iheartminniemouse

I just read that UBER and LYFT do not operate due to regulatory issues.  Not sure if that was up to date info or not. 

On 3/17/2019 at 12:31 PM, Glaciers said:

The cruise lines also started using Gastineau Guiding who uses smaller boats, about 12 people I believe.  They get very good reviews.

We did this tour through NCL in 2017 and it was the best excursion of our trip!  Our Gastineau guide, Andy,  was well versed in the glacier and the whales.  We would do this again!

Barb

On 2/7/2019 at 8:11 PM, CATandSQUID said:

On our Itinerary we are booked in the Westmark Anchorage in June. Right now the Westmark is closed in Anchorage because of earthquake damage. They hope to get the clearance to be open by June.  Hopefilly HAL is keeping an eye on this. 

A yellow “restricted use” placard outside the hotel, posted by PDC Engineers and dated Dec. 5, says cracks in second-floor beams had grown since the original Nov. 30 quake. Only “essential” staff and contractors can enter.

“The hotel is closed,” other signs say.

Hickel said the Westmark is the tallest building he’s aware of that’s been yellow-tagged due to earthquake damage. Hickel said city inspectors will work quickly to review and permit the hotel as soon as the company submits paperwork.

I just called the Westmark and they have a target date for re-opening of April 29th.  He stated all room repairs/renovations that needed to be done have been done and they are just working on a few more things for the April 29th opening.  I told him I was concerned since I have a May 15 reservation and he assured me all will be completed and reopened.

Barb

I looked at doing the same as our cruise stops in Haines also.  I really wanted to do an Emerald Lake excursion but saw that HAL only offered the train in Skagway to go as far as Fraser (if I remember correctly).  I wondered why and then looked at the ferry schedule and saw that although we are in Haines until later in the evening, the last ferry from Skagway was earlier in the day.  I guess we will just wonder around Skagway this trip, as we did the all day train trip into Carcross on our last cruise.  I guess we will just have to book another Alaskan cruise to see Emerald Lake!  

Barb

Thanks for this info. I may change my AAA reservation and may also explain why the rate was so good. 

We bring magnet hooks to hang on the walls for hats, jackets, binoculars and anything else we can keep off the desk and other surfaces.  Makes grabbing a hat and lanyard easy when walking out the door.

Barb

I called the other day as we will be arriving a day early (east coast travel) and was told the Westmark.  They wanted an outrageous price for transfer and room.  I booked for MUCH less  trough AAA.  We just did not want to change hotels or I would have booked something more familiar.

Barb

I have a question regarding time on the Double Denali tour.  We arrive in Anchorage then the train to Denali for 2 days.  I am 'assuming' the TWT is day 2 since that is really the only day we are there for a full day.  On our arrival day in Denali, what amount of time are we facing trying to fit in other excursions.  To be more specific, my husband wants to do the golf excursion - I know he can golf at home - but he really wants to do this and the TWT, so he won't skip this.  The website states it is a 3.5 hour tour.  We are traveling in May.

Thanks.

I have experienced a flat tire on the Klondike Highway as well. Guess what-? I simply, got on a bus that stopped and rode back with them. This is STANDARD with this highway. Sorry, your claim of the ship "waiting", means little. It's simple to get touring, with conservative schedules and getting back to the ship with independent bookings too. . There aren't reports of people missing ships due to going on tours independently. Have you seen any?

 

 

 

Sorry but being that poster walked up to the tram, you are using as an example with Mt Roberts?? this clearly is that person's fault. Nobody else's Not sure what you are trying to show?

 

 

 

Facts- in Alaska, booking independent has no more risk then booking ship tours. I gave some details in the above post-

 

 

 

But certainly cruise line bookings work well too. So there is something for everyone. And most important to go with your choices. But, being factual about the actual details is essental as well.

Sorry if my post came off as negative, it was not intended that way. Just stated what we did since it was our first to AK (not first cruise). The comment about someone reportedly being left behind due to the tramway was meant to call attention that ships will not wait if you are not back and not on a ship's excursion. There are plenty of reports out there first hand that it does happen.

To each his own when booking. I think people ask the questions here to get all types of opinions and experiences. [emoji3]

Happy cruising!!

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Since My Roberts tram is something that is a 2 minute walk from most of the docks and something easy to do on your own, getting stranded due to that was probably just poor judgement on the man's part, not something a ship's excursion would help.

 

As far as deviations in ship arrival, I don't know about Victoria, but most excursions that I looked at in Alaska said they would refund if ship arrival was cancelled or delayed to late to make the tour.

 

I was particularly looking for that as our ship in the Mediterranean earlier this year cancelled a port due to weather and instead stayed overnight in another port. For a few hours, it was possible that we would be out the money for the independent excursion we had booked. We were able to work with the vendor & others on the excursion for transportation from the other port.

 

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That is great about refunding due to late or cancelled. I was not sure of policy regarding this. No matter how an excursion is booked, it will be memorable!!

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First determine what YOUR interests are and what YOU want out of your Alaska visit. There are hundreds of tours to choose from and more "musts" than you can do in 10 trips. Since you have looked at your shore excursion list. List those tours of interest and ask specific questions you have about them. I agree, you want first had reports, I find that sometimes, over looked with responses. :)

 

With independent bookings- always inform the vendor your port times, and go with their schedule recommendation. You don't hear of people missing ships, and frankly- it's their own fault if they do. :)

 

Established vendors know what they are doing, You are dealing with high US business standards. Even thought their may not be big differences in prices between cruise booked and independent, there can be huge differences in the tour. An excellent example is the train/road combos in Skagway. Far superior independent in most cases.

 

As mentioned, assuiing you have Tracy Arm on your itinerary? I'd also suggest considering the add on SHIP tour, (no independent option available). This transit is grossly superior to the cruise ship. "Necessary" for those with a glacier priority in my opinion. :)

We booked through the cruise line due to the fact that they will hold the ship as long as they can if you are on their tour. Case in point, our bus got a flat tire in Skagway and even though that did not make us late, the train came in after the all aboard time and the ship was held since it was through the cruise line. We were the last group to board before sailing. I heard, but cannot confirm that a gentleman missed the ship in Juneau due to a late ride on the Mount Roberts Tramway. [emoji47] We also got into Victoria 6 hours late due to a medical emergency detour and our excursion was refunded by NCL. If this was booked directly I am not so sure it would have been refunded.

Barb

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It's Apple's text messaging app. If a text is sent via iMessage, the bubble is blue. Texts today other phones are green bubbles.

AHHH...I learned something new today. :)

I did not know this and went back to check on my messages sent and see my daughter's bubbles are blue (iphone) and hubby's are green (Samsung Note4).

:hot-beverage: - Now back to my coffee.

Has she talked to a Dr. to see if there is something that can be done to make this 'illness' not so severe? I am not sure of her age or whether you will be having more children, but there are simple in office procedures that can help ease this 'illness'. NovaSure is one of them. I am by no means a Dr., nor do I pretend to be one, but this procedure worked for me! I hope I am on the right track here....

I hope she can get some relief from her 'illness' by then so that she can enjoy the adventure!

You should always have your CELL PHONE # in your suitcase somewhere. Never put your home address tho....and black luggage can be made to look different...paint something on it, or tie ribbons or put tape on it.....anything to make it not entirely black!!!

I bought some decorative duct tape at WMart and plan to stripe my soft black luggage. For us it is usually not a problem as we hardly ever fly. Since we are doing more traveling I thought this would be a good solution.

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Yes - either ship. With the current schedules, both ships spend half the day there, one AM, one PM.

 

The whale watching and Mendenhall tour are offered both separately and combined. The tram just sits there -- right at the dock, basically -- and I don't recall it being combined with whale watching, but they might. The tours usually get you back to the ship with about 1-1/2 hour to spare, depending on the excursion schedule, which is plenty of time to ride the Tram up, check it out, and come back down.

 

Look for the Mendenhall/Whale Watch combo, then ride the tram when you get back.

Thank you. We were wondering the same.

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