Semi live review Y1L Holland America’s Alaska Land and Sea CruiseTour, June 1 – June 19, 2022

[propwash]

On 6/1/2022 at 5:32 PM, Alphen said:

And this is our intended tour:

We will be doing this same trip in August. Hopefully Thank you for the blog. Very helpful.

[ljgordon54]

Great fun following you. Your pictures are great. Thanks for the blog.

[Alphen]

Arrived in Denali, full schedule and only WiFi in public spaces, so maybe delay in reporting.

 

[Alphen]

Denali National Park

 

Today we departed Fairbanks by Holland America Tour Bus, to Denali. Only a 3 hours scenic ride, that included a half an hour break at Tatlanika Campground, a family business, even the grand children were helping out, selling popcorn!

Pictures are above in my earlier entry.

 

We arrived at the McKinley Chalet Resort, where we ourselves left the bus at the Main Lodge, to go on a hiking tour. The rooms were not ready yet, so why not make use of the time to do something active. We left on the “Steps Through Time, interpretive hike, for a strenuous hike to a former miners cabin. The hike with Jenny our guide, was certainly a hike not for the faint at heart, but very nice in and through nature. Apart from loads of Moose poop, we sadly saw not wildlife, but still a great hike.

 

Moose Hoof print

 

Moose poop

 

After the hike, we were pretty tired and decided to get something simple across the road of the resort and head to our room.

Edited June 8, 2022 by Alphen

[Alphen]

McKinley Chalet Resort

 

We have our room in the Ridge View Chalet and again, HAL did not disappoint with a beautiful in style room. Spacious, coffee maker and Wi-Fi, what could one ask more!

 

 

 

Tomorrow the Tundra Wilderness Tour!

Edited June 8, 2022 by Alphen

[Traveling Dot]

That hotel is a lot nicer than the one we had back in 2010.  Love all your pictures. Thank you for sharing.

[cat shepard]

9 hours ago, Alphen said:

McKinley Chalet Resort

 

We have our room in the Ridge View Chalet and again, HAL did not disappoint with a beautiful in style room. Spacious, coffee maker and Wi-Fi, what could one ask more!

 

 

 

Tomorrow the Tundra Wilderness Tour!

 

Thank you for sharing your adventures. Your pictures and comments are very informative! I do have a couple questions…

 

Was the hike strenuous because of the elevation climb? Was the terrain slippery?

 

Do you remember where you grabbed something to eat?  Did they have a good selection? Was the food good? Would you recommend it?

 

If I get to go, I will be there in August, and since I did not opt for the meal plan, I am very interested in anything you recommend. 
 

 

[Alphen]

41 minutes ago, cat shepard said:

 

Thank you for sharing your adventures. Your pictures and comments are very informative! I do have a couple questions…

 

Was the hike strenuous because of the elevation climb? Was the terrain slippery?

 

Do you remember where you grabbed something to eat?  Did they have a good selection? Was the food good? Would you recommend it?

 

If I get to go, I will be there in August, and since I did not opt for the meal plan, I am very interested in anything you recommend. 
 

 

Hike was strenuous, uneven and sometimes slippery, there ar several choices in an outside the resort, outside are things like Pizza , Subway and a take away Chinese , all more expensive than outside Alaska. But lots of choices 

[Hogladyrider]

Everything in Alaska is more expensive than the lower 48 so be prepared!

[Mary229]

I am loving your review I am going to bookmark it as reference for my upcoming Alaska journey. 

[RSWBADGER]

1 hour ago, Alphen said:

Hike was strenuous, uneven and sometimes slippery, there ar several choices in an outside the resort, outside are things like Pizza , Subway and a take away Chinese , all more expensive than outside Alaska. But lots of choices 

Great thread, we will be there in mid July, across the highway this is worth checking out.

 

Prospectors Pizzeria and Alehouse Gourmet Pizza and Draft Beer (prospectorspizza.com)

[shuyak]

@Alphen, really appreciate your postings!  It provides some reassurance that it worths the efforts to overcome all the hurdles (so far and more to come) for this trip. 🙏

[Alphen]

McKinley Chalet Resort Breakfast 

 

We did the buffet this morning, enough choices, not so much seating, something to keep in mind!

[Alphen]

McKinley Chalet Resort Breakfast 

 

We did the buffet this morning, enough choices, not so much seating, something to keep in mind!

[Alphen]

A little chilly this morning, but promising to be another beautiful day!

 

 

Edited June 8, 2022 by Alphen

[Alphen]

McKinley Chalet Resort Ridge View building 

 

Our room does not have a balcony, don’t know why one should, you’re hardly in your room anyway.

[Alphen]

View from McKinley resort 

 

 

[Alphen]

Tundra Wilderness Tour 

 

Another great tour, 6 hours through Denali Park. Our group was not the only one in the bus, they fill it up to about 50.

We had two bathroom stops and also stopped for photos, either from or outside the bus.

The guide Phillip was knowledgeable and informative, but extremely strict in everything and never to throw in a joke or so, but that was the only little negative.

Water and a small snack box were provided, you could also order a lunch box at the hotel, for info, look at the Chalet Park website.

 

We saw Caribou, Grizzly and just at the exit a moose (not on this camera)!

 

 

And…. great views at Mount Denali!

 

[Alphen]

McKinley Chalet Resort, main lodge, shop, Starbucks and reception 

 

[tundra1]

Thank you so much for these great pictures!  What time did you leave on the Tundra Wilderness Tour?  Was there a long line for breakfast because everyone had to get on the buses at the same time?

[Alphen]

4 hours ago, tundra1 said:

Thank you so much for these great pictures!  What time did you leave on the Tundra Wilderness Tour?  Was there a long line for breakfast because everyone had to get on the buses at the same time?

Tours are shorter because of the blockage  from the landslides at mile 43, so leave later, ours left at 09:40, no lines, just a bit full. Tour lasted around 6 hours. Tours do not leave at the same time.

Edited June 9, 2022 by Alphen

[cat shepard]

11 hours ago, Alphen said:

Tundra Wilderness Tour 

 

Another great tour, 6 hours through Denali Park. Our group was not the only one in the bus, they fill it up to about 50.

We had two bathroom stops and also stopped for photos, either from or 

 

And…. great views at Mount Denali!

 

Spectacular. If I am as lucky as you are to get this view, then all the stress and hoop-jumping will be worth it. 
 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

[rajkr74]

Boy you are lucky in being one of the 33% of people who see Denali when visiting the park.  Pictures are great.

[Sebbiesgrammy]

21 minutes ago, rajkr74 said:

Boy you are lucky in being one of the 33% of people who see Denali when visiting the park.  Pictures are great.

AGREED!!  Your photos are and commentary are wonderful!  We have seen concerns over the last few months that the shortening of the Tundra Tour due to the rock slides would prevent anyone from seeing the great mountain at all and that many would forego the entire trip and wait for the entire road to be open in a year or two. Glad you have proven this to be incorrect.  With luck and good weather, it is still possible to see the great one.  Thanks.

[TheEmerson]

When you get to Anchorage have breakfast at Snow City Cafe.  We went there and was worth the wait.  It is a short walk from the hotel.