mapleleaves
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Posts posted by mapleleaves
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Yes, the Photo/Video Gallery at alaskaa.org is pretty good. Gives you a peek at various vendors, excursions, etc
Sorry, I meant for you to look at the Trip Reports in TriipAdvisor. This is the last trip report posted in 2013 and it included a visit to Knik Glacier. Within the report is a link to their smugmug photos. Check out those icebergs! Looks like a unique experience. Certainly caught my interest.
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are you doing the land tour AFTER the cruise? If you're going to Denali, please be aware that the road into the park isn't fully open until almost mid June. Look at the Denali NP web site to see availability during your time frame. May is shoulder season in Alaska.
As for excursions, will you be heartbroken if a specific activity and/or vendor is sold out when you arrive? If you don't care either way, take your chances.
Have a look at the STICKY at the top of the page called '2013 Alaska cruise reviews'. They are more like trip reports and Reply #45 has them listed by cruiseline. Lots of good info there on activities, excursions, vendors to use ( or not). Have fun planning!
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Look on youtube for Knik Glacier and Whittier cruises.
Also, www.alaska.org has a large Video and Photo gallery.
The last trip report posted on tripadvisor included photos of the Knik Glacier tour.
If you're looking for something to do around the Turnagain Arm, there's white water rafting at Six Mile near Hope, or the Alaska Railroad has the Spencer Glacier trip.
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Assuming you have a car ... visit the Wildlife Conservation Center, Potters Marsh, Portage Lake Visitor Center, if salmon are spawning go to the viewing platforms at Williwaw, pan for gold. For suggested stopping places, look at the drives in this link called 'Turnagain Arm" and "Portage Valley".
http://www.alaska.org/things-to-do/scenic-drives
You could also google the Girdwood Alaska Chamber of commerce to find information on things to do.
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The price seems right and would be easy to do.
Or I was thinking to do a 7 night northern cruise like the one above, rent a car and drive or take the train to Denali, get a place to stay for 2-3 days and go back to Anchorage and fly home from there.
I am now thinking later August or early September to see animals.
Any thoughts on this?
Or do the land tour first in order to get that long flight behind you.
If you purchase a cruisetour, be very mindful of the details. ie what will you do for 2 nites stuck at McKinley Princess ? how long are the train and bus trips? has your TA ever been to Alaska?
Given your desire to see glaciers and wildlife, a rental car is a great option. You have the flexibility to stop for wildlife sightings and scenery, detour to other places of interest and you have access to lodging options other than those near the depot.
It's an easy 5 hr drive from Anc to Denali. Once you leave the suburbs it's a 2 lane road all the way, so quite straightforward. The fall colors come in at Denali just after mid Aug and peak just after Labor Day. The moose start to rut about that same time so great chance of seeing them in and around Denali.
On your road trip you could detour to Matanuska Glacier for an ice trek, or take boat tour around the icebergs at Knik Glacier nr Palmer. An hour south of Anchorage you could visit the Wildlife Conservation Center, Alyeska Resort, do the Trail of Blue Ice near Portage Lake, visit Potters Marsh. So many options to explore if you have a car and a week.
Look at the SCENIC DRIVES in this link or any of the 'things' listed:
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there's a STICKY at the top of this page called "2013 Alaska Cruise Reviews". Many of them include a cruise plus cruisetour or DIY land travel. In reply #45, the reviews are sorted by cruiseline. They are more like a trip report than a review so there is lots of detailed information about hotels, excursions, food, etc. Might be a good place for you to start your research.
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If one is out of Seattle and the other is out of Vancouver, there are probably more differences than just the departure port.
Does the HAL itinerary take you between the mainland coast and the E side of Vancouver;more scenic plus calmer water?
How much time do you have in each port and what time is the arrival and departure to each?
Post the details of each to get more feedback.
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Toklat would be another destination to consider on the shuttle bus. It's only 6 1/2 hrs and costs around $30. It would get you to Milepost 53, and into bear viewing territory. The NHT only goes to Mile 17.
It will probably still be light at 10 or 11pm when you reach the Park entrance so walking back to Princess is a possibility. There's a well worn path ; about a 40 minute walk. Check with your bus-mates to see if they can give you a ride; it's only a mile away so not an inconvenience.
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What info are you looking for? ie cruiseline? ship? excursions?
There are a couple of books specific to Alaska cruises. Perhaps your library has them; Ann Viponds 'Alaska by Cruiseship' and Fodors 'Alaska Ports of Call'. Both books discuss itineraries, ports, activities, excursions, DIY, etc
Another great resource is the STICKY above called "2013 Alaska cruise reviews". If you go to Reply #45 the reports have been put together by cruiseline. There are northbound cruises, SB, one way with a cruisetour and one way with DIY land travel. Some of the reviews also include photos.
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HAL uses Pier 91 which is about 5 miles north of downtown Seattle. Choose a hotel that appeals to you and don't worry about the transfer as a taxi will only cost you about $20.
All the usual chains are in Seattle in case you have points to use.
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if you look at the Alaska Railroad site, the trip to Denali will be 8am to noon, so you only have the afternoon available on Day 2. That's why you have the NHT.
The shuttle bus schedule to Eielson offers a lot more availability ... during peak season there's a bus leaving every half hour. The schedule will be posted in December. See what's available at 1 or 1:30pm so you don't feel rushed.
Since you're on a cruisetour, your luggage will be delivered to your room, so you could easily get off the train (the depot is inside the park) then walk to the Wilderness Access Center to get your tickets and hop on a shuttle bus.
This entrance area map shows the depot, Wilderness Access Center. There's a free shuttle bus that runs along the park road entrance area buildings or you could walk since it's less than 1/2 mile.
http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/upload/1300-px-dena_detail_map-2.jpg
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Where to stay will depend on if you caneasily manage your luggage. Most people on cruises tend to overpack and therefore can't manage the bridges.
If you can't manage your luggage, stay near the Piazzale Roma which has easy access to the pier and airport transfers, or in the town of Mestre, just across the causeway from Venice which has quick and easy access to Venice by train/bus. The link posted above has a list of hotels by 'number of bridges to cross'
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Seavey's in Seward has dog carting trips in the summer, or if you need to be sled on snow they offer a heli trip up to the glaciers.
There might be other vendors. Check the town web site ... probably www.seward.com
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If you want to know about other travellers cruise experiences, go to the STICKY above, called '2012 Alaska cruise review list'. There are MANY detailed travel reports there ... NB, SB, cruisetours, DIY land. Lots of useful info and even photos. Towards the end of the thread the reports are sorted by cruiseline so it will be easy to spot whatever line you want to learn about.
Or go to the REVIEW forum, specifically MEMBER REVIEWS of Alaska cruises.
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un dash cruise dot com
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Can u give me a website for these smaller ships. I'm sure prices r crazy expensive but might b worth it to save up.
Here's one company. I read several very positive reviews 2 yrs ago when they were called Innersea Discovery.
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if it's a one and only visit to Alaska, I wouldn't cruise. I would do land travel with a few day cruises such as Kenai Fjords and Prince William Sound. That way you get to experience the scenery of the coast AND the interior .
Better yet, take 2 weeks, and do a one-week cruise plus a week of land travel !
Have you visited the MEMBER REVIEWS forum? I've read a few un-cruise reports here and on tripadvisor; most people were VERY happy with their choice. I on the other hand thought it sounded dreadful .... cramped little rooms and not enough public space to escape from shipmates. The destinations and activities sounded great but too much togetherness for my liking. So research it carefully ... it may or may not be a good option for you. Good luck!
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are you staying at a hotel nr St Marks ? or just sightseeing for the day before an evening flight ? You might get very different answers if this is a daytrip.
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We just hopped off the vaporetto at Colona and started walking; there were small shops in every direction. We also went to another stop in Murano ... also lots of shops.
Be sure to wander off the main drag and enjoy the residential area and church.
You may find specific info about the factories and showrooms in this link. There are several pages devoted to Murano:
http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/articles/murano_the_glass_island.htm
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from JimmyVWine. 8/10 Sapphire Princess NB, with photos
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From Streator1972 ... a family cruise with 2 kids on Coral Princess. Vancouver to Whittier departing 8/14.
Reports includes pre-cruise time in Vancouver and a DIY trip to Denali post cruise:
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maps and schedule are on the Ketchikan bus web site:
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A review by islandjacquelin ...... Celebrity Century from Vancouver 8/11-8/18. Lots of photos.
Family trip with 4 kids
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Perhaps you could choose a hotel near the Piazzale Roma to make life even easier.... Best Western Olimpia, Ca Doge, Santa Chiara, Arlecchino.
Will you be able to manage taking the People Mover to the pier? If not you can catch a cab from Piazzale Roma to the ship.
This map shows the location of the bus drop off, the Left Luggage facility is, and the vaporetto stop: http://europeforvisitors.com/venice/hotelmaps/marittima.htm
- the ATVO bus drops you off in Piazzale Roma (at the airplane symbol)
- the the Left Luggage facility is next to the People Mover symbol and the CaDoge Hotel
- the vaporetto is the left of the Calatrava Bridge. You don't need to cross the bridge.
Which Princess lodges?
in Alaska
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If your only priority is to stay at Princess Lodges, you need to identify which attributes are important to you ... good restaurant, scenic location, decor, comfort, no stairs, etc?
The only Princess Lodge that is NOT isolated is the Denali Princess. From Denali Princess you can walk to a small shopping area, or walk a mile to the Denali entrance. The other lodges are so isolated that you must pay for a shuttle or an excursion in order to leave the property.