RRDude

I sure as Hell don't want to pack my tux for only one or two nights on HAL's Statendam Alaska cruise. Maybe a very stoopid questions, but do any of HAL's ships rent tux's? ( I don't even wanna back a sport coat, but I guess that's a given...........)

No damper, KK ... we were previously in an SY, now we're in an SB.

How do they limit access to the Neptune "lounge"? Is it staffed? Key Card?

I never have and never will book a excursion through a cruise line. They are twice the price and and are by far more crowded and never see as much as my group does. With the information on sites such as this and a Trip Advisor there is zero reason why someone should be worried about independent tour operators. If you do just a tad of research you will find out how ridiculous some of your fears are. Although I do enjoy seeing the cruise tours herded like cattle from one place to the next while I am free to enjoy my time how I see fit.

EXCEPT for the time when the Cruise Line PRE-Purchases ALL of the available seats, on selected transportation (ferry, bus, train, etc.) and then one is almost forced to select the Cruise Ship's tour. That's the position I'm in for a 7-4-14 HAL Alaska Cruise, which I wanted to book my own Fast Ferry tix from Haines to Skagway, RT. But HAL (and possibly other lines) have already pre-purchased ALL the tix.

I guess I should CALL Fast Ferry, see if they would sell two more, even though the web shows SO

About Chilkoot Tours. Hopefully they'll be able to hook me up with transportation between Haines and Skagway, and do their Bennett Lake trip.

Juneau is also a port of call for us, what's your recommendation oh tour operators, "things not to miss" in Juneau? (Mendenhall Glacier, etc., etc.)

I sailed from NYC to Europe in June of 1968 with my family. HAL's Mariners Society is willing to give me cruise credit for that trip, IF I can tell them which Transatlantic crossing I was on. It as early June, that's all I (think) I remember.

We sailed to Southhampton, then Le Havre, then disembarked at Rotterdam.

I MAY be able to dig that up, but wondered if anyone had access to schedules from that year? Perhaps the Official Guide to Railway and Steamship Navigation Lines of the United States, Canada, Mexico....." has sailing schedules?

Thanks in advance.

We sail on the "niuew" MS Statendam #4 Seward-Vancouver this July.........

Badger is DEF not a "cruise", but a GREAT WAY to avoid Chicago, and a great way to "introduce" wee ones to ship travel.

The history of WHY there were (this is the last one) RR car ferries alone is worth the price of the cruise.

I love it, can't wait to "cruise " again....... WAY better than the ferry in Muskegon

Going into Haines this July 9th, and wanted to book my own FAST FERRY (RT) to Skagway, then take the WP&YRR summit trip, but it looks like the cruise lines have gobbled up all of the seats on the FAST FERRY, for either excursion! I'm guessing this is "normal",as I have not cruised in over 40 years, and did not (at the time) partake of any of HAL's shore excursions. (They were few and far between)

Am I pretty much "stuck" paying an add'l $70 pp to take HAL's "package tour"?

Thanks.