Off to Alaska!!

[doublemm16]

I do not normally make posts like this, but I just booked a 14 day cruisetour today, but hey, I am excited!!!

 

Once again I will be sailing with my mom (and hopefully some friends). We had such a great time in the Mediterranean and met such fabulous people, we are hoping for the same on this trip.

 

Only difference...I used a travel agent this time and it is a fully escorted tour. Watch out wildlife...here we come...Woot! Woot!

 

Mindi:D

[WeBeGone]

You're in for a real treat. Remember your binoculars.

[Colo Cruiser]

Congrats.

[Putterdude]

Have a wonderful cruise and hope that you will spend a few days in Vancouver.

[geoherb]

Congrats on booking! We had a great time in Alaska last month. I'm assuming you're not going until next year. Hope you survive the anticipation.

[wjh]

You in for a very plesent supprise,my wife and i did an Alaskan cruise on the Diamond Princess last month. We are from Australia and it was worth every cent we spent. It is truley a beautiful place and by far the best cruise we have ever been on, pitty about having to fly so long to get there.The Diamond Princess is a great ship. You have something to look forward to, enjoy your trip.

[u2cruiser]

You're in the right place to be excited about your cruise. :D Such a great feeling to get the next cruise booked up.

 

I hear nothing but good reports about Alaskan cruises. Now if only I could get my DH to be interested. He will only look at warm weather itineraries.

[doublemm16]

Thanks everyone!! I am very excited about the trip. I have always wanted to see Alaska, but convincing my mom to take a "non-warm weather" cruise was a little challenging at first. We went to an incredible presentation on cruising to Alaska, and once she heard that Princess would take care of getting our luggage from one point to the next, she was sold!!

 

I am going to poke around the Alaska board, but any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Binoculars...noted!!:D

[Talisker92]

We know you will have a great time!! We have a story of our cruise on our website called "North to Alaska" The URL is http://www.stevekathytravels.com

[LoriPhil]

The Alaska boards are very active, comprehensive and enthusiastic! In fact we booked a b2b Alaska a year after our first Alaska cruise after catching the "bug" again when reading those boards. We selected independent port tours based on the feedback and it was terrific!

 

As an FYI, we used:

Chilkoot Tours in Skagway - van up to Carcross where we had lunch, snuggled puppies, and then dropped at Frasier for the White Pass train trip back to Skagway. The benefit of the smaller vehicle is 1) more personalized, 2) you can pull off the road at MANY more places than the large motorcoaches, 3) faster loading/unloading. It was also great because we had the "public" train coach at the back of the train with only 8 people on board, vs the dedicate Princess cars just ahead of us that were packed.

 

Ketchakan: Berring Sea Crab Boat excursion. Though pricy, it was wonderful and the guys on the boat were so engaging and eager to share their stories.

 

Congratulations on your vacation - and how wonderful to be sharing that with your mom!

[MichTraveler]

... I have always wanted to see Alaska, but convincing my mom to take a "non-warm weather" cruise was a little challenging at first. ...

 

The weather in AK in June is sometimes better than in Mich or NJ. We did the "trip of a lifetime" to Alaska in 2002 and loved it so much we booked it again for the following year before we got off the ship. I hope you enjoy it. Booking it is just the start. Now the research on the Alaska ports of calls to try to decide what to do -- there are so many choices!

[Woobstr112G]

I do not normally make posts like this, but I just booked a 14 day cruisetour today, but hey, I am excited!!!

 

Once again I will be sailing with my mom (and hopefully some friends). We had such a great time in the Mediterranean and met such fabulous people, we are hoping for the same on this trip.

 

Only difference...I used a travel agent this time and it is a fully escorted tour. Watch out wildlife...here we come...Woot! Woot!

 

Mindi:D

 

Congrats.....:):):)

 

Bob

[mrpayroll]

We did a 12 night land/sea to Alaska in 2007. LOVED every minute of it. I'm sure you will enjoy your cruise.

[metz]

Hi, Chris and I just got back from Alaska on the Diamond this afternoon, what can i say,Stunning hardly covers it, the biggest problem i had was i did'nt pack any shorts,after reading the board on anything about Alaska we duly packed our warm clothing , plenty of layers , plus the waterproofs , they are still in the packaging, apart from a short shower on sailing out of Vancouver, the tempreture was in the 60's every day with bright sunshine, the Rangers on the Ship could,nt believe it , they said is was the best weather of the summer, will write a full review when i get my breath back.

[geoherb]

Our weather this summer was perfect everywhere except Victoria. We stayed on the ship there. I'd hate to miss a meal. But the ponchos I purchased for our 2003 cruise to Alaska came in handy on that trip. They're heavy duty. We saw a lot of people with really cheap, flimsy ponchos (the Dollar Store type). They were getting wet. The other great thing I had was waterproof shoes.

[doublemm16]

Our weather this summer was perfect everywhere except Victoria. We stayed on the ship there. I'd hate to miss a meal. But the ponchos I purchased for our 2003 cruise to Alaska came in handy on that trip. They're heavy duty. We saw a lot of people with really cheap, flimsy ponchos (the Dollar Store type). They were getting wet. The other great thing I had was waterproof shoes.

 

Do you remember where you purchased your heavy duty ponchos? That sounds like a must purchase.:D