Norwegian Sun June 3rd to Alaska *****

[kjquilts]

The Sun Alaska northbound cruise ends in Whittier Alaska. For the transfer from Whittier to Anchorage we booked the Whittier to Anchorage Narrated Tour/Transfer with Wildlife Stop through company whose bus picture I posted earlier. They have 3 transfer options, direct transfer, the 3 1/2 hr tour transfer or an all day 7 hr tour transfer. When we booked the price for Princess was $39 and for Norwegian $49 for our tour. Evidently taxes were added because price billed to our credit card was $215.60. Today the price on website is $59pp for Norwegian - assuming also plus tax. CC blocks the link but they are easy to find on the web.

 

The drive from Whittier to Anchorage is beautiful. We did a couple quick photo stops and then a longer stop (maybe an hour and a quarter) at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Price of admission was included in our transfer cost. Here is link to their website

 

http://www.alaskawildlife.org/

 

We didn't even go into the gift shop or see the resident eagle, just headed immediately toward the animal exhibits. Weather was beautiful and we really enjoyed seeing the Alaska animals and the beautiful scenery.

 

 

 

 

 

Wildlife Conservation Center photos start here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kjquilts]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[kjquilts]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We loved this bear. He had a very good sized enclosure and when we were on the way back from the brown bear exhibit he had moved to his water trough and was sitting in it ....

 

 

 

You might think including the next photo is odd due to the portapotty but that is why it is included. We heard the restroom wait was long in the gift shop. The portapotty was clean, not smelly and we followed the normal portapotty rule of not looking when we lifted the seat.

 

[kjquilts]

The brown bears have their own very good sized enclosure - part woods and part with a stream. They were difficult to photo

as they were enjoying their solitude rather than posing near the fence.

 

 

The brown speck in above stream is this bear. Larry took the closeup in next photo with my Sony HV9 while standing on top of a log to get better shot.

 

 

 

The other bear was hanging out in the grass and tree area. Here is our best photo

 

 

 

Another photo of the gorgeous scenery surrounding this wildlife center

 

 

This was a wonderful stop and we wished we had more time. We originally had booked a rental car in Whittier but it was SO expensive due to one way drop off charge we cancelled it, booked the transfer tour and arranged for rental car in Anchorage. It would have been better (although slightly more expensive) to do quick transfer, get the rental car in Anchorage and backtrack to this area. The scenery along the entire route is beautiful.

 

 

 

[kjquilts]

Going to fast forward the rest of the review/report. The tour dropped us off at the Anchorage airport where we picked up our reserved rental car. We drove to downtown, parked car and started sightseeing. I tripped over a piece of pipe slightly sticking out from the sidewalk and fell. Think from the swellling and bruising my right knee must have hit first but I ended up spread eagle on the ground. Luckily I did not land on my previously broken left arm! I was able to get up with help and could walk so we continued on to the Anchorage Alaska Public Information Center (very nice place). They gave me a disposable ice pack for my knee and I sat while the others toured the center. We went for an absolutely delicious lunch at the Glacier Brewhouse and the waitress was kind enough to make me up a large ice bag for my knee.

 

After lunch we tried to do a little more sightseeing downtown but it was difficult for me to walk so we got the car and did some driving sightseeing. The others toured the Alaska Botanical Garden while I iced my knee. Theirs was a fairly quick tour due to not being prepared for mosquitos but they said it was beautiful. We ended up back on the highway towards Whittier and stopped at a couple places including McHugh Creek. This would be a good place to take a picnic lunch and spend some time.

 

 

 

 

 

Website for the garden

 

http://www.alaskabg.org/Visit/visit.html

 

 

 

 

Website for the park

 

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/aspunits/chugach/mchughckpicartl.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were all tired and headed back to the airport around 10pm and turned in the rental car. Hung out at the airport until our 12:30am flight..... most of us were asleep before the plane took off. Once at Seattle airport we called parking lot shuttle, got our car and made the approximately 3 1/2 hr drive home.

[winste]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing.

 

I have the same cabin reserved for the same itinerary for late May 2014.

 

Did the privacy shields on the sides of the balcony detract very much? My concern is they look like they stick out pretty far and I thought they may really get in the way.

 

Any times you found it too windy to enjoy?

[kjquilts]

This was my 13th cruise and 11th in a row with Norwegian. Other than Roseann losing her purse on light rail in Seattle the first day (passports were NOT in it) and my hurting my knee on the last day we had an outstanding cruise. We all loved Alaska and loved doing her from the Sun.

 

Not going to prebook for next summer since we already have cruises booked for January and October but if prices drop towards sailing date like they did this year we may book last minute. After looking at several of the staterooms we'd have no problem with booking an oceanview or even an interior cabin on the Sun. It would either be a back to back or we would stay at least one extra night in Anchorage. It's hard to be gone too long due family problems.

[kjquilts]

Great pics. Thanks for sharing.

 

I have the same cabin reserved for the same itinerary for late May 2014.

 

Did the privacy shields on the sides of the balcony detract very much? My concern is they look like they stick out pretty far and I thought they may really get in the way.

 

Any times you found it too windy to enjoy?

 

 

You definitely know the privacy shields are there but they did not spoil our enjoyment of the balcony or stateroom. There were four of us sharing the space and due to the extra large size of both this stateroom was perfect. Think the shields also act as a smoke baffle ... only a couple whiffs this entire cruise! I found a couple photos that may help you visualize it.

 

 

 

From this next photo you can see that when you are standing at the rail (or sitting in front of it) the privacy wings are not intrusive. Glacier Bay day and Hubbard Glacier day were our main balcony days and the ship is moving very slowly so wind isn't a factor. If you sit down near the rail the front wall acts as a wind shield. Since we had some pooled water in the front of the balcony we ended up using one of the loungers as a gate to keep us from stepping in the water. If it had been a problem for us we would have talked to maintenance but it wasn't.

 

 

 

 

We love stern staterooms and have stayed in the fabulous 9076 penthouse on the Sun but for our budget and this cruise we were very happy with 1002.

 

[winste]

Thank you so much for this pics, kjquilts1.

 

I also have a reservation for a Vancouver RT on the sun but for a port side balcony. I keep going back and forth between the two. This may have sealed it. I wanted to see as many glaciers as possible combined with the forward balcony, I will probably put up with the less than ideal travel back to Indiana from Anchorage.

 

Thanks again.

[Cruise_More_Often]

OMG, you've been in 9076? That was our cabin for our May Alaska cruise, kjquilts. I was just going to remark that there are no "wings" on the aft end of the Sun when I saw the very last post. It's truly a small, small world.

[kjquilts]

It is a small world :) Larry and I originally booked 9076 because my mother was cruising with us and he wanted a separate bedroom. She ended up remarrying just prior to the cruise and her husband came too. We got the hideabed and the honeymooners got the bedroom!

 

Now that I know how to post pictures - 9076 balcony for your pleasure

 

 

 

Mom and Don (God rest his soul)

 

 

How many people can you fit on a balcony

 

 

 

Here is my favorite picture from our first Sun cruise. We had a computer problem and the picture is flawed but I still love it. The girls were spring break college students we visited with on the bus transfer to the ship. We ran into them all over the ship and this was one of those times

 

 

 

You don't know how many times I looked at the price for 9076 on our Alaska cruise. Just could not justify the expense but oh my that didn't stop me from looking.

[Cruise_More_Often]

Ahh, thanks for the reminder. It was one of our favorite cabins. We're cutting back on our next cruises also. :o

[disneywacker]

This just makes me more excited! We leave on the 15th and I can't WAIT! Thank you for a great post!

[my_crib_too]

Thank you for taking the time to make this post. I really enjoyed your cruise :D

 

bruce....

[jbryant]

Thank so much for the review and itineraries. We are set to cruise on Mon July 15. I was looking for things to do and this was perfect. Its 5 of us with 3 teenage daughters so easy going but we are adventurous as well. I copied your notes and plan to review. I am thinking renting a car in Juneau is a good plan??? I welcome suggestions... I still planning the Whittier to Anchorage not sure if we want to hang out a bit in PWS while there.Iwas looking at transportation options without the NCL option back to ANC airport. The RV place will pick you up there We are scheduled to pick up an RV in Anchorage and continue up to Denali with a few stops btw. We have early in week near McKinley have a canoe and rift raft scheduled on Bryer Lake behind Denali. We are on schedule for tour Thur 7/25 in Denali and camping for 2 nights. I am looking for suggestions for Friday and Sat and any other advice for this adventure Cruise and RV. Clarification: We can bring a 6 pk of soda on board in luggage??

[joeammie]

Thank you for the awesome post! We're taking this same cruise next month and this is very helpful. Any recommendation for lunch restaurants in any of the ports? Wife loves salmon and I love crabs. Would love to find a nice restaurant at one (or more!) of the ports to have some fresh seafood...