Alaska

I am having trouble deciding between cruise tour with royal or trying to do alaska, first time visiting, on our own. Where I would book would be about a 4k difference between just the cruise and cruise and cruisetour. HELP!!

The Alaska port of call forum has loads of info:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

As is the case with excursions through the ship, you are paying for convenience with a cruisetour. It is very likely you can do the same things on your own for much less money, the only question is: are you willing to?

I am having trouble deciding between cruise tour with royal or trying to do alaska, first time visiting, on our own. Where I would book would be about a 4k difference between just the cruise and cruise and cruisetour. HELP!!

i did the cruisetour the first time i went and when i went the second time i did it myself- rented a car, booked my own excursions, paying for meals, hotels etc. and saved about $4000 also. Just a bit of info. One way car rental is about double what return to the same location is. I found hotels with continental breakfast included so i did not pay for breakfasts at all. Free things like Rangers demonstration twice daily of the sled dogs in Denali Park, kids half priced on many things. Do it yourself in Denali riding the bus where you can hop on or off where you like and take it as far in as you want. Only about one-third the organized tour for Tundra Wilderness and the driver still tells you all about the wildlife etc. I picked up things for lunch and snacks to eat in the car so i really ended up paying only for dinners. Nice pizza place basically across the highway from the entrance to Denali.

I am having trouble deciding between cruise tour with royal or trying to do alaska, first time visiting, on our own. Where I would book would be about a 4k difference between just the cruise and cruise and cruisetour. HELP!!

This is a very useful thread

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2430984

We are going to DIY!

While you may save significantly by doing a land tour on your own, don't disregard the value of having a dedicated escort and the convenience of having all the details(lodging, transportation, excursions etc.)handled by the cruise line. Only you can decide whether the savings of doing it all on your own is worth it.

i mean i know it will be alot of work to put details together but i just can see how i would spend 4k if i did it myself vs the cruisetour. plus cruise tour would be 4 days i believe where as doing it myself id have almost a week if i wanted. i just need to find out logistics