Alaska Cruisetour Help Please!

[Bmorecruiser021]

My family is trying to decide between cruisetours 9B and 1B. One of the main differences we are having trouble with is in Denali; 9B you "take a trip into Denali National Park on the Murie Science & Learning Center Denali Family Experience." While on 1B you take a trip "on the Denali Natural History Tour."

 

Does anyone know what the difference is?

 

Any experiences with these 2 tours? Pictures even?

 

What do you recommend for a family of 3 (parents in their 60's, son in his 20's)?

 

Any and all help is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[Morecruisesplz]

I don't know the difference between those two tours but I can tell that you will love the cruise tour. The train is awesome and the bus also has amazing views. One of the best parts is the staff. Once you depart the ship and board the bus you will never touch your luggage again. It will be in your room every night when you get there and you put it out at night so it's on the bus when you board the next morning. The staff is also so knowledgeable about everything Alaska. You will love the "rooms" -- most are actually condo rather than just motel rooms.

 

We did the cruise tour after the cruise and felt like we made the best choice. That cruise is very port intensive and every day is very busy. So the tour part was a chance to "relax" and see beautiful scenery and wildlife.

 

Enjoy but don't sweat the details -- if you are like us you'll want to go back again and can take the other choice the next visit.

[ace1zoe2]

We did the opposite with the cruise your first and felt it worked out better for us personally.

 

I have done an VERY extensive review which is in my signature and I also have a log linked in my signature without all the comments along the way. You can get tons if information about Alaska if you care to take a look.

 

I'd be happy to try to answer any questions you might gave.

[Arizona Cruz Chic]

I don't know the difference between those two tours but I can tell that you will love the cruise tour. The train is awesome and the bus also has amazing views. One of the best parts is the staff. Once you depart the ship and board the bus you will never touch your luggage again. It will be in your room every night when you get there and you put it out at night so it's on the bus when you board the next morning. The staff is also so knowledgeable about everything Alaska. You will love the "rooms" -- most are actually condo rather than just motel rooms.

 

We did the cruise tour after the cruise and felt like we made the best choice. That cruise is very port intensive and every day is very busy. So the tour part was a chance to "relax" and see beautiful scenery and wildlife.

 

Enjoy but don't sweat the details -- if you are like us you'll want to go back again and can take the other choice the next visit.

 

I am so glad to see this post, after 3 cruises in Alaska we will do our first cruise tour in May 2015. We will doing tour 9 B starting in Fairbanks with the southbound cruise ending in Vancouver. I'm trying to get a 2014-2015 brochure with all the details, but so far haven't been able to locate one.

I changed the tour 3 times, so I hope we made the right decision!

 

Sorry OP I can't help with your question!

 

***

[NorbertsNiece]

I've done the 2nd tour you mention..... the Natural History Tour..... was absolutely amazing..... we drove on a bus deep into the park.... seeing wildlife is going to be hit and miss but we saw bears, moose, sheep and a golden eagle flew alongside! Packed lunch included.

 

Here's a link to my blog.

 

ETA we also got a glimpse of McKinley!

Edited May 5, 2014 by NorbertsNiece

[Donut23]

Natural History tour is the longer tour, deeper into Denali. The Tours of Denali are once in a lifetime but can be long. I have been lucky and have done it with fun people.

 

Wildlife can be challenging to see sometimes. It's the luck of the draw. The longer tour is more wildlife intensive.....fewer vehicles.

 

Take good binoculars and consider a pair for each adult. When you are watching a Mama bear with her cubs cavorting in a creek, you may be reluctant to share.

 

Before me DH's favorite travels were to Europe. To the great cities filled with history, artwork in great cathedrals. After seeing Denali National Park he described it as God's Cathedral.

 

I simply say it's the place God made for HIS vacation!

 

Royal does a superb job on land, the transition from land to sea is easy. They make travel in Alaska extremely easy for visitors. Having an Escort eliminates all worry. They are guides and problem solvers.

 

I have always recommended a Southbound journey, especially to first timers. Enthusiasm will get you through the long-long flight TO Alaska with the shorter flight at the end when you are just ready to get home.

 

Also, with the cruise portion second, you have a day at sea before arriving in Vancouver. A day to rest, to pack, to reflect on the beauty and majesty you have just experienced.

 

Tips: checkout the Alaska threads here. Lots of good topics.

 

Cruise Critic has a section reviewing Alaska, ports.....good info here.

 

Once reservation is made find your cruise on the Roll Call and get to know some fellow cruisers in advance. I'm going in 4 weeks.......my 6th time to this Wonderous place. Yet I still discovered something new for Skagway from someone on our Rollcall.

 

DH bought 2 Alaska tour books and has read them cover to cover. Having been there before he enjoyed reading about places we haven't seen in 8 years. We are doing the land portion on our own so it helped with inspiration AND answered questions about destinations. You may enjoy something like that if you are a "bookie". Honestly, there is more than enough online.

 

DO contact Alaska Tourism for materials. They have an excellent guide book. It's 8 1/2" X 11" and the size of a small book. TONS of info here. FREE!

 

YouTube is your best friend. I could spend hours looking at videos of the Radiance, the Royal Caribbean railcar, the places you will stay.....Be sure to checkout the bustling metropolis (NOT) of Talkeetna. The Mayor is a cat (Stubs) because everyone else wanted to raise taxes.

 

Your southbound trip will include a stop at the Sealife Center in Seward on Embarkation day. Created with funds from Exxon following the spill, they are dedicated to Sealife research. Be sure to stop in and visit the Puffins. Should be a highlight.......they are little clowns!

 

DH and I were married on the Radiance in Juneau 8 years ago. The day reservations opened for Alaska 2014 was the day before my heart surgery.....we were terrified. DH came to my hospital room that morning with a big grin. He had just booked cabin 1100 on the Radiance for our anniversary in 2014. He said........I don't plan to go alone. That was almost 450 days ago.

 

 

Alaska will change you forever. Her majestic mountain ranges, beautiful, friendly people, fascinating wildlife---gentle humpback whales to killer orcas, rafts of playful sea otters to those zainy puffins.

 

Alaska will grab a corner of your heart and never let it go.

[Bmorecruiser021]

Thanks for the information everyone! It really helped us out and we got what we needed! :D

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[Virginia Zees]

My family is trying to decide between cruisetours 9B and 1B. One of the main differences we are having trouble with is in Denali; 9B you "take a trip into Denali National Park on the Murie Science & Learning Center Denali Family Experience." While on 1B you take a trip "on the Denali Natural History Tour."

 

Does anyone know what the difference is?

 

Any experiences with these 2 tours? Pictures even?

 

What do you recommend for a family of 3 (parents in their 60's, son in his 20's)?

 

Any and all help is greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

The Denali Natural History Tour takes you approximately 18 miles into Denali (did it in 08) while the Tundra Wilderness tour (doing it in 15) takes you deep (approx. 75 miles) into the National park.

 

I do not know anything about the Denali National Park on the Murie Science & Learning Center Denali Family Experience.

 

I highly recommend the 8 B cruise tour if you want to go deep into Denali. :)

 

Hope this helps

Edited May 6, 2014 by Virginia Zees

[epixx]

These three day land tours are extremely inferior. You cannot actually get into Denali Park unless you spend two nights there. With the three day land portion, you will spend the majority of your time riding in a bus or on the train and only a fraction of the time at any destination. The Natural History Tour does not get you into the Park. The Murie Science & Learning Center is located right at the entrance to the Park, so you don't need a "tour" to go there.

 

Either go on your own or find a land tour that has at least two nights at Denali. This will allow you to either (1) take the NPS shuttle to Eielson (preferable due to longer distance into the Park and access to the Eielson Visitor's Center) or (2) take the Tundra Wilderness Tour (more expensive and does not go into the Park as far as shuttle).

[Donut23]

These three day land tours are extremely inferior. You cannot actually get into Denali Park unless you spend two nights there. With the three day land portion, you will spend the majority of your time riding in a bus or on the train and only a fraction of the time at any destination. The Natural History Tour does not get you into the Park. The Murie Science & Learning Center is located right at the entrance to the Park, so you don't need a "tour" to go there.

 

Either go on your own or find a land tour that has at least two nights at Denali. This will allow you to either (1) take the NPS shuttle to Eielson (preferable due to longer distance into the Park and access to the Eielson Visitor's Center) or (2) take the Tundra Wilderness Tour (more expensive and does not go into the Park as far as shuttle).

 

 

 

 

I agree this is a grand way to thoroughly experience Denali National Park. To some, especially first timers, the thought of building a complicated individual land tour may be too daunting.

 

I'll admit even WE looked longingly and thoroughly at the Royal tours. We are hearty independent travelers but even my hubby was liking the lack of schleppage.

 

As far as the Train and Motorcoach travel. It doesn't really matter how you get there, it's going to take HOURS.....by train or rental car. Good thing by rail/Motorcoach, they will have onboard guides.

 

We thought it was similar to visiting Gettysburg. Sure you can drive the battlefield with a field tour book and understand what happened there. But take a knowledgable guide out onto the battlefield and the majesty and horror of the battle comes to life-----experience more vivid

 

Heck, first timers are going to be overwhelmed with the beauty of the place. They will need their escorts to being them back to earth and point things out!! Hahaha!!

 

I think the tours are great even though we finally decided to head out on own again this time.

 

Ok, ok......tell me you aren't going to be jealous of their..........BATHROOM on that train about halfway to Denali! It's one of MY biggest worries when we head out on our own! ;-0

[pspercy]

Here's some good info on Denali Park:

http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/visiting-denali.htm

 

The tour into 60miles or so of the park is a long day. We skipped it as my wife was having back trouble and it's a good thing we did.

 

There's also lots of good info and knowledgeable people at the Alaska Ports of Call board here on CC.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

Edited May 6, 2014 by pspercy

[DragonOfTheSeas]

The Natural History tour only goes 17 miles into the park. While some will see animals in this area, there are not usually many sightings.

 

The Tundra Wilderness Tour goes to around mile 60 and is a MUCH better tour.

 

To get an idea of when you arrive in Denali [or leave the park] via train look at the Alaska railroad site. The cruise lines add their cars to the back of the train.

 

You will see that if you only stay in Denali one night that you are not there very long.

 

I suggest you read the many threads in the Alaska Port of call message board. They will not be specific to the RCL cruise tours. but, you will learn a lot about cruise tours.

Edited May 6, 2014 by DragonOfTheSeas