DIY Land + Southbound Cruise

[donaldsc]

I have a group of 11-13. Cruise, Hotels, Rental Car, Train etc have been booked. We think we have built a pretty nice vacation and are now looking at what to do. For the most part I think we have the land portion covered, the cruise is still wide open regarding excursions.

 

Advice and suggestions welcome!

 

8/10 - Fly to Anchorage, Rent vans & Drive 4-hours to Denali. We booked a house just outside Denali.

8/11 - Tour Denali (Shuttle bus?)

8/12 - Tour Denali

8/13 - Drive to Anchorage, Stop in Talkeetna for half-day before hotel in Anchorage

8/14 - Board Coastal Classic to Seward. Hopefully have enough time to tour "Exit Glacier" before cruise embarkation. Embark on RCL Radiance of the Seas

8/15 - Cruising Day

8/16 - Juneau, AK

8/17 - Skagway, AK

8/18 - Icy Straight Point, AK

8/19 - Ketchikan, AK

8/20 - Cruise Day

8/21 - Disembark in Vancouver, spend day/night in vancouver

8/22 - Fly Home

 

I have 2 comments. Unless you are going to do a flight seeing trip, why plan on spending 1/2 day in Talkeetna? In fact, why plan to spend any time there? What are you planning to do there - go to the Wallflower Cafe or whatever it is called which seems to be the aim of most people who go to Talkeetna.

 

Also, why drop the vans off in Anchorage and take the train to Seward. If possible, drive all the way to Seward and drop them off there. Save your 1/2 day in Talkeetna time and spend it on the drive from Anchorage to Seward.

 

DON

[Studio472]

I have 2 comments. Unless you are going to do a flight seeing trip, why plan on spending 1/2 day in Talkeetna? In fact, why plan to spend any time there? What are you planning to do there - go to the Wallflower Cafe or whatever it is called which seems to be the aim of most people who go to Talkeetna.

 

Also, why drop the vans off in Anchorage and take the train to Seward. If possible, drive all the way to Seward and drop them off there. Save your 1/2 day in Talkeetna time and spend it on the drive from Anchorage to Seward.

 

DON

 

On 8/13, Check out of the house in Denali & driving towards Anchorage. Stopping by Mantanuska Glacier for a hike or tour. Then heading to our hotel in Anchorage for the night. There were never firm plans for Talkeetna other than some saying it was a nice town to spend some time. I agree that there really isn't a good reason to go at all. Instead we'll drive straight to the glacier and spend more time there.

 

On 8/14 we are hopping on the train to Seward, taking the Kenai Fjords National Park Tour then boarding the ship.

 

We are not going to cancel the train in lieu of driving. The Coastal Classic is one of the big things we wanted to do because several friends (and posters here) said it's not to be missed.

[cruisin0218]

I hope you have a wonderful time!

[Budget Queen]

 

We are not going to cancel the train in lieu of driving. The Coastal Classic is one of the big things we wanted to do because several friends (and posters here) said it's not to be missed.

 

You don't need to jump in with claiming anyone else's "must dos". :) The train is an excellent choice. Unfortunately there are a lot of "not to be missed", including the Seward Highway drive. Way more than you can do in 10 trips. It's up to YOU, to narrow down all those fantastic selections, sometimes quite difficult. :)

[Dancer9933]

I hope you have a wonderful time!

 

Thank you I am sure our group will have a wonderful time no matter how the timing works out! The glacier trek looks very appealing to me.