Alaska-The one thing we must do...

[rashrg123]

Hi,

I am a Carribean Cruiser and my wife likes Alaska. So surprise...we are going to Alaska!!

We made an agreement. One Alaska cruise and I never have to go back!!!

We are not doing any land tours, but we wanted to know, In your opinion what is the one thing that we can not miss while cruising Alaska?

We are going to Ketchitkan, Sitka, and Juno.

Thanks,
Robert

[lazey1]

For me it was seeing the Russian church in Sitka. Whatever you do please keep an open mind and you will find much beauty, possibly falling in love with Alaska. Bon Voyage. Jane

[rashrg123]

For me it was seeing the Russian church in Sitka. Whatever you do please keep an open mind and you will find much beauty, possibly falling in love with Alaska. Bon Voyage. Jane


thanks i will :D

[Boytjie]

Splurge on an excursion by helicopter that lands on a glacier.

[NetwrkEng]

The float plane to Misty Fjords out of Ketchican comes highly recommended. Expensive, but you won't soon forget it.

[Roz]

You MUST enjoy the scenery.

Sounds like you're approaching this cruise as if it were torture. :eek: Relax and enjoy it. I can't get enough of Alaska.

Roz

[rashrg123]

The float plane to Misty Fjords out of Ketchican comes highly recommended. Expensive, but you won't soon forget it.

i saw that excursion. i was interested but it stated it was only 20 minutes of actual flight time. how much do you really get to see in 20 mins?

[Texas Tillie]

i saw that excursion. i was interested but it stated it was only 20 minutes of actual flight time. how much do you really get to see in 20 mins?

I did the floatplane to Misty Fjords with Michelle of Island Wings. Booked it independently, not with the ship. We were in the air at least 40 to 50 minutes total and were on the beach back somewhere in for almost 30 minutes. FABULOUS!!!!!

[rashrg123]

I did the floatplane to Misty Fjords with Michelle of Island Wings. Booked it independently, not with the ship. We were in the air at least 40 to 50 minutes total and were on the beach back somewhere in for almost 30 minutes. FABULOUS!!!!!

wow-sounds fun. do you have contact info for them or should i just google island wings?

[vancouverpacific]

Vancouver, the most beautiful city in North America. Plenty of threads on this board about what to do, see etc. check them out

[Boytjie]

Vancouver, the most beautiful city in North America. Plenty of threads on this board about what to do, see etc. check them out

But their cruise doesn't go to Vancouver...

[pipedreams62]

The place is so gorgeous,you'll love it. I would go with Capt Davey on the Esther G in Sitka great trip.

[EbayCruiser]

Whale watching in Juneau with Captain Larry "Orca Enterprises". Absolutely out of this world!! I will NEVER forget this experience. We saw humpback whales and Orca's. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

We have been to Alaska twice and the first time we did not book any excursions and just went off on our own. We walked through the Sitka National Park - "free" and it was really nice.

The second trip, we did the whale watching tour in Juneau and a float plane in Ketchikan. We booked our float plane online not through the cruiseline and we both enjoyed it considerably. We had about a 50 minute ride and the plane landed on a lake up in the mountains. Very beautiful scenery - we booked through Southweast Avaiation.

We would love to go back to Alaska again someday ... Alaska is the best cruise destination we have been on so far.

[Krazy Kruizers]

You need to do a couple of tours!!

Whale Watching and Helicopter Tours!!

[hammybee]

I see that Hubbard is on your intinerary. The ships does wide turns and so every view, is a good view. This is apt to be the most spectacular of all and it's included in the cost of your cruise.

[emilygrace]

We have been to Alaska twice and I would say the excursion to the dog musher camp was our best experience, especially if you are an animal lover. We don't have any dogs (just two rotten cats) but it was such an educational trip and DH loved the puppies.

[vancouverpacific]

But their cruise doesn't go to Vancouver...


I just looked it up on the HAL website and OOPS I APOLOGISE!

I see the cruise does stop in Victoria and starts and ends in Seattle. Just as I would take the extra days to see Seattle if I were visiting Vancouver, I think if your travel plans warrant, you might wish to rent a vehicle and drive up to Vancouver for a few days!

[Boytjie]

I just looked it up on the HAL website and OOPS I APOLOGISE!

I see the cruise does stop in Victoria and starts and ends in Seattle. Just as I would take the extra days to see Seattle if I were visiting Vancouver, I think if your travel plans warrant, you might wish to rent a vehicle and drive up to Vancouver for a few days!

That's what we did when we sailed on the Amsterdam out of Seattle; we first spent a few days in Vancouver. It is a beautiful city. ;)

[Texas Tillie]

wow-sounds fun. do you have contact info for them or should i just google island wings?

Here's the link http://www.islandwings.com/

Michelle is wonderful. I do see that she's charging $20 more for the tour this year vs. last year. Yes, Alaska excursions are expensive, but generraly worth it. This one is more than worth it!:)

[lakbury]

You must go with Michele of Island Wings in Ketchikan and with Davey on the Esther G in Sitka.
This is the best way to spend your time in Alaska - seeing Alaska with people who love it and know the area.
These excursions are pricey but if you are only going once to Alaska then these are totally worth your money.
IMO :)

[DaveOKC]

You MUST do a helicopter landing on a glacier. Juneau is where to do this. You will never forget it.
DaveOKC

[docksider21]

Whale watching with Harv and Marv in Juneau. Great. Just 5 pax on the
boat. Private tour at "regular" prices. Whale watching on a ships shorex
is usually on a large double deck catamaran with as many as 100 pax

Buchart Gardens in Victoria. Stunningly beautiful.

[rashrg123]

You MUST do a helicopter landing on a glacier. Juneau is where to do this. You will never forget it.
DaveOKC

Hi Dave,

We are from OKC too. We live in the Village.

thanks for the info.

[Robin7]

While I understand Alaska is not a warm, beachy cruise, it's got THE best scenery (well, next to New Zealand) I've ever seen. We've been on three Alaskan cruises.

We took an excursion in Sitka from the Zaandam that was called "Sea Otter Quest". (It was a couple of years ago.) Incredible tour. We saw seals, sea otters and whales and jelly fish and fishermen netting salmon. (Oh, my!)

In Juneau, we grabbed our own whale watching tour from Dolphin Jet Boat Tours from the dock after arrival because it was a business trip, and my husband had had to teach a seminar that morning. We beat Captain Larry to the whales! I highly recommend them.

We did the sea kayaking in Ketchikan. It was interesting, but I wouldn't do it again. Very rainy and really not that much to see.

People we were with raved, absolutely RAVED, about their plane flight to see bears. (I'm not sure what it was called.)

On previous visits, we've done the Mendenhall Glacier river float trip in Juneau. We did Creek Street and the Totems in Ketchikan (Saxman Village, I think), and the Misty Fjords float plane one time. (I got incredibly airsick, but at least when we docked, I did not lie down and let the other passengers walk past me like one lady did. :eek:) In Sitka, we've done a Russian dance show and the Russian-America history stuff.

And there's still so much to do, we've got to go back!

I have photos on webshots of our 2006 trip.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/552873190WLMTHU

Good luck! I hope you love it.

Robin

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

Last year we took the Amsterdam from Seattle to Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Ketchikan, and Victoria.
I prefer warm weather & southern cruises and wasn't sure I would enjoy somewhere cloudy, snowy, cold. I really enjoyed our cruise and couldn't believe the beautiful scenery everywhere we looked.
My advice would be to relax and take in the nature & wildlife. It really wasn't that cold, we only had a few cloudy days, and Glacier Bay was beyond words.
As far as excursions, we did the Mendenhall Glacier & Gardens tour and then the Mt Roberts tram in Juneau, Wildlife Quest in Sitka, walked around on our own in Ketchikan, and took the island tour with tea at the Empress in Victoria-we liked all of them.
I don't think you can go wrong in Alaska. :)

[rashrg123]

While I understand Alaska is not a warm, beachy cruise, it's got THE best scenery (well, next to New Zealand) I've ever seen. We've been on three Alaskan cruises.

We took an excursion in Sitka from the Zaandam that was called "Sea Otter Quest". (It was a couple of years ago.) Incredible tour. We saw seals, sea otters and whales and jelly fish and fishermen netting salmon. (Oh, my!)

In Juneau, we grabbed our own whale watching tour from Dolphin Jet Boat Tours from the dock after arrival because it was a business trip, and my husband had had to teach a seminar that morning. We beat Captain Larry to the whales! I highly recommend them.

We did the sea kayaking in Ketchikan. It was interesting, but I wouldn't do it again. Very rainy and really not that much to see.

People we were with raved, absolutely RAVED, about their plane flight to see bears. (I'm not sure what it was called.)

On previous visits, we've done the Mendenhall Glacier river float trip in Juneau. We did Creek Street and the Totems in Ketchikan (Saxman Village, I think), and the Misty Fjords float plane one time. (I got incredibly airsick, but at least when we docked, I did not lie down and let the other passengers walk past me like one lady did. :eek:) In Sitka, we've done a Russian dance show and the Russian-America history stuff.

And there's still so much to do, we've got to go back!

I have photos on webshots of our 2006 trip.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/552873190WLMTHU

Good luck! I hope you love it.

Robin

wonderful pics-thanks a million!!!

[Lurker1]

Seattle is a great city, you might spend some time there.

Victoria is beautiful, but you don't have a lot of time. If you can make it to the Buchard Gardens, do so, they are beautiful.

[3 Fan]

Alaska is beautiful. Once was enough for me. When I cruise I like to leave the cold for warmth. In Juneau, Captain Larry of Ocra Enterprises was wonderful, lots of whales. We flew with Southeast Aviation to Misty Fjords. That was spectacular, expensive but worth it. They picked us up in the terminal. Sitka, try the Raptor Center. They rehabilitate birds of prey. Your entry fee helps the cause. The Russian Church is nice, worth a visit. Dress warm and take an umbrella.

[Host Michell]

There are two things in Alaska we'd do again after our Volendam cruise last summer. One isn't an option for you (Kenai Fjords National Park excursion to Northwestern Glacier in Seward) -- but the other should be.

We loved the "Bering Sea Crab Fishing" excursion -- http://www.56degreesnorth.com for more information. We are big fans of "The Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel, so being on the Aleutian Ballad was a great experience for us -- but even those on our tour who'd never seen the show had a spectacular day.

Links to photos of it are in my signature at the bottom. Have a great time -- we really loved Alaska a lot more than my (warm-blooded) SO was expecting to, and we will be going back. :)

Oh, oops -- that tour is out of Ketchikan.

[Robin7]

There are two things in Alaska we'd do again after our Volendam cruise last summer. One isn't an option for you (Kenai Fjords National Park excursion to Northwestern Glacier in Seward) -- but the other should be.

We loved the "Bering Sea Crab Fishing" excursion -- http://www.56degreesnorth.com for more information. We are big fans of "The Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel, so being on the Aleutian Ballad was a great experience for us -- but even those on our tour who'd never seen the show had a spectacular day.

Wow! Thanks, Michelle. Which tour did you take out of Seward? My oldest son worked for HAL last summer as a cruisetour bus driver, and my daughter worked for Princess at Denali National Park. They're both going back this summer. My 13-year-old and I are flying up there to see them in June, and I want to do a glacier tour out of Seward.

And I had surgery earlier this year and caught the "Deadliest Catch" bug while I was recuperating. I'd soooooooooo do that tour!

Robin

[Host Michell]

Wow! Thanks, Michelle. Which tour did you take out of Seward? My oldest son worked for HAL last summer as a cruisetour bus driver, and my daughter worked for Princess at Denali National Park. They're both going back this summer. My 13-year-old and I are flying up there to see them in June, and I want to do a glacier tour out of Seward.

And I had surgery earlier this year and caught the "Deadliest Catch" bug while I was recuperating. I'd soooooooooo do that tour!

Robin


In Seward we did the Kenai Fjords (Alaskan Heritage -- same company) tour to Northwestern Glacier -- a 9 hour tour. That was our turnaround day during our back to back, so we had the whole day and completely loved every minute of it. There are photos of it in the album linked below -- at the Seward album.

We'd do the Deadliest Catch tour again without hesitation. Wonderful day! :) Hope you are all recovered from your surgery, Robin!

[Sunshine91]

We loved the "Bering Sea Crab Fishing" excursion -- http://www.56degreesnorth.com for more information. We are big fans of "The Deadliest Catch" on the Discovery Channel, so being on the Aleutian Ballad was a great experience for us -- but even those on our tour who'd never seen the show had a spectacular day.

John & I both watch the TV show, so I think I'll send him on that boat trip while I go snorkelling. Can you imagine - snorkelling in Alaska? It seems that Ketchikan is a port with a million & one things to do! :)

I'd still like to see the totem poles & hit Creek St for a bit of shopping. We'll be on Ryndam's last southbound voyage at the end of Sept, so I hope that shops are still open & to find a bargain or 2. :D

[Boytjie]

I'd still like to see the totem poles & hit Creek St for a bit of shopping. We'll be on Ryndam's last southbound voyage at the end of Sept, so I hope that shops are still open & to find a bargain or 2. :D

We were on the second last cruise of the season and there were lots of sales everywhere.

[mamaofami]

The best trip I've ever taken was the 4 glacier helicopter ride out of Juneu. We landed on the glacier and went dog sledding. Where else will you ever have the opportunity to do that?

[Robin7]

The best trip I've ever taken was the 4 glacier helicopter ride out of Juneu. We landed on the glacier and went dog sledding. Where else will you ever have the opportunity to do that?

My husband, his brother and brother's wife did that when we were on the Veendam many, many years ago. They LOVED it! (I was too, too chicken. I can barely fly on a plane with my husband, no way was I going to chance orphaning my children on a helicopter. :eek:)

Robin

http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/32652/2187226120095180459S600x600Q85.jpg

[aliaschief]

There has been many great suggestions. Our suggestion is that each individual in your party have their own set of binoculars. There is too much to see to be sharing back and forth.

It's a beautiful cruise and vacation.

[AH4000]

Sitting on your balcony watching Eagles fly by...cost=O dollors ..experience=Priceless..:)

[DaveOKC]

We live near Mercy hospital in OKC. Small world. I sometimes work with the City of the Village.
DaveOKC

[rashrg123]

We live near Mercy hospital in OKC. Small world. I sometimes work with the City of the Village.
DaveOKC

yep-small world!

[yogi2929]

You can always snorkel in Ketchikan! DH and both DD's had a blast doing this. I went to Dolly's House on Creek Streetand checked out her shower curtain:D.

Cheap trinkets at the Ben Franklin near the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau. The one in Sitka is near the Russian Church.

In Juneau, we helicoptered to the top of the Mendenhall and actually drove the dogsleds.

Have fun, it is a wonderful cruise!

[rashrg123]

You can always snorkel in Ketchikan! DH and both DD's had a blast doing this. I went to Dolly's House on Creek Streetand checked out her shower curtain:D.

Cheap trinkets at the Ben Franklin near the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau. The one in Sitka is near the Russian Church.

In Juneau, we helicoptered to the top of the Mendenhall and actually drove the dogsleds.

Have fun, it is a wonderful cruise!

Snokeling in Ketchikan??? I can not imagine that!!! Sounds cold :o

[cruisecrasy]

I just looked it up on the HAL website and OOPS I APOLOGISE!

I see the cruise does stop in Victoria and starts and ends in Seattle. Just as I would take the extra days to see Seattle if I were visiting Vancouver, I think if your travel plans warrant, you might wish to rent a vehicle and drive up to Vancouver for a few days!

Anyone knows Victoria is the most beautiful city at least in Canada - Vancouver is a very close second & of course I am not biased!! :D

I agree with u 'vancouverpacific' - see Vancouver if u can - well worth the trip!!

As far as the other suggestions, as usual on CC, all excellent. Now u have a tough choice!

I wish u a great Alaskan cruise - I suspect it will awe u...!! :)

[rashrg123]

Anyone knows Victoria is the most beautiful city at least in Canada - Vancouver is a very close second & of course I am not biased!! :D

I agree with u 'vancouverpacific' - see Vancouver if u can - well worth the trip!!

As far as the other suggestions, as usual on CC, all excellent. Now u have a tough choice!

I wish u a great Alaskan cruise - I suspect it will awe u...!! :)

i am looking forward to Victoria. my wife and i are doing a horse drawn carriage ride. it should be very romantic!

[Gravity Railroad]

The float plane to Misty Fjords out of Ketchican is just spectacular. The first photo shows our approach to Goat Lake. The second just before landing.

[yogi2929]

John & I both watch the TV show, so I think I'll send him on that boat trip while I go snorkelling. Can you imagine - snorkelling in Alaska? It seems that Ketchikan is a port with a million & one things to do!

I'd still like to see the totem poles & hit Creek St for a bit of shopping. We'll be on Ryndam's last southbound voyage at the end of Sept, so I hope that shops are still open & to find a bargain or 2.

You will love it. DH our two DD's and their friend went snorkeling. They were only cold at first. The water was about 40F. At the end you pour warm water into your suit. Needless to say they were in full suits, hoods, gloves and booties. The only part exposed was the upper part of their cheeks.

While they went snorkeling, our friends went to the Lumberjack show.

[Boytjie]

While they went snorkeling, our friends went to the Lumberjack show.

Now that was a hoot! Corny but fun.

[clogaltocruise]

I agree that the beauty and peacefulness of Alaska is unbelievable. We are taking our 6th cruise there this September. One of our favorites was the floatplane trip and salmon bbq to Taku Glacier (out of Juneau). Enjoy!

[EduTravler]

My sister knows Michelle from diving and so my husband and so I have booked with her independently as well. She is less costly and does pick up at cruise ship docking area, etc.

[cruznon]

Alaska is incredible! It took three years to talk my husband into going on an Alaskan cruise--he hates cold weather and thought it would be awful, but he agreed to go for me. HE loved it more than any other cruise we had taken!
We are now planning our third cruise to Alaska. You also may be surprised how much you love this Alaskan cruise.