packed already

I'm on the Volendam now, the laundry on the sixth is gone]

 

Thanks for the information, I have now decided to get the weekly laundry service, (once I work out how to book it) and glad I won't be hearing the laundry door slam when people are careless enough to let it go.

 

Can't wait for May to come.

Hi, I have just checked in online and couldn't find anywhere to indicate I wanted to book the 7 day laundry package I have read about. Can you advise if you can do this online and where on their website I can arrange for this please.

We are sailing on the Volendam to Alaska in May, I have just been allocated my cabin - Verandah Deck Cabin 6154. It is opposite the laundry. Can anyone advise what times the laundry is open and if you have sailed with a cabin opposite the laundry was it too noisy?

Thanks

As for the White Pass. only the Fraser/White pass is running. So the distance is already determined. You need to decide if you want a round trip train or a combo tour. With a combo tour, you have 2 distance choices, Fraser, or Emerald Lake. With the shorter tour, you will not get into the Yukon.

If you choose Emerald Lake, I can highly recommend Dyea Dave's tour. This would especially be loaded with a lot of snow scenes for you.

 

I have decided to do the Dyea Dave's tour, do you have a favourite combination that would get us into the Yukon, ie train up bus back or the other way around?

Thanks

Hi

 

Fellow Aussie's here. We did the 7 day cruise on Volendam in September last year and had a ball.

The problem with trying to do it all and make it worth just the one trip is that that is impossible. There is so much to see and do. We were disappointed we couldn't do some things but there just wasn't time for everything. Means we have to go back, oh well! :p:):p

Don't know if your sailing is offering it, but if there is a Tracy Arm Service Call 10.00-10.30 it means that the ship is stopping to let people get onto a small boat to go into Tracy Arm. It was expensive but SOOOOO worth it. Would do it again in a heartbeat. Only problem was that we then were taken back to Juneau to meet up with the ship and we were late back which meant we didn't see much of Juneau.

Happy to answer any of your questions!

 

Kirrarne

Hi Fellow Aussies, thanks for your help, I will check out the Deadliest Catch Tour although sea sickness might be a problem. Hope you get back to Alaska one day, it is very expensive though.

Are you sure you don't want to extend your Vancouver stay? It's bigger than the Alaska ports...]

 

Unfortunately our flights are locked in but we have 3 full days in Vancouver. I will check out your links to help fill our time..

Thanks again everyone, I think I need several computer screen and a clear head to compare everything, love the Japadog idea, or my husband will. Once again totally overwhelmed by your generosity of ideas. As Aussies it will probably be our only trip to Alaska and want to get it right. I looked at Groupon but the hop on bus voucher expires at the end of April, have thought about purchasing a discounted massage to iron out the kinks at the end of a long flight though

Thanks for your information so far, I wish I could hit the "like" button to your suggestions as I go, I have read so much that I am very confused and overwhelmed.

If you book a tour privately do they deduct your credit card now or when you actually take the tour? I got caught out in New Zealand when a helicopter ride was cancelled and it ended up costing me over $30 once they conversion rate went both ways and an international tranaction fee was charged. It was an expensive excursion that I didn't take.

Thanks

 

My favorite Ketchikan excursion is aboard the Aleutian Ballad (TV series Deadliest Catch) on the Crab Fishing excursion. The boat has heated bleachers and overhead cover for viewing the demonstration of catching various species of crab. They also talk about filming a TV series in the Bering Sea in January. The highlight is the stop to feed eagles at an Indian Eagle Sanctuary. There are more eagles swooping just off the boat to grab fish than your camera can capture.

Thanks for the tour advice in Ketchikan, I will investigate and your other information on the Hal ships was great and useful.

Hmm... the Volendam is a 7 day Vancouver round tripper. How many days are you in Vancouver? You might want to budget additional days in Vancouver to see it all.

I would pad some extra days in Vancouver post-cruise since you are there. Vancouver is bigger than all those Alaskan ports combined.

We have 2 days pre cruise and 1 day post cruise in Vancouver so would be happy for suggestions there if you have any.

Thanks for your input.

Are you referring to a fly in glacier dog sled tour?

 

If you choose Emerald Lake, I can highly recommend Dyea Dave's tour. This would especially be loaded with a lot of snow scenes for you.

Yes, referring to fly in glacier dog sled tour.

I will investigate Dyes Dave's tour.

Thanks for your help.

Hi fellow cruisers,

My husband and I are Aussies embarking on our 1st ever Alaskan cruise on 20th May on the Volendam. We have 3 ports of call Juneau, Skagway Ketchikan as well as scenic cruising in Glacier Bay.

We have decided to do the dog sled tour in Juneau, could someone who has done this tour please give me your insight and which tour operator is best. We would like to take the railway in Skagway but not sure how far to go up on the train and if to take the bus return so I would appreciate input into your experience and we are unsure what to do in Ketchikan so all offers of help would be appreciated. We don't want to do anything that involves more than an hour of hiking.

We are both very excited and I haven't ever been to the "snow" so this is a huge treat for us. Prior to embarking we are doing an APT excursion from Vancouver encompassing the Rocky Mountaineer and stops in Whistler, Banff, and Victoria. All advise concerning tours, packing etc would be greatly appreciated. Thanking you all in advance. I must say we are very excited.