SirTomster

Plus there is at least one company that uses smaller boats. I was looking at one that had a 6-person boat. It costs more but could be an option for those who can afford it. I think that since Major Marine is locally owned (per their website) and Kenai Fjords Tours is not is helping me make my choice of who to use for my Cruise next year.

Damn, I used halfacts.com as my souce to confirm they are there. Live and learn.

I was watching a YouTube couple who sailed to Alaska on the Koningsdam last month. They were able to rent a Caban for the day and sit and watch Glacier Bay. That looked interesting to me. The weather was not great, so they had glass partitions on the bottom half and the top half that was hard to see out of when wet. There was a small gap in the middle to look through though. So that could be an option. I am considering on my cruise next year on the Noordam.

One item to triple check. My wife and I are planning a Southbound from Whitter to Vancover in June of 2024. So we need passports. I have one from years ago, so only thought about getting my wife one. Well as part of the process, I pulled out my never used Passport and found out it expires April of 2024. I would be SOL if I had not checked that. So now I am getting both of us a passport. So for those that depart or arrive from Vancouver, make sure to check your passports. No assumptions.

On Option B, you do not go to Glacier Bay? That is weird. I have only one 1 cruise and it was to Alaska and we were lucky enough to have picked an option that included Glacier Bay. Glacier Bay is awesome. It was the highlight of my cruise and we are going again next year and I will not do a cruise that does not include Glacier Bay. In this case, our cruise next year will be a Southbound just like your Option B with Glacier Bay and not Icy Strait Point. So anything that includes Glacier Bay is a must for me. YMMV I am confused about your Option A since you say you are doing a Denali tour. If you do Option A, are you flying to Alaska, do the tour, then fly to Seattle to do the RT cruise? Seems weird. Another plus on the one-way trips to me is that you get more time in the ports vs the RT from Seattle or Vancouver from what I saw. A negative with the one-way trips is that you are out in the ocean more. So more changes of rough seas and potential sea sickness. Hope that helps from someone who has only done a single cruise but is currently going nuts planning his 2nd.

Love what I see and I thought I was a planner. I am not in your league! Here is my tentative plan. We will arrive 2 days before the cruise so not as many nights pre-cruise as you, but I want to pass on what are my tentative plans. Will be on Holland America leaving from Whittier in June Friday - Fly from Salt Lake to Anchorage. Should arrive noonish. Friday - Pick up Rental Car Friday - Drive to Girdwood and do the Tram and likely Lunch Friday - Drive to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center Friday - Drive to Seward, explore and stay the night Saturday - Do a tour of the Kenai Fjords. Still deciding on the company. 6 to 8 hour tour. Saturday - Stay a second night in Seward. Rates are cheaper than Vancouver. Sunday - Drive back to Anchorage and drop car off at airport. Sunday - Take Train or Bus to Whittier and get on Ship Sunday - Sunday Cruise from Whittier to Vancouver Fly home. - Still deciding on if from Vancouver which is more expensive or get from Vancouver to Seattle and fly home there which is cheaper but will take more time. The reason I put this here is to get ideas but also to mention the Kenai Fjords cruise. I am seeing so many cool reports about it and it seems to be highly recommended. When I see people saying it was the best part of the cruise and it was before the cruise, I take notice.