SirTomster

On 9/28/2023 at 11:18 AM, no1racefan1 said:

uneau--looks like most of the whale excursions are full or almost full! One of them had 1 spot left and 1 of them is already taking a waitlist. If you're reading this and want to see whales in Juneau next year, BOOK SOMETHING NOW! Maybe they will open up more spots...but I wouldn't count on that when planning! Like Skagway, most of the other smaller excursions in Juneau seem to be about half full. I haven't noticed any time changes for Juneau yet--everything still starting at 7am.

 

Thanks.  I checked for my June cruise and Harv and Marv have opened up 2024.  So I booked my date.

I would check out this thread by @no1racefan1 

    They plan on doing some Denali plus you can see their plans and get some ideas.  Plus others have added their plans.

8 hours ago, Coral said:

After knowing how close we did not get in May of this past year - it may be tempting to do both. They did not offer it on my sailing (too early).

 

Though - I love the Kenai Fjords cruise and I agree, it probably is the better of the two.

Oh, I should also qualify, that finances are the reason I am skipping this one.  If that was not an issue, I would book in a heartbeat.  I would have already purchased my $500 & $100 Holland American gift card through AARP for $400 & $90 and used those.   My budget is already screaming at me at how much I am spending already. Therefore, I had to skip this.   

$299 pp on Holland America for my Cruise in June 2024.

 

If I was not doing the Kenai Fjords cruise at about the same price, I might consider it.  But that one is 8.5 hours (Northwestern Fjord) so much more bang for the buck.

 

 

I just noticed an excursion I am planning on that was $300 is now $315 through the cruise line.  So they can also increase the rates.  Or maybe decrease (but I doubt that happens).

 

But for the excursion above, I am going local so saving $65.  However I cannot book until I get our passports back since it will cross over the Canadian border.  White Pass Train/Bus Excursion

I would look at the ports you would not visit, if you skipped the 2nd half of the 14 day cruise.

 

Then research what you can do in Alaska by visiting locations before or after the trip.  Note, I expect that the per-day rate would be higher for a land trip than it would be for a cruise.  So you might be able to do a 10/11 day Land/Cruise vs 14 day cruise for the same amount.   My numbers are just guesses, it depends on your plans.

 

Then decide what is best for you.

 

Do price out the differences.    I just did a quick check.   The money I am spending on my 2 days in Alaska before my southbound cruise next June would be about the same if I did a 14 day cruise.  That is insane.   So you could see more Alaska by doing a land portion, but it might be a lot more.

 

6 hours ago, john bowtie said:

Another option. If you are willing to skip the train, you can rent a car in Skagway and drive to Carcross/Emerald Lake on your own. With this option, you get to stop as often as you wish on the drive (and can easily avoid a crowded stop if there is already a bus there). This option can also be far less expensive that the rail/bus tour. We left at 7:30 and returned at 5:30. We stopped at the Tutshi Dog Sled tours (incredible--puppies and very informative), the Suspension bridge, Skagway overlook, Skagway old cemetery along the way. We had lunch in Carcross at the Bistro--which was a much better option than the tours (great fish & chips, soup). I did the rental car with Affordable Car rental in Skagway--no problems--the car was waiting directly next to the ship was was easy to drive for the day. 

 

I thought of that, but sightseeing while driving is not my favorite experience.   I miss too many things focusing on not dying.   Being able to look around with someone else driving is a huge plus to me.  I also want to have the train experience.  This is why I wanted the train/bus combo.  I get the train experience but also the bus is able to stop at scenic spots. 

 

I remember a trip a few years ago to Glacier National Park.  My wife and I did the Red Bus tours and the driver knew the area and where to stop for the best sights.   It was a great ride.  We drove the same route ourselves on the trip and I just got to see more when I wasn't focusing on the drive and could look around.

6 hours ago, Crew News said:

I have been on the HAL Lake Bennett excursion twice and will be returning in May 2024.  The private dining car was not more than 50% occupied and the table were very convenient for the  box lunch.  The lunch was a turkey sandwich, salad, chips, cookies and free water.  The scenery at Lake Bennett made some great photos.

HAL dining car

As a hobby photographer, I spend most of my time on the platforms between the train cars taking photos of the amazing scenery.  Since the dining car is not full, there is little competition for space on the platforms.

 

 

Cool.  I have pretty much talked myself into doing the Lake Bennett route.  But likely through Chilkoot Charters.  $50 less per person and their bus transportation are mini buses and not a huge bus.   Both pluses in my mind.  But good to know about the HAL dining car.   Hey, maybe I can get HAL to price-match it.  🙂   It is the same tour that I could see.  I have not compared every stop though.

 

My wife and I have a cruise booked for a Southern trip on the HAL ms Noordm for June of next year.

 

When we are in Skagway, we are there from 7 AM to 9 PM. or 14 hours. So plenty of time for a long excursion.

 

I have been researching all the options and I want to do the train but also want to do the bus as well.  Since I am into photography and want to make stops to take pictures.

 

I have been reviewing Chilkoot Charters and their options.  

 

At the moment, I am looking at their two longest ones.   The 8-hour Bennett Scenic Journey and the 7.5-hour Yukon Rail and Bus Excursion.  

 

Therefore, I am asking if anyone else has done these and their thoughts.   I am leaning towards the Bennett option as you are on the Train longer from Skagway to Bennett instead of just to Frasier with the other.  But you miss the Caribou Crossing Trading Post which from what I have seen is a 100% tourist trap.   So not a big loss there.  Most of the info I have found just talks about these in general and I am not sure if I have seen a post that mentions the train to Bennett.

 

Also, any other options that are cool?  I like the idea of Chilkoot's smaller buses and being able to stop more than a big motorcoach.  Though no bathroom could be an issue with my gut.

 

Also, looking at the Bus up and Train down option since the Bus will be in the morning and since I like to do photography, hope to see some animals.

2 hours ago, KruisinKath said:

Kenai Fjords Tours is the original Kenai fjords tour operator so has been there a long time. We did the six-hour tour through them in 2013 on our “only” trip to Alaska, and will be booking with them again in 2025 (yep, Alaska hooks you!). 😁

Oh yeah.  Went there in 2012 but a RT from Seattle.  But we were lucky enough to have selected a cruise that included Glacier Bay because we had no clue.  Our next one in 2024 will be a Southern Cruise that allows us to hit Seward and Kenai Fjords before the cruise starts. 

I think it depends on what you want to do.  Personally, one of my hobbies is Landscape Photography.  So I am going to bring my toys!

 

150-500mm Lens - Going to be awesome on the ship

28-105mm Lens - Great when on tours

I am debating the 15-30 - I am leaning towards leaving it at home since I am not sure it is worth the extra 15mm.

 

So that is for the DSLR.    

 

I know I will want to have some video too.  But do I want a GoPro or DJI Osmo?   They could be cool though they do not have any zoom.  When I am sitting next to a glacier in Glacier Bay, I want to record calving.  But those will be very wide and doubt they will see much.  

 

So, maybe I will just use my phone on video and not spend the money on another device.  Or even my DSLR even though its video capabilities are not the best.  Pentax K-1.

 

Decisions, decisions.

 

But I would say that you need to decide what you plan on shooting.  Then go from there.   I am a photography nut so this is a big deal to me.  For others, a simple camera might be all they need.  Or just their phone.   Not my cup of tea, but I bet more people are good with a phone than a photo nut like me.

One hack I use is to go to the cruise website and look for their shore excursions.  Not through your booking, but on the website in general.  Check the port in question and see what the cruise line offers.   Since the cruise lines would only offer options that are popular, then you can find the most popular options.  Here is HAL's   https://www.hollandamerica.com/en_US/shore-excursions.html

 

You can then research options or tour companies that offer their service directly and not through the cruise line.   

 

Next google the port and excursions to see what pulls up.    They might have something that sounds interesting that the Cruise lines do not mention/offer.   

 

Once you have an idea of what you can do in a port, research what you want to do.  There are pros and cons to booking through the cruise line.  Pro:  The ship will not leave without you. Con:  Normally higher than obtaining directly.

 

This is where you get into the realm of deciding what you are comfortable with.  Do you want the guarantee of the ship not leaving and paying more, or maybe doing it yourself?  That is your call.

 

Another item is that on many of the Cruise Ship excursions, the group sizes are larger than some you can book directly.

 

An example is Juneau.  I want to do Whale Watching.  I have multiple options with HAL.   But most at a not horrible price start at 20 people and go up from there.   But then I look outside of HAL and I find a tour company (Harv & Marv) where I will be on a small boat with a max of 6 passengers.  

 

I think I want the 6 person option.   $175pp  Where the cheapest equivalent with HAL is a $189.95pp option that does not mention max capacity.  Only that it is a Catamaran.  So I am going to guess 60+ people.   That 20-person option is over $220.

 

There are so many options with Alaska, that I recommend you take your time to review.  I am still researching my options for my June 2024 Cruise.  I have an idea of what I want to do at each port, but there are still so many variations to go through.

 

For example:    For Skagway, you mention the White Pass Rail.   Something I am also doing.  But there are so many variations.

 

1)  Train up to Fraser and back.

2)  Train up to Fraser, bus back

3)  Train up to Fraser, bus up to Yukon Sign, Bus back

4)  Train up to Fraser, bus up to Emerald Lake, Bus Back.

5)  Train up to Bennet, bus to Emerald Lake, Bus back

 

These are just a few of the options I have found.  Initially, I was doing #1.  But now, I think it is either 4 or 5.   More than #1 but I think it is worth it for me since I like to take photos.

 

So I know I likely made your research even harder, but I think it is a good idea to research your options and what works for you.  You mention flightseeing.  Something out of my price range.  So it is not even on my radar.  Which could be something you can do and want to do and I would have never mentioned it.   So it is best for you to research all the options and go from there.

 

 

Plus there is at least one company that uses smaller boats.  I was looking at one that had a 6-person boat.  It costs more but could be an option for those who can afford it.

 

I think that since Major Marine is locally owned (per their website) and Kenai Fjords Tours is not is helping me make my choice of who to use for my Cruise next year.

1 hour ago, RD64 said:

Confirmed - no cabanas on Noordam

Damn, I used halfacts.com as my souce to confirm they are there.  Live and learn.

I was watching a YouTube couple who sailed to Alaska on the Koningsdam last month.  They were able to rent a Caban for the day and sit and watch Glacier Bay.   

 

That looked interesting to me.  The weather was not great, so they had glass partitions on the bottom half and the top half that was hard to see out of when wet.  There was a small gap in the middle to look through though.

 

So that could be an option.  I am considering on my cruise next year on the Noordam.

 

 

One item to triple check.   My wife and I are planning a Southbound from Whitter to Vancover in June of 2024.   So we need passports.    I have one from years ago, so only thought about getting my wife one.  Well as part of the process, I pulled out my never used Passport and found out it expires April of 2024.  I would be SOL if I had not checked that.  So now I am getting both of us a passport.

 

So for those that depart or arrive from Vancouver, make sure to check your passports.  No assumptions.

On Option B, you do not go to Glacier Bay?  That is weird.   I have only one 1 cruise and it was to Alaska and we were lucky enough to have picked an option that included Glacier Bay.

 

Glacier Bay is awesome.  It was the highlight of my cruise and we are going again next year and I will not do a cruise that does not include Glacier Bay.  In this case, our cruise next year will be a Southbound just like your Option B with Glacier Bay and not Icy Strait Point.   So anything that includes Glacier Bay is a must for me.  YMMV

 

I am confused about your Option A since you say you are doing a Denali tour.  If you do Option A, are you flying to Alaska, do the tour, then fly to Seattle to do the RT cruise?  Seems weird.

 

Another plus on the one-way trips to me is that you get more time in the ports vs the RT from Seattle or Vancouver from what I saw.   

 

A negative with the one-way trips is that you are out in the ocean more.  So more changes of rough seas and potential sea sickness.   

 

Hope that helps from someone who has only done a single cruise but is currently going nuts planning his 2nd.

Love what I see and I thought I was a planner.  I am not in your league!  Here is my tentative plan.  We will arrive 2 days before the cruise so not as many nights pre-cruise as you, but I want to pass on what are my tentative plans.

 

Will be on Holland America leaving from Whittier in June

 

Friday - Fly from Salt Lake to Anchorage.  Should arrive noonish.

Friday - Pick up Rental Car

Friday - Drive to Girdwood and do the Tram and likely Lunch

Friday - Drive to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Friday - Drive to Seward, explore and stay the night

Saturday - Do a tour of the Kenai Fjords.  Still deciding on the company.  6 to 8 hour tour.

Saturday - Stay a second night in Seward.  Rates are cheaper than Vancouver.

Sunday - Drive back to Anchorage and drop car off at airport.

Sunday - Take Train or Bus to Whittier and get on Ship

Sunday - Sunday Cruise from Whittier to Vancouver

Fly home.  -  Still deciding on if from Vancouver which is more expensive or get from Vancouver to Seattle and fly home there which is cheaper but will take more time.   

 

The reason I put this here is to get ideas but also to mention the Kenai Fjords cruise. I am seeing so many cool reports about it and it seems to be highly recommended.  When I see people saying it was the best part of the cruise and it was before the cruise, I take notice.

 

 

Another vote for Sleep Inn and Shuttle Express.

 

The wife and I did our cruise in 2012. Arrived in Seattle before noon the day before. Took our stuff to the hotel, checked in. Then took the free shuttle to the light rail station. Rode it to the end. Then took the monorail to Seattle Center and hit up the Space Needle and walked around the area. Back to Downtown where we walked over to Pikes Peak and walked around the piers. Had dinner at some place (see review in the signature) and then got back on the light rail to the airport where the shuttle picked us up again and we proceeded to crash.

 

Next morning Shuttle Express picked us up and off to the terminal we went. When we do Alaska again, that is my plan assuming we leave from Seattle. Or even if we go from Vancouver will fly into Seattle visit for a day then take a bus or the train up to Vancouver and play tourist up there too before the cruise.

I would also recommend you open your options.

 

I loved Glacier Bay. I doubt I could do an Alaska cruise without it.

 

I am currently thinking of doing another cruise to Alaska next year and I have 3 cruise lines I am thinking about. Holland America, Princess, & Norwegian.

 

Since I have already cruised to Alaska on Holland America (Westerdam) I know what it is. I did it on the shoulder season and while I fully enjoyed the cruise. Next time it will be in July. Sunset at 10 PM sounds awesome for the sightseeing.

 

But those three do Glacier Bay and just sitting on my balcony in front of Marjorie Glacier and listening to the ice. Nothing is as peaceful.

 

I am currently looking at the Northbound Norwegian Sun that stops at Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. I am not sure if I could top that.

 

But Alaska is definitely a itinerary cruise. Look at where you will go. Granted since that is my only cruise my views might be off but my memories were our stops.

 

Carnival does go to Glacier but from what I remember it is only the first and last cruise of the season. Cheaper but more likely to have crappy weather.

[quote name='Angiet75']I loved reading your review. We are ont he Miracle, Sept 10, 2014
Thanks for the tips.
Just trying to decide if i really need this heavy coat i bought?
It was a good deal, but bulky and not sure i want to be bothered if I can layer. Any suggestions?[/quote]


You never know with the weather. We brought our winter coats. I actually purchased a Columbia Bugaboo coat which is a 3-in-1 coat. But the weather was in the 50's. It rained part of the time so I only wore the outside layer as a raincoat.

It rained on us in Sitka and Ketchikan and since we were walking around town we got wet. So a jacket for that was nice. As were the travel umbrellas we had. But I think I did not use the umbrella much.

So to update this so if anyone else runs across a similar situation.

 

tripinsurancestore recommended CFAR (cancel for any reason)coverage. Which comes in at 50% to 75% refund of your prepaid expenses.

 

Which for me would be around $900 I would lose if this situation were to occur. Since my wife is so skittish. We will be waiting until the last minute likely before booking to be sure it is ok to go.

So I would keep an eye on when the April 2015 Hawaiian cruise is announced and then set your calendar for a year from them to check for the April 2016.

 

Currently the rumor is around late March/April for more 2015 dates.

 

I do not think anyone knows if it will be the Miracle then. A few years ago it was the Spirit on that itinerary and I am not sure when it became the Miracle's turn.

I am also eyeing either the January 2015 or looking at the (hopefully) April 2015 cruise. Overnight in Maui sounds great.

 

I just don't know if I want to wait another 3 months. Thinking of waiting until January 2015 hurts enough.. But another 3 months?

 

Ever since I decided I wanted another cruise, it is gnawing in me :)

So my father-in-law has Prostate Cancer which has spread to his bones. So the doctor has said it is inoperable. He is on medication to reduce the spread and it will work for awhile.

 

Eventually the medication will stop being effective and he will get worse and worse as it will start spreading again. Currently he is fine and mobile and living life as he has been. People in similar circumstances can pass away in months (already been longer than that) to many years. The doctor will not give a time frame as everyone is unique but he did say that the average is around 3 years.

 

So my question is how the insurance providers handle this.

 

This is taken from TravelGuard Gold on this scenario.

 

If the Insured must cancel or interrupt his/her Trip 
due to Injury or Sickness of a Family Member not 
traveling with the Insured, it must be because their 
condition is life-threatening, as certified by a Physician, 
or because they require the Insured’s care.

Does anyone know how stringent they are on that? If my Father In Law takes a turn for the worse and the doctors give him weeks left. Somehow I do not think we will want to go on a cruise and would want to cancel.

 

I do see cancel for any reason policies but the TravelGuard ones are for 50% (at least for Gold) So I would rather not depend on that if possible since we are looking at a 15 or 16 day Cruise to Hawaii in either January or April of 2015.

 

Thanks for your thoughts on this.