Totally Clueless

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beccabt

Guest
Hi, I don';t know anything about Alaska cruises but it sounds intriuging. What are the basics? Is the inside passage the way to go? Sorry if this has been asked a million times but........well I'm too lazy to read through all the old posts ha ha. The truth is, I don't understand half of what they say.I'm trying to get familiar with the ports etc. but so far I'm clueless. Any info will be greatly appreciated.
 
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PEB

Guest
Usually an Inside Passage cruise starts and returns to the same post. A Gulf of Alaska cruise will normally start in Vancouver and go to Seward or Whittier depending on the cruise line or go the reverse. A Gulf of Alaska Cruise costs more for air because it is an open jawed flight, that means you fly into one city and fly out of a different city.

Generally most cruises will go to Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Ketchikan is an island and is also a rain forest. In Ketchikan count on rain. Juneau is great for whale watching or flight tours. You can also get access to Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. Skagway is the smallest of these ports and can be walked in a short time. There is a lot of Gold Rush history in Skagway and some very interesting museums and buildings here.

Flight tours are great in Alaska but expensive. Whale watching is popular. There is a lot of wildlife to view in Alaska as well as beautiful glaciers and mountains.

Alaska weather can change several times during the day so you dress in layers. In Alaska you WILL take more pictures than you normally would. The sun will be up most the time you are there and you can lose track of time.
 
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beccabt

Guest
Thank you PEB, that gives me a starting point. It really seems like a wonderful cruise. I'll do my homework now I promise lol
 
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BarbaraK

Guest
We will be taking our 4th Alaskan cruise this May :)
Email me if you would like to ask me any questions. Although my buddy Peb has given you lots on information already :grin
 
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carley

Guest
Hey BarbaraK
when and which ship?? I will be on the Radiance on the 15th..happy cruising
 
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BarbaraK

Guest
We will be on the Summit , May 21st. It's a repositoning cruise from San Diego to Vancouver :) I am really looking forward the whale watching with Capt Larry again, we have booked a 'back to back' with him this time. =clap
Have a wonderful cruise!! :)
 
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cruisegary

Guest
To learn, you can scan through old messages. There is a at least one new one each week about somebody that has never done this. Learn from those.

Read trip reports.

go to the cruise line web sites and look at what they are selling

order some brochures if you want

One message like yours is NOT going to get the answers you need.
 
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SandyLL

Guest
Hi Barbara!

I am going on my first cruise to Alaska May 22 aboard Radiance of the Seas! I have booked a whale watching excursion with Captain Larry in Juneau, renting a car and driving the Klondyke Hwy in Skagway, but am at a loss as to what to do in Ketchikan.
A floatplane trip with Island Wings was a consideration but it is all booked and I worried a little about the expense for 4 people-$800. Do you have any other must do's for Ketchikan as a first timer? Thanks!
 
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PEB

Guest
Ketchikan is a great place to do a fishing excursion if you like to fish. Kayaking is fun here and you may have a chance to see some seals while kayaking. The totem parks are quite interesting and usually only take a few hours and leave you some time to see some of the town. I found the harbor tour to be more interesting than doing a land tour of the town. You get to see a lot of the town from a harbor tour plus it gives a lot more information. JMHO.

Juneau is great for whale watches and flight tours. Mendenhall glacier is nice. There is also rafting down river from the Mendenhall glacier here. Juneau has several tours for gold mines or panning for gold. It also has a very good center for getting information on the lifestyle of the natives that lived there years ago. The tram can provide some great views from high up. The one place in town that most go is the Red Dog Saloon.

Skagway is great for flight tours. The White Pass Railway has unbelievable views. A trip into the Yukon can amaze you. The town itself is well worth walking to see the Gold Rush Museum and some interesting old buildings. The Red Onion Saloon is a popular stop. You can also take trips from Skagway over to Haines which is about a 45 minute boat ride.
 
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beccabt

Guest
Hi, first to Carribeansun, I'm sorry for calling you a jerk. I just didn't expect such a hostile response. Thank you to everyone else, those are the kinds of answers that will help me as I read the old posts. Cruisegary, I have looked at other websites and read about Alaskan vacations, I was looking for peoples opinions, not a generic travel brochure. I should have been more specific I guess. I realise that it can be frustrating to answer the same questions over and over.............I suppose I thought the title totally clueless would be my disclaimer lol. Most of the people at cruise addicts are friendly and enjoy talking about their experiences, I am excited to keep learning and looking forward to an Alaskan cruise!



Post Edited (04-19-04 15:00)
 
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