Alaska Comprehensive

[RETIRE2CRUISE]

Hi Everyone,

The purpose of this thread is to compile all the great information already out there on many different threads and hopefully save you all the many hours searching for bits and pieces of information by placing it all in one place. We had a great trip and I hope you do to.

Alaska - WONDERFUL!

http://www.cruisecritic.com/doorsign.pdf Door signs to recognize each other

Our Roll Call had about 50 members at our Meet and Greet, and Princess provided a place and dry snacks for us. We have a website that might be helpful to some of you for future plans at

http://alaskacruiser.home.sprynet.com

http://www.toursaver.com/index.php/home/ $99
$79 Talkeetna River Guides - Two-hour Talkeetna Natural History River Float 8:45 am, 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm, & 6:30 pm (2) $62 Denali Park Resorts Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theater (3) $255 Talkeetna Air Taxi - Flightseeing Tour of Denali w/Glacier Landing! $25 Mount Roberts Tramway
http://www.alaska-discounts.com/Participants.htm#Top $50
http://www.princesslodges.com/fairbanks_lodge.cfm
http://www.cruisedirectonline.com/alaska_lodges.htm



I've read about people using a waterproofing spray for sneaks. I'm assuming I can buy this in a store like Wal-Mart? Will it ruin the sneaks? They are fairly new. Also, someone suggested spraying jeans. Does this have an adverse effect on clothing? Has anyone done this before and did it work? Waterproofing spray is really more like water repellant spray. Same as what you would spray on your winter boots (but not for leather) if you live somewhere you need to have winter boots. Won't hurt your shoes and although I've never tried it on clothes, I'm sure it won't hurt a pair of jeans - it will wash right out.

TIPPING:

Based on Budget Queen's advice, I planned to tip $20/pp for our Misty Fjords flight. We tipped $10/pp for the whale watch, and $10/pp for our Chilkoot Charters driver/guide because he did such a great job. It worked out to ~ 10% max. of the cost of the tours.

LAND TOUR:

Train Information
http://www.princess.com/learn/destinations/alaska/highlights/rail_service/index.html
Fairbanks to Denali about 4 and then the same to the McKinley lodge
Denali Lodge to McKinley Lodge - 4 hours by train 1 hour by bus from Talkeetna

McKinley Lodge to Anchorage - 3 hour by bus
the longest train ride was from the Princess railroad depot near Talkeetna to the ship -about 7 hours


On the Princess trains between their lodges in Fairbanks, Denali, and Mt. McKinley? Is the storage for carry-on’s as critical as the reps say it is? The book says take a small tote only as your only storage area is under your seat or under the table between you and someone sitting across from you. I do know that they only allow a single checked bag per person to follow you, and any others get tagged "meet me on the ship." You definitely want something soft that will squish underneath your seat. Our regular carry-on would not have fit. If your carry-on doesn't fit, then they will wrap it in plastic and leave it outside on the viewing platform, which is a real pain for those that want to be standing on the viewing platforms taking pictures. We took the McKinley Explorer to and from Denali and you won't be disappointed at all... The cars are beautiful and roomy with domed glass that lets you see everything....and the dining service is wonderful... the commentary along the way is very good as well.

Morning train from Fairbanks to Denali after an early breakfast, we departed the lodge at 7:30 for the train depot. You are told to only take one carry on. This isn't true. Many people had other bags; you just need to be able to stow them under your seat. You sit 4 to a table, riding in the top of a double decker train can be hot. We were in the last car and it wobbled a lot - so if you are prone to motion sickness, I would take a Dramamine. We were told to eat in the hotel, but others were late and had breakfast on the train - they said it was a fantastic meal and the same price as the buffet in the hotel - $10. We arrived in the Denali Princess hotel around 12:30 freshen up and get ready for the Tundra Wilderness Tour (TWT). Our suitcases were to arrive while on tour.
Travel day from Denali to Talkeetna and the Mt. McKinley Lodge. Another 4.5 hour train ride. First another breakfast in the King Salmon restaurant. This portion of the trip was beautiful The scenery was amazing. We had bear sightings and a trestle bridge to cross. It seemed most of the nice scenery was on the left side of the train. lunch was offered on the trip down to Talkeetna. once again, boarded a bus for a 1 hour drive to the McKinley Princess Lodge. The McKinley Lodge is new and simply breathtaking. The great room overlooking Denali is wonderful, as is the deck.

On a cruise tour what time does your luggage need to outside your door in the hotels? Most mornings luggage had to be out by 7AM, I think on the last day we had until 9AM. It depends on when your transportation is leaving. They are very organized-you are given an envelope containing your room keys and instructions for that night and the following day, including luggage times, meeting times, tour times, room number, etc. You don't have to go through check-in or check out at the lodges (unless you have charged anything to your room). Very easy!
Is there a guide book which would include the roads from Anchorage to Denali and Fairbanks? The best book for interior Alaska is The Milepost. It has mile by mile guides and maps for every area. http://www.amazon.com/Milepost-2008-...81355&sr= 8-1
Denali: Princess Denali Lodge a big disappointment in terms of service and employee attitude, Lodge lacking in atmosphere. The next day we took the Denali National Park "school bus" tour to the Eielsen Center (66 miles). For the money, this is a great tour. If you are a "senior" get a pass before making reservations, as the one they sell is for 7-days only and you can't get a refund by buying a senior pass at the Visitor Center. They also have a longer tour but this one suited our needs. There's a Denali South Lookout Point along the Park Road Highway at about mile 137 (est.). Everyone I've spoken with says if you do anything in Denali, at least take the shuttle to Mile 66 as Nancy did, or take the Tundra Wildnerness Tour. That night our Premier tour representative called by and gave us the options for the next day. We decided to take a flight in a 6 seater plane around Mt McKinley and he booked it for us. This was absolutely mindblowing and worth every cent of the $150 for the 1 hour flight.
Mt McKinley: Princess McKinley Lodge totally different - much better. The McKinley Princess is remote, but the view of Mount McKinley is spectacular, it's a beautiful place and very rustic. Food and drink reasonable for Alaska, try the Alaska Brewery Rasberry Wheat Ale!!! If we're going to McKinley and wanted to check out Talkeetna when we arrive could we send our bags ahead on the bus so we can shop and eat, rather than go there, check in and come all the way back for that? Yes you can stop there and they have a shuttle that will take you to mt. mcKinkey, takes about an hour. We left early on our last day at mcKinley, and took the early shuttle to talkeetna for a few hours, then walked to the train station for our next leg to anchorage. The town of Talkeetna is veeeeeeery small and not really worth a trip. I would find something else to do at McKinley Lodge. We LOVE Talkeetna, and woundn't miss it for anything if we were anywhere nearby. I would take the shuttle into town, and enjoy this unique (yes, little) town! In my opinion, it's even worth the long shuttle ride just to have breakfast at the Talkeetna Roadhouse! Oh I can taste those GIANT triple berry (fresh) sourdough pancakes now!!! Taking a flightseeing excursion is expensive, but will be an experience you'll never forget!
I haven't taken the tour through Princess, but took the glacier landing Grand Denali tour with Talkeetna Air Taxi http://www.talkeetnaair.com/flightseeing.html out of Talkeetna. We landed on Ruth Glacier. My opinion only but the top tour in the area are McKinley flights. You are not likely to see it without them being there only one day. I like the summit flights (vs summit views), but ski plane landings are exciting too. At the lodge only two trails I remember both very short ones. Strolling very leisurely, one took us 20 minutes, the other 15. Our flightseeing over Denali out of Talkeetna last year was definitely the highlight of our trip (out of many wonderful highlights). We went with Talkeetna Air Taxi http://www.talkeetnaair.com/ on a flight over Denali and the Alaskan Range, with a glacier landing thrown in. It was awesome. As I said in my review, my DH didn't originally want to come on this vacation, but when we were flying over those unbelievable mountains and glaciers, his smile was as big as his face! If you're interested, take a look at my photos and trip review for more info by clicking on the links below: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/559610247EglVqD


http://alaska.org/talkeetna/mahays-jetboat-safari.jsp -- The jet boat is very loud. However, it was kind of fun and the scenery was very pretty, although I wouldn't do this excursion again. The boat does go fast but there were many children/older folks on board. Absolutely expect no wildlife. The jetboat makes noise.

The last shuttle home to the lodge is at 9 PM and don't miss it or you will be looking for accommodations in town. If I remember correctly, it leaves the lodge on the hour and the leaves Talkeetna on the 1/2 hour with the exception of the last shuttle leaving at 9 PM.

The flyer listing the times is at the excursion desk and lists the price so I would assume the 10 round trip fee is for everyone, but since we weren't on the Princess landtour I can’t vouch for the accuracy.

Ports of Call:

Onboard Lecturers and Balladeer: Steve Hites (singer/songwriter/Skagway street car tour owner), Libby Riddles (Iditarod winner), and Michael Modzelewski (Adventurer/naturalist) were the best parts of the cruise for us.
Adventurer Michael Modzelewski gave four talks. Libby Riddles -- first women to win the 1,100 mile Iditarod dog sled race. Steve Hites -- He sang on the ship also owns the Skagway Street Car Tour which has colorfully-dressed young women in bright yellow street cars for tours of Skagway.
6/23 Tues Cruising College Fjord 6:00 am 9:00 am
6/24 Wed Glacier Bay National Park 10:30 am 8:30 pm
Glaciers & Wildlife from the Ship: WOW Our expectations were exceeded. Glacier Bay Marjorie Glacier was very active - lots of calving. Tracy Arm was very cold and I went back to the cabin and added a couple of more layers and was fine with warm pants, a light jacket/sweater and then a heavy jacket with a hat and gloves, we were on outside decks for over three hours. Tracy Arm. deck blankets very cold and I could have used warmer pants and my leather gloves did not keep my hands as warm as a thick pair of winter gloves. Endicott Glacier was pretty, just not the same as Tracy Arm. Maybe an early breakfast is recommended for Glacier Bay day but no need for a late dinner. We were out of Glacier Bay by early afternoon. But if you enjoy whale watching from the ship, then the afternoon is a good time to do that.
Whales: We did not take a whale watching excursion in Juneau, but we saw whales from our balcony on four times. Itinerary Details

Skagway:6/25 Thurs 5:30 am 8:15 pm

Skagway Mining Company on the main street the most popular place to shop.
Make sure you bring your passport with you, we rented a car from Avis in Skagway ($111.55 for the day). We took the drive up to Carcross and Emerald Lake. The scenery was spectacular! This was the best part of our cruise. It was a gorgeous day with blue skies and lots of sunshine, perfect for viewing the snowcapped mountains and beautiful lakes. It was 75 miles to Emerald Lake. We rented a car and drove the Klondike Highway to Carcoss Canada. This cost about $140 including gas. There is an excursion on the train, but that was $189 EACH. the car was not only cheaper, but we got to stop and take pictures whenever and for as long as we wanted. If you think you want to do this, you will need to reserve your car in advance. Do go to the shops that have signs in them that say "Owned by a Native Alaskan". their prices are better.
· We did the dog sled camp trip. We really enjoyed learning about dog sledding and seeing all of those dogs. Having said that, I'd probably opt for one of the train rides if I did it all over again. Town was fun to walk through and do some shopping. We rented a car and drove to Caribou Crossing (they have a website), and contacted the dog sled camp through them and made a reservation for 10:30AM and had a very private session before all the tour buses (between 11-1, it's really busy there). Cost about the same as the other tours (you'll save with more than 2 in the car), but we were able to stop & go as we pleased - Emerald Lake, Carcross, many stops in between and Jewell Gardens (recommend - local artisans). http://www.google.com/search?q=dog+sledding+at+Caribou+Crossing&rls=com. microsoft:*:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7DMUS
· http://wpyr-ncl.com/routemap.php map
· http://www.*****************/ guide to self tour to emerald Lake and points north. Have lunch at Cariboo Crossing - it is between Carcross & Emerald Lake and we had a very good lunch plus enjoyed the museum of full size stuffed North American animals. The also raise huskies for dog sledding here and you can actually go for a dog sled ride. Carcross (don't forget to get your passport stamped in the post office
· We stopped at spirit lake wilderness resort for lunch on someone's recommendation on this board... the food was great
· Avis full size chevy http://www.neotravel.com/deals/coupons_avis.php choose (Wal-Mart) sends you to Avis website and discounts your rental. By the way, Avis may be able to rent you a van. Make your reservation online, as usual, then e-mail the Skagway Avis and ask for a van. They never responded to my e-mail but when we called to confirm the reservation shortly before we sailed, they had us down for a van (and a very nice one it was!). We took the shuttle 2 weeks ago, and it was still $1.50 each way. Be sure to ask for the Avis stop because it's not the first one and then ask where it is, because it's a few doors down. You could try the one other car rental company: http://www.geocities.com/sourdoughcarrentals/Rented a van from Sourdough Car Rental....Drove to Emerald lake..8 Passenger Van
·
· How much time should we allow for the drive into the Yukon and Caribou Crossing. We hope to be on the road by 9am and I do like to take pictures. I guess bottom line when do we need to leave Caribou Crossing/Emerald lake to make it back to Skagway and still have a little time to explore the town before an 8:30 ship departure? I recommend 5 hours for the whole trip, but you can make it back to Skagway from Caribou Crossing in an hour and 10 minutes without rushing (plus border crossing, but that's always very quick - 10 minutes would be a long delay). If you pick up your car at about 8:30, you can go by the Gold Rush cemetary and then out the Dyea spur to the overlook, and be on your way into the Yukon by about 9:15 or so. If you use about three hours driving that will give you lots of time for the great picture stops, and get you to Emerald Lake around noon. Stop for lunch at Spirit Lake, and get back to Caribou Crossing about 1:30 (ship's time -- Yukon time is an hour different) and you will find the buses have left and you have the place to yourself. Allow an hour and a half for the dogs and the museum, be on the road by 3:00 and you should be back in Skagway before 5, giving you time to shop a bit and look around before dinner aboard. Worked well for us.

Juneau:6/26 Fri 6:30 am 4:00 pm

We were able to make it to Dawes Glacier. We took the bus transfer to town ($3.00 for a round trip). We then got on a Big Blue Bus ($14.00 round trip) to Mendenhall Glacier. You don't need reservations to do this, just buy your tickets when you get to town right at the drop off point. The buses run at peak times every 30 minutes. It's a 20 minute ride. And definitely, yes there can be significant returning lines. There is a cab line if needed.
· The tram and glacier are top attractions, and especially since you are on a budget, the cheapest. The raptor center usually has an eagle or other large bird they are nursing back to health on display. The glacier is really cool, as far as places to eat, there isn't any place worth mentioning. I would get some sandwiches and snacks from the boat and just have a picnic. The tram has some picnic tables nearby in a cool lookout spot. The glacier doesn't have anywhere to buy food. Another cool place probably only if the weather is nasty, is the state museum. there is a raven exhibit that is totally kid and adult friendly and really fun very interactive exhibit. There is another hike that leads to a mining museum. their hours are kinds funky and unreliable, so you might not want to get your hearts set on that one. Bring rain gear as it will most likely be raining and if it isn't, all the better, but you will be prepared.

My absolute favorite it's called 'the thane ore house' and yes, it used to be an old ore mine but has been turned into the best place to get fried halibut in town and their salmon. It is also a bit of a mining museum too which only means it has a lot of left behind crap. You would need to take a cab to the ore house.
· Juneau is rather charming (the free State Capitol tour was good).
· Juneau - Harv and Marv's Whale watching
· Mendenhall Glacier helicopter and dog sledding tour http://www.temscoair.com/
· You may want to check http://www.coastalhelicopters.com/ They also do a helicopter/dogslead tour. We are doing their tour in 2 weeks or so. Much cheaper than booking through Carnival and have had great reviews on this board.
· TEMSCO $479 each, Coastal $439 each and ERA, of which I give the BIG edge to Coastal, having flown with all three companies. BQ
· Does anyone have any info about the shuttle from the pier to the Mendenhall Glacier? MGT is one. http://www.mightygreattrips.com/se_a...excursions.htm
Details under the "Blue Glacier Express" tour. MGT bright blue bus; trips every hour to the Visitors Centre; $14 pp return. Last pick-up at 6 pm. You catch them at the piers at Franklin St. They run every 1/2 hour from 9am to 6pm The dock at Juneau was crowded with vendors for numerous tours when we were there a few weeks ago, so you need to look for the MGT sign on the vendors booth. check out the glacier cam, you can see people walking out to the viewing point. http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/
The bus schedule is at http://www.juneau.lib.ak.us/capitalt...sschedule5.pdf
· a) Dog Sled tours are the number one cancelled tours because the tours are at a much higher elevation, on snow, not ice. The company I talked to was Temsco (Private and not thru Princess Lines) they confirmed that if the dog sled tour is cancelled they try and offer the glacier tour. But most all the comments I have read on this board are about the tours people did take...which is great news. Much higher majority of tours were taken than cancelled from what I read.The Glacier tour is at a lower elevation and they have a choice of several glaciers, they have a bit more flexibility. Temsco said these tours are rarely cancelled but they do happen. Best advice on the boards have been to have a back up in every port...weather is so unpredictable.
Our second tour of the day was with Coastal Helicopters with a glacier landing on Herbert glacier. The ceiling was low, but we went off anyway with our pilot, Steve. However, all of the Princess tours cancelled their flights. Once we were "outfitted" in rain gear and spiked boots, we were off to our helicopter for a 15 tour taking us over Mendenhall glacier. After we landed on Herbert, we had about 10 mins on the glacier to take pictures. The landing was so smooth you hardly knew you were down. This was so much fun. Look for the pools of blue water. This is where the ice is so dense it turns blue.

We were in Juneau 6/18 and were scheduled with Coastal for the glacier landing and dog sledding at 8:15. I originally thought this time to be too early but when booking was advised that the earlier tours had a better chance of getting off if there was fog - fog gets worse during the day instead of better. Met our rep at the pier and was told that the dog sledding would be canceled - the helicopter has to land at 4,000 feet and the fog was too dense. They did offer a full refund if we chose to cancel, but instead we opted to go for the glacier landing and they refunded us half the original cost. We landed on the glacier at 1,800 feet and since it was overcast, the blues in the ice are much more brilliant than they would be on a sunny day. We were disappointed that the dog sledding had been canceled but heard that even glacier landings had been canceled later in the day due to fog so I'm glad we at least got to do that!

It was worth every penny! I would recommend that you make sure to take sunglasses because the reflection can be VERY bright. Also, make sure to take an extra pair of socks to leave at the NorthStarr office while you are up on the glacier. Even with all of the waterproof gear they provided, I stepped in one big slushy area and water went straight into my boot.

http://www.northstartrekking.com/content/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
The walk to Juneau was a bit far, and once there not much to see, we booked a bus to take us to the Mendenhall Glacier. It was $7 per person each way. We got to the Mendenhall glacier and walked out to the point in the rain. It was nice but you can't get that close to the glacier but it was still a beautiful view. Alaska Salmon bake. We did not want to go to one of the ship sponsored, overpriced, crowded salmon bakes, so we went to the Thane Ore House in Thane (about 10 minutes from downtown). They picked us up right in the center of town (for free) and brought us out to their restaurant, where we pigged out on salmon, ribs, fried halibut, beans, corn bread, and all kinds of picnic salads. We saw eagles and deer. It was packed with locals on their lunch breaks. We were going to ride the tram, but it was really foggy others said it was really nice even though it was foggy because there is plenty to do at the top even if the view was lousy. We did the Mendenhall Canoe Trip. This was very fun and the views of the glacier and water were un believable. Beware, if you are not use to rowing for 4 miles, you will be sore by the time the tour ends!
Juneau - We had a 7:30 whale watching excursion with Harv & Marv that I booked directly. Cost: $136.50 pp. On the water, it was really cold while underway. So dress in layers. We got great photos up close and personal with humpback whales. H & M run a 30 foot boat driven by 2 115 H.P. engines.

In Juneau, if you want to keep with the small, personal service, then the best way to go is Harv and Marv's. E-mail Eileen at eileen@harvandmarvs.com. Eileen is Marv's wife and she'll be able to set you up with everything you need. The trip cost, at this time, is $136.50 per person. Their website has all the information http://www.harvandmarvs.com/. One bit of advice, BOOK THESE TRIPS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! These are small vessels - six passangers each, and I can personally attest that these tours fill up fast! If Harv and Marv is unavailable, you could also try Orca enterprises. Capt. Larry is also great, but I recommend calling Carol at 1-888-733-6722. They're not too quick on the email requests! Their rates vary so check the website http://www.orcaenterprises.com/. The only alternative I know of for the Sitka trip is one offered by Allen Marine called the Sea Otter and Wildlife Cruise - but I guarantee that trip is available through whatever ship you may sail on. The only downside to that excursion is that it will contain way more than six people, it's still a very enjoyable trip mind you, just a bit bigger.

Ketchikan:6/27 Sat 10:00 am 6:00 pm

Ketchikan. We took the self-guided walking tour of Ketchikan enjoyed the Totem Heritage Center and the beautiful little city park adjacent to the Center was our favorite stop in Ketchikan. The Lumberjack show, lots of fun. The town is nice and I recommend walking over to the river walk. The houses in this area are on both sides of the river and are on stilts. It is a beautiful view. We spent the morning by starting out the Ketchikan walking tour and doing the Totem Heritage Center and the Eagle Conservation Center. We then went to meet our tour for the Saxman Village. We used Alaska Sourdough Tours was fabulous.
Take the tramway for $2 to the Cape Fox Lodge (on Creek Street, nice and quaint area). We did not see the salmon running in the creek, a lot of souvenir shops. There are a few totems outside the lodge and you can get a wonderful view of the port. The fish and chips on the dock at the Alaskan Surf are some of the best I've ever had.
http://www.islandwings.com/sfs.html $229 per person for 2-hours Island Wings Air Service
P.O. Box 7432 Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 Local (907) 225-2444 Toll-free (888) 854-2444
michelle@islandwings.com emailed her on July 26, 2008
or Southeast Aviation If she's booked call Southeast Aviation, those guys put on a great tour.
The cost for Glaciers and Misty Fjords $360 but you only have to pay 50% up front Island Wings for a 2 p.m. float plane flight to Misty Fjords. The flight into the fjords is nothing less than breathtaking. At times we flew at 3200 feet. She gave us a choice of 3 different landings. We ended up choosing a small lake where we could get off on an island to stretch our legs and take pictures instead of the standard of standing on the plane's pontoon. She is one of the independent pilots that pay the fee to the park service to actually allow passengers to get off on land. This was my second most favorite excursion.
Ketchikan Walking Tour
Pick up a map at the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau’s visitor information center (131 Front St) and follow the numbered signs posted along the route to learn about the history and culture of our community. Several popular attractions are located along the route, which starts downtown, including local museums, Creek Street, native cultural attractions, as well as plenty of shopping and restaurants. The route can be walked in as little as 60 minutes, but plan extra time to appreciate the sights and for entering attractions along the way.
In Ketchikan, we watched the lumberjack show. This is good if you have kids in your group. We also went salmon fishing with Ken of Northern Lights. However, only six can go fishing due to the size of the boat. You can walk to Creek Street and see the salmon swimming up the stream.

http://www.lumberjackshows.com/alaska/
At Prince Rupert, we took a small boat out to see the bald eagles. This was an excellent trip. We saw probably 200 bald eagles up close as the boat crew throws raw meat into the water and the birds swoop down and get it. Strongly recommend this tour.



Websites for each port:
http://www.traveljuneau.com/
great for whale watching!! then mendenhall glacier, on your own. only the cost to get there
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/
chance for bear watching

http://www.skagway.com/
if you are really on a budget, rent a car and drive the highway to the yukon. much to see and easy to do on your own. read a few pages of the alaska boards and you will find posts about it. google murray's guide.

http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/
totem pole parks, can do on your own
walk around town...if the salmon are running, very interesting. Check out kayakketchikan.com They are a great tour operator and you'll have a great time. They kayaking is not difficult kayaking and we saw wildlife both on shore (islands in the cove) as well as in the water.


There IS a WalMart in Ketchikan! It isn't close enough to walk, but you'll see a white van with a sign on the side saying "free transportation to WalMart" driving up and down the main street by the docks. ketchikan - walmart is a bus ride way north of town. just north of the cruise docks is tongass trading comp which is pretty much a dept store. the only non-trinket store left downtown.

juneau - walmart and fred meyer on the bus line way north of the cruise dock, not within walking. specialty shops downtown and a large grocery store near the federal building.



Some of my favorite souveniers have come from Alaska.
Juneau: Annie Kaills - located at 244 Front Street. Great selection of unusual items - many made by Alaskans. I have bought some wonderful note cards with pics of scenery and wildlife native to Alaska. wonderful handmade bead bracelets, pottery. I have also bought a spirit rattle - a neat little egg shape piece of pottery that has a face painted on it in silver or gold or bronze and it rattles when you shake it. You can bring up her really good web site..just do a search with her name.
Taku Smokery for great Salmon and Salmon Jerky - we shipped a lot home last year for all the guys in our family. It is located just past the Mt. Roberts Tram
Glacier Smoothie - very popular glacier silt soaps located between the tram and the Red Dog Saloon

I purchased some small Alaskan Jade carved bears. I just fell in love with these when we were lodging next to a made in Alaska store while in Anchorage... though the name of the store itself escapes m

WEATHER

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xxxxMayxxxxxx55xxxxx38xxxxxx16 hours
xxxxJunexxxxxx60xxxxx45xxxxxx18 hours
xxxxJulyxxxxxxx64xxxxx48xxxxxx17 hours
xxxxAugxxxxxxx62xxxxx47xxxxxx15 hours
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GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK

You will be at this port on 06/24/2009

Average High Temperature during the month of Jun:
53.0 Fahrenheit
Average Low Temperature during the month of Jun:
45.0 Fahrenheit


Average Precipitation during the month of Jun:
4.0 Inches

SKAGWAY


You will be at this port on 06/25/2009

Average High Temperature during the month of Jun:
66.0 Fahrenheit
Average Low Temperature during the month of Jun:
47.0 Fahrenheit


Average Precipitation during the month of Jun:
1.0 Inch

JUNEAU


You will be at this port on 06/26/2009

Average High Temperature during the month of Jun:
61.0 Fahrenheit
Average Low Temperature during the month of Jun:
45.0 Fahrenheit


Average Morning Relative Humidity during the month of Jun:
87.0 percent
Average Evening Relative Humidity during the month of Jun:
64.0 percent


Average Number of Clear Days during the month of Jun:
4.0 Days
Average Number of Cloudy Days during the month of Jun:
22.0 Days
Average Number of Days With Fog during the month of Jun:
5.0 Days
Average Number of Rainy Days during the month of Jun:
15.0 Days


Average Possibility of Sunshine during the month of Jun:
34.0 Percent
Average Number of Days Above 60F/15C during the month of Jun:
17.0 Days


Average Precipitation during the month of Jun:
3.0 inches
Most Recorded Rainfall during the month of Jun:
6.0 inches
Average Wind Speed during the month of Jun:
12.0 miles per hour

KETCHIKAN


You will be at this port on 06/27/2009

Average High Temperature during the month of Jun:
62.0 Fahrenheit
Average Low Temperature during the month of Jun:
47.0 Fahrenheit

POST CRUISE TRANSFERS:

US Direct same day arrival and departure from Vancouver seaport and airport

http://www.portvancouver.com/vanAlaC.../usDirect.html

Vancouver to Seattle
It appears that those that want to drive from Vancouver to Seattle are in for long waits starting Monday May 19 2008. The Peace Arch USA crossing will close 4 of the 8 gates to build a new border crossing. This will last till January 2010. While US Customs says they will move people to the Blaine Truck crossing they only have 6
gates and these are open most of the time anyways. This could effect those that are taking cruise transfers as the buses use the truck crossing southbound. The problem is while they have their own lane it is the extra traffic on the highway that will cause a problem. This has happened in the past with lots of traffic. Looks like an average five hour trip may have just gone up to 6 to 8 hours. Hope the cruise lines know about this, or they will be leaving lots of people behind.

The train is the best way to go. No stops for customs, no waiting at the border, and being able to get up and walk around, and eat/snack if you want to is the only way to go as far as I am concerned.

Seattle Took the Amtrak train for a very reasonable $26 to Seattle. It was actually a great experience and I would definitely recommend it if you have the time. It was a beautiful ride and got the chance to chat with some people on our car. The scenery in that part of the world is magnificent and the 4 hours were very relaxing.

http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/may08/W32.pdf



Alaska Airlines Visa

Originally Posted by Alaska surprise!
Has anyone done the booking of their airline flights on their own? How have you made out as compared to letting the cruise line do it? (aside of course for those who use frequent flying miles ).

Also, a guide that I spoke to suggested that I apply for an Alaska Airlines Mastercard. He said that purchases go towards air miles and that most importantly, once a year, you are eligible for a companion fare of $50 with the purchase of a fare. Was wondering if anyone had heard of this, tried this, has any advise about this....it seems it would be a great deal if it were true. And since we are planning to go a bit early, booking our own air could be benificial.

thanks so much!
sue


It's an Alaska Airlines Visa, issued through the Bank of America. We use the $50 companion ticket every year; one of the best things is that it's good for any fare, including first class, so that can make for good value.

Main drawback for you (I'm guessing) would be that the $50 companion fare is only good on Alaska Airlines-operated flights, and they don't serve any airports in PA - closest they get is Newark, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago and a couple of cities in Florida. If you're willing to make your own way to one of those cities first (and after) then it's a great deal.

Until the end of January, if you are accepted for a Visa Signature card, you'll also receive 20,000 Alaska miles right off the bat, which is enough for a coach award. Alaska's FF program is quite good and in that case living in the east is not a terrible drawback - you can earn and spend Alaska miles with American, Continental, Northwest and Delta, as well as several foreign carriers.

http://www.bankofamerica.com/alaska_..._alaskaair_sig

http://www.56-credit-cards.com/alaska-airlines-visa-signature.html


Not sure I understand your question but if it concerns one of the Alaska Airline's Bank of America Visa card programs and the $50 companion fare, you book through the airline, either by phone, $10 fee per ticket, or on line, no charge. You can also book on the Alaska website. The $50 companion fare is electronic, not a paper coupon, and can be used on-line. There's a yearly fee for the card but that's more than offset by the savings on tickets using the companion fare. If you're interested at all, the first step is to sign up with Alaska Airline's mileage program. Check their website for details.

If the companion ticket is good for any fare, even their most deeply discounted ones, then it is a good deal. Many airlines don't allow such companion certificates to be used on their cheapest fares (it is no surprise that they let the companion go for $50 on first class fares since first class fares are relatively expensive in comparison).

You comment about the usefulness of Alaska Air for the poster is a concern. It might or might not be a good deal for them.

Other airlines offer initial bonuses for credit cards such as United and Northwest. A great site to find current offers like this is www.freefrequentflyermiles.com There are various categories and one of them is Credit Cards.

Sue, I've had an AK Air Visa card for quite a few years now so I've been watching prices of flights from Newark (EWR) to various (not just AK) destinations. All I can say is that it's been my experience that I can buy TWO TICKETS on another airline for the price AK Air wants to charge for the one plus the freebie. So my strategy for that $50 companion ticket is different than most. I use my DL AMEX to accumulate miles, burn DL FF miles for free air to Anchorage (ANC) then use the $50 coupon - which comes at the renewal date of my credit card - to fly us from ANC to another destination. That's the only way I've been able to use those $50 coupons and feel I got VALUE out of them.

I use the $50 coupon every year, and don't plan on stopping. It may sound extravagant, but the companion fare value really kicks in when you buy first class tickets with it. Especially for folks traveling across the country, the difference riding up front is spectacular. The companion fare books into the same fare class as the "paid" fare (i.e. earns full miles, doesn't come out of restricted seat inventory etc.) so no "blackouts" or capacity restrictions, unlike award seats. You can use your miles for an award for anybody; no need to "transfer" miles. For the companion e-certificate you need to be one of the travelers. So your scenario (one paid, one $50 and one award seat) is quite feasible, if you find flights with adequate paid (2) and award (1) space.

Note the 20K mileage deal hinges on your credit score; many applicants actually get 10K miles instead, along with a nice ding letter. Note also that the companion fare only works on Alaska-operated flights, not codeshares operated by AA or some other partner.

It may be more stress free to let the cruise line handle everything. HOWEVER, there are a few things you should know about cruise air tickets. Yes, the cruise line is responsible for getting you to the ship, some how, some way. The cruise line responsibility DOES NOT mean they will get you to the cruise to embark at the originating port. You may miss 2 or three days of your cruise.

With planes flying full (and more and more overly full), your chances of getting on the next flight out in time to make your original cruise departure are diminished in this day and age.

I wrote the following post about cruise air. Should clear up some of the mysteries. Believe me, other than convenience, you are SEVERELY handicapped with "regular" cruise air. You may not make it to you cruise on day of departure.

[jeniferlyn]

Thank you for taking the time to put together all of the above information. We are booked next June so this is going to be really helpful!!

[springfire]

I for one would like to thank you for this post, great information that will help many. Nice job.

[Cruisin Oma]

Will definitely bookmark this in my favorites!

[vinostraeta]

Thanks for all the info!

Originally Posted by RETIRE2CRUISE

Hi Everyone,

The purpose of this thread is to compile all the great information already out there on many different threads and hopefully save you all the many hours searching for bits and pieces of information by placing it all in one place. We had a great trip and I hope you do to.

Alaska - WONDERFUL!

http://www.cruisecritic.com/doorsign.pdf Door signs to recognize each other

Our Roll Call had about 50 members at our Meet and Greet, and Princess provided a place and dry snacks for us. We have a website that might be helpful to some of you for future plans at

http://alaskacruiser.home.sprynet.com

http://www.toursaver.com/index.php/home/ $99
$79 Talkeetna River Guides - Two-hour Talkeetna Natural History River Float 8:45 am, 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm, & 6:30 pm (2) $62 Denali Park Resorts Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theater (3) $255 Talkeetna Air Taxi - Flightseeing Tour of Denali w/Glacier Landing! $25 Mount Roberts Tramway
http://www.alaska-discounts.com/Participants.htm#Top $50
http://www.princesslodges.com/fairbanks_lodge.cfm
http://www.cruisedirectonline.com/alaska_lodges.htm



I've read about people using a waterproofing spray for sneaks. I'm assuming I can buy this in a store like Wal-Mart? Will it ruin the sneaks? They are fairly new. Also, someone suggested spraying jeans. Does this have an adverse effect on clothing? Has anyone done this before and did it work? Waterproofing spray is really more like water repellant spray. Same as what you would spray on your winter boots (but not for leather) if you live somewhere you need to have winter boots. Won't hurt your shoes and although I've never tried it on clothes, I'm sure it won't hurt a pair of jeans - it will wash right out.

TIPPING:

Based on Budget Queen's advice, I planned to tip $20/pp for our Misty Fjords flight. We tipped $10/pp for the whale watch, and $10/pp for our Chilkoot Charters driver/guide because he did such a great job. It worked out to ~ 10% max. of the cost of the tours.

LAND TOUR:

Train Information
http://www.princess.com/learn/destinations/alaska/highlights/rail_service/index.html
Fairbanks to Denali about 4 and then the same to the McKinley lodge
Denali Lodge to McKinley Lodge - 4 hours by train 1 hour by bus from Talkeetna

McKinley Lodge to Anchorage - 3 hour by bus
the longest train ride was from the Princess railroad depot near Talkeetna to the ship -about 7 hours


On the Princess trains between their lodges in Fairbanks, Denali, and Mt. McKinley? Is the storage for carry-on’s as critical as the reps say it is? The book says take a small tote only as your only storage area is under your seat or under the table between you and someone sitting across from you. I do know that they only allow a single checked bag per person to follow you, and any others get tagged "meet me on the ship." You definitely want something soft that will squish underneath your seat. Our regular carry-on would not have fit. If your carry-on doesn't fit, then they will wrap it in plastic and leave it outside on the viewing platform, which is a real pain for those that want to be standing on the viewing platforms taking pictures. We took the McKinley Explorer to and from Denali and you won't be disappointed at all... The cars are beautiful and roomy with domed glass that lets you see everything....and the dining service is wonderful... the commentary along the way is very good as well.

Morning train from Fairbanks to Denali after an early breakfast, we departed the lodge at 7:30 for the train depot. You are told to only take one carry on. This isn't true. Many people had other bags; you just need to be able to stow them under your seat. You sit 4 to a table, riding in the top of a double decker train can be hot. We were in the last car and it wobbled a lot - so if you are prone to motion sickness, I would take a Dramamine. We were told to eat in the hotel, but others were late and had breakfast on the train - they said it was a fantastic meal and the same price as the buffet in the hotel - $10. We arrived in the Denali Princess hotel around 12:30 freshen up and get ready for the Tundra Wilderness Tour (TWT). Our suitcases were to arrive while on tour.
Travel day from Denali to Talkeetna and the Mt. McKinley Lodge. Another 4.5 hour train ride. First another breakfast in the King Salmon restaurant. This portion of the trip was beautiful The scenery was amazing. We had bear sightings and a trestle bridge to cross. It seemed most of the nice scenery was on the left side of the train. lunch was offered on the trip down to Talkeetna. once again, boarded a bus for a 1 hour drive to the McKinley Princess Lodge. The McKinley Lodge is new and simply breathtaking. The great room overlooking Denali is wonderful, as is the deck.

On a cruise tour what time does your luggage need to outside your door in the hotels? Most mornings luggage had to be out by 7AM, I think on the last day we had until 9AM. It depends on when your transportation is leaving. They are very organized-you are given an envelope containing your room keys and instructions for that night and the following day, including luggage times, meeting times, tour times, room number, etc. You don't have to go through check-in or check out at the lodges (unless you have charged anything to your room). Very easy!
Is there a guide book which would include the roads from Anchorage to Denali and Fairbanks? The best book for interior Alaska is The Milepost. It has mile by mile guides and maps for every area. http://www.amazon.com/Milepost-2008-...81355&sr= 8-1
Denali: Princess Denali Lodge a big disappointment in terms of service and employee attitude, Lodge lacking in atmosphere. The next day we took the Denali National Park "school bus" tour to the Eielsen Center (66 miles). For the money, this is a great tour. If you are a "senior" get a pass before making reservations, as the one they sell is for 7-days only and you can't get a refund by buying a senior pass at the Visitor Center. They also have a longer tour but this one suited our needs. There's a Denali South Lookout Point along the Park Road Highway at about mile 137 (est.). Everyone I've spoken with says if you do anything in Denali, at least take the shuttle to Mile 66 as Nancy did, or take the Tundra Wildnerness Tour. That night our Premier tour representative called by and gave us the options for the next day. We decided to take a flight in a 6 seater plane around Mt McKinley and he booked it for us. This was absolutely mindblowing and worth every cent of the $150 for the 1 hour flight.
Mt McKinley: Princess McKinley Lodge totally different - much better. The McKinley Princess is remote, but the view of Mount McKinley is spectacular, it's a beautiful place and very rustic. Food and drink reasonable for Alaska, try the Alaska Brewery Rasberry Wheat Ale!!! If we're going to McKinley and wanted to check out Talkeetna when we arrive could we send our bags ahead on the bus so we can shop and eat, rather than go there, check in and come all the way back for that? Yes you can stop there and they have a shuttle that will take you to mt. mcKinkey, takes about an hour. We left early on our last day at mcKinley, and took the early shuttle to talkeetna for a few hours, then walked to the train station for our next leg to anchorage. The town of Talkeetna is veeeeeeery small and not really worth a trip. I would find something else to do at McKinley Lodge. We LOVE Talkeetna, and woundn't miss it for anything if we were anywhere nearby. I would take the shuttle into town, and enjoy this unique (yes, little) town! In my opinion, it's even worth the long shuttle ride just to have breakfast at the Talkeetna Roadhouse! Oh I can taste those GIANT triple berry (fresh) sourdough pancakes now!!! Taking a flightseeing excursion is expensive, but will be an experience you'll never forget!
I haven't taken the tour through Princess, but took the glacier landing Grand Denali tour with Talkeetna Air Taxi http://www.talkeetnaair.com/flightseeing.html out of Talkeetna. We landed on Ruth Glacier. My opinion only but the top tour in the area are McKinley flights. You are not likely to see it without them being there only one day. I like the summit flights (vs summit views), but ski plane landings are exciting too. At the lodge only two trails I remember both very short ones. Strolling very leisurely, one took us 20 minutes, the other 15. Our flightseeing over Denali out of Talkeetna last year was definitely the highlight of our trip (out of many wonderful highlights). We went with Talkeetna Air Taxi http://www.talkeetnaair.com/ on a flight over Denali and the Alaskan Range, with a glacier landing thrown in. It was awesome. As I said in my review, my DH didn't originally want to come on this vacation, but when we were flying over those unbelievable mountains and glaciers, his smile was as big as his face! If you're interested, take a look at my photos and trip review for more info by clicking on the links below: http://family.webshots.com/slideshow/559610247EglVqD


http://alaska.org/talkeetna/mahays-jetboat-safari.jsp -- The jet boat is very loud. However, it was kind of fun and the scenery was very pretty, although I wouldn't do this excursion again. The boat does go fast but there were many children/older folks on board. Absolutely expect no wildlife. The jetboat makes noise.

The last shuttle home to the lodge is at 9 PM and don't miss it or you will be looking for accommodations in town. If I remember correctly, it leaves the lodge on the hour and the leaves Talkeetna on the 1/2 hour with the exception of the last shuttle leaving at 9 PM.

The flyer listing the times is at the excursion desk and lists the price so I would assume the 10 round trip fee is for everyone, but since we weren't on the Princess landtour I can’t vouch for the accuracy.

Ports of Call:

Onboard Lecturers and Balladeer: Steve Hites (singer/songwriter/Skagway street car tour owner), Libby Riddles (Iditarod winner), and Michael Modzelewski (Adventurer/naturalist) were the best parts of the cruise for us.
Adventurer Michael Modzelewski gave four talks. Libby Riddles -- first women to win the 1,100 mile Iditarod dog sled race. Steve Hites -- He sang on the ship also owns the Skagway Street Car Tour which has colorfully-dressed young women in bright yellow street cars for tours of Skagway.
6/23 Tues Cruising College Fjord 6:00 am 9:00 am
6/24 Wed Glacier Bay National Park 10:30 am 8:30 pm
Glaciers & Wildlife from the Ship: WOW Our expectations were exceeded. Glacier Bay Marjorie Glacier was very active - lots of calving. Tracy Arm was very cold and I went back to the cabin and added a couple of more layers and was fine with warm pants, a light jacket/sweater and then a heavy jacket with a hat and gloves, we were on outside decks for over three hours. Tracy Arm. deck blankets very cold and I could have used warmer pants and my leather gloves did not keep my hands as warm as a thick pair of winter gloves. Endicott Glacier was pretty, just not the same as Tracy Arm. Maybe an early breakfast is recommended for Glacier Bay day but no need for a late dinner. We were out of Glacier Bay by early afternoon. But if you enjoy whale watching from the ship, then the afternoon is a good time to do that.
Whales: We did not take a whale watching excursion in Juneau, but we saw whales from our balcony on four times. Itinerary Details

Skagway:6/25 Thurs 5:30 am 8:15 pm

Skagway Mining Company on the main street the most popular place to shop.
Make sure you bring your passport with you, we rented a car from Avis in Skagway ($111.55 for the day). We took the drive up to Carcross and Emerald Lake. The scenery was spectacular! This was the best part of our cruise. It was a gorgeous day with blue skies and lots of sunshine, perfect for viewing the snowcapped mountains and beautiful lakes. It was 75 miles to Emerald Lake. We rented a car and drove the Klondike Highway to Carcoss Canada. This cost about $140 including gas. There is an excursion on the train, but that was $189 EACH. the car was not only cheaper, but we got to stop and take pictures whenever and for as long as we wanted. If you think you want to do this, you will need to reserve your car in advance. Do go to the shops that have signs in them that say "Owned by a Native Alaskan". their prices are better.
· We did the dog sled camp trip. We really enjoyed learning about dog sledding and seeing all of those dogs. Having said that, I'd probably opt for one of the train rides if I did it all over again. Town was fun to walk through and do some shopping. We rented a car and drove to Caribou Crossing (they have a website), and contacted the dog sled camp through them and made a reservation for 10:30AM and had a very private session before all the tour buses (between 11-1, it's really busy there). Cost about the same as the other tours (you'll save with more than 2 in the car), but we were able to stop & go as we pleased - Emerald Lake, Carcross, many stops in between and Jewell Gardens (recommend - local artisans). http://www.google.com/search?q=dog+sledding+at+Caribou+Crossing&rls=com. microsoft:*:IE-Address&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7DMUS
· http://wpyr-ncl.com/routemap.php map
· http://www.*****************/ guide to self tour to emerald Lake and points north. Have lunch at Cariboo Crossing - it is between Carcross & Emerald Lake and we had a very good lunch plus enjoyed the museum of full size stuffed North American animals. The also raise huskies for dog sledding here and you can actually go for a dog sled ride. Carcross (don't forget to get your passport stamped in the post office
· We stopped at spirit lake wilderness resort for lunch on someone's recommendation on this board... the food was great
· Avis full size chevy http://www.neotravel.com/deals/coupons_avis.php choose (Wal-Mart) sends you to Avis website and discounts your rental. By the way, Avis may be able to rent you a van. Make your reservation online, as usual, then e-mail the Skagway Avis and ask for a van. They never responded to my e-mail but when we called to confirm the reservation shortly before we sailed, they had us down for a van (and a very nice one it was!). We took the shuttle 2 weeks ago, and it was still $1.50 each way. Be sure to ask for the Avis stop because it's not the first one and then ask where it is, because it's a few doors down. You could try the one other car rental company: http://www.geocities.com/sourdoughcarrentals/Rented a van from Sourdough Car Rental....Drove to Emerald lake..8 Passenger Van
·
· How much time should we allow for the drive into the Yukon and Caribou Crossing. We hope to be on the road by 9am and I do like to take pictures. I guess bottom line when do we need to leave Caribou Crossing/Emerald lake to make it back to Skagway and still have a little time to explore the town before an 8:30 ship departure? I recommend 5 hours for the whole trip, but you can make it back to Skagway from Caribou Crossing in an hour and 10 minutes without rushing (plus border crossing, but that's always very quick - 10 minutes would be a long delay). If you pick up your car at about 8:30, you can go by the Gold Rush cemetary and then out the Dyea spur to the overlook, and be on your way into the Yukon by about 9:15 or so. If you use about three hours driving that will give you lots of time for the great picture stops, and get you to Emerald Lake around noon. Stop for lunch at Spirit Lake, and get back to Caribou Crossing about 1:30 (ship's time -- Yukon time is an hour different) and you will find the buses have left and you have the place to yourself. Allow an hour and a half for the dogs and the museum, be on the road by 3:00 and you should be back in Skagway before 5, giving you time to shop a bit and look around before dinner aboard. Worked well for us.

Juneau:6/26 Fri 6:30 am 4:00 pm

We were able to make it to Dawes Glacier. We took the bus transfer to town ($3.00 for a round trip). We then got on a Big Blue Bus ($14.00 round trip) to Mendenhall Glacier. You don't need reservations to do this, just buy your tickets when you get to town right at the drop off point. The buses run at peak times every 30 minutes. It's a 20 minute ride. And definitely, yes there can be significant returning lines. There is a cab line if needed.
· The tram and glacier are top attractions, and especially since you are on a budget, the cheapest. The raptor center usually has an eagle or other large bird they are nursing back to health on display. The glacier is really cool, as far as places to eat, there isn't any place worth mentioning. I would get some sandwiches and snacks from the boat and just have a picnic. The tram has some picnic tables nearby in a cool lookout spot. The glacier doesn't have anywhere to buy food. Another cool place probably only if the weather is nasty, is the state museum. there is a raven exhibit that is totally kid and adult friendly and really fun very interactive exhibit. There is another hike that leads to a mining museum. their hours are kinds funky and unreliable, so you might not want to get your hearts set on that one. Bring rain gear as it will most likely be raining and if it isn't, all the better, but you will be prepared.

My absolute favorite it's called 'the thane ore house' and yes, it used to be an old ore mine but has been turned into the best place to get fried halibut in town and their salmon. It is also a bit of a mining museum too which only means it has a lot of left behind crap. You would need to take a cab to the ore house.
· Juneau is rather charming (the free State Capitol tour was good).
· Juneau - Harv and Marv's Whale watching
· Mendenhall Glacier helicopter and dog sledding tour http://www.temscoair.com/
· You may want to check http://www.coastalhelicopters.com/ They also do a helicopter/dogslead tour. We are doing their tour in 2 weeks or so. Much cheaper than booking through Carnival and have had great reviews on this board.
· TEMSCO $479 each, Coastal $439 each and ERA, of which I give the BIG edge to Coastal, having flown with all three companies. BQ
· Does anyone have any info about the shuttle from the pier to the Mendenhall Glacier? MGT is one. http://www.mightygreattrips.com/se_a...excursions.htm
Details under the "Blue Glacier Express" tour. MGT bright blue bus; trips every hour to the Visitors Centre; $14 pp return. Last pick-up at 6 pm. You catch them at the piers at Franklin St. They run every 1/2 hour from 9am to 6pm The dock at Juneau was crowded with vendors for numerous tours when we were there a few weeks ago, so you need to look for the MGT sign on the vendors booth. check out the glacier cam, you can see people walking out to the viewing point. http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/
The bus schedule is at http://www.juneau.lib.ak.us/capitalt...sschedule5.pdf
· a) Dog Sled tours are the number one cancelled tours because the tours are at a much higher elevation, on snow, not ice. The company I talked to was Temsco (Private and not thru Princess Lines) they confirmed that if the dog sled tour is cancelled they try and offer the glacier tour. But most all the comments I have read on this board are about the tours people did take...which is great news. Much higher majority of tours were taken than cancelled from what I read.The Glacier tour is at a lower elevation and they have a choice of several glaciers, they have a bit more flexibility. Temsco said these tours are rarely cancelled but they do happen. Best advice on the boards have been to have a back up in every port...weather is so unpredictable.
Our second tour of the day was with Coastal Helicopters with a glacier landing on Herbert glacier. The ceiling was low, but we went off anyway with our pilot, Steve. However, all of the Princess tours cancelled their flights. Once we were "outfitted" in rain gear and spiked boots, we were off to our helicopter for a 15 tour taking us over Mendenhall glacier. After we landed on Herbert, we had about 10 mins on the glacier to take pictures. The landing was so smooth you hardly knew you were down. This was so much fun. Look for the pools of blue water. This is where the ice is so dense it turns blue.

We were in Juneau 6/18 and were scheduled with Coastal for the glacier landing and dog sledding at 8:15. I originally thought this time to be too early but when booking was advised that the earlier tours had a better chance of getting off if there was fog - fog gets worse during the day instead of better. Met our rep at the pier and was told that the dog sledding would be canceled - the helicopter has to land at 4,000 feet and the fog was too dense. They did offer a full refund if we chose to cancel, but instead we opted to go for the glacier landing and they refunded us half the original cost. We landed on the glacier at 1,800 feet and since it was overcast, the blues in the ice are much more brilliant than they would be on a sunny day. We were disappointed that the dog sledding had been canceled but heard that even glacier landings had been canceled later in the day due to fog so I'm glad we at least got to do that!

It was worth every penny! I would recommend that you make sure to take sunglasses because the reflection can be VERY bright. Also, make sure to take an extra pair of socks to leave at the NorthStarr office while you are up on the glacier. Even with all of the waterproof gear they provided, I stepped in one big slushy area and water went straight into my boot.

http://www.northstartrekking.com/content/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
The walk to Juneau was a bit far, and once there not much to see, we booked a bus to take us to the Mendenhall Glacier. It was $7 per person each way. We got to the Mendenhall glacier and walked out to the point in the rain. It was nice but you can't get that close to the glacier but it was still a beautiful view. Alaska Salmon bake. We did not want to go to one of the ship sponsored, overpriced, crowded salmon bakes, so we went to the Thane Ore House in Thane (about 10 minutes from downtown). They picked us up right in the center of town (for free) and brought us out to their restaurant, where we pigged out on salmon, ribs, fried halibut, beans, corn bread, and all kinds of picnic salads. We saw eagles and deer. It was packed with locals on their lunch breaks. We were going to ride the tram, but it was really foggy others said it was really nice even though it was foggy because there is plenty to do at the top even if the view was lousy. We did the Mendenhall Canoe Trip. This was very fun and the views of the glacier and water were un believable. Beware, if you are not use to rowing for 4 miles, you will be sore by the time the tour ends!
Juneau - We had a 7:30 whale watching excursion with Harv & Marv that I booked directly. Cost: $136.50 pp. On the water, it was really cold while underway. So dress in layers. We got great photos up close and personal with humpback whales. H & M run a 30 foot boat driven by 2 115 H.P. engines.

In Juneau, if you want to keep with the small, personal service, then the best way to go is Harv and Marv's. E-mail Eileen at eileen@harvandmarvs.com. Eileen is Marv's wife and she'll be able to set you up with everything you need. The trip cost, at this time, is $136.50 per person. Their website has all the information http://www.harvandmarvs.com/. One bit of advice, BOOK THESE TRIPS AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! These are small vessels - six passangers each, and I can personally attest that these tours fill up fast! If Harv and Marv is unavailable, you could also try Orca enterprises. Capt. Larry is also great, but I recommend calling Carol at 1-888-733-6722. They're not too quick on the email requests! Their rates vary so check the website http://www.orcaenterprises.com/. The only alternative I know of for the Sitka trip is one offered by Allen Marine called the Sea Otter and Wildlife Cruise - but I guarantee that trip is available through whatever ship you may sail on. The only downside to that excursion is that it will contain way more than six people, it's still a very enjoyable trip mind you, just a bit bigger.

Ketchikan:6/27 Sat 10:00 am 6:00 pm

Ketchikan. We took the self-guided walking tour of Ketchikan enjoyed the Totem Heritage Center and the beautiful little city park adjacent to the Center was our favorite stop in Ketchikan. The Lumberjack show, lots of fun. The town is nice and I recommend walking over to the river walk. The houses in this area are on both sides of the river and are on stilts. It is a beautiful view. We spent the morning by starting out the Ketchikan walking tour and doing the Totem Heritage Center and the Eagle Conservation Center. We then went to meet our tour for the Saxman Village. We used Alaska Sourdough Tours was fabulous.
Take the tramway for $2 to the Cape Fox Lodge (on Creek Street, nice and quaint area). We did not see the salmon running in the creek, a lot of souvenir shops. There are a few totems outside the lodge and you can get a wonderful view of the port. The fish and chips on the dock at the Alaskan Surf are some of the best I've ever had.
http://www.islandwings.com/sfs.html $229 per person for 2-hours Island Wings Air Service
P.O. Box 7432 Ketchikan, Alaska 99901 Local (907) 225-2444 Toll-free (888) 854-2444
michelle@islandwings.com emailed her on July 26, 2008
or Southeast Aviation If she's booked call Southeast Aviation, those guys put on a great tour.
The cost for Glaciers and Misty Fjords $360 but you only have to pay 50% up front Island Wings for a 2 p.m. float plane flight to Misty Fjords. The flight into the fjords is nothing less than breathtaking. At times we flew at 3200 feet. She gave us a choice of 3 different landings. We ended up choosing a small lake where we could get off on an island to stretch our legs and take pictures instead of the standard of standing on the plane's pontoon. She is one of the independent pilots that pay the fee to the park service to actually allow passengers to get off on land. This was my second most favorite excursion.
Ketchikan Walking Tour
Pick up a map at the Ketchikan Visitors Bureau’s visitor information center (131 Front St) and follow the numbered signs posted along the route to learn about the history and culture of our community. Several popular attractions are located along the route, which starts downtown, including local museums, Creek Street, native cultural attractions, as well as plenty of shopping and restaurants. The route can be walked in as little as 60 minutes, but plan extra time to appreciate the sights and for entering attractions along the way.
In Ketchikan, we watched the lumberjack show. This is good if you have kids in your group. We also went salmon fishing with Ken of Northern Lights. However, only six can go fishing due to the size of the boat. You can walk to Creek Street and see the salmon swimming up the stream.

http://www.lumberjackshows.com/alaska/
At Prince Rupert, we took a small boat out to see the bald eagles. This was an excellent trip. We saw probably 200 bald eagles up close as the boat crew throws raw meat into the water and the birds swoop down and get it. Strongly recommend this tour.



Websites for each port:
http://www.traveljuneau.com/
great for whale watching!! then mendenhall glacier, on your own. only the cost to get there
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/
chance for bear watching

http://www.skagway.com/
if you are really on a budget, rent a car and drive the highway to the yukon. much to see and easy to do on your own. read a few pages of the alaska boards and you will find posts about it. google murray's guide.

http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/
totem pole parks, can do on your own
walk around town...if the salmon are running, very interesting. Check out kayakketchikan.com They are a great tour operator and you'll have a great time. They kayaking is not difficult kayaking and we saw wildlife both on shore (islands in the cove) as well as in the water.


There IS a WalMart in Ketchikan! It isn't close enough to walk, but you'll see a white van with a sign on the side saying "free transportation to WalMart" driving up and down the main street by the docks. ketchikan - walmart is a bus ride way north of town. just north of the cruise docks is tongass trading comp which is pretty much a dept store. the only non-trinket store left downtown.

juneau - walmart and fred meyer on the bus line way north of the cruise dock, not within walking. specialty shops downtown and a large grocery store near the federal building.



Some of my favorite souveniers have come from Alaska.
Juneau: Annie Kaills - located at 244 Front Street. Great selection of unusual items - many made by Alaskans. I have bought some wonderful note cards with pics of scenery and wildlife native to Alaska. wonderful handmade bead bracelets, pottery. I have also bought a spirit rattle - a neat little egg shape piece of pottery that has a face painted on it in silver or gold or bronze and it rattles when you shake it. You can bring up her really good web site..just do a search with her name.
Taku Smokery for great Salmon and Salmon Jerky - we shipped a lot home last year for all the guys in our family. It is located just past the Mt. Roberts Tram
Glacier Smoothie - very popular glacier silt soaps located between the tram and the Red Dog Saloon

I purchased some small Alaskan Jade carved bears. I just fell in love with these when we were lodging next to a made in Alaska store while in Anchorage... though the name of the store itself escapes m

WEATHER

xxxxxxxxxxxxxHixxxxLowxxx Daylight

xxxxMayxxxxxx55xxxxx38xxxxxx16 hours
xxxxJunexxxxxx60xxxxx45xxxxxx18 hours
xxxxJulyxxxxxxx64xxxxx48xxxxxx17 hours
xxxxAugxxxxxxx62xxxxx47xxxxxx15 hours
xxxxSeptembxer55xxxxx43xxxxxx13 hours

GLACIER BAY NATIONAL PARK

You will be at this port on 06/24/2009

Average High Temperature during the month of Jun:
53.0 Fahrenheit
Average Low Temperature during the month of Jun:
45.0 Fahrenheit


Average Precipitation during the month of Jun:
4.0 Inches

SKAGWAY


You will be at this port on 06/25/2009

Average High Temperature during the month of Jun:
66.0 Fahrenheit
Average Low Temperature during the month of Jun:
47.0 Fahrenheit


Average Precipitation during the month of Jun:
1.0 Inch

JUNEAU


You will be at this port on 06/26/2009

Average High Temperature during the month of Jun:
61.0 Fahrenheit
Average Low Temperature during the month of Jun:
45.0 Fahrenheit


Average Morning Relative Humidity during the month of Jun:
87.0 percent
Average Evening Relative Humidity during the month of Jun:
64.0 percent


Average Number of Clear Days during the month of Jun:
4.0 Days
Average Number of Cloudy Days during the month of Jun:
22.0 Days
Average Number of Days With Fog during the month of Jun:
5.0 Days
Average Number of Rainy Days during the month of Jun:
15.0 Days


Average Possibility of Sunshine during the month of Jun:
34.0 Percent
Average Number of Days Above 60F/15C during the month of Jun:
17.0 Days


Average Precipitation during the month of Jun:
3.0 inches
Most Recorded Rainfall during the month of Jun:
6.0 inches
Average Wind Speed during the month of Jun:
12.0 miles per hour

KETCHIKAN


You will be at this port on 06/27/2009

Average High Temperature during the month of Jun:
62.0 Fahrenheit
Average Low Temperature during the month of Jun:
47.0 Fahrenheit

POST CRUISE TRANSFERS:

US Direct same day arrival and departure from Vancouver seaport and airport

http://www.portvancouver.com/vanAlaC.../usDirect.html

Vancouver to Seattle
It appears that those that want to drive from Vancouver to Seattle are in for long waits starting Monday May 19 2008. The Peace Arch USA crossing will close 4 of the 8 gates to build a new border crossing. This will last till January 2010. While US Customs says they will move people to the Blaine Truck crossing they only have 6
gates and these are open most of the time anyways. This could effect those that are taking cruise transfers as the buses use the truck crossing southbound. The problem is while they have their own lane it is the extra traffic on the highway that will cause a problem. This has happened in the past with lots of traffic. Looks like an average five hour trip may have just gone up to 6 to 8 hours. Hope the cruise lines know about this, or they will be leaving lots of people behind.

The train is the best way to go. No stops for customs, no waiting at the border, and being able to get up and walk around, and eat/snack if you want to is the only way to go as far as I am concerned.

Seattle Took the Amtrak train for a very reasonable $26 to Seattle. It was actually a great experience and I would definitely recommend it if you have the time. It was a beautiful ride and got the chance to chat with some people on our car. The scenery in that part of the world is magnificent and the 4 hours were very relaxing.

http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/may08/W32.pdf



Alaska Airlines Visa

Originally Posted by Alaska surprise!
Has anyone done the booking of their airline flights on their own? How have you made out as compared to letting the cruise line do it? (aside of course for those who use frequent flying miles ).

Also, a guide that I spoke to suggested that I apply for an Alaska Airlines Mastercard. He said that purchases go towards air miles and that most importantly, once a year, you are eligible for a companion fare of $50 with the purchase of a fare. Was wondering if anyone had heard of this, tried this, has any advise about this....it seems it would be a great deal if it were true. And since we are planning to go a bit early, booking our own air could be benificial.

thanks so much!
sue


It's an Alaska Airlines Visa, issued through the Bank of America. We use the $50 companion ticket every year; one of the best things is that it's good for any fare, including first class, so that can make for good value.

Main drawback for you (I'm guessing) would be that the $50 companion fare is only good on Alaska Airlines-operated flights, and they don't serve any airports in PA - closest they get is Newark, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago and a couple of cities in Florida. If you're willing to make your own way to one of those cities first (and after) then it's a great deal.

Until the end of January, if you are accepted for a Visa Signature card, you'll also receive 20,000 Alaska miles right off the bat, which is enough for a coach award. Alaska's FF program is quite good and in that case living in the east is not a terrible drawback - you can earn and spend Alaska miles with American, Continental, Northwest and Delta, as well as several foreign carriers.

http://www.bankofamerica.com/alaska_..._alaskaair_sig

http://www.56-credit-cards.com/alaska-airlines-visa-signature.html


Not sure I understand your question but if it concerns one of the Alaska Airline's Bank of America Visa card programs and the $50 companion fare, you book through the airline, either by phone, $10 fee per ticket, or on line, no charge. You can also book on the Alaska website. The $50 companion fare is electronic, not a paper coupon, and can be used on-line. There's a yearly fee for the card but that's more than offset by the savings on tickets using the companion fare. If you're interested at all, the first step is to sign up with Alaska Airline's mileage program. Check their website for details.

If the companion ticket is good for any fare, even their most deeply discounted ones, then it is a good deal. Many airlines don't allow such companion certificates to be used on their cheapest fares (it is no surprise that they let the companion go for $50 on first class fares since first class fares are relatively expensive in comparison).

You comment about the usefulness of Alaska Air for the poster is a concern. It might or might not be a good deal for them.

Other airlines offer initial bonuses for credit cards such as United and Northwest. A great site to find current offers like this is www.freefrequentflyermiles.com There are various categories and one of them is Credit Cards.

Sue, I've had an AK Air Visa card for quite a few years now so I've been watching prices of flights from Newark (EWR) to various (not just AK) destinations. All I can say is that it's been my experience that I can buy TWO TICKETS on another airline for the price AK Air wants to charge for the one plus the freebie. So my strategy for that $50 companion ticket is different than most. I use my DL AMEX to accumulate miles, burn DL FF miles for free air to Anchorage (ANC) then use the $50 coupon - which comes at the renewal date of my credit card - to fly us from ANC to another destination. That's the only way I've been able to use those $50 coupons and feel I got VALUE out of them.

I use the $50 coupon every year, and don't plan on stopping. It may sound extravagant, but the companion fare value really kicks in when you buy first class tickets with it. Especially for folks traveling across the country, the difference riding up front is spectacular. The companion fare books into the same fare class as the "paid" fare (i.e. earns full miles, doesn't come out of restricted seat inventory etc.) so no "blackouts" or capacity restrictions, unlike award seats. You can use your miles for an award for anybody; no need to "transfer" miles. For the companion e-certificate you need to be one of the travelers. So your scenario (one paid, one $50 and one award seat) is quite feasible, if you find flights with adequate paid (2) and award (1) space.

Note the 20K mileage deal hinges on your credit score; many applicants actually get 10K miles instead, along with a nice ding letter. Note also that the companion fare only works on Alaska-operated flights, not codeshares operated by AA or some other partner.

It may be more stress free to let the cruise line handle everything. HOWEVER, there are a few things you should know about cruise air tickets. Yes, the cruise line is responsible for getting you to the ship, some how, some way. The cruise line responsibility DOES NOT mean they will get you to the cruise to embark at the originating port. You may miss 2 or three days of your cruise.

With planes flying full (and more and more overly full), your chances of getting on the next flight out in time to make your original cruise departure are diminished in this day and age.

I wrote the following post about cruise air. Should clear up some of the mysteries. Believe me, other than convenience, you are SEVERELY handicapped with "regular" cruise air. You may not make it to you cruise on day of departure.

[msd360]

I have a similar page from a more independent perspective, including links to pictures and a CC review in a separate web page to avoid CC scrutiny linked below.

[AmazingJourneys]

Thank you, I'm in the initial stages of planning for my Cruisetour on the Coral Princess next year and this was very helpful.

[AmazingJourneys]

Thank you very much for starting this thread as I have bookmarked it for my 2010 Alaska Cruise on the Coral leaving on July 31. I am going on a pretour with princess as well that starts with 2 nights in Fairbanks, 2 nights in Denali and a night at the McKinley Lodge.

I also upgraded to the TWT and am not sure when to go on the flightseeing or when I'll have time. Did you do the Flightseeing in Denali or McKinley. You said the Premier Tour person booked it for you, but than you said you went with Talkeetna Air. Did you do flightseeing in both Denali and McKinley?

Anyway, I'm a little confused. Was your TWT in the morning on your first full day in Denali and if so, when was your flightseeing. Thanks!

[Catladyesq]

We have booked repositioning cruise on RCCL out of San Diego 5/8 and disembarking in Vancouver, BC on 5/21. You mentioned taking Amtrak - right now schedule is not user friendly for cruisers - be that as it may - my query - where did you board the train in Vancouver? How close to the pier? What info do you have on RCCL providing transfers between Vancouver and Seattle. They say they have transfers, but haven't made rates available --- Thanks.

[mytime53]

Just a couple of things:
The companion fare is now $99...still a great deal for anyone living in Alaska!
Also, since I rarely find a flight I need cheaply enough on another airline to switch carriers, I just did three random comparisons for buying 2 tickets, RT from eastcoast to Anchorage, depart mid-June, return mid-July. Using companion fare, even at $99, if you bought the tickets right now you would save $200 out of Newark, $300 out of LaGuardia, and $500 out of Miami. Now, I know there are cheaper ways to get here, but I didn't compare those milk-run flights that go all over...it was non-stop or one-stop only. And I didn't spend time looking at flights from carriers that don't show up on the major search sites...after all, I don't need a ticket right now.
My Feb./Mar. trip to Miami? AK Air saves me $800 even without using the companion fare. So make sure you shop around...you never know which airline will be cheaper!

[robinsra]

mytime53



How do you get $99.00 companion tickets out of LGA? Thanks

[mytime53]

Originally Posted by robinsra

mytime53
How do you get $99.00 companion tickets out of LGA? Thanks

You have to join Alaska Airlines frequent flyer program, and then get their VISA signature credit card. You will automatically get one $99 companion fare each year. It has a $75 annual fee, but even so, it saves us money. We both have one, as does my MIL...she was going to cancel because of the fee, but instead we pay the fee for her and use her companion certificate. We recently were able to take 9 family members to Seattle for a wedding because of scrounging those certificates from various family members (we'd already used ours!)...3 companion fares makes 6 people, and then 3 mileage tickets. If you live in Alaska and want to travel, you pretty much need to have an AK Airlines VISA!
I assume everyone knows that companion fare means the 2nd person on an itinerary travels for $99 + taxes and fees.