quack2

It's not Ketchikan. One of the draws about a port stop in Ketchikan on other cruise lines, is that you are docked right in the middle of town. No messing around with shuttles, which easily reduce your effective time in the port by at least two hours. Ward Cove sucks.

Ward Cove sucks.

Irregardless.

I hope you will report in on how the short, evening visit to Icy STRAIT Point goes. Doesn't seem like enough time to do much, including what watching. Are shops and restaurants open that late? I love ISP, but it deserves more time.

Avis is still open. However, be prepared to pay through the nose. $350ish for one day rental on June 25.

I've taken southbound train several times. I enjoy it. If you take the 6:45 a.m. train, you will arrive in Seward around 11, and in plenty of time to take the 6 hour boat tour of Kenai Fjords, before boarding your ship. Pretty much a perfect day in Alaska, IMO. Kenai Fjords by small boat (catamaran) is not to be missed.

So many comments, so many "experts", so little credible information. Yep, this is the internet.

Good to hear about the library. It brings a level of civility to cruising.

Oh, hell yes.

Private operator Glacier Wind has earned my business on several trips to ISP. While some outings have had more action than others, I've never been disappointed.

Just did this drive 10 days ago. Skagway to Carcross. Even though I didn't see any this time, keep your camera ready for bears on the side of the highway munching on grass. Either watch for the bears or for the cars pulled over to photograph them. First time in four visits that I've been shut out on bears.

Nice report. Thanks.

I like your attitude!

Totally concur about the bay scallops gratin. Probably the best thing I ate all week. And it was just a lunch appetizer!

Don't sweat it. Just show up when you are ready. Near as I can tell, check-in times are not enforced.

Please tell me before I book a trip on a ship with inferior navigational aids. I don't remember that being part of the sales pitch.

This captain is 0-2 on Hubbard as far as I'm concerned. If other ships are going in and NCL is not, well captain, we have a problem.

I just got off Norwegian Spirit last week as a solo. Oddly, I was never asked to share a table. I fully expected to, and kind of prefer it, but NCL appears to have a different policy on sharing a table.

I think it's fair to say that Norwegian does pretty much nothing on their Alaska cruises to recognize that they are in Alaska.

I had them one night for dessert in buffet last week.

Norwegian goes up the west coast of Vancouver Island from Vancouver. Don't ask me why. Inferior experience.

The best use of taxi or limos that I've found in my travels is from an airport (or train station) to my hotel. After traveling several hours, you don't want to be trying to find a hotel in an area you're not familiar with. Canada Line is great but if your hotel requires any kind of a walk to get from a station to your hotel, I'd take a taxi, limo or uber. I just took the Canada Line last week from YVR to the Pan Pacific. I was schlepping three bags and even my short walk was exhausting. But I knew where I was going.

Don't do the big boat excursions. You will be fighting off other passengers when a whale surfaces. As others have said, go with Jayleen or another small boat operator.

On the other hand, there are so many people on the 26 Glacier Cruise, and so little outdoor rail space, photography from the boat can be very frustrating. I much prefer Kenai Fjords tours for that reason. Smaller boats, but fewer people. Also, I have been amazed by wildlife opportunities in Kenai Fjords. On Wednesday, I had humpbacks, orca, sea lions, puffins, otters and multiple bird species. The next day in Whittier on the 26 Glaciers, I only saw sea lions and birds. I would give a slight nod to 26 Glaciers for glacier variety, and you can get some good shots if you muscle your way up to the rail.

So twice in a row, Norwegian bailed on Hubbard Glacier even though other ships went it? Sure, maybe the weather changed, but maybe Norwegian is ridiculously risk-averse. I wonder if the same risk aversion causes Norwegian not to cruise up and down the east side of Vancouver Island.