oaktreerb

Another source of information for Alaska Cruisers: “Alaska by Cruise Ship” by Anne Vipond

You may see some houses along the way or lights at night. If you were sailing between the islands you would sail past villages but you will be out in the ocean and far from land. You will mostly see the trees, maybe a lighthouse. Princess used to have a large map showing the points of interest along the inside passage. There is a cruise handbook for cruising Alaska, ”The Alaska Cruise Handbook” by Joe Upton.

@Crew News can probably answer this question. I would expect May. The end of August may have more rain and rougher seas,

The ability to upgrade is not primary to me. I pay for a VH and choose my favorite VB cabin. I do like the quiet dining room and the dedicated guest services line. I already have priority tendering.

yes. Club Orange is no help here. You will have a meeting place, maybe the showroom, where your group will meet and you will go as a group to board the catamaran. You may have an assigned seat. I would not expect to be first in line but there is no reason to be concerned. Be there early so you are not left behind.

You need to book the excursion to Tracy Arm. All who book the excursion will be transferred from the ship to the catamaran and will have a seat onboard. You will be able to move around the boat. Club Orange is a totally different experience. If you have tender ports you will have priority tendering to shore, you will not have to pick up a tender ticket but may have to stand in line to disembark. Club Orange is primarily a private dining experience.

Step One dancers are wonderful but I’ve seen them numerous times on the Koningsdam. The dance shows are created for 6 performers with the “surround screen system” of the three newest ships. There is no understudy to step in when one dancer is not able to perform, the dancers adjust the routine. I think on our 18 day Hawaii cruise Step One only performed 2-3 times, and all performances were repeats of the past few years productions. If the performance is cancelled, HAL shows a movie. I can watch a movie in my stateroom. It’s time for a change.

We have taken several of the Yukon/Denali itineraries. The Y3L is a great itinerary. After your land tour you will join the Zaandam in Skagway. The Zaandam is a perfect ship for this amazing adventure.

This cruise has 3 foreign ports! Ketchikan is the only US port outside of Seattle but a destination none the less!

I’m happy to see HAL coming up with some unique itineraries for the Pacific Northwest! If I lived in Seattle I’d be booking this, too. We sailed the southern part of this itinerary on a Canadian Ferry, from Prince Rupert to Nanaimo. Loved sailing past Bella Bella and between the scenic islands in the inside passage. Your cruise will be much more leisurely. Twice we have looked for bears in the Great Bear Rainforest, once we were successful. Enjoy the journey!

I take 2 pair of shoes that I can hike in on a rainy hike (good traction). One pair may not dry out in one day. I have a light weight rain proof jacket and rain pants that I can roll up and carry with me for rainy and windy conditions. Wool socks are recommended. Bring clothes that coordinate and layer. Hat to keep your ears warm, gloves to keep your hands warm if you will be viewing glaciers from your ship.

I have enjoyed the Holland America cruise tours. I have taken tours to Denali and to the Yukon over the years. They are very well organized. However, for a family I agree with @AKStafford that for a family with teens you would do better to plan your own trip. You can decide what your family wants to do and experience. Plan ahead, though, since the tour groups will have hotel rooms and excursions booked for their passengers well in advance. You can use the cruisetour itineraries as a guide. If you go HAL or Princess you may want to take the cruise train transfer to Anchorage, if possible, and rent your car there in town. The airport rentals are more expensive.

Totem Bight State Historical Park would be a good source of cultural information. Go online to the Ketchikan Visitor Center. There are hikes out by Ward Cove. You can take the public bus to totem bight and Ward Cove. If you are on NCL your ship will dock near Ward Cove.

Icy Strait Point is a created port. The Alaska native village of Hoonah is down the road from there. Skagway is a National Park with Gold Rush history and plenty of thing to do and experience. Pick up a hiking guide at the visitor’s center for some great scenic hikes if you like to hike.

If this is a one and done you should include Glacier Bay, the inside passage out of Vancouver, Skagway or Sitka, and Anchorage to Denali drive or train. The daylight hours are long so you will have scenic viewing, lectures are optional, you can focus on culture, scenic viewing, adventure, and enjoy it all. Of your options #3 has the best itinerary.

I really like the Noordam but it’s been a long time since I was on it. It is cozy and unique. Does it still have the Oak Room?

@SightCRR Nice video!

We did the Taku Glacier Seaplane excursion with the Salmon Lunch. Two take offs and landings on the water. You still get the narrated glacier fly over but the landing and walking up to the secluded lodge for lunch was really special. I chose this excursion for the two take offs and landings. It was my favorite excursion. The seaplanes take off just in front of the docks in Juneau. Walking on a glacier is interesting (and not easy) but for two hours (?). Be sure to wear sturdy shoes. The tour probably supplies crampons. Helicopters scare me but I would take a helicopter to see bears in the wild! Helicopter excursions are more likely to be cancelled for bad weather.

Hopefully your ship will have a shuttle bus into town. From there Kodiak is easily walkable.

Choose a stateroom with staterooms above and below. Don’t choose a connecting stateroom. Stay far away from music and gambling venues and the showroom. Yes, you can hear people talking in the hallway as they pass by. I travel with a portable white sound machine which helps me sleep onboard.

Alaska experiences will vary depending on the month of your visit. When did you visit Haines?

Could you use OBC to purchase a card?

I go to an online travel website and print a simple itinerary from there.

You can see the brochure for the Legendary Voyages on the Hal website. Go to the site map and click on brochures.