2012 July 6-20 Alaska Land and Cruise Adventure Review with LOTS of photos!

[WalleyeLJ]

Thanks for all your work. I am going to head over to the other thread soon. It has taken me a couple of very enjoyable evenings to go through all your posts as I love reading all the details. The photos were just super.

 

We are big Radiance fans, and it gave me a bit of a jolt when we looked at your picture of café lattitudes and saw our girl from our March 2012 Perth to Sydney cruise still working there! (we were pretty sure it was the same one) Also the show with the piano man theme from the different singers and decades. We thoroughly enjoyed that show, and many others on Radiance, and it was a huge disappointment when we went on Voyager to find they felt a 3D movie was acceptable for evening show entertainment. I am one of a large number of people that feel sick on watching 3D movies. I have yet to feel seasick, though!

 

It has very much ignited the fires of wanting to go to Alaska, and we have even been discussing selling our small business, as with airfares, staff and the cruise costs it is just not worth the cost for only a week or two and we would like to do more things either side of the cruise, but that would only cost more! If we end up not getting there, I feel that reading your review had been a great substitute.

 

Thanks again to you and Bev.

 

KJ,

I certainly wouldn't advocate selling your business;), but I would advocate making sure you get to Alaska if you're interested. It's a fantastic experience. I certainly understand the desire for more time there - that's why our next trip we're planning on trying to do two weeks on land only. Whatever you decide, if you can't make it there sooner, I hope you make it there later. After all - better late® than never!!!

L.J.

[mollanjake]

Despite the long, exercise filled day, and the fact it was a few minutes after 10pm, I was excited as I worked my way up the hill to the overlook. By 10:30pm or so, the sun still hadn't broken through, the wind picked up, it had gotten down into the 40s, and I desperately needed a bathroom! However, my patience/insanity was rewarded - doubly so! The sun finally dropped down and offered about 15 minutes of beautiful golden light. It started at the base of the hill, shining down on Beluga Lake and the Homer Airport. Then, the sliver of light slide across the landscape, out onto the Spit and Kachemak Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then one of those magical treasures that serendipity sometimes provides blessed me with one of the most memorable natural and photographic moments I've ever had. As I took the first series of shots of the light on Homer and the Spit, I had a few minutes to wait as the light slowly worked across the bay. As I walked over to the left side of the pullout and looked towards the end of the bay, I saw, for me, the most unique and beautiful sight.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have NEVER witnessed a rainbow from above, nor have I ever seen a rain cloud rainbow. I don't know if that's what the technical name would be, but that's what it was!!! I was one of the calmest, quietest, most serene moments I've ever experienced, and I felt for a moment like I was the only one in the world witnessing this wonderful paradox. On one side of the vista, a warm golden sunset on the Spit, and a half turn to the left, the dark Kenai Mountains in the background with the single brilliant white cloud, slowly drifting over Kachemak Bay, spilling rain and rainbows as is moved along towards the Spit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The further it moved, the more the rainbow arch grew, until the sun finally set, the rainbow fading and darkness finally sliding over the Spit, bringing the day to a most enthralling and memorable end...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow...Volcanic activity, a BIG Otter, and bears...baby bears...

 

 

 

L.J.

 

I know this is an old review, but I am re-reading it. This is picture is so amazing! Thanks for your awesome reviews!

[Carol & Jim]

Great review, thanks! We are going to Soldotna and Homer in May of this year and wondering which bear viewing tour to go on?? Is there one you liked better than the other?

We also booked the Rangeview B&B, it looked and sounded perfect!

Thanks, Carol

[WalleyeLJ]

I know this is an old review, but I am re-reading it. This is picture is so amazing! Thanks for your awesome reviews!

 

Thanks Laura - glad you liked it!

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

Great review, thanks! We are going to Soldotna and Homer in May of this year and wondering which bear viewing tour to go on?? Is there one you liked better than the other?

We also booked the Rangeview B&B, it looked and sounded perfect!

Thanks, Carol

 

Hi Carol,

 

Thanks for checking out our review, and I'm glad you found some useful things! We loved Rangeview - you should really enjoy your stay there. As for the bear viewing trips, they were both very different and both awesome. Katmai is of course very remote, and there's such a sense of just you and the wilderness, even if only for a few hours, and the number of bears was terrific. Wolverine Creek, on the other hand, was packed with many people fishing, but the bears were actively fishing too, and much more active, and the flight was much shorter and cheaper (almost half the price of Katmai), and plane was bigger and more comfortabe. Plus, the people fishing were highly entertaining when the bears were taking a break:D

 

L.J.

[themerle]

I've enjoyed your review and all of the awesome photos! Thanks for sharing!

[WalleyeLJ]

I've enjoyed your review and all of the awesome photos! Thanks for sharing!

 

Thanks themerle! Can't wait for Round #3 next year:)

 

L.J.

[Jdfireman]

Still a great read. Trip one for me was unreal. Yes we did it all spent way too much and had a blast but we loved it. I did become lazy and not do any review and photo posts Boo me.

 

We are going for round 2 in July 2014 cant wait

 

Safe travels

 

JD

[world_traveler_et]

L.J. & Bev,

I am glad this thread is still going. It was a great help to me last year in planning my trip to Alaska. Seeing your review with photographs was a big help in deciding what excursion to take.

 

After reading your review and others I finally booked my tours independent from the ship tours. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. You made my trip more memorable with the personalized tours. Thanks again!

 

Enjoy trip three next year and look forward to reading about your trip.

[WalleyeLJ]

Still a great read. Trip one for me was unreal. Yes we did it all spent way too much and had a blast but we loved it. I did become lazy and not do any review and photo posts Boo me.

 

We are going for round 2 in July 2014 cant wait

 

Safe travels

 

JD

 

JD - have a great time! Wish we were going this year, but looking forward to 2015! Post a review this time around!

 

L.J.

[WalleyeLJ]

L.J. & Bev,

I am glad this thread is still going. It was a great help to me last year in planning my trip to Alaska. Seeing your review with photographs was a big help in deciding what excursion to take.

 

After reading your review and others I finally booked my tours independent from the ship tours. Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions. You made my trip more memorable with the personalized tours. Thanks again!

 

Enjoy trip three next year and look forward to reading about your trip.

 

WT,

 

That's awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed the smaller group tours - we certainly have. What kinds of things did you do on your trip? We love to learn ffrom others experiences too!

 

L.J.

[world_traveler_et]

I didn't get an opportunity to visit Denali on this trip but I am looking forward to doing this on my next trip to Alaska.

 

After reading your review and others we booked a flight with Michelle of Island Wings out of Ketchikan soaring over the Misty Fjords. Again your pictures gave us perspective on what we would be seeing on this trip.

 

In Skagway we used Chilkoot and booked their Scenic Bennett Journey. I ended up spending most of my time on the viewing platform. Every one rotated on the platform so that everyone who wanted to be outside go the opportunity. The scenery in the Yukon was breath taking. We were able to see a mother bear and three cubs. The train did stop when we said there was a bear siting.

 

I wish we had more time in the port of Juneau. We were able to do the Temsco Pilot Choice tour which is a double glacier landing. This included a little time to get out and walk at each landing. The first landing was on the Gilkey Glacier and the second landing was on top of the Juneau Icefield with snow and views of the mountain tops.

 

When we returned to port we took the blue bus to the Mendenhall Glacier and walked to the waterfall. You could hear the roar of the rushing water from a distance. The visitor center was worth a visit as well. I would have booked a tour from the ship but everyone on cruise critic said how easy it was to do this on your own--and it was easy.

 

We had great weather the entire trip.

 

I will be planning trip number two shortly. Next time I am thinking of sailing with RCCL instead of Princess due to better entertainment and activities on board the ship. My priority on this trip was seeing Glacier Bay and Hubbard Bay.

[WalleyeLJ]

I didn't get an opportunity to visit Denali on this trip but I am looking forward to doing this on my next trip to Alaska.

 

After reading your review and others we booked a flight with Michelle of Island Wings out of Ketchikan soaring over the Misty Fjords. Again your pictures gave us perspective on what we would be seeing on this trip.

 

In Skagway we used Chilkoot and booked their Scenic Bennett Journey. I ended up spending most of my time on the viewing platform. Every one rotated on the platform so that everyone who wanted to be outside go the opportunity. The scenery in the Yukon was breath taking. We were able to see a mother bear and three cubs. The train did stop when we said there was a bear siting.

 

I wish we had more time in the port of Juneau. We were able to do the Temsco Pilot Choice tour which is a double glacier landing. This included a little time to get out and walk at each landing. The first landing was on the Gilkey Glacier and the second landing was on top of the Juneau Icefield with snow and views of the mountain tops.

 

When we returned to port we took the blue bus to the Mendenhall Glacier and walked to the waterfall. You could hear the roar of the rushing water from a distance. The visitor center was worth a visit as well. I would have booked a tour from the ship but everyone on cruise critic said how easy it was to do this on your own--and it was easy.

 

We had great weather the entire trip.

 

I will be planning trip number two shortly. Next time I am thinking of sailing with RCCL instead of Princess due to better entertainment and activities on board the ship. My priority on this trip was seeing Glacier Bay and Hubbard Bay.

 

It sounds like you had a blast. If we get back to Skagway again we'll have to look at trying out the train. How was it walking ont he glaicers in Juneau!? It's another on of the to do things that we haven't done yet - just hate missing those whales:D. The one drawback with RCI is that they don't go into Glacier Bay - it's the one thing that might get us to jump lines at least once if we take another Alaska cruise!

 

L.J.

[K-Dogg]

Hello! I read all about your amazing trip last year, but did not have the time to read through it again now. We are planning our second Alaska cruise now, and I was wondering who you used for the Bear tour? Our only goal this trip is to see bears!! Thank you so much!!

[WalleyeLJ]

Hello! I read all about your amazing trip last year, but did not have the time to read through it again now. We are planning our second Alaska cruise now, and I was wondering who you used for the Bear tour? Our only goal this trip is to see bears!! Thank you so much!!

 

No problem! We used Kay Air out of Homer for our Katmai bear viewing trip and Talon Air out of Soldotna for our Wolverine Creek bear viewing trip.

 

L.J.

 

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Forums mobile app

[K-Dogg]

No problem! We used Kay Air out of Homer for our Katmai bear viewing trip and Talon Air out of Soldotna for our Wolverine Creek bear viewing trip.

 

L.J.

 

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Forums mobile app

 

Thank you! I will look them up if we end up in either of those areas. :)

[dstein]

LJ - not sure whether to thank you or curse you! :)

 

We just completed our first ever cruise (Oasis West Carib in June). The plan was that, if we liked it, I'd get to fulfill my personal bucket list item with a family Alaska cruise in 2017.

 

Then I spent all day yesterday reading through this trip report. As a result, our Washington DC trip in 2016 is now going to happen in 2017 so we can accelerate Alaska into 2016!

 

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences and amazing pictures with us.

[WalleyeLJ]

LJ - not sure whether to thank you or curse you! :)

 

We just completed our first ever cruise (Oasis West Carib in June). The plan was that, if we liked it, I'd get to fulfill my personal bucket list item with a family Alaska cruise in 2017.

 

Then I spent all day yesterday reading through this trip report. As a result, our Washington DC trip in 2016 is now going to happen in 2017 so we can accelerate Alaska into 2016!

 

Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences and amazing pictures with us.

 

LOL - dstein, if that's the worst thing that's said about me this week I'll take it!!! If you liked this review, I'm also working on finishing up our 2009 trip recap as well - we did some different things on that one that may be of interest. I hope you all have a wonderful time on your maiden voyage to the greatness that is Alaska!

 

L.J.

[skierjj]

I didn't want this review/ travel journal to end!

Such great photos! Thanks.

We have a cannon power shot SX50HS

We are doing a cruise plus cruisetour on NCL in End of May/beginning of June.

We have few days of DIY on north side of Kenai peninsula after.

I appreciate all the research and planning you did for both of your trips; wish I had read about the bear search on Katmai and wolverine creek before I booked this cruisetour. I would have booked later in summer, as we are too early for the big salmon runs which means no bear tours in early June :-(

Is there a link to Bev's videos? I may have missed it if you already mentioned it in your great reviews!

Can't wait for our trip coming up in May, first time to Glacier Bay and Denali! Yay!

Thanks again...Best Review, Best Pictures by far!

Have fun on your 2015 land only trip! Can't wait for that review!

Joyce

[WalleyeLJ]

I didn't want this review/ travel journal to end!

Such great photos! Thanks.

We have a cannon power shot SX50HS

We are doing a cruise plus cruisetour on NCL in End of May/beginning of June.

We have few days of DIY on north side of Kenai peninsula after.

I appreciate all the research and planning you did for both of your trips; wish I had read about the bear search on Katmai and wolverine creek before I booked this cruisetour. I would have booked later in summer, as we are too early for the big salmon runs which means no bear tours in early June :-(

Is there a link to Bev's videos? I may have missed it if you already mentioned it in your great reviews!

Can't wait for our trip coming up in May, first time to Glacier Bay and Denali! Yay!

Thanks again...Best Review, Best Pictures by far!

Have fun on your 2015 land only trip! Can't wait for that review!

Joyce

 

Thanks Joyce - I hope you all have a wonderful trip! FYI - while it is early in the season, there are trips out to Katmai in mid May and early June kicks off the viewing season for most of the Homer based companies. As you saw, we went with K-Bay Air out of Homer, and while the salmon aren't in then (they weren't in for us in early July), they are clamming & mating during that time, and there might be some little spring cubs too.

 

As for the videos, we've only got one up online so far. It's a shot of some of our planemates

. Watching people fish for Sockeyes was almost as entertaining as the bears themselves!. Hopefully it'll let me link it on here (it worked int he preview at least!). If not, just shoot me an email and I can send you the link.

 

L.J.

[Miss Dot]

So glad this thread was bumped! We will be going in June and can't wait. What AWESOME photography!!!! Hope to get shots half as good as yours.interested in the lens you used since I am having trouble trying to decide which ones I should take. THANKS for such an awesome review

[skierjj]

Thanks L.J.

Loved the bear and fishing video!

Here is our itinerary:

Sat May 23 Lax to Vancouver (frequent flyer miles)

Stay at Hampton Inn (hilton honor points) 2 nights

Capitalano suspension bridge (we've already biked the Stanley park sea wall)

Possibly grouse mountain tram; possibly Granville island

Mon May 25 board NCL Sun (casinos at sea offer) upgrade to aft balcony

Tues May 26 day at sea inside passage, looking for wildlife, meet and greet etc.

Wed May 27 Ketchikan all day fishing charter Captain Ken with Northern Lights for King Salmon or bottom fishing or eagle photos or whale watching whatever happens that day it's all good!

Thurs May 28 Juneau five Glacier fightseeing landing at Taku river. Salmon fish grill lunch, taku glacier in front of lodge, possibly see a resident bear.

Fri May 29 Skagway wilderness point safari to Davidson glacier by catamaran, hike and canoe

Sat May 30 Glacier Bay

Sun May 31 Hubbard Glacier

Mon June 1 disembark Seward, begin land tour, go to wildlife conservation center, check in at Alyeska resort. Take tram up to dinner.

Tues June 2 bus to Anchorage, short city tour, sled dog stop to see doggies, bus to Denali free time plus add on excursion: River rafting? Overnight Denali

Wed June 3 tundra wilderness tour 8 hours in Denali, overnight Denali

Thurs June 4 train to Talkeetna, bus to Anchorage, overnight Anchorage, possibly pick up rental car at airport if it's not too late.

Fri June 5 drive Turnigan Arm to Seward get on 11:30 Major Marine trip to one glacier and wildlife sites (wish we could make the 10:00 a.m., but I'm not sure if that's pushing it?) Drive to Soldotna to 'a cabin by the pond' , 2 nights

Sat June 6 all day fishing charter out of Homer for 1/2day King Salmon and 1/2 day Halibut fishing.

Sun June 7 Turnigan arm to Anchorage leisurely pace to see wildlife and sites, flight home to LAX 5:00 p.m.

 

So I checked out K air out of Homer and the other one out of Soldotna for bear tours for the Fri June 5th day, it looks like it's too early for bear trips, so I definitely want to see the Kenai Fjords National park by boat tour.

Do you think this is a good plan?

Of course it would be great to do the Major Marine trip on the day we disembark but alas we are on the dumb cruisetour :-( and we are on their schedule for 4 days.

I really appreciate your opinion, thanks

Joyce

[WalleyeLJ]

Well, it's been a long time since I was on CC - almost 2 years!!!

 

2015 we did a 2 week land tour, which I never ended up getting posted here...drove the Dalton Highway and stood in the Arctic Ocean, then went to Lake Clark National Park and Soldotna and saw LOTS of bears and caught a LOT of salmon!

 

We are heading back on this August, so I hope to get back on the horse and post a new thread here post trip - can't wait to get back to Alaska!!!

 

L.J.

[Hogladyrider]

Welcome back!

 

Quick question...your land tour in 2015 did you do with a tour company?

 

I did a land tour in 2014 with Alaska Wildland Adventures and it was the BEST vacation ever.

 

Cruise to Alaska came first in 2009 which set the hook for falling in love with Alaska.

 

Now that I am finally retired and traveling full time in my RV our hope is to spend one complete summer in Alaska.

 

Susan

[WalleyeLJ]

Hi Susan!

 

Our first trip to Alaska was in 2009 as well and hooked us too! We did our 2015 tour on our own. Here was our itinerary:

 

Day 1 - Charlotte to Anchorage

Day 2 - Anchorage to Talkeetna (picked two of our friends who came up a week earlier to mountaineer on Ruth Glacier on Denali), then on to Fairbanks.

Day 3 - Fairbanks to Wiseman (Dalton Highway, broke the Arctic Circle!)

Day 4 - Wiseman to Deadhorse

Day 5 - Prudhoe Bay tour - walked into the Arctic Ocean! Then Deadhorse back to Wiseman...

Day 6 - Wiseman back to Fairbanks

Day 7 - Fairbanks to Healy/Denali NP

Day 8 - went into Denali - finally got to see her on our third attempt! Denali back to Anchorage to drop our friends off, then headed to Whittier

Day 9 - Whittier all day boat tour, then off to Soldotna

Day 10 - supposed to head to Lake Clark National Park for three nights to bear watch and fish; grounded due to weather.

Day 11 - moved up our Kenai River Salmon trip scheduled for after the bears trip; weather cleared, flew over to Lake Clark NP/Silver Salmon Creek in the PM

Day 12 - Silver Salmon Creek Lodge - bears and salmon

Day 13 - SSCL - bears & salmon

Day 14 - SSCL back to Soldotna

Day 15 - fished Kasilof River for salmon; back to Anchorage - flew home to NC!

 

It was a LONG trip - over 2,000 road miles, and a different place to sleep every night for the first 11 nights. Dalton Highway was awesome - but if we ever do it again, need more than 4 days to soak it all in:D. Whittier, tour was terrific, and the salmon fishing and bear watching in the 2nd week was fantastic - once we got to SSCL, the weather was terrific. Here's my favorite shot from Silver Salmon Creek:

 

 

L.J.