Cruise Tour size

[Nanner]

We are booked on an Alaskan cruise tour in May. I wonder how many people are normally included in these groups. I'm sure that it will be significantly less than the 1400 on the Volendam. About how many others should I expect to be traveling with us?

[PEFER33]

When we did this a few years ago, we had about 40 people that stayed together as a group with one tour director. That was basicly a bus load and a train car load. We flew into Fairbanks and after two days there took the Alaska Railroad down to Denali and then Anchorage. At that time there were 25 different options for land tours, so people were spread out. I can't say if there are any restrictions on the amount of people on any one tour. There could have been another bus load of people doing the same tour, but we did not interact. At every stop there were many buses with HAL, Princess, and RCL/Celebrity guests.

Phil

[Budget Queen]

Yes the above is correct- a bus load, but will be many "busloads" if you are taking the train. An important factor you may want to consider with a May cruise- if going northbound- and arriving Denali Park near the end of the Month is far better than a southbound and doing the tour first. Main reason the significant limitations in getting into the park- the Park road is NOT fully open until June 8, with starts mid May- it opens more each day but overall farther into the park definately the better. :)

[Nanner]

Thanks for the info, Budget Queen. Our tour commences May 25, northbound out of Vancouver. We don't hit Denali until June 3-4 so I hope we'll be good.
I realize each bus carries about 45 people, just wondered if there might be several busses that leave the boat in Skagway with us.

The first thing we do as part of the tour is the White Pass RR/bus to Whitehorse, which was on my "must do" list when we eventually went to Alaska. DH and I are rail fans, our honeymoon was a train trip from Jackson, MI to New Orleans.

We went on a cruise to Hawaii late April and I regretted missing the whales in Maui. I hope we aren't going to Alaska too soon to see them there!

[Budget Queen]

There most certainly will be more than one bus, but this isn't one of the major HAL tours, so won't be 20 buses like out of Seward. :)

My opinion only but these short cruises are significantly lacking in that you miss an excellent port or glacier, which is a major reason to sail the Inside Passage. The land portion has ENDLESS bus travel in the least scenic portion of Alaska. Way too much time in transit. Some of the tours now include Kluane, but this area is totally undeveloped. Whitehorse is worth a skip, Dawson City is OK, but my clear preference is flying there out of Fairbanks. Again endless bus travel.
If you are going to Juneau - then you will see whales on a tour there. You will have a choice of the ship tours or independent with Orca Enterprises my top recommendation. Since your preference (I am a member of the National historical Railroad society) Do NOT miss the most scenic portion of the Alaska RR Anchorage/Seward portion. Lots of boring sights on the Denali Park Anchorage section. :) There is a narrow gage in Fairbanks with Tanana Valley Railroad, at the El Dorado Gold mine.

[Nanner]

[QUOTE=Budget Queen]
My opinion only but these short cruises are significantly lacking in that you miss an excellent port or glacier, which is a major reason to sail the Inside Passage. The land portion has ENDLESS bus travel in the least scenic portion of Alaska. Way too much time in transit.

While your information may be freely given, I kind of feel like your response basically said we should forget about this trip and stay home. Sorry, but I wanted to go on this trip. Yes, I know we miss glaciers, but my husband doesn't want to drive. Getting him to agree to go to Kenai afterwards was a major concession on his part.

[QUOTE]Some of the tours now include Kluane, but this area is totally undeveloped.

Ours includes Tombstone Territorial Park, which also looks pretty undeveloped. Frankly, I'd rather see that than somewhere that looks like Disneyland North or "fake" Gold Rush. Don't people go to Denali to get away from development (once you leave hotel row, at least?).

[QUOTE]Whitehorse is worth a skip, Dawson City is OK, but my clear preference is flying there out of Fairbanks. Again endless bus travel.

Well, we do get a Yukon River cruise, and the McKinley Explorer (more trains) as well as the bus time.

[QUOTE] (I am a member of the National historical Railroad society) Do NOT miss the most scenic portion of the Alaska RR Anchorage/Seward portion. Lots of boring sights on the Denali Park Anchorage section. :)

We're driving to Seward, so I'll get to see some good stuff there. Sorry if you feel the trip we chose is a waste, but the bottom line is that if I feel I want more glaciers, I can do the longer cruise later. My spouse would NOT drive to Denali, and I was going to get there one way or another. This will be our first Alaska trip, and I wanted to see some of the interior. My opinion only, but don't try so hard to rain on other people's parade.

[Budget Queen]

Sorry, but you posted this information. I only gave you my opinion and EXPERIENCE having BEEN there. There is NO Disneyland north- BUT clearly better scenic areas of Alaska compared to others. Your road trip from Whitehorse- is one of those, again from first hand experience. Sorry you take such offense - enjoy your trip. :)

[Host Caroline]

[QUOTE=Budget Queen]
My opinion only but these short cruises are significantly lacking in that you miss an excellent port or glacier, which is a major reason to sail the Inside Passage. The land portion has ENDLESS bus travel in the least scenic portion of Alaska. Way too much time in transit.

While your information may be freely given, I kind of feel like your response basically said we should forget about this trip and stay home. Sorry, but I wanted to go on this trip. Yes, I know we miss glaciers, but my husband doesn't want to drive. Getting him to agree to go to Kenai afterwards was a major concession on his part.

[QUOTE]Some of the tours now include Kluane, but this area is totally undeveloped.

Ours includes Tombstone Territorial Park, which also looks pretty undeveloped. Frankly, I'd rather see that than somewhere that looks like Disneyland North or "fake" Gold Rush. Don't people go to Denali to get away from development (once you leave hotel row, at least?).

[QUOTE]Whitehorse is worth a skip, Dawson City is OK, but my clear preference is flying there out of Fairbanks. Again endless bus travel.

Well, we do get a Yukon River cruise, and the McKinley Explorer (more trains) as well as the bus time.

[QUOTE] (I am a member of the National historical Railroad society) Do NOT miss the most scenic portion of the Alaska RR Anchorage/Seward portion. Lots of boring sights on the Denali Park Anchorage section. :)

We're driving to Seward, so I'll get to see some good stuff there. Sorry if you feel the trip we chose is a waste, but the bottom line is that if I feel I want more glaciers, I can do the longer cruise later. My spouse would NOT drive to Denali, and I was going to get there one way or another. This will be our first Alaska trip, and I wanted to see some of the interior. My opinion only, but don't try so hard to rain on other people's parade.
You have already booked your trip and merely asked for information. Cruisetours are but one of many options in Alaska and for many like yourself, the best option! Many of us on the boards have been to Alaska quite often and we will not rain on your parade or criticize your decisions! Believe me your trip is NOT a waste -- there isn't a place I've been in Alaska that wasn't scenic and if your husband doesn't want to do the driving, that's a purely personal decision (and one shared by many). HAL does a wonderful job with their excursions and dtours.

It's one thing if you are "considering" booking a cruise and another if you've already booked and are enthusiastically looking for suggestions as you were. Don't second guess yourself! And I hope you will continue to post your questions and share your trip with us when you return!

[Host Walt]

Sorry, but you posted this information. I only gave you my opinion and EXPERIENCE having BEEN there. There is NO Disneyland north- BUT clearly better scenic areas of Alaska compared to others. Your road trip from Whitehorse- is one of those, again from first hand experience. Sorry you take such offense - enjoy your trip. :)Candidly, being both a railfan and a multiple Alaska cruiser, watching yet another glacier "calving" has lost it's appeal. Seeing the back woods and its beauty and the natural habitat, together with a historic railway, never loses its appeal to me.

I understand how the love of trains in the wilderness can be a curious interest for some, but not to others.

To Nanner, you'll love the experience, trust me. As for the rest of Alaska's many vista's, sights, glaciers and activities, if you are like us, you'll be back again and again in the future.

BTW, make sure you bring lots of extra film for your camera (or a large capacity SanDisc if you have a digital.)

[CecilCtyCruiser]

Nanner - I also will be in Denali in early June - arriving late May 31 and then departing June 2. Sounds like you will be just behind us. We are doing cruisetour 10, with a southbound cruise on the Zaandam.

Like you, we are trying to decide what to do when we are there. Our trip differs from yours in that we go to Whitehorse/Kluane. I was disappointed to find out that Kluane is 2 to 2-1/2 hrs from Whitehorse, so we aren't sure what we want to do with our one free day there. It's so hard to know what is worthwhile.

This is a dream trip for me; I've always wanted to see Alaska. I will be traveling with my father (my mother passed away last year), and he has also dreamed of seeing Alaska. I'm sure it will be beautiful, and very different from the East Coast where I live.

As you explore and find good ideas, I would be interested in hearing them. I think we will do the plane around McKinley - hear alot of good about that. Also probably a float tour. Considered the glacier helicopter/dog sled combo, but its so expensive not sure its the best use of our funds.

I've heard the bus tours can make for a long day, but some say the scenery outweighs everything. I think we'll have a great time!

[JDee]

Nanner - I am also sure you will have a great time in Alaska. However, I would also agree with many of the points made by Budget Queen. Don't shoot the messenger......

Denali undeveloped?? A pipe dream....Sure it's not yet Times Square, St.Thomas and other such places....but it is a major tourist attraction, maybe even the most visited place in Alaska...

Happy cruising.....

[Nanner]

JDee, BQ and I had left this disagreement behind and moved on to other discussions. I don't think everything she said was wrong, just that I felt she needed to respect the choices others make on their tours.

If you reread the messages, you would note that NOBODY called Denali undeveloped. I mentioned that I will be visiting Tombstone Territorial Park, which looks pretty undeveloped. Another poster mentions Kluane, but I think we all know Denali is tourist central.

Which is not to say I don't expect to see some wildlife there. I just don't expect to be one of few people in the park.

[Nanner]

In reply to your excursion question, I'd strongly suggest looking at a lot of the Alaska forum posts for ideas. We are signed up to do the Denali summit flight (and yes, BQ is the one who convinced me to try it, acrophobia or no). While on the tour we are also doing a helicopter and glacier landing, one of the hiking trips to Tombstone Territorial Park, whale watching with Capt. Larry in Juneau, and some smaller excursions.

On our own post-tour trip we will do the Kenai Fjords boat trip, a float on the Kenai River and visit a sled dog kennel. So have fun planning, but start soon. Things DO fill up early and the sooner you can make arrangements the better.

A couple of other things you learn doing these trips-booking independently is cheaper than going through the cruise line, and often yields results that are as good or better than what you can get with the cruise line. Also, if you are doing independent touring, the TourSaver book might be worthwhile.

Have fun planning, I sure did!

[CecilCtyCruiser]

Nanner - Thanks for your suggestions. I have been looking at the Alaska posts, and they have helped...one reason we want to do the McKinley summit trip, and why we decided against some other things. Not much mentioned there about Kluane, though, and I'll have to do a little more investigating about Whitehorse.

I did think about booking some independent tours, but in particular on the cruise portion my father is nervous about getting back to the boat on time. As for the land portion, if we have a free day in Denali for instance, and want to do an independent flightseeing trip, how do we get to the airfield...do most tour companies provide pickup service? I guess I can check into this.

The trip is coming up fast for both of us! Can't believe it is finally almost here! I hope you have wonderful weather and a great, memorable trip.