Live - 13 Day Alaskan Land Tour & Southbound Millennium Starting July 22, 2023

[garyl62]

3 hours ago, Hazelwoodp said:

We are headed to Alaska in two weeks.  How are the mosquitos?

They're around. We spend time in the northwoods of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan and I don't think they're much different here. If you're outside for 3 minutes you'll have 5 biting you. 

[garyl62]

Arrived at Alyeska Resort and it is great!  Now we feel like we're on a Celebrity land tour. The resort is very nice, rooms are well appointed with comfortable bedding. Lobby is welcoming and classic. 

 

We had dinner at the Seven Glaciers restaurant located 2,000 feet above the resort itself which offered wonderful views of the area below. 

 

Dinner was the best we'll have on this portion of the trip and made us feel like we were in a specialty dining room onboard. Reservations are not always easy to get so if you're staying here be sure to make your reservation early. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off to Homer tomorrow! 

[ladylemondrop]

21 minutes ago, garyl62 said:

Arrived at Alyeska Resort and it is great!  Now we feel like we're on a Celebrity land tour. The resort is very nice, rooms are well appointed with comfortable bedding. Lobby is welcoming and classic. 

 

We had dinner at the Seven Glaciers restaurant located 2,000 feet above the resort itself which offered wonderful views of the area below. 

 

Dinner was the best we'll have on this portion of the trip and made us feel like we were in a specialty dining room onboard. Reservations are not always easy to get so if you're staying here be sure to make your reservation early. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Off to Homer tomorrow! 

All looks so beautiful! Those views are wonderful. What a great start to your trip. 

[Whinenowine]

Looks like you've had great weather so far--here's hoping this continues for you (we weren't quite so lucky last August)!  Keep the posts coming.

 

[garyl62]

A few more pictures of the Alyeska Resort before we head out this morning. 

 

 

 

 

[garyl62]

One more!

 

[Altamar]

Your pictures are just beautiful!

[capsplace]

Waiting for Julie Andrews to pop up!

[garyl62]

Another beautiful day in Alaska. We started out by stopping at the wildlife conservation center with a lot of good photo opportunities ofwiild animals that are there for some type of rehabilitation, but are living in a very natural environment. I took all of those photos with my DSLR camera so I'll have to wait to transfer them to my computer before I can share them.

 

 

From there we traveled to Soldotna and stopped for lunch. There was an outdoor market going on with crafters, food trucks and other vendors all there selling their wares. We shopped a while and enjoyed lunch while listening to the live music. 

 

As we left Soldotna we crossed the Kenai River a few times and every time there were people fishing for salmon. They say today was the highest count of salmon all year.  Yes that is the color of the river, it has to do with the fresh water mixing with the glacial silt that turns it turquoise. 

 

From there we traveled to Homer and went to a Coastal Fisheries Dock Walk out on the Spit which was very interesting. Got a picture of an Otter just floating around. 

 

 

After that we checked in to the hotel, did a grocery run across the street to pick up some breakfast items, snacks and a carry out Asian dinner before calling it a day. Free day in Homer tomorrow, planning on some shopping and dining on the Spit. Should have more pictures to share after that I hope. 

 

 

[CHEZMARYLOU]

Enjoying your review and pictures.  This land tour is certainly different than the 2 we did a number of years ago.

[garyl62]

We are heading over to the islands and oceans visitor center this morning then plan to spend some time down on the spit before returning to the area around the hotel for dinner.

 

We are staying at the Aspen Hotels of Alaska and have a room with a kitchenette which was convenient after walking across the street to Safeway and picking up some things for breakfast and cold beverages. 

 

 

 

 Had a little rain overnight but it seems to be clearing now and looking forward to a nice day again!

[raudacruise]

Thank you for your review.

 

Just had my first Alaskan cruise in June (RT from Seattle). Weather wasn’t good, but still enjoyed the glaciers and whales. Had two good balcony days, wrapped up in four blankets, warm as toast. But couldn’t sit out in the rain. Had sunshine in Ketchikan of all places (usually rains constantly) and Skagway. Had two tours cancelled including a helicopter trip to walk on a glacier. Considered booking the same cruise again to try for the helicopter tour again until I read someone’s comment that in six trips to Alaska, his helicopter tour was cancelled every single time. Should note that my other cancelled tour (seaplane to Taka lodge) was replaced with small boat whale watching led by a scientist, my favorite activity of the entire cruise.

 

So I’ll try for a helicopter tour again, but a different cruise with a land portion seems ideal. Should have lots of highlights. I’ll be following with interest.

[Swordfish1949]

Following your review very closely- we're on Cruisetour beginning Aug-6. 

[Sigyn]

Lovely photos! We were on the Millennium July 7-14. It's amazing.

 

 

[garyl62]

Just as we had hoped this morning, the rain cleared and we were treated to another beautiful day in Alaska. We wandered the spit this morning enjoying the shops and the atmosphere. 

 

 

 

 

 

We had lunch at the Boardwalk Fish & Chips. I had a clam strip basket and DW had a traditional fish with coleslaw instead of the chips

 

 

 

 

After lunch we came across some folks getting their catch of halibut filleted. Then we ended up at Coal Point Processing where some other people were bringing in their salmon, some had been filleted, others just gutted. Everything was going to be vacuum sealed and frozen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We spent about 4 hours on the Spit and while I needed to take a break at times, we had another great day.

 

 

 

 After a little rest at our hotel we walked a few blocks and came across this stack of bouys on our way to dinner at AJ's Seakhouse.

 

 

 

AJ's  has a great menu that includes some handhelds and small plates, plus many local fish items, a fantastic selection of USDA prime Steaks and several daily specials. I opted for an entree of fresh Kodiak Scallops and DW shared part of her 12 oz NY strip. Both were great, but the scallops might have been the best I've ever had! This is another place you need to book in advance, so if you're planning to come to Homer be sure to make a reservation before you get here.

 

 

 

We walked back to our hotel, enjoyed the view and realized a week in Alaska probably doesn't get any better than this.

 

 

Tomorrow we head out to Seward to board the ship and begin the second half of our Alaskan adventure!

 

[ladylemondrop]

9 hours ago, garyl62 said:

Just as we had hoped this morning, the rain cleared and we were treated to another beautiful day in Alaska. We wandered the spit this morning enjoying the shops and the atmosphere. 

 

 

 

 

 

We had lunch at the Boardwalk Fish & Chips. I had a clam strip basket and DW had a traditional fish with coleslaw instead of the chips

 

 

 

 

After lunch we came across some folks getting their catch of halibut filleted. Then we ended up at Coal Point Processing where some other people were bringing in their salmon, some had been filleted, others just gutted. Everything was going to be vacuum sealed and frozen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We spent about 4 hours on the Spit and while I needed to take a break at times, we had another great day.

 

 

 

 After a little rest at our hotel we walked a few blocks and came across this stack of bouys on our way to dinner at AJ's Seakhouse.

 

 

 

AJ's  has a great menu that includes some handhelds and small plates, plus many local fish items, a fantastic selection of USDA prime Steaks and several daily specials. I opted for an entree of fresh Kodiak Scallops and DW shared part of her 12 oz NY strip. Both were great, but the scallops might have been the best I've ever had! This is another place you need to book in advance, so if you're planning to come to Homer be sure to make a reservation before you get here.

 

 

 

We walked back to our hotel, enjoyed the view and realized a week in Alaska probably doesn't get any better than this.

 

 

Tomorrow we head out to Seward to board the ship and begin the second half of our Alaskan adventure!

 

I just love this report so much, what an incredible trip! Bucket list for sure. 

[garyl62]

We left Homer today with our final destination of Seward to board the Millennium. We made a short stop at the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge followed by a lunch stop in Soldotna again.

 

 

No market today but we did go down by the river and see some fisherman pulling in some salmon. 

 

 

 

A couple hours later we arrived and boarded the ship. Our Aqua Class room was ready so we dropped off our carry on bags, checked out the balcony and view, then headed off to check out the rest of the ship. 

 

 

 

[perfect match]

Great review! Thank you! I’ll be tagging along for the rest of your trip. Alaska is definitely on my cruise wish list. Like you, I would want to do the land tour, too. Note to self - do the land portion of the cruise tour first!  

[Hogladyrider]

Following....WOW your land portion looks amazing, weather looks great as well!  I've been to Alaska twice, once on a cruise, 2nd time on a 7 day land trip. 

 

Denali is amazing for sure.  Hope they can repair the roadway and get it reopened soon.

 

Looking forward to following the cruise portion of your trip so far it looks like you made the right choice with land first followed by cruise so you can recoup on the ship!

 

FANTASTIC PHOTOS!

[garyl62]

Sea day today with no plans other than to spend the morning relaxing and then enjoy Hubbard's Glacier this afternoon. Currently cruising in the Gulf of Alaska, right now between Katalla and Yakutat. Here's the view from our balcony as we enjoy our morning coffee.

 

[garyl62]

While I think about it, I'll add that dinner in Blu was nice last evening. We saw a few people from our Land Tour and were fortunate to be seated next to one couple which allowed for some good conversation. Ordering off the MDR menu was no problem which I did as Prime Rib was an entrée. When we returned to our cabin our bed had been turned down and we had chocolates on our pillows.  We opted in to the Go Green program so we'll see if there is any noticeable difference, but we've done that on our last 4 trips and never noticed a reduction in service. 

 

Tonight we go to the Chef's Table. The wine pairing adds $60 pp to the cost, but we have the premium beverage package so we don't plan to add that.

[Jim_Iain]

Wonderful way to start out a cruise.   We also did the Pre-Cruise Alaska tour and loved it.  Especially glad you published the tours and information packet.   We found that there was very little information provided before we arrived in Anchorage.

[garyl62]

WIFI is working fine so far. We have the premium package and I'm sitting on my balcony now with no connection issues. 

[Stem to Stern]

Belated Bon Voyage!
Enjoying your posts and pics.

[olemissreb]

On 7/25/2023 at 11:41 AM, garyl62 said:

Quick summary of yesterday before we head out again today and lose our connectivity.

 

Sorry I don't have many pictures to show, I took them with my other camera so I'll provide more later in the trip. In the morning we took the Wilderness Tour of Denali and we were fortunate to see a bear, moose, dalls sheep and caribou, 4 of the big 5!

 

 In the afternoon we took an ATV adventure which was another good experience in the wilderness for good weather.

 

 

 

 

Off to the Palmer Farm now then on to Alyeska where we have dinner reservations at Seven Glaciers tonight. 

That looks like the same ATV tour we did 10 years ago - except we did ours at Midnight on the Summer Solstice!  So much fun - and if you weren't wearing 100% DEET, you got eaten up by mosquitoes!