Alaska Blog

My Alaska blog is finally up to date ... http://cruising.kreateskards.com/ ... as new things come up, I will add to it. I posted a tiny portion of our photos from the last Alaska trip. Stop by if you have a minute. The blog puts all my research into one spot. You can search by topic (just type in search window) or you can search by "tag". There is a drop down menu for the tags.

We are booked for Alaska this May and also next year. Found that doing a blog helped me keep control (LOL) of all of my research in one place. Hope it will help others too.

Thank you so much for posting the link to your blog MilliesMom. I just took a quick glance at it and you have so much useful information for anything & everything! I've bookmarked the page so I can find it again. Again, thanks!

Thank you so much for posting the link to your blog MilliesMom. I just took a quick glance at it and you have so much useful information for anything & everything! I've bookmarked the page so I can find it again. Again, thanks!

You are very welcome. The blog helps me out too. I found it was getting more and more difficult to keep track of all the things I had researched plus the search engines here aren't always working properly. It was a win/win situation. The blog helps me and you too.

Enjoy.

Thanks for sharing the link to your blog.

Keith

Thanks for sharing the link to your blog.

 

Keith

You are very welcome. Hope you find it helpful.

Thank you so much. I've already used some of your links and printed more "stuff" for our cruise to Alaska in May! Great reading.

Sue

Thank you so much. I've already used some of your links and printed more "stuff" for our cruise to Alaska in May! Great reading.

 

Sue

I'm so pleased that my blog has helped you out too. I started it to store my research info, then decided to make it public and share with others too.

We go to Alaska next month. Just can't wait.

My Alaska blog is finally up to date ... http://cruising.kreateskards.com/ ... as new things come up, I will add to it. I posted a tiny portion of our photos from the last Alaska trip. Stop by if you have a minute. The blog puts all my research into one spot. You can search by topic (just type in search window) or you can search by "tag". There is a drop down menu for the tags.

 

We are booked for Alaska this May and also next year. Found that doing a blog helped me keep control (LOL) of all of my research in one place. Hope it will help others too.

Thank you MilliesMom. Nice blog!

Thank you MilliesMom. Nice blog!

Thank you.

I can't wait for our cruise in 3 weeks. We plan to take LOTS of photos and I will definitely be adding them to the blog plus a review of the Grand and our itinerary.

Thanks for posting the link to your blog! We've been researching Alaska for about 2 years now and will finally be setting sail there in just over 2 months. I've only read one of your blog entries so far, but am planning to go back and read all of it. What a good resource! :D

Thanks for posting the link to your blog! We've been researching Alaska for about 2 years now and will finally be setting sail there in just over 2 months. I've only read one of your blog entries so far, but am planning to go back and read all of it. What a good resource! :D

Tara, thank you.

Alaska has a very special place in my heart. I met my husband on a cruise to Alaska (the Original Pacific Princess of Love Boat Fame) 26+ years ago. We got engaged 3 weeks later and married 3 months after that. We've been twice to Alaska and this year will finally get to see Glacier Bay. I know you will have an amazing time too.

Tara, thank you.

 

Alaska has a very special place in my heart. I met my husband on a cruise to Alaska (the Original Pacific Princess of Love Boat Fame) 26+ years ago. We got engaged 3 weeks later and married 3 months after that. We've been twice to Alaska and this year will finally get to see Glacier Bay. I know you will have an amazing time too.

Wow! Great story! No wonder Alaska has a special place in your heart, and 26+ years is a long time. Congratulations!

Wow! Great story! No wonder Alaska has a special place in your heart, and 26+ years is a long time. Congratulations!

Thank you. It makes me smile when I tell the story.

Millie'sMom: The blog is a great idea. Thanks. We've been to Totem Bight before but not since 2000. I know which bus to take, but I don't remember the cost of the park. I don 't find it on the website. Do you happen to know? I'm trying to settle what we will do on our cruise. As close as I can figure, we'll need about 3-31/2 hours including travel time. Does this sound right to you? Thanks.

Sandy

Millie'sMom: The blog is a great idea. Thanks. We've been to Totem Bight before but not since 2000. I know which bus to take, but I don't remember the cost of the park. I don 't find it on the website. Do you happen to know? I'm trying to settle what we will do on our cruise. As close as I can figure, we'll need about 3-31/2 hours including travel time. Does this sound right to you? Thanks.

 

Sandy

I haven't been to the park, so can't help you with the details from personal experience. I did find some links that may be helpful. The park is 10 miles North of Ketchikan and I believe it is free admission.

They have a facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/ketchikanalaskastateparks

http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/totembgh.htm

This link has a phone number for the rangers station and for the state park info office.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g31030-d247670-Reviews-Totem_Bight_State_Park-Ketchikan_Alaska.html

Trip Advisor about the park

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g31030-i1423-k3345117-Totem_Bight_state_Park_transportation-Ketchikan_Alaska.html

Info on the bus (apparently may not run every day) and distance from the pier to the park.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/shore-excursions/excursion/326

Recent reviews and info posted on Cruise Critic.

http://www.experienceketchikan.com/native-american-totem-poles-4.html

Getting to Totem Bight State Historical Park

Totem Bight is located approximately 10 miles North of Ketchikan. There are several tours & excursions that visit Totem Bight State Historical Park, you can take the Ketchikan Public Transportation - Blue Line - bus, take a taxi, or another option is to rent a car during your visit so that you may experience Ketchikan on your own!

Totem Bight is located immediately beside Potlatch Park, another fabulous area to see Native American Totem Poles. I highly recommend stopping inside the Potlach Park carving shed!

Native American Totem Poles are certainly the top Ketchikan Alaska attractions and Totem Bight State Historical Park is one of the best Totem Pole Parks in Ketchikan Alaska! Don't miss it! :-)

I just found confirmation of NO FEES at the park for admission:

http://www.travelalaska.com/Destinations/Parks%20and%20Public%20Lands/Totem%20Bight%20State%20Historical%20Park.aspx

Millie'sMom: You are awesome. Thanks for the links. I think you found a few that I haven't seen. I also like to research and this will be our 4th cruise to Alaska--all different itineraries and 3 different cruiselines. Our first cruise was in July of 2000--to Alaska on HAL. We went to Totem Bight but didn't look at all the totems. This time we will be able to see all the totems. I was pretty sure it was free but it was good to get confirmation.

This year we are on a 14 day RT Vancouver--really just a back2back cruise turning around in Whittier. That means we will see Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway twice. The stops on the way up will be on our own--walking tour close to the city. The return trip will be excursions. I said all that to ask you what you know about Juneau. We've been to all the usual places. I'm looking for a good walking map. The one I found is ok but it printed out small. I'm looking for something with map and points of interest--including a little blurb about each one. I have found what I need on Ketchikan and Skagway, but I'm still looking for Juneau. Thanks.

Sandy

Millie'sMom: You are awesome. Thanks for the links. I think you found a few that I haven't seen. I also like to research and this will be our 4th cruise to Alaska--all different itineraries and 3 different cruiselines. Our first cruise was in July of 2000--to Alaska on HAL. We went to Totem Bight but didn't look at all the totems. This time we will be able to see all the totems. I was pretty sure it was free but it was good to get confirmation.

 

This year we are on a 14 day RT Vancouver--really just a back2back cruise turning around in Whittier. That means we will see Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway twice. The stops on the way up will be on our own--walking tour close to the city. The return trip will be excursions. I said all that to ask you what you know about Juneau. We've been to all the usual places. I'm looking for a good walking map. The one I found is ok but it printed out small. I'm looking for something with map and points of interest--including a little blurb about each one. I have found what I need on Ketchikan and Skagway, but I'm still looking for Juneau. Thanks.

 

Sandy

14 days on a cruise would be heaven!!! I'm excited for you.

I will post some links of "maps" that I have for the areas:

So many of the ports have walking tours/maps available. Here are some that I have found to be extremely helpful: Juneau Walking Tour: http://www.traveljuneau.com/images/map_downtown_big.jpg

Skagway Walking Tour: http://skagway.com/skagwaywalkingtour.pdf

Ketchikan Map: http://www.experienceketchikan.com/support-files/downtownmap.pdf

Creek Street In Ketchikan (worth going to): http://www.experienceketchikan.com/creek-street-ketchikan.html#ixzz1ahUYElGt

Map of Victoria … shows walk from ship to town: http://gvha.v3.ca/uploaded/cruise-map-web-3.jpg

Sitka (unofficial walking tour): http://www.travelsitka.com/walking.shtml

Sitka (different map than above): http://www.sitka.org/includes/media/docs/SitkaVisitorsMap-NO-Ads.pdf

Walking tours can be a great way to do an “excursion” that requires no money just some time and a good pair of walking shoes. Remember to wear “layers” of clothing and to be prepared too just in case of rain. We have cruised to Alaska twice before. Both times in September. Each cruise we had one day of rain. In fact on the first cruise, the night before we got to Ketchikan we were out on deck and it started to snow!!! Didn’t stick, but we had snow.

A couple of tips ... I'm taking an iPad mini with me. I was able to save jpgs from the internet to my iPad of some of the maps. With them on the iPad I can zoom in if needed.

The full walking map and description (5 pages) I was able to save to the iPad using the iBooks app.

If you have time, you can write the Visitor's Bureau in Juneau. They sent me a map (same as the link) that is an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet folded in thirds.

If you are short on time, call them and asked if there is anyway they could put one in the mail to you:

Juneau

http://www.traveljuneau.com/

Juneau Convention & Visitors Bureau

800 Glacier Avenue, Suite 201, Juneau, Alaska 99801

Toll Free (888) 581-2201 • (907) 586-2201

info@traveljuneau.com

We really enjoyed the tram to Mt Roberts, and would recommend it in Juneau.

Millie'sMom:

2 years ago when we were in Ketchikan, it rained cats and dogs. We still went to some museums. While looking up the map links you sent, I realized we hadn't done Married Man's Trail and we didn't get far enough for the Salmon Ladder. There are 2 new things to see. Are the Salmon even spawning then? We are looking forward to having repeats at stops so we can take time and "smell the roses". We like the ship experience too. We have 4 glacier days--2 Glacier Bay, College Fjord and Hubbard Glacier-- plus 2 Ketchikan, 2Juneau and 2 Skagwag.

2 years ago, Holland America had a 14 day that went up all the way to Kodiak Island. Every port was different. We saw Juneau, Ketchikan, Homer, Sitka, Icy Point Strait, Kodiak, Anchorage (docked in) and one other port. If you need info on any of those, I may can help.

I have an Asus tablet I'm going to take. I'm not very good on it yet (kind of technically challenged), but I'm going to see if someone can help me download some of the maps, etc. Good tips.

Sandy

Salmon ladder:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=569083

Here's something unique in Ketchikan too:

http://cruising.kreateskards.com/2013/04/18/ketchikan-funicular-tram-elevator-lift/

Again, I don't claim to be an expert on Alaska. My blog is a result of research I've been doing for our cruise, so I definitely won't have all the answers.

Just wanted to add my thanks...you have been very helpful!!!! We will be cruising in July .

Just wanted to add my thanks...you have been very helpful!!!! We will be cruising in July .

You are very welcome. I'm so glad my Alaska blog has been helpful to you. We leave in 20 days ... I just can't wait.

Enjoy your cruise on the Westerdam. It is supposed to be a great ship with wonderful crew.

MilliesMom,

The ebooks available on the ports from cruise port insider, is there a lot more information in those than is posted on the website or is it basically the same just in book form to have access offline?

MilliesMom,

The ebooks available on the ports from cruise port insider, is there a lot more information in those than is posted on the website or is it basically the same just in book form to have access offline?

From what I can tell from the e-Books I purchased, they are the 95% the same information as what is on-line.

The big advantage to me is not to worry about internet access to view them while on the cruise. I can see going thru them the night before with my husband to cover key points I had already read about. Also will be great if I have my iPad mini with me in the port/town if I need to look for ATM, free WiFi, point of interest etc.

The other advantage of the e-book is that I don't have to print anything out using my paper & ink and then decide which printouts to take with me.

Thanks for sharing your blog with us!