mytime53

Check this page for the most accurate updates.  https://akfireinfo.com/

The names of the fires you want to check are McKinley and Deshka, although the Deshka fire should have not impact on your plans

2 hours ago, przyk said:

 

 

 

The next morning we were talking to a couple who were on a Princess cruise and Princess sent them on a bus through the fire zone and they made it through with minimal delays.

 

So the only thing certain is conditions are ever changing and decisions have to be made on an ongoing basis.

The Princess bus must have had perfect timing because typically the delays on Tuesday were hours long.  The railroad is transporting passengers as of yesterday and barring any major changes to the fire, will continue.  I do not know what the buses are doing at this point.  Since the wait to go through the fire zone has decreased, I assume they are running as scheduled.

As of 8:00 a.m. on 8/22/19, pilot cars are leading traffic between Mileposts 76 to 99; one way traffic.  Winds are expected to pick up over the weekend.  Who knows what will be happening by Saturday.  I certainly don't, and I live less than 35  miles away.  I would definitely have an alternate plan, and hope that you don't have to use it.  Since you aren't scheduled for your bus trip until Tuesday, you might consider driving the long way around:  Anchorage-Glennallen-Paxson-Fairbanks-Denali

And as far as the 511 app goes, I find updates on conditions few and far behind.  So don't assume what you see on it is accurate.   At least https://akfireinfo.com/ updates at least once/day and sometimes twice.  

I hope that your trip goes well and enough smoke clears for you to see the scenery.  I thought it was clearing last night but today our views are obscured again.

Our first 2 cruises were Mexican Riviera and we loved them. But even so, we haven't taken another one since (20 years); we would rather fly to PV and spend a week. For one thing, the temperatures on your first and last sea days are more likely cooler than you are used to for the Caribbean. And we enjoy going out to dinner in Mexico (and breakfast and lunch LOL--we just enjoy being in Mexico). When we cruise the Caribbean, we usually snorkel in every port; the snorkeling in the Mexican Riviera cruise ports is not nearly as good. I guess it depends on what you are looking for from the cruise--if it is just to cruise somewhere different, I would recommend it. But if you love Mexico and want a full week of warm weather, I would recommend flying to Mexico and staying a week.

Follow here for the most up to date info:

https://www.facebook.com/MendenhallGlacierVC/?hc_ref=ARQtPPh1HXVybgogQnUYKxlIwZbdK1Ncu1tuKs4xDTaAyIUueahGvLjXuXCEvh9zRxI&fref=nf

All should be well by the time you get there.

I live in Vietnam. Visa rules are constantly in a state of flux depending on whose palm is being crossed.

Visiting Vietnam on a cruise ship, I would always let the line do the visa in the hope the price will go down... or disappear altogether. .

And that is exactly why I chose to let Princess take care of it for us. After researching the issue, I didn't want to show up with the wrong visa or an invalid one.

We also just purchased onboard. Much simpler.

We used CDS on May 26, 2018. They were slow to check the bags in, but we weren't in a hurry; certainly didn't take an hour, but maybe 15-20 minutes? Line was fairly short by the time we arrived. $40 for 4 bags; perfect for our group of 4 who wanted to walk to the park before heading to the airport for a 4:30 flight. They told us to pick the bag up at the international terminal, and even though I questioned them about that, they assured me it was. Of course when we got to the counter at the international terminal, staff laughed and said they had people all day showing up but it was the domestic terminal. So off we go to the other terminal. Only one person behind the counter and apparently the luggage isn't stored in any kind of order, as she would find one bag for a customer, but then go searching for a matching bag. That took far longer than checking the bag in, and there were only 2 people ahead of us. We had said we wanted our bags by 2; we actually got our bags about 2:30 but they were there by 2 or shortly after.

Just got off the Star 2 weeks ago. I was one of those people who didn't care who the captain was, until this cruise. We loved his announcements. Our grandkids loved them too. After we were off the ship, we ran into some other cruisers from the ship, and they felt the same as we did. We still say "Bye-bye!" in that voice.

Just on 2 weeks ago. Temps inside were comfortable for all members of our party. And we tend to get too hot (but I also get cold easily).

I thought the Star had the swim against the current machine 2 years ago, but if they did, it was removed. My husband used that pool last week. In cold weather with rain and wind. He said it was quite warm in the pool.

I've sailed the inside passage in an inside, an oceanview, and a balcony. I think the balcony is worth the price if it's reasonable to you. Last week was the oceanview...the weather was bad, and even if it wasn't, we can't be on an open deck all the hours of daylight. We would look out and see an awesome view (at 11 pm); if we were in a balcony I could have stepped out no matter how bad the weather. As it was, I just watched it pass by quickly through the window.

No one can answer this for you. You could contact the vendors you are thinking of using and ask them. As an example, I am very familiar with the Alaska Railroad. I never thought they would fill up from Anchorage to Whittier in mid-May. But when I called for tickets for 4 people 2 weeks before we needed to ride it to get to our cruise, they only had 2 seats. I was shocked, and so was my daughter and her husband, who works for the railroad. We were fortunate that 3 days later, someone canceled a reservation, so it worked out.

bottles of Alaska Amber, Alaska White, and one I don't like so didn't pay attention.

https://alaskanbeer.com/our-beer/

I've always found Grolsch available on Princess.

Not sure I would even want to fly with an operator who didn't weigh everyone!

And when you do call them or run into them on the ship, you ask them for the id # found at the top of their message screen. You input that once, and it will be in your contacts. Easier to ask at the internet desk where to enter that number than for me to explain it correctly, but I think you go to your account screen. It isn't an obvious place (to me anyway; we found it by accident). And then give them your number.

If we're going to include songs not about Alaska, but by Alaskans, then include some tracks by Jewel and Portugal. The Man

It's so exciting for me to see Portugal. The Man have such international success. John Gourley and Eric Howk were students of mine. John Gourley's dad built my parents' house.

And if opera is more your style, perhaps you can find a recording by

Vivica Genaux

I don't know how large your family is, but if at least 3 people, put 2 in the cab with as much luggage as it will hold. The rest take the train with the rest of the luggage if the amount left is easily manageable.

I spoke with 2 different agents ( I have 2 separate chipped credit cards). They both said the same thing. The only pin I can get from them is for cash advances (used in an atm or bank teller). This pin would not work at a kiosk (according to them).

Ugh. So I cannot get a pin to go along with my chipped cards. Does this sound right?

 

 

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Yes it sounds correct. We have traveled Canada, Southeast Asia, England, Australia and New Zealand with a chip but no pin. No problems. Sometimes you just have to say, "we don't have pins." They take care of it...never not been able to use our VISA or MC.

Northbound or southbound?

Definitely "North to Alaska" and "When It's Springtime in Alaska," also by Johnny Horton, I think.

I can recommend Zac Brown Band's "Majesty." He wrote it about Alaska while in Alaska; it is a beautiful song.

If you can get hold of any of Stuart Hamblem's Robert Service recordings, he is my favorite for those. And he has a couple of his own songs.

Anything by Hobo Jim, Alaska's official State Balladeer.

John Denver--"Alaska and Me"

And don't forget "Alaska's Flag," the state song.

We just got off yesterday, and we had the opposite opinion. Absolute worst of any of our Princess cruises. Dinners had painfully slow service, and food quality was not so great. We actually quit eating in the MDR for dinner, something we have never done before. As an example, Wednesday evening (I believe) was the best menu in our opinion. But the cioppino was so salty that it was almost inedible, the crab legs were overcooked (and maybe old? That was the opinion of another cruiser I spoke too). The shrimp with the surf and turf was overcooked and the very thin filet was tough.

Breakfast, on the other hand, was as great as usual.

Just returned from Star Princess. Milkshakes not included. $2.50 each.

Is that too late to complete boarding?

I don't think so, but check online for when to be on board. I can't find it off hand, but I'm boarding tomorrow and if I remember, I'll check and let you know.

Thank you. Would you happen to know if there is a small grocery store near the ship?

Yes, there is a small grocery store.

Thank you. Is the tunnel creepy? How long is it?

DH doesn't, but I find it creepy. Especially when you see the signs by the doors in the walls of the tunnel that tell you how many days provisions are inside.

My father helped build that tunnel. I can't imagine going to work each day when they were nearing the middle point. But then I'm mildly claustrophobic and the idea of 1000s of tons of rock above me freaks me out.