wolfie11

Sorry, basically anywhere on the above list. Alaska would be nice with crossings from Japan, although I think Alaska is over capacity now on ships. Iceland, British Isles, Norway, South Pacific and Polynesia. Go back to Australia with better itineraries. They’re not that big at around 900 feet long, compared to the Colossus of the Seas ships and can get into medium sized ports.

In the past eight years or so - Alaska, Japan, the Med, British Isles, Australia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, Panama Canal, South America, and Antarctica. Before that some cruising in Europe, Asia, China, and Cuba.

I cruise a lot. In the last few years I’ve been on Princess, RCI, and Celebrity, as well as Viking, Regent, Cunard, Hurtigruten, Alaska Dream Cruises, and Virgin. I really can’t stand the mainstream cruise lines anymore. They nickel and dime, everything is a hard sell, constant announcements to urge people to the casino, shops, art auctions, bingo, and whatever else makes them money. And they absolutely lie to you. I recently cruised Virgin and I have to say, they made cruising fun again. Everything was pretty laid back with no frantic efforts to get you to spend, spend, spend. Sailor’s loot so I could choose a budget that matched my drink consumption rather than having to spend almost the cost of another cruise on a drink package that was way more than I’d ever use. Lots of free “classes” and activities that have mostly been discontinued on the Walmarts of the Seas. I would gladly go on a Virgin cruise again. My problem is that of all places in the world to go, the two I loathe the most are the Caribbean/Mexico and the Med in summer. I wish they would expand their itineraries to more interesting places and I would jump onboard anytime.

I always tip in US$. Even if they end up taking it home with them, it is a viable currency pretty much anywhere. I almost never tip guides in anything but the local currency unless they really want US$ (Argentina, for example). As for the crew going to Shoppers, they will pay with their credit card just like they do most places they go in the world to get a decent exchange rate.

I’ve done this cruise a few times from Japan to Alaska. Everything seems to work out fine. We all referred to 1st Sunday or 2nd Sunday as we crossed on Sunday. I believe reservations were for May 6a and May 6b so people knew which night to show up. I will say the time changes were brutal. We changed an hour every day at noon for six days.

I think this is a new itinerary for Viking Expeditions so there would be no reviews. It does not start until 2025. I think it looks amazing!

In Alaska your guides will ask if you’re outbound or on your way back. If on the way back, they only point out really good eagle sightings since they figure you’ve seen a lot already!

I’ve done all of these and my preference is definitely Bennett Lake, preferably with Chilkoot Charters.

In Skagway best recommendation is the Bennett Lake train trip. Depending on when you go in September you should hit peak fall foliage. Also a slim chance of a moose. For brown bears you want the Chilkat Guides Wildlife tour and bear search. About 80% success rate when the salmon are running. Whales in Juneau. Also a possibility in Ketchikan on the Bering Sea Fisherman’s tour along with great eagles.

I prefer my 8x42 Nikons and would never go higher than 10x. The rocking on the boat and vibrations on smaller boats makes anything bigger almost impossible to focus.

If you are on a cruise that goes inside Vancouver Island, you will see some towns. You can see the totem poles as you sail by Alert Bay. In Alaska, there aren’t really many towns you would sail by that would be close enough to see. Many of the villages are tucked into inlets. You can see the dock at Gustavus if you know where to look.

There’s a Regional Passport Agency office in Boston. You may be able to get an appointment next week and your passport a few days later.

It’s literally across a parking lot. Like walking from where you park at Walmart when it’s super busy to the store. You should have checked your luggage and they handle it except for your hand baggage. If you’re too decrepit, a porter will bring a wheelchair from the terminal for you.

I get hot water from the International Cafe.

The biggest attraction for me is the hike out to Nugget Falls.

CDNPolar absolutely no offense taken. I think I am a bit more aware of accessibility issues after I had a knee replacement with some complications and had to use a walker on a cruise for a few weeks. I’m very active, so I still did excursions and really became aware of issues faced by people with mobility problems, as things I wouldn’t have even thought about became real obstacles.

Actually, it is a serious remark. I was on a tour in Costa Rica walking a little over a mile through a wildlife reserve. The paths were loose gravel and the two ladies with walkers had a terrible time because their small wheels would not roll in the gravel. I’ve seen the same thing at Icy Strait Point in Alaska.

Curried scallop pie was a mainstay when I was in Tasmania. Yum!

And gravel paths for people with walkers!

Hands down the best eagle tour is the Bering Sea Fisherman’s Tour aka Deadliest Catch tour in Ketchikan

When the salmon are running, the wildlife and bear search from Chilkat Guides in Haines or Skagway has about an 80% success rate for brown bears.

I could literally cruise back to Vancouver for the $655 rental fee I was quoted for a one-day rental from Whittier with a drop off in Anchorage this June!

Coral

Well, that’s what I learned at ship school in my basic and advanced stability and naval architecture classes.

Stability, not buoyancy, and yes it does.