Questions on Cruise Tour 20

[Landlubber54]

We will be on HAL Cruisetour 20 this coming summer, landing in Fairbanks on July 25th. HAL lists all sorts of "excursion" opportunities at various parts of the land tour and I wonder if we'll really have time for them. I've got some questions I have sent to HAL, but don't know how soon I'll hear back...:confused:
1. Flying in from SoCal(ONT), what time should we expect to get to Fairbanks? I get the feeling that Day 1 is meet the Tour Director, go to hotel, go to dinner, go to bed. Am I far off?
2. On Day 2, we will be taking the train from Fairbanks to Denali. Once there, we go on the Tundra Wilderness Tour. I know there will be plenty of daylight, but will we feel like doing anything after this? (Yeah, that's a pretty subjective question. Hint: We're 50 and we'll have our 13 yo DD with us.)
3. On Day 5, it looks like we see that Portage Glacier in the AM, then head to Girdwood in the PM. Any hints on what time we get to the Alyeska Prince Hotel?

Appreciate any input, whether negative or positive. :cool:

[Budget Queen]

What time is your flight?? If you booked cruiseair- this is a MISTAKE- usually terrible connections and usually you are far better off booking your own and getting your own timeframe cheaper. You are correct, you do not have any time for anything in Fairbanks- a highlight the boat tour and gold dredge isn't included??? Be aware that the train leaves at 8am arrives in Denali Park at noon, your bus tour will likely be at 2pm (if scheduled the same day) arriving back around 10 pm. With 2 nights in Denali Park- you may be scheduled the following day?? - again allow up to 8 hours. TAKE snacks/food. The included "meal" is awful and certainly lacking. :) There are park activities to consider listings at www.nps.gov/dena consider the sled dog demos. You will depart Denali Park at noon arriving Anchorage 8pm. It is an hour++ to Portage Glacier- boat ride included another hour, then at most 20 min's back to Alyeska Hotel. So I would assume you will be there mid afternoon? Be aware there AREN'T a lot of activies there and not a place I would be 2 days without a car. Budget fully for meals- extremely costly at the hotel location- but some of the best dining in Alaska. :) A key point- there will be VERY few if any kids on this land portion, be sure to bring games and plenty of batteries, even a portable DVD player is a great option. My opinion only this tour is lacking in missing out on the key Fairbanks and Anchorage activities and certainly you would see more going on your own, way cheaper too. So research Denali Park and Girdwood carefully and do what you consider your priorities, plenty to consider. :)

[Landlubber54]

I appreciate the information. Here are my responses:

1. On the airfare, I do still have it with HAL (I know, rookie mistake.). The airfares available through Expedia, Travelocity, Kayak, etc., are at least $100 pp more right now (maybe they will go down as June/July approach). I think the open jaw aspect may have an impact on that.
2. Don't really have anything in Fairbanks included (unlike Tour 18). We land late one day in Fairbanks and get on the train early the next morning.
3. With our getting back at 10:00 pm :eek: from the Wilderness Tour, you have me a little worried about the next day. I have us scheduled to go on a horseback ride (DD's idea) at 9:00 am. Hopefully we will have time to sleep, eat breakfast and get to the horses!
4. As far as Alyeska goes, we will likely rest the first afternoon. The second day we are scheduled to go tube floating (minimal whitewater) through Turnagain Pass. I have read and heard about the relative isolation of the hotel, so I am counting on that to take a big block of time.
5. I am expeting food to be a huge expense. In Girdwood, I have read about a few places (Double Musky Inn and Chair 5) that sound as though they will be good options to what's available at the hotel.

I have to tell you that, originally, just the DW and I were booked to take Tour 18. But we had a problem figuring out what to do with DD. Sitter options did not work out to our satisfaction and we became a party of three. By that time, Tour 18 (probably the tour portion) was fully booked. :( At first we actually considered Tour 22 and the Arctic Circle. We then figured that once you have seen the sign saying you are above the Arctic Circle, the thrill wears off.

Thanks again for your insights.:D

[Budget Queen]

Frankly, I think your compromises are too great. Your Girdwood stay is a VERY costly option to do resting up. :) There is SO much to see and do and you are missing out. There is no reason to fly all the way to Fairbanks and see nothing? Have you considered renting a car and going on your own. Most certainly your daughter is going to be bored silly on some portions. It is extremely SIMPLE to go with a rental car and PLAN YOUR time acording to YOUR interests. Only ONE road. You would make far better use of your time at half the cost.

[TylerRose]

I have no regrets booking a Cruise tour for our extended family... for us... meeting up from 3 regions, 3 generatioms, and very different health issues, it was a no brainer...
That said, we have decided to "go both ways", and if you can spare the time, perhaps you too can add on a bit at the begining. We added 3 nights independent travel prior to a shorter cruise tour so that "grandparents could do less" and our family could explore a bit on our own. I know everyone says the CT is exhausting, so I am glad cruise follows.
AS for cruising with a 13 year old... it is different from a 12 year old... Personally I am finding it the equivilent of a hormonal alien invasion! (Where did my DD who liked being with our family go?)
That said, we double up on camera geer and let the kids (this summer 12 & 14) shoot video and Photos. When bordem sets in they have gameboys, CD players, and perhaps Budget Queens idea to bring a DVD player, but probably just lap top since it is more versatle.
That said... the kids always seem eager to spot the wildlife before us and do stay involved... Shipboard... we're lucky when we see them at lunch, and sometimes dinner is a formal picture, quick eat, and rapid escape. They love meeting and mingling. But make no mistake, HAL has gone to great lengths to let them have "their space" and they consider it "their" preference!

[Landlubber54]

I appreciate the info from both of you, BQ and TT. To BQ, the cruisetour is my father-in-law's idea, and he is footing most of the bill. He's pretty much aware of the costs. Time is still on my side, to allow me to make changes, especially on transportation.

TT, DW and I have been living the hormonal invasion for several years (13 yo has an 18 yo DS). As for entertainment, we are taking a laptop with us that has a CD-ROM drive, as well as her CD player. DD will have music and movies for those long stretches of nothingness. On the ship, I am hopeful that the modifications made to the Ryndam will help our DD enjoy herself as much as your kids obviously did.

HAPPY SAILING!