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That EXC program is back. We were on a 21 day Maasdam Alaska cruise prior to Covid, just as HAL was returning to the EXC platform. The cruise was amazing. We had great entertainment, local experts who sailed with us and enhanced our Alaska experience with lectures and local art. There were so many activities that it was hard to choose among them. We are booked on the 2024 28 day Alaska Solstice cruise on the Westerdam and I am expecting the same in-depth EXC quality programming as our 21 day cruise. HAL has been cruising in Alaska for a very long time and I can’t wait to see what experiences they have planned for us.

There is a lot of information online. You can order a travel brochure from the Alaska visitor centers and the Alaska Railroad will probably send you a brochure. It’s easier if you have a hard copy to look at. The railroad runs from Seward to Fairbanks and side trips. Do you know a trusted travel advisor or the auto club travel agency. Gather some information, decide what you want to do, how many and what ages will participate and let an agency do the work for you and relieve the stress of keeping everybody happy. Alaska has an amazing tourist industry and the different parts…train, bus, hotels, etc will work together for your trip. I have traveled by train, bus, ship, car in Alaska and there is always someone to help if you need assistance. Alaska Railroad has a variety of tours and they are well organized. When we signed up for our first trip to Alaska we went to a TA and she said, “What do you want to see?” She found an itinerary for us and we keep going back to see more. Ask your MIL what she wants to see and what she wants the family to experience.

DIY. Especially with the kids you will enjoy the trip so much more because you are on your own schedule. You may or may not want to do Denali. If you do Denali the camper bus will be fun and you may decide to get off and hike. I would skip Denali and spend the time in the Turnagain Arm area between Seward and Anchorage. There is a lot to do around Seward. Rent the car in Anchorage and drive to Seward for lodging. Look online for Seward and Anchorage visitor information. Rent the car now. You’ll all have a great time!

Yes, cruising only in Glacier Bay. The Captain will cruise close to some of the glaciers and stop and turn the ship starboard and port for viewing. If you see Tracy Arm as a service stop that means there is an excursion you can take by transferring to a smaller vessel which will take passengers into Tracy Arm for a closer viewing of the glaciers and the area.

Thanks for posting. Maui needs the tourist dollars. People need to get back to work. Good news.

Are you sure this is true for HAL? Azamara and Seabourn CD’s seem to be talented performers and they have shared their performing skills. HAL CD’s have seemed to me to have a host/hostess role. Reading the text for the Origin Story is more of a lecture role than a performance role. EXC uses location specialists for enrichment. Comedians should steer clear of edgy humor.

If you are sailing south you will want some time on land. August is a good time for Denali. Late August may give you fall colors around Anchorage. Sail mid August if the prices are good. Remember that the days are quickly getting shorter in August and September. You want the daylight for scenic cruising.

Most of the shops will be open until the ships “all aboard” time.

We have not had an overnight in the Anchorage port. We will have an overnight when we sail on our 28 day Alaska cruise in 2024. We’ll find out then! I wouldn’t be surprised if the ship has a curfew since the port is a working port, although the port could be open 24 hours due to the long daylight hours in June. Good question! The shuttles should run continuously throughout the day.

Yes, you have to take the complimentary shuttle bus out of the port area. It takes you to the downtown area where there is the visitor center and the convention center. You will meet the shuttle again at the drop off point when you are ready to return to the ship.

I’ve never seen the MDR crowded at breakfast. No need for a priority breakfast line, I would think.

We only eat in the Lido when we want to have a salad for lunch at the custom salad station. Your comments about dining lead me to believe you would probably be best with fixed early seating. Club Orange on the smaller ships would give you preferred dining if you don’t want a fixed dining time. You could choose your table size each evening depending on your plans to see the show or want to enjoy a larger shared table. Much better chance of consistency in serving the pre ordered meals. We loved our 16 day New Zealand cruise a few years ago with 4 nights in Sydney! Loved the scenery and the people.

It must have been nonrefundable at that time. $1 to hold a reservation until I made up my mind, it was a deal.

There is a lot of information online at Alaska tourism sites. You chose an excellent bear viewing experience on your previous trip. Prime bear viewing areas differ throughout the season and that information is available online. As you know, the bears follow the salmon. Hopefully someone will see your inquiry and offer their first hand experience. That’s a great picture!

I cancelled two impulsive $1 deposits made with my PCC two years ago and didn’t get the $2 back. I didn’t expect to get it back.

We’ve had many 2 hour dinners through the years (HAL fixed dining) at tables for 6 with lively conversations. The more we talked, the slower we finished our courses. A few years ago there were more courses. Dining in the MDR has become a less formal occasion with fewer dining room stewards. With a table for two, we usually finish the meal in the MDR within an hour.

We have done several Yukon itineraries and they have changed through the years. You’ll have a great time. It looks like you have one night in Anchorage and it will be at either the Westmark or the Captain Cook hotel. HAL may not know which one yet. They are both in the downtown area convenient to a lot of great places to eat and also the visitor center. We would have expected to have a transfer from the airport to the hotel. You are arriving early so just plan to be at your HAL Anchorage assigned hotel by mid to late afternoon on the first day of your tour. There will be someone in the hotel to give you your room key and let you know what time to have your bags ready for collection the next morning (or midnight maybe). The bags will be transported separately. Your group will be told what time to meet the next morning to board the bus to the train station. You will probably meet your journey host either before or when when you board the train. This is one of the best of the itineraries. I hope you’ll have an overnight in Skagway which is so amazing to wake up the next morning and see your ship in port. As I mentioned, these itineraries have been changed a few times. Have a great time! I don’t see Talkeetna on the Y4L. No need to go there, except the train stops to pick up passengers who are going on to Denali. Your group will have your own domed rail car.

Good question. HAL tries to meet everyone’s dietary requirements if you notify them prior to cruising. Since they offer lactose free milk, maybe they should consider offering the same in ice cream.

You should be able to do the Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise in Whittier. I’m surprised it’s not offered for in transit guests. We went from the ship to the 26 Glacier Cruise last year, then boarded the bus to Anchorage. The 26 Glacier Cruise could be sold out.

Have you tried the Breyers lactose free ice cream?

Ask if there is a cabin they can move you to. We had a noise issue of being under the Lido in Europe a few years ago and I mentioned it to an officer I saw in the Lido. He expedited my issue and we were given the option to move to another cabin. On Alaska cruises the part of the itinerary in and out of Seattle can have rough seas, also sailing across the Gulf of Alaska, otherwise with normal weather your seas should be calmer and the ship sailing slower for scenic cruising.

When you are part of a cruise tour you just follow instructions. You will board the ship with your group when you arrive in Whittier. The boarding time is meaningless. Your room will be ready and your luggage will be delivered to your room. You don’t need to dress for dinner on the first night. You can make reservations if you want. Delays can happen in Alaska due to weather. Do you like to watch sail away?

There was an area blocked off for staff but it was just a section along one side, not the entire aft. It was not a problem for aft viewing on the Koningsdam. The OP stated his experience on a specific ship on a specific cruise. He went on to ask what to expect on the Koningsdam. I, myself, was surprised to see a small side area reserved for staff on the K. but maybe that’s the only area that is available. A lot of crew members still smoke and the smoke stays in that small area. No problem, I had not seen this on any other ships, although I have seen staff areas in the bow of some of the older ships.

There was an area blocked off for staff but it was just a section along one side, not the entire aft. It was not a problem for aft viewing on the Koningsdam.

With the HIA excursion credit many excursions sell out prior to sailing. That leaves the most desired excursions sold out before you even board the ship.