captain_hug99

LOL...You need to take a cruise to NH. We are still skiing up here in the Northeast. We are going to Alaska to warm up......:eek:

Or Colorado. The mountains outside my window just got a huge dose of snow 10,000+ feet and up.

I agree! I had a question in December about what to put on my passport and had the question answered very well too.:D

FREE: pick up a map at the visitor center and enjoy a self guided walking tour of the town. Or use the map at the bottom of this page:

http://www.experienceketchikan.com/creek-street-ketchikan.html

 

UNDER $2: take the city bus to Totem Bight ... the totems are colorful and interesting and it's a lovely setting on the waterfront.

http://www.experienceketchikan.com/things-to-do-in-alaska.html

 

There are other suggestions within that link.

I'm in the same boat (haha) as the OP and this is exactly what we are going to do.

don't feel too bad. A fair amt of people booked Vanc Wa for the winter olympics in Canada and were amazed that the hotel rates seemed so reasonable. Wa is thinking of changing the name to FT. Vancouver.

Oh wow. I guess I should feel lucky this was just a train ride.

Love the shirt!

Boy did I ever catch myself. :eek: I don't know why, but I decided to look at our train tickets today and noticed I had booked the wrong station. I'm not sure how that happened, but I did wonder why I had to input our passport information for the train ride home, but not for the train ride up.

The hours for the trains are about the same, but obviously the opposite sides of Washington state.

The good news is, I called Amtrack, spoke to a REAL person and have it fixed. I double checked and both say Vancouver BC. Thank goodness I caught it now and didn't have an issue getting on the train the day before our cruise.

We're going in 40 days on the Volendam. I'll be sure to post a review. :D

This is our first cruise!

Day 1: fly to Seattle, land hopefully 10:25a.m. Try to drop off luggage at the hotel. Our hotel is walking distance to the Space Needle and the Chiluhy exhibit. Though, I'm sure it would be very busy at Pike's Market, we'll also visit there.

Day 2: wake up EARLY to take the Cascade train to Vancouver, board the ship.

Day 3: on the ship, cruising the inside passage.

Day 4: Tracy Arm Fjord and Juneau (1-10p.m.) Whale watching tour for four hours and Mendenhall Glacier.

Day 5: Skagway 7a.m. to 9p.m. Rented a car to drive to Emerald Lake.

Day 6: Cruising Glacier bay

Day 7: Ketchikan 10a.m. to 6p.m. Nothing planned here, we'll walk around and see the town. If something catches our eye we may join.

Day 8: on the ship

Day 9: Arrive back to Vancouver. Take the luggage to the hotel and explore the city. I'm thinking of Stanley Park and the Capilano suspension bridges

Day 10: wake up EARLY to take the Cascade train back to Seattle, fly back home

Thank you for asking this question! I was wondering the same thing.

I highly recommend Orca Enterprises, who, may have a late tour? Call them directly and inquire the schedule.

Have you ever had issues with them calling you back? I've left several messages and haven't had one returned yet.

What a fantastic booklet! Thank you for taking the time to create this little gem. It would be helpful for any age and the games look like a great way to help the little ones occupy their time if they did happen to get bored.

 

Bravo!

I agree! Thank you.

I'm wondering how it generally feels on board. We are going to Alaska. What temperature are staterooms and corridors kept? Will it feel drafty? I'm sure this is a silly question, but it will help with clothing choices.

Thanks!

It isn't hard to sync via bluetooth to your cell phone. I'd do that.

If you're taking the morning train from Vancouver to get to SEATAC airport, don't get off in Seattle, ride it one more stop past Seattle to Tukwila, 4 miles from SEA airport (vs 15 miles from Seattle King Street). It takes a little longer (as the train sits in SEA for 20 mins), but you will save on your taxi transfer to the airport

Thank you for the tip. :D

We are on RCL getting off ship June 26. We had thought about staying a night in Vancouver (although not necessary as we are spending a day there pre cruise) and taking train on Sat. morning arriving in Seattle at 10:45 and our flight leaves at 4:45pm. Is that too risky to do all that on Saturday?

This is what we are going to do in June. The cruise gets in Wednesday morning, we will spend the day and night in Vancouver, then take the a.m. train to Seattle. Our flight is in the late afternoon as well.

I think my only concern is being stressed that something then would happen to the lens. I appreciate the suggestion and I am definitely going to look into this and the details.

I got the insurance for just this reason. I rented a wide angle lens when we went to the Grand Canyon.

Just got my passport in two weeks 3 days. DH and I sent our renewals in on Dec. 23, they came today. We are however waiting on my daughter's renewal, she is under 16.

Passport renewals are in the mail as of today. We cruise in June. Woohoo

Just received my passport today! Two weeks and two days later. We didn't pay for expediting. We were plain renewals.

Thank you for the posts with the pictures. We are trying to decide whether to take the train or a rental car. I really want to go to Emerald Lake BUT don't want to spend over $100 for each of us (3 total). :rolleyes:

Did you use a wide angle lens on a lot of your photos? I recently bought my first Canon DSLR and need to get a wide angle lens for several upcoming trips-both the Alaska trip and a South Africa land trip. Any suggestions?

Your photos are spectacular.

I rented a Tokina 11-16mm for my Nikon when we went to the Grand Canyon and LOVED it!!! I'd buy it in a heartbeat.

Passport renewals are in the mail as of today. We cruise in June. Woohoo

Are you looking for another body so you don't have to change lenses between the two focal lengths? If so, I'd get an all around lens and sell your stock ones. I'd buy an 18-200, Nikon has one for about $500, tamron has an 18-270mm for $500 as well.

I'm doing a first-time Alaska cruise in May too! Vancouver round trip though.

We're doing a r/t Vancouver too in June. On the Volendam though. Our first cruise and Alaska to boot! :D

Why not put all of the reservations for you in your maiden name and travel with your passport if it hasn't expired?

Please add Captain_Hug99 and family to Volendam on June 3, 2015. R/T Vancouver to Alaska. Our first cruise!!!

I rented the Tokina 11-16 f2.8 when I went to the Grand Canyon several years ago, I LOVED that lens! I have the kit 18-55mm, 24-70mm, and a 70-300mm.

Though the Nikon lens lets you go a little wider, I don't think you'll find that the Nikon 10-24mm will be better than the 11-16mm. The best results with the Tokina at 12-16mm due to vignetting. I have a Nikon D-80 which is a crop sensor.