cheflauraleh

Would it be on Aug. 4th / Celebrity Millennium ?

I will be! Can't wait!!

Loving your review! We leave in about 10 days for this cruise and I can't wait!

I'm loving your review! Thank you for taking the time to do it!

Thank you for the review! We will be on Celebrity in August but it's the same itinerary so this was great to read!

We are planning on doing the Harding Ice Field hike the day we dock in Seward. I'm aiming to be on the first Exit Glacier Shuttle. Is this something I should book in advance or can I walk up? Thanks!

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! My husband and I are going in August for our 10 year anniversary and we can't wait! Unfortunately we can't do a land portion since we are leaving our 3 kids at home with the grandparents but that just gives us another reason to come back!

many vendors will hold onto luggage. Check with Exit Glacier shuttle to see if they offer this service.

Another option would be to offer a tip to the Desk Staff at Motel 360 ...... they provide storage to guests whose room isn't ready so for a few bucks they'll probably take yours too.

I will check with the shuttle and I have the websites for both the Motel 360 and the Marina Motel pulled up to call tomorrow about possibly storing them there too. Thanks!

Also consider Exit Glacier right outside of Seward and the spectacular hike to Harding Ice Field.

Thank you for this suggestion! After lots of research, we have decided to do the Harding Ice Field hike. We are so excited!

Check out my review from last year, it has a ton of ideas and pictures. Anchorage and Seward areas. Even Independence Mine up at Hatchers Pass.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2376089

 

 

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Your pictures are amazing! Thank you for sharing!

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Ah! I'm drowning in research. So. Many. Options.

The Harding ice field hike looks great. I'm just a tiny bit worried about bears!

The Kenai Fjords trip also looks awesome. I just want to make sure it is different enough from the Adventure Bound trip we are doing at Tracy Arm. Also how do you find out who cruise lines are contracting with? I want more details about that particular excursion. If it's not as much time on the water, we will book independently.

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You have a lot of different options available, and most of them are good...

If it was me: I'd get to Anchorage as quickly as possible and pick up a rental car. Drive a couple of hours north to the Matanuska Glacier for a guided hike. On the way back, if you have time, swing up into Hatchers Pass. Grab dinner in Palmer and then make your way back to Anchorage. You'd probably still have time to stop either at Reflections Lake, Pioneer Falls, Thunderbird Falls or go up to Eluktna Lake. It's packing a lot into a short time, but you're young. You can handle it.

Thank you for all the suggestions of places to stop! This was the option that appealed to my husband the most but I had no idea where to go. I'll be researching each of these now!

I would do the Kenai Fjords boat trip with airport transfer. It is the one thing I wanted to do in Seward we were unable to do. Just something for next time.

I also looked into booking independently but it will be more expensive with the transfers. I just want to make sure it's different than the Adventure Bound small boat excursion we are taking at Tracy Arm.

Our flight leaves at 11:30 PM on the day we disembark so we have about 15 hours to do something. I need opinions on my options! I want to know what you would do. We would love to spend extra time in Alaska but the grandparents will only keep our 3 kids for so long! ;p

1) We could do a ship Kenai Fjords cruise + airport transfer. It's a 5 hour cruise tour with a lunch and transfer. 11 hour total excursion.

2) We could rent a car in Seward and drive to Anchorage. What is there to see along the way?

3)Take an early (cheaper) transfer to Anchorage and rent a car there and explore Anchorage and the surrounding area for the day. Suggestions on where to go?

A little about us, we are in our early to mid 30s and this is our 10 year anniversary trip. We love the outdoors, hiking, viewing wildlife, etc... Our excursions for the cruise include Adventure Bound small boat excursion to Tracy Arm Fjord, float plane of Misty Fjord in Ketchikan, and renting a car in Skagway to drive to Emerald Lake. Thank you for your help!

I just went to the website for TECKK outfitters and it seems they are no longer offering tours. Anyone else offer similar tours independent of the cruise ships?

Thank you for your suggestions. We might be using it as a relaxing day. Walk to Hoonah, Cannery Museum, crab at The Office, etc... We have three other fairly expensive tours planned and if I was really excited about any of the offerings, the money wouldn't be an issue but since I'm not....

I do like the idea of ziplining but I can't convince myself it would be worth the money especially since we've ziplined in other countries for a lot less than that.

Thank you again!

I'm being so indecisive about this day. Tell me what you did, how much it cost, was it worth it or not? We are really open to anything. We are an active couple in our early to mid 30s. I feel like there's not much to DIY it in this port though. We are willing to spend money if it's going to be a great experience! Thank you!

Just a little update...I emailed Adventure Bound Alaska today and received a reply that they are updating their booking system and should be ready to go next week.

Has anyone done this excursion through RCCL or Celebrity? What are the options for the second excursion?

Thank you so much for the reviews! Can't wait for August!

I have gone with them 2x and seen whales both times. I know it is a chance both times but Captain Steve does seem to stop for wildlife. I have seen bears both times also.

 

It is my favorite excursion in Alaska - I strongly recommend it. I have nothing negative to say about the excursion.

Awesome! Thank you for your reply! We had planned on just doing Mendenhall but then I ran across this one and it looks amazing. Can't wait!

Anyone have any tips on the Tracy Arm Fjord tour from Adventure Bound Alaska? What are our chances of seeing whales from the boat? We are in Juneau from 7:00 AM- 8:30 PM so I think we will have time for this tour?

I agree with Mary Ann. It's vacation and this is not a relaxing fun massage. You don't leave there feeling refreshed and I don't think that it is worth the money. In fact you really don't get massaged at all. Spend that 45 minutes in the gym instead and then get yourself a nice massage!