Rockies and Alaska

[lorri111]

Has anyone done a Rockies rail plus Alaska cruise before? We have just booked for May nextyear - Heart of the Rockies 14 days - Calgary to Vancouver (incl Rocky Mountaineer), followed by Voyage of Glaciers on the Star.

[GenericUserID]

To clarify, you're speaking of the Canadian Rockies, correct?

[Talisker92]

Yes he is speaking of the Canadian Rockies. I have looked at that trip, and found the Rocky Mountaineer is priced out of my range. It is a 2 day trip with an overnight in Kamloops.

[CowPrincess]

Has anyone done a Rockies rail plus Alaska cruise before? We have just booked for May nextyear - Heart of the Rockies 14 days - Calgary to Vancouver (incl Rocky Mountaineer), followed by Voyage of Glaciers on the Star.

 

I have seen a few posts, mostly on the Alaska board, about this tour. Here's the link to the Alaska board:

 

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

 

Use the "Search this Forum" box on the Alaska forum to search for Rocky Mountaineer -- you may find some info that way.

 

Bring some warmish layers. I live in the mountains and it gets chilly at night, even in May. You will see some spectacular scenery :)

[lorri111]

Thanks for the tip about the Alaska forum, will post there.

[2little time]

Lorri, we did this trip last year except we cruised first and then did the train. I will be glad to answer your questions. Although the scenery was lovely, we had issues with the accomodations and the last day's bus tour to Calgary.

[lorri111]

Hi, was that with Princess and silverleaf rocky Mountaineer? Can you give me more info on what the problems were with hotels and the coach trip?

[2little time]

We wished we had gone in the "gold class" as we had box lunches at our seat that were just average. Breakfasts were little boxes of cereal and a banana. Kamloops overnight was in an old rather rustic hotel that had no elevator. I love trains but I was very tired of sitting at the end of the first day. Maybe in the dome car it would have been easier to stay interested but in the lower car where they put the peons it is harder to see things as the brush can be dense near the tracks. Probably our biggest disappointment came when we were "dumped " off the train in Banff. (the rest of the journey is/was by coach). The hotel was nice but a distance from town such that you felt you had to eat at the hotel. The coach "tour" the next day was questionable. The driver kept reminding us that he expected tips and when we got to the helicopter flight place he tried to talk me into the trip even though medically I could not. It was obvious he got kickbacks for each person that took one. When we got to Calgary late in the afternoon we were literally dropped off on the corner with our luggage and had to struggle into the hotel with them ourselves. We felt the overall product delivered was not in keeping with what we paid.

[lorri111]

Good to know. Though we have dinner included in Banff as part of our package. I thought transfers to and from hotels were included too? We thought of gold but it was too expensive for us.

[lorri111]

Good to know. Though we have dinner included in Banff as part of our package. I thought transfers to and from hotels were included too? We thought of gold but it was too expensive for us. Were you redleaf or silver leaf? Can you remember the names of the hotels you stayed at?

[2little time]

We were redleaf. I wish I could remember the name of the hotel in Kamloops but I can't. Sorry I was confusing about the transfer in Banff. Yes all the transfers are included. What I meant about Banff is that the train station where they leave you at the end of the train part of the trip is not actually in town. They didn't really explain much but rather let us off where busses were waiting to take us to the hotels. Is your tour 5 days Vancouver to Calgary? One thing we found out as the train left us in Banff was that they were actually going on to Calgary that night. Retrospectively, I would have much rather gone with the train as the next day was a strange one.

[lorri111]

It's 7 days Calgary to Vancouver. I will be sure to ask more questions of you as I think of them as time goes on :-)

[lorri111]

I just realised you were on the train at Banff. Ours must be a different itinerary as we are coach Calgary to Jasper, and then train Jasper to Vancouver (2 days with night at Kamloops)

[lorri111]

Was it a Princess package or separately booked legs? What ship were you on?

[2little time]

oh...we cruised the Island Princess and then did the Vancouver to Calgary (5 days) trip. What ship are you on? Is it a packaged deal? Ours was not included with the cruise.......

My email is adumbaugh@aol.com .

Anne