Alaska Land Tour #2

[babs135]

Me again.  Rocky Mountaineer Train or Denali?  Not done any costings but I'm pretty certain we couldn't afford to do both so would value your opinion on which you would prefer.  And as with my previous question - before or after the cruise?

And,

I've found an actual brochure (!) which went up to November 2021.  Have the itineraries changed much since this was published way back in January 2020?  At least I'll be able to look at the deck plans for the ships that sail to Alaska.  So much easer than online.

And finally,

Expect to hear more from me as I continue my research!!!  BTW I've still not told DH what I'm doing as I need to present as much information for him before he agrees or disagrees 🤣🤣

[Mary229]

For an Alaskan cruise - Denali.  The Rocky Mountaineer is expensive and it goes east quite some distance and is a different region of North America. It begins in Vancouver.

 

When I was deciding about before or after I looked at the flights.  Strange as it sounds flying direct to Anchorage only takes 6 hours but flying from Anchorage is no direct and takes 10 hours!   You can use Google Flights.

 

So the Denali train starts in Anchorage and your cruise may start in Whittier.  The Alaskan Railroad serves that route and would be a nice addition to your travels.  I do believe Princess has a package for Denali and the Alaskan Railroad if that interests you.
 

 

[disneyochem]

We booked the Heart of the Rockies land cruise tour for June 2023.  It includes flying to Calgary, touring (Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper) for 5 nights followed by a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer.  The Rocky Mountaineer trips goes from Jasper to Vancouver.  Then we take a northbound cruise on the Majestic Princess to Whittier.
 

We have spent a number of summers in Alaska on DIY tours visiting Denali and have not visited this part of Canada which is why we went with this land cruise tour.  Once in Alaska, we’re staying another week before flying home.

 

I think it’s important you determine what it is you want to see on the trip—as stated above, different areas are visited.

 

 

[Barter123]

We just completed the Heart of the Rockies land tour followed by N/B Vancouver to Whitter on the Majestic. The land and train portion were amazing and the highlight of the cruisetour. We started in Calgary, Alberta and went by bus to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, boarded the Rocky Mountianeer in Jasper to Kamloops then to Vancouver.  The accommodations and meals on land were all first class.  We have done the 13 day Connoisseur Escorted Cruisetour Fairbanks to Vancouver in the past and although wonderful, the Heart of the Rockies wins handsdown. 

[beg3yrs]

2 minutes ago, Barter123 said:

We just completed the Heart of the Rockies land tour followed by N/B Vancouver to Whitter on the Majestic. The land and train portion were amazing and the highlight of the cruisetour. We started in Calgary, Alberta and went by bus to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, boarded the Rocky Mountianeer in Jasper to Kamloops then to Vancouver.  The accommodations and meals on land were all first class.  We have done the 13 day Connoisseur Escorted Cruisetour Fairbanks to Vancouver in the past and although wonderful, the Heart of the Rockies wins handsdown. 

 

 

We completed the 17 day Connoisseur Escorted tour from Fairbanks to Vancouver this year and it was wonderful (probably one of the last groups to see Copper River this year - but I digress). Now considering the Heart of the Rockies land tour for 2024, hoping it will be offered. Your post is especially useful, THANKS! Plan to do the land first, take a ship doing the inside passage if available and then return back to Vancouver (7 days just isn't enough).