Jump to content

Alaska cruisetour advice please


hillswood
 Share

Recommended Posts

We booked on Royal Caribbean due the fact no other cruise line( that I found) goes on a land tour that has you stay all the way into Denali at the Kantishna Lodge. For us it was all about seeing the Park.

Our cruise does leave from Vancouver and ends up in Seward. Then we do the 5 day land tour with 2 nights and 3 days at Kantishna.

Yes, I could have booked the land portion myself, but I liked the fact they had to do the leg work and I just have to show up and enjoy.

Ours is June 14, 2019.

 

We are going July 2019 - how did you book your RCL tour so soon? There is non available when I look on my account for tours. Did you book the land tour separately?

 

CT

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We booked on Royal Caribbean due the fact no other cruise line( that I found) goes on a land tour that has you stay all the way into Denali at the Kantishna Lodge. For us it was all about seeing the Park.

 

Our cruise does leave from Vancouver and ends up in Seward. Then we do the 5 day land tour with 2 nights and 3 days at Kantishna.

 

Yes, I could have booked the land portion myself, but I liked the fact they had to do the leg work and I just have to show up and enjoy.

 

Ours is June 14, 2019.

 

 

 

We are going July 2019 - how did you book your RCL tour so soon? There is non available when I look on my account for tours. Did you book the land tour separately?

 

 

 

CT

 

 

 

I booked through Royal Caribbean in Dec of 2017. I booked as soon as the season opened for 2019. Try clearing your computer history and then going on Royals site. Or call them. I went to Alaska June 2019. Leaving from Vancouver, under the 12 days on the website. Tour 10 A is what you want

We booked on the phone both cruise and land at the same time.

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our trip, which leaves in 9 days (holy crap!), will also likely be our only Alaska trip in the near future and was planned by an outside company. After researching what Royal Caribbean pre-tours offered (we only sail RCI), my wife decided there was too much she wanted to do/see so she found an outside company that planned a personalized 10-day land tour before our Southbound inside passage cruise from Seward to Vancouver. We're hitting Fairbanks, a few days in Denali, a stop in Anchorage, a couple days in Girdwood, and a couple days in Seward before embarkation.

 

I got in trouble for naming the company on here but our experience with them and specifically our consultant was amazing! She put together everything from hotel reservations to train tickets to some tours/activities. She even had restaurant recommendations in certain cities. Oh, and she also helped revise out itinerary 58 times (no exaggeration, the final document says revision 58).

 

Anyway, if you're interested, feel free to leave me your e-mail address and I'll send you the info. Happy researching!

 

I've gone with Royal Caribbean's pre-cruise tour for this year's trip. It's me, my brother (who has never cruised and rarely travels), and my elderly parents so I just wanted it to be as easy as possible for them. But, my husband wants to go to Alaska soon and I'd love to check out this company that you mention because that sounds like the way we'd like to do the land portion. My email is: sherri_lyon AT yahoo DOT com (feels weird putting this out here publicly, but I don't know of another way to do it)

 

Thanks for your help!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

 

 

I booked through Royal Caribbean in Dec of 2017. I booked as soon as the season opened for 2019. Try clearing your computer history and then going on Royals site. Or call them. I went to Alaska June 2019. Leaving from Vancouver, under the 12 days on the website. Tour 10 A is what you want

We booked on the phone both cruise and land at the same time.

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

I should say Tour 10 A is the one we got.

 

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Our trip, which leaves in 9 days (holy crap!), will also likely be our only Alaska trip in the near future and was planned by an outside company. After researching what Royal Caribbean pre-tours offered (we only sail RCI), my wife decided there was too much she wanted to do/see so she found an outside company that planned a personalized 10-day land tour before our Southbound inside passage cruise from Seward to Vancouver. We're hitting Fairbanks, a few days in Denali, a stop in Anchorage, a couple days in Girdwood, and a couple days in Seward before embarkation.

 

I got in trouble for naming the company on here but our experience with them and specifically our consultant was amazing! She put together everything from hotel reservations to train tickets to some tours/activities. She even had restaurant recommendations in certain cities. Oh, and she also helped revise out itinerary 58 times (no exaggeration, the final document says revision 58).

 

Anyway, if you're interested, feel free to leave me your e-mail address and I'll send you the info. Happy researching!

 

tjcletzgo at hotmail! Thanks so much!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are like me, I found it very overwhelming to try to figure out what was important to see and try and arrange it on my own. So we went with a cruise tour from Holland America. Just got back 2 days ago and it was by far the best trip we have ever done! The ship isn't what makes the trip, it's what you see out there..... As a matter of fact, it was our first HAL cruise out of 14 cruises and I wasn't all that impressed....not my fav line. But they do know how to do Alaska. Everything, and I mean everything was looked after. Denali was amazing and our 8 hout tundra tour was outstanding. Between the tundra tour and the train to anchorage we saw more wildlife than you can imagine and were lucky enough to see the top of Denali mountain 3 days in a row. Unheard of according to the guides. So my advice,...you will get lots of Alaska viewing by booking a cruise/tour thru a cruise line and possibly save yourself a lot of grief by letting them do all the arranging. Any questions, just ask

 

We're doing almost the same trip in 11 days and I have a few questions I'd love to ask you. Email is jswenson01550@gmail.com

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you are like me, I found it very overwhelming to try to figure out what was important to see and try and arrange it on my own. So we went with a cruise tour from Holland America. Just got back 2 days ago and it was by far the best trip we have ever done! The ship isn't what makes the trip, it's what you see out there..... As a matter of fact, it was our first HAL cruise out of 14 cruises and I wasn't all that impressed....not my fav line. But they do know how to do Alaska. Everything, and I mean everything was looked after. Denali was amazing and our 8 hout tundra tour was outstanding. Between the tundra tour and the train to anchorage we saw more wildlife than you can imagine and were lucky enough to see the top of Denali mountain 3 days in a row. Unheard of according to the guides. So my advice,...you will get lots of Alaska viewing by booking a cruise/tour thru a cruise line and possibly save yourself a lot of grief by letting them do all the arranging. Any questions, just ask

Agree. We took Holland America cruisetour in early June last year. Denali was visible every day. We started in Fairbanks, then two nights Denali, Anchorage, Seward. The lodging was good, except the Westmark in Anchorage is dated. The HAL lodging at Denali is next door to the Princess one. We had enough time in Seward for a Kenai Fjords cruise before embarking. Cannot recommend that trip highly enough.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For a "one and only" I think it is important to pack as much Alaska, both the lower maritime ports you will visit on the cruise portion and the spectacular scenic natural beauty of the inland portion, into a comfortable and memorable journey. An excellent way for a visitor from abroad to do this is a cruisetour that combines both venues and removes the burden of detailed planning, optional excursions aside, on your part.

 

 

 

I recommend Princess because of the assured inclusion/access of Glacier Bay NP on the cruise and their excellent collection of Princess owned and operated lodges that are perfectly situated, have good amenities, are fully integrated into the tours, and fit the locale in design and decor. Cruise first going north and then enjoy the grandeur of Alaska as it unfolds on your tour progresses.

 

 

 

I further recommend the Princess "Connoisseur" type of cruisetour of 14-15 days (7 days on ship, remainder on land) as it includes a full-time escort that travels with your on the landtour, all breakfast and dinners on landtour, some lunch and snack surprises at the discretion of the escort, all attraction/park entry fees, preferred accomodations, all baggage handling, all gratuities (except for escort and driver), the fabulous train trip in special Princess scenic carriages, an important reserved excursions. Also, you get to relax and let some else do the driving, all while excellent narration that is supplemented with local experts as you visit key regional attractions.

 

 

 

The Connoisseur tours will appear to be costly but actually offer great value. Meals in Alaska are costly (far more than other US regions... more like UK prices appear to visiting yanks) and the included meals are at the top restaurants and include almost everything. I found the "list price" for some of the expensive seafood and big meat to top $100/pp if ordered a la carte.

 

 

 

Anyway, so check these out by ordering/downloading a few of the specialized brochures Princess has on their website, and enjoy your Alaska journey as we have always enjoyed our many visits/tours in the UK.

 

 

 

IMO this is excellent advice!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We are on our trip right now. It also is probably our one and only - and a graduation treat for one of our two daughters.

 

I always like to research and this time I had loads of time because I had two months off work at the start of the year due to an accident. I chose a Princess and started with an agent to do the land and cruise parts. I would have liked to do Denali and the Kenai peninsular but daughter 2 could not take enough days off work. We have hired a car for Denali and will have two days in Vancouver after a southbound from Whittier.

 

The agent came up with a good plan but in the end she exceeded my budget. I stuck with her flights and cruise and saved loads by booking my own lodging and activities. We had to sacrifice the planned Bear flight because it was just too expensive.

 

Driving has been easy - daughter has done most but it is nice to share. I have never driven an automatic and was stressing about that. It is easy.

 

Booking the hire car early was important- and choosing the flights and cruise- after that I slowly built up a plan. I think reading through trip reports is important. You get a feel of what is available- for us it was important having our own car and not having to stick with a group. I would rather that than be on a narrated tour all the time.

 

I know others prefer to have things planned for them - but that costs money. Just doing things like sharing a room on our arrival night when all we were doing was sleeping for 8 hours, finding 3 star not 4 star hotels and finding a cabin with a fridge and microwave has saved me a good amount of money. I am paying for 4 adults so it makes a difference. The first quote was for $22000 without food! Hmm. My credit card choked a bit on thAt.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

Link to comment
Share on other sites

 

Anyway, if you're interested, feel free to leave me your e-mail address and I'll send you the info. Happy researching!

 

I would like to have your travel company info. Please send to

 

Patti0428 at msn dot com

 

Thanks so much!

 

Patti

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Us too, please..seaworthy@q.com

 

I would like to have your travel company info. Please send to

 

Patti0428 at msn dot com

 

Thanks so much!

 

Patti

 

Please send me your travel company too :). My email is skn133@yahoo.com. Thanks so much!! Doing Princess cruisetour this year but if we love it will try to plan different trip in two years.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...