If you could give one tip on Alaska....

J

JOHN(NJ)

Guest
We're planning on going next Summer. I will have alot of time to read all your great posts here and ask some questions. I thought maybe it would make an interesting thread and be helpful to some other rookies if we had a bunch of tips in one spot.

So, what would you say is your important tip or some do's and don'ts?

Thanks



Post Edited (05-12-04 15:21)
 
H

halfdome86

Guest
If you love nature and scenery get a balcony.
Also, Glacier Bay is a must for the first Alaskan cruise IMHO. It's spectacular.
We really loved the White Pass train in Skagway so if you like history and especially if you like trains, that's a great trip.
Juneau: Take the bus to Mendenhall glacier. It's cheap (10 bucks) and you can catch it right at the dock. No reservations needed.
Also Mt. Roberts tram is great but not if you're afraid of heights.
Walk to the salmon ladder in Ketchikan and if you're there at the correct time you can watch the salmon going upstream.
Ketchikan, Skagway, and Juneau are all easy towns to do walking tours. Most sites are a short walk from the docks. There are some exceptions (Mendenhall for example).
 
Y

Yukon

Guest
The most important tip is to do exactly what you're doing - research. There is an enormous amount to see and not much time to see it, so assess what really interests you and go from there. I've posted port information about 10 ports from Prince Rupert north that includes links to a guide to the community, the official tourism department and the weather - those links will then take you to many hundreds more. There's also a link to a page that has all the ship bridecams on one page, so you can start your "virtual cruise" now! It's at http://www.explorenorth.com/cruises/alaska_cruise_ports.html
 
K

kdlisa1469

Guest
PACK WARM CLOTHES, GLOVES, NECK WARMERS, HATS, RAIN SLICKERS AND LEAVE YOUR SANDALS AND SHORTS HOME; UNLESS YOURE A HOTTY, LOL REALLY, WE WOULD HAVE FROZEN OUR HINEYS OFF AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO OUTSIDE AND VIEW THE GLACIERS FOR AS LONG AS WE DID!!!!
YOU CAN ALWAYS TAKE IT OFF.....BUT IF YOU AINT GOT IT YOURE GONNA BE BUYING STUFF OR FREEZING!!!!
 
L

L454S

Guest
My wife and I did the round trip out of Vancouver last Sept. on the Radiance, it was great, but on the round trip, you dont have that much time in ports. We are doing a southbound one way this August to stretch out the time in port a bit. My one tip....dont go...if you do, you will want to go back.
 
M

marvholly

Guest
Most excursions are VERY expensive even if booked privatly. Determine your budget and prioritize what you want to do in the ports. It is possible to do Juneau and Sika very inexpensvly. In both cities there is a bus company that offers day passes for about $10 pp. The bus goes to many of the tourist points of interest and you hop on/off as you wish. We had to last summer as DD got married 8 weeks after our cruise. The only real excursion we booked was to Saxman Village & a general tour in Ketchican. We did it privatly with an operator found at the dock.
 
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