10 Night Statendam R/T Seattle w/ 3 Nights Land

[Venicegal]

We are considering booking a 10 night cruise and land tour (U1C) through HAL. You fly into Seattle and then you take a motor coach to Vancouver to board the Statendam. After the 7 night north bound cruise you have 1 night in Anchorage and 1 night in Denali. Then you are flown back to Seattle for the third night at a hotel near the airport. We really like this itinerary because it's round trip Seattle so we can fly on SWA from Florida. From what HAL told me it's a new itinerary that isn't included in their tour book. They said that they had so much interest in R/T Seattle cruise tours that they added it. The price is good and it would be nice to include the 3 day land portion and yet still be able to fly out of Seattle. Does anyone have any thoughts about this tour? Thanks!

[mapleleaves]

Look carefully at the details, particularly in regards to your time in Denali.

Many of the short cruisetours get you to the Park midday on Day1 and you leave by noon the next, so you have no time to actually get into the park. Instead you get the Natural History Tour which goes to Mile 17 of 100 miles of park road.

If you would consider a DIY trip and rental car you could easily do the 3 day trip on your own. There's only one road to get to Denali from Anchorage so pretty hard to get lost ... and its only 2 lanes.

[Budget Queen]

You can go round trip Seattle with ANY itinerary. All HAL is doing for you is booking flights, which you can also do.

 

As noted, especially with this short of a tour- be CERTAIN, it isn't just a marathon trip on a highway or rail. There is far more, which is Denali Park, and getting INTO the park. With a Natural History tour, think of it like, getting to the Disneyland parking lot and then leaving. IF it includes the TWT at least you are getting into the park, which would make the long investment of time in transit more worthy.

[PennyAgain]

Your round trip Seattle is really your flights. You are cruising out of Vancouver. That is a lot of tranfer time and effort for little result. Staying at a hotel/motel in Seattle the last night of the trip is no thrill either.

 

This trip is not a good use of your time and effort.

 

And Southwest Airlines (WN not SWA) is not always the cheapest for flights to and from Seattle.

[Venicegal]

Thanks for your replies. I am concerned that we wouldn't get to do any type of bus tour in Denali since we do not arrive until approximately 6 pm (after an 8 hour bus ride) and then we leave on the train around noon the next day. I know that the train ride will be great, but I don't like the short amount of time at Denali.

[Budget Queen]

Thanks for your replies. I am concerned that we wouldn't get to do any type of bus tour in Denali since we do not arrive until approximately 6 pm (after an 8 hour bus ride) and then we leave on the train around noon the next day. I know that the train ride will be great, but I don't like the short amount of time at Denali.

 

The train "ride" Anchorage/Denali just about parallels the Parks Highway, and with a short time, I don't find it a "great" choice.

 

With the timeframes you state- it definately is a very lacking choice to make. Essentially all you are getting is transit time and no time at the single destination. And it probably isn't cheap.