Noordam Northbound to Alaska + Denali Almost Live

Sounds like there meetings all week long about the land portions?? That seems so odd and wasteful of cruise vacation time. We are on the land first and the only briefing we got was in our itenirary to be at X hotel on X date to start your journey. Haven't gotten any more than that along the way.

Only two briefings with the first repeated during the second. I think the briefings were held to answer questions as well as let us know that the Land Journey rep was available every day to answer more questions/

Other private tour groups held their own meetings at different times.

When you say one bag for Denali does that mean a bag per person or per stateroom? Just trying to think ahead!

When you say one bag for Denali does that mean a bag per person or per stateroom? Just trying to think ahead!

Per person.

There were full size water bottles on the tundra wilderness tour and she had cases of it. The snack boxes were full of various things. You really don't need to order a lunch unless you don't like snack foods.

Each attendee received a photograph with the Captain and the Hotel Director. One member of the President's Club, one silver medallion holder, and four copper medallion holders were in attendance. At the conclusion of the reception, we were all seated together in the MDR.

The Front Desk called and asked me to pick up my "prohibited" extension cords and adapters. I saw the list of all passengers who had electrical cords confiscated......ten passengers. When I asked why each of my three items were prohibited, the Front Desk person said it was up to Port Security to confiscate prohibited items. In other words, she had not a clue and did not know of such things. Seeing a long line behind me, I just dropped the subject. FWIW I just watched the safety movie and photographed the prohibited "personal power strips". One of mine met that criteria, the other two did not.

I made my "end of cruise" visit to the Casino and spent just enough to make my final bill only a few dollars before cashing out.

The last MDR menu was the Celebrity Chefs' specials. My lamb shank was excellent and the chocolate ginger, no added sugar added, cake was good.

Packing is nearly finished as everything is divided into carry-on, checked, and forwarded to Anchorage bags. Before midnight, the ritual of lining the hallways with luggage will begin.

Tomorrow is an early rising with breakfast at 6:00 AM and being present in the Vista Show Room Deck 2 before 7:40 AM. There are six buses heading for Denali and each loads only when assigned passengers are called to do so. There will be a stop for lunch and then a pause at the Veteran's Memorial before proceeding to Denali....9.5 hours.

Captain Draper is leaving the ship in Seward and being replaced by Peter Bos.

More tomorrow if I have internet service at the hotel.

Regarding the Lake Bennett train excursion that you took ---has that replaced the Yukon and White Pass train excursion from Skagway or are both being offered? We are returning to Alaska next spring and our excursions aren't posted yet. I was thinking of taking the White Pass trip again but if there is something different that would be nice.

I'm quoting myself here because I think you must have missed my post among the numerous questions that were asked of you. I'm thinking if I bump it to the top you will see it next time you sign on. I am enjoying your account of your trip. I'm especially interested in the upcoming land portion reports as we have never done that.

Thanks for your posts as we leave on the reverse course in 10 days. At the McKinley Chalet, there is Wifi in the common areas, but not in the rooms when we stayed there last year. Can't wait to see the daily planners.

Still the same on the Chalets; no wifi in the room. Verizon had great service down by river so we were fine.

Thanks for all the info! We'll be boarding the Noordam when it returns to Vancouver on Sunday.

Do you know if there was a Catholic priest on board? If so, was Mass offered on embarkation day? And what time?

Do you know if there was a Catholic priest on board? If so, was Mass offered on embarkation day? And what time?

Barring an emergency that prevents a priest from boarding, there is a Catholic priest on every HAL sailing.

Mass is celebrated daily, including embarkation day. Normally, it is held at 5:00 PM on port days, and 8:00 AM on sea days. There can be some variation depending on time of arrival in port (late morning/early afternoon arrival would have a morning Mass).

Location of the Mass can vary, even on the same cruise, so check your daily program for that.

Roger, did the Allen Marine boat to Tracy Arm have a snack bar with hot items or just the box lunches and freebes?

Thanks

Roy

I cannot wait to read your review, hopefully this evening, of your Denali portion of the cruise.

I do have to say that Alaska Fudge Company has kept to their high standards and taste. Yes. The Fudge arrived today. I was expecting their previous 3 weeks delivery time frame. I guess they flew it out as opposed to the regular mail doing its slow boat to the Lower 48.

Did you get to meet the people who received your luggage at the Lodge? The gentleman sounded very nice:)

OK, I'm babbling....I think it might be I am getting Cabin Fever with no one to talk to or listen (TV does not count.)

Me

 

If you really want to enjoy the beauty you can go to Explore.org's Orca Cams which are located on and around Hanson Island at the Northern end of the Inside Passage. The cams are spaced out in several locations from Cracroft Point (Port McNeill, Alert Bay) to Parsons Island (Port Hardy.)

 

The Explore Cams are at http://explore.org/live-cams/player/orcalab-base

Joanie

THanks for the link, I love them!

.....I could not resist so I asked, "Does this mean I can use what you confiscated on the last day of the cruise?" I received a blank stare as a result.

:')

Disembarkation Day

The day started with heavy clouds and rain. During the day, the clouds parted, sunshine appeared, but the day ended with heavy overcast clouds with rain when I reached Denali.

At 6:00 AM, the Lido Market was filled with those on the 14 itineraries heading for Denali National Park. There were staggered gathering times in the Vista Show Room for the Denali passengers.

Regular disembarkation started at 6:15 AM and my Denali group walked the 100 feet from the gangway to my bus which at 7:50 AM. My bus left the terminal at 8:15 AM. Our driver was adorned with a pirates hat and black eye patch so that we could spot him at all of our stops. He raised the eye patch while driving.

Our first stop was 90 minutes later at some very rustic bathrooms. Everyone returning to the bus received some snacks (granola bars, cookies, an a bottle of water) as they boarded. We passed the train at 10:45 AM and its load of passengers heading for Denali. The bus driver said the train would be arriving late in the evening at Denali. At 11:00 AM, the sun appeared and we experienced partly cloudy skies until we reached Denali.

At noon, the bus driver advised that we were too early for our lunch appointment in Wasilla which gave us time to visit the Iditarod Headquarters. There were sled rides over dirt roads and several puppies to hug.

The bus departed for Settler's Bay Lodge, serving only tour buses on Sundays, for a good lunch. Various breads and three choices of meant were available to build our own sandwiches. t the end of the line were lettuce salad makings, potato salad, and pasta salad. A separate table held a large platter of amazing cookies and pitchers of beverages.. The stop lasted one hour. I must be noted that all of the bathrooms on the second floor were converted to "women's" restrooms..

Our last restroom break was at the Veteran's Memorial. As we neared the Denali entrance, the bus pulled off of the road to meet a HAL representative who distributed all of our welcome packets that contained applicable vouchers, luggage tags, itineraries, maps, and room keys for every day of my three-day stay in Denali. The bus made several stops inside the Denali HAL/Princess Village to drop off passengers near their designated hotel rooms.

Expecting to see my luggage in my room as promised by te HAL rep, I found someonelse's bag. I set the bag outside my door and notified the hotel of the error. Four hours later my luggage was located when the folks in the room where it was mis-delivered called Joanie at home. After more phone calls were exchanged, my bag was delivered more than four hours after it was supposed to be.

The chalet rooms are quite comfortable but without A/C. There is a sitting room with sofa and TV with a separate bedroom. There is only a shower and I did find a hair dryer under the sink.

There is a restaurant about 100 yards from my chalet room but I opted for the Canyon Steak House at the top of a steep hill. I chose to catch the shuttle bus that stops in front of my building and makes stops throughout the chalet property. Although reservations were preferred, I was seated immediately close enough to the kitchen to watch the chefs give a very professional cooking demonstration that would have brought a smile to Gordon Ramsey.

The day ended with my trying to seal the daylight flowing past my curtains just a few minutes before midnight.

More soon.

Roger, did the Allen Marine boat to Tracy Arm have a snack bar with hot items or just the box lunches and freebes?

 

Thanks

 

Roy

My Allen Marine craft held about 50 people and was not one of their massive whale-watching boats. The snack area was more like a kids lemonade stand in size. There was a hot coffee container and a box of doughnut holes and in another corner was a few Juneau items for sale. Total size was about 10 X 3 feet.

Just got caught up.

I know we could not handle those long bus rides anymore. Sure glad we did them many years ago when we were younger.

I know we could not handle those long bus rides anymore. Sure glad we did them many years ago when we were younger.

Yes, 9 hours on a bus would be hard, but can you imagine trying to do that on horseback or in a covered wagon? ;p

It's nice they have the train. It may take longer, but you can at least get up and walk around.

I'm confused: some folks take a bus, some take a train?

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I'm confused: some folks take a bus, some take a train?

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Just like the song about going to Kansas City : :D

"Well I might take a train

I might take a plane, but if I have to walk

I'm going just the same

I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come ..."

Just like the song about going to Kansas City : :D

 

 

 

"Well I might take a train

 

I might take a plane, but if I have to walk

 

I'm going just the same

 

I'm going to Kansas City, Kansas City here I come ..."

❤️

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I didn't realize there were so many options. Is this new with HAL?

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There are six train excursions on the White Pass Railroad. I have not compared the current choices to those choices from my other choices in Skagway but they seem to be the same.

I didn't realize there were so many options. Is this new with HAL?

 

 

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I was just as surprised as you are. With limited hotel facilities, I think it is a way to fill Denali every day. There were folks heading for the Nieuw Amsterdam in Skagway, as well as folks from the Noordam who spent the previous day touring Anchorage, on my excursion yesterday