DougH

May for longer daylight hours. Also generally better weather, less rain. In Sept lots of stores closing for the season and they are tired of passengers.

I usually either rent a car or do the bus trip with Chillkot charters. Last June they stopped at almost the same places I would have with the car The car rental used to be about $120-130 but last year was twice that. Chillkot is a nice option, you might try their train/bus combo.

If you look at the video on his website that is me heading to board the plane in the blue jacket. Just found out last year it was there. Lol.

If I make a upgrade bid as a single do I bid as a per person price or for two? For example if the cabin upgrade is listed as$200 pp do I bid $200 or $400?

Another option in Ketchikan is the George Inlet all you can eat crab feast

Not a helicopter but an flight from Skagway over Glacier Bay by Mountain Flying is a nice option. He is based in Haines but also does flights from Skagway. Probably cheaper and with more flight time. I've gone with him several times and all were excellent.

I like to take the National Express bus to Southampton the day before. Then a taxi to the port is cheap. I usually stay at the Ibis. Much cheaper than staying in London for a night. Day trips to Portsmouth or Winchester are easy by train

Princess has some really nice 10-11 day cruises round trip from Vancouver with nice ports and long port times. I am doing this in May, early to mid June is my favorite time for the long daylight hours. Only negative is no Glacier Bay but Hubbard is impressive and you have a long enough port time in Juneau to do the Adventure Bound trip to Tracy Arm for up close Glacier viewing

I was on the Grand last Christmas and then again for a B2B Alaska in June. She is in fine shape and a good choice for Alaska. She has a covered pool and a full promenade deck. Also lots of viewing areas without having to look thru glass.

I was on the Emerald TA in Nov and it was open but rarely saw anyone eating there

I did a TA on the Grand Princess years ago and was lucky to sail thru Prins Christian Sund. I think it has the most spectacular scenery I've seen in over 80+ cruises. Of course then we got stuck in a hurricane for 3 days coming out of Greenland. lol

If you look at his website on his main video that is me in the Blue jacket boarding his plane. On the page under Glacier Landings I can be seen on the right side taking a photo of the plane after we landed above Glacier Bay. I had no idea I was on his website until I saw the photos earlier this year lol

Try Mountain Flying Service. He is based in Haines but I have done several flights with him out of Skagway. The flight over Glacier Bay is spectacular. Great guy

Call them direct. Winona runs the office and Capt Steve runs the boat. Great people After the penguins in the Falkland Island this is my favorite tour anywhere. It is a long day but I feel great value for your $$$. Steve is the expert on Tracy Arm

If you want to splurge a flight over Glacier Bay from Skagway with Mountain Flying Service is spectacular.

In Juneau I love the tour to Tracy Arm with Adventure Bound. I have done 6-7 times and hope to repeat again in May 2023. While focused on Glacier viewing I have seen both whales and bears on the tour. Capt Steve will stop if sighted. Excellent tour to get up close and personal with the glacier and shoreline.

I have done this a couple of times including just in June. They do a good job with lots of stops for photos. The small bus makes stops easier. I like to rent a car but prices fir that have gone crazy, our tour in June stopped almost everywhere I would have pulled over if I had a car. Very good tour

If you are on a Northbound cruise check you port time in Juneau. If you want to get close to a Glacier I love the Adventure Bound tour to Tracy Arm. Much cheaper than the Princess Hubbard tour but you won't have time for anything else in Juneau. Capt Steve does a great tour and is the Tracy Arm expert. I have seen whales and bears on his tours. I take thus every chance I get and have done this 6-7 times

Tough call. Northbound you have a long day in Juneau as someone mentioned and can take the Adventure Bound tour to Tracy Arm. I have done this 6-7 times and is my favorite excursion. You do sail the inside passage leaving Vancouver in the dark. Southbound I love the scenery for the first few hours out of Whittier and on the last day the inside passage is mostly daylight. I l love sailing mid June for the longest daylight hours. My preference is a Grand class ship and do a B2B North/Southampton for the best of both.

Glad to hear her problems may have been fixed. I'm looking at some Alaska cruises next year but know she had problems this year.

I would wander around as it is very walkable. A canal tour is well worth the time. I would skip Tivoli with just the one day

When I did this years ago for the 4-5 days we were there the temp always seemed to be 34 degrees. Just bundle up. My packing problem was a spent days in Buenos Aires before the cruise and it was 100 degrees. Had to bring lots of different outfits for the temp difference lol

I've done Alaska about 30 times. Aside from being a bit early this is a nice route. Hubbard and Glacier Bay and good port times. May be a little cool but early season tends to be a bit drier. My favorite excursion is in Juneau for an all day trip to Tracy Arm and you have enough port time to do this and get up close and personal with a glacier. Vancouver is a nice city to explore and worth a couple days to visit before or after the cruise. I would consider this one myself but I can't be gone the first week of a month for work.

What they really need is a category above Elite. Say 500+ days or 50+ cruise. That would thin the herd out a bit and give the upper group a few new perks. I would like a night in the Specialty dining area of my choice.