time for that wonderful review. The cruiseline should put you on retainer because my guess is you have sold alot of Alaskan cruises. I know your review sold me!:D

Thanks, enjoy. One thing people say is to cruise down, so that your longest flight is at the beginning. I wanted to be there on June 20th (cuz it's almost the longest day of the year.....plus, because of the bears I wanted to do that as late as possible. so you might look into when the best bear viewing opportunities are and let that factor in to your decision.

WOW!!!!!! I don't think words can adequately describe your review and photos! They were truly phenomenal!

 

My DH just mentioned to me a couple of nights ago he would love a trip to Alaska. Your review and photos has inspired me to plan one for July, 2013. If we were not already booked for the Med this coming summer (& DD looking forward to spending her bday in Spain), I would change cruises.

 

I will be looking to when they post the availability for the Radiance for July, 2013 and book early to get a prime aft cabin (DH only loves aft balconies).

 

Also, that bear tour looks and sounds like something that would be a great experience! We will definitely be looking to combine the cruise with a week land tour.

I'm so glad you enjoyed the review. I really wasn't that enthralled with going to Alaksa (until right before of course). It is our favorite trip we have ever taken and we can't wait to go back. We also talk about what we would do differently on the second time because of the been there done that thing and honestly. I think we would do almost everything we did again. Couldn't have been more pleased. Would highly recommend all of it, except we wouldn't do the flight seeing in Ketchikan. Just not that excited about it....nothing wrong with the company, etc, just ehhhh.

Definitely, definitely, definitely do the bears. If you do nothing else. I would say that about the 7 1/2 hour tour our of Seward too. You just see so much. You will be seeing the inside of you stomach contents too if you don't take some meds....be advised. LOVED the ATVing.....Skagway was incredibly beautiful and would definitely take that drive again, either with Dyea Dave or on your own. Defies imagination.

If you have any questions feel free to ask. LOVED this trip!

A note on the furniture:

 

We were on the Jewel for our honeymoon and I noticed in my pictures (while still on the ship) that the fabric came out looking dirty just like the ones on her Radiance sofa.

 

After playing around with my camera and investigating the sofa, I figured out that the fabric has a slight sheen to it and it reflects in photos as what looks like dirt!

Yeah, what he said.

Wow.

 

First read your Oasis review due to being on The Allure next month then had to read your Radiance review.

 

Much like you, we're warm weather folks and have been saving the Alaska cruise for a time when we get our fill of the warm weather. But after reading your review and seeing all the great adventures you had heading up north, we may have to rethink saving Alaska for our twilight years. Can't imagine riding an ATV when we're dragging around oxygen tanks in a few years.

 

Thanks for such great reviews.

Thanks!

Let me know if you have any questions about it. We got back in June and I am so hankering to go again. Best trip we have taken. Don't know that I would have enjoyed it as much if I had been on a train and done Denali. I think it is the active parts of it that I loved. Seriously, go.

If you need help convincing anyone, give me a call. I am up to the challenge!

mjcrouch@4dv.net

:confused::rolleyes::eek: What the heck are you doing reading my review get back to Jamacia, Jamacia, Jamacia Lady! :D So waffling between Freedom and Oasis, what are the differences?

The size.

I like the Freedom class better. Don't get me wrong, the Oasis is blow your mind wonderful .....

I felt like, and I will address this in my review, that I was always trying to get to the Aqua theater for this show or to the promenade for this...

on the "normal" sized cruise ships, a lot of the stuff takes place on the pool deck or close to it. Getting places isn't such a journey. For instance, you want Johnny Rockets there it is, Belly Flop contest, there it is. Also, because of the Wonderful, wonderful shows, a lot more scheduling is,if not mandatory then recommended. This eliminates the flexibility that I normally experience. Also, because the Windjammer is awfully small, and you have a show at 8 you tend to eat in the dining room more. On top of this, even with anytime dining, it really helps to have a reservation, and on and on and on. I know it is all a choice and you certainly can have any kind of vacation you want but this was our experience.Lastly, I feel like when you are on that huge (and amazing) ship the energy is so spread out you lose something. I felt like it was like vacationing in a city. You were so far removed from the ocean. I absolutely realize that this is just my opinion and others completely disagree. That's why there is chocolate and vanilla.

Fun review to read and a great looking family. I'm glad you had a wonderful time. Freedom is probably my favorite ship!

Thanks for taking the time to post it.

I started reading this thread as we will be on Serenade next May, also I love to see pics of Alaska. Ohh Mendenhall glacier shrinking is sad to me! The waterfall used to be a part of the glacier when I was a kid. We hiked up to the edge of the glacier and that was about 50 yards from the visito's center. Your photo shows it has receded since 2010 when I was back for my 30th high school reunion. Thanks for the pics!

If anyone has any pictures from when the glacier was out to the waterfall, I would love to see them. It is amazing (the change)....and a tad scary!

Jennat-

 

Excellent pics and commentary. Have done 2 Alaska cruises and now feel like I need to go again. The scenery on the Inside Passage is breathtaking and you can't begin to put it into words. We did the same Yukon Territory tour you two did, and yes, Carcross......I looked at it as just a rest stop. Were the giant mosquitos out when you were at the lake? :eek:

 

Enoyed your review and pics completely, until you mentioned Casa Bonita....I try not to think of that place. Shook the thought out of my head and continued reading and looking.

 

Glad you both had a great time and Skagway is my favourite port on the Alaska cruises.

Thankfully, NO mosquitoes! That doesn't sound fun!

Ha ha on the Casa Bonita....when did I mention that???:o

Thanks, I couldn't remember either since it's been a while since I've been on RCCL.

I don't know if it is the same, but we just got off the Oasis and they had a traditional L shaped hairdryer on board.

I will write that review as soon as I SLLLLEEEEPPPP! I am so tired. But what a ship!

Looks like Royal Caribbean did not do any work on the furniture. That soft looks very dirty and worn. Nice review so far though. Great photos.

It does look bad but we didn't notice it at all in reality. I think it may be a trick of the light.