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gertieginsc

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Posts posted by gertieginsc

    Ketchikan Timing

    in Alaska

    Posted

    Thanks Gertie. Fortunately our pickup time is 10:30am, not the flight itself. I don't imagine we'll need too too long to check out Creek Street and the salmon ladders?

     

    Not long at all unless you stop and shop at every little place - then allow a little time to walk back to the ship.

     

    Don't bother with Dolly's House.

    Temps at Hubbard & Glacier Bay & outerwear

    in Alaska

    Posted

    We were there last week. I had on my fleece vest, jacket and a cap and was fine. My husband was more bundled but he is always cold. We had hand warmers and you really do not need them if you are using a camera/binoculars.

    A tripod would be hard to set up and use with the crowd. We got some nice shots, even with our phones.

    Ketchikan Timing

    in Alaska

    Posted

    We flew with Misty Fjords in Ketchikan last week on a 2pm flight. They picked us up at 1.30 at the visitors center. We enjoyed the flight and our pilot. The planes can be warm and stuffy so best to peel off your layers before getting in. Our flight only had 4 passengers but could have had up to 8.

     

    We got off the boat early and my husband did a zip line excursion - I had nothing planned and walked in the Visitor Center and picked up a tour that worked with his timing. There are plenty of vendors there to choose from and you should be able to find something to work with your times. I also found they were willing to adjust their prices.

     

    Afterwards we decided to get back to the ship early and enjoy the quiet.

     

    If you are picked up a half an hour before your tour, and accounting for time off the ship, your morning time may be shorter than you are thinking.

    Room Service

    in Alaska

    Posted

    About the hop on hop off tours in Vancouver. We were there last week. We used the trolley since they seemed to have better reviews than the blue bus.

     

    We wasted so much of our limited time waiting at the stops. The stops in town (maybe the red line) were mostly at hotels. You change over at Canada Place to get on the green line which goes to Stanley Park and other areas. Stanley Park is beautiful. But our one driver would just coast thru the stops if there was no one standing at the sign. If you were just walking up you were out of luck. We wanted to get off at the Fish House and he just announced it and kept on going. My husband finally said something. After lunch we waited an hour to get another trolley. I called the office to ask for help and they checked and said the next trolley was two stops away. We waited for a little while and finally took a taxi to Granville Island.

     

    There is an internal trolley that runs the route in Stanley Park. If I did it again I would take a cab from the hotel, use the trolley there and cab back.

     

    The drivers are working on a timed circuit. They need a helper to ride the trolley and take care of tickets or they need more trolleys. The driver can not do both and stay on schedule.

     

    Gertieginsc

    REVIEW: Radiance of the Seas, Southbound, May 2015

    in Alaska

    Posted

    You are welcome :)

     

    Generally I think did between 15% and 20% of the tour cost depending on the guide and the tour. I think there were a couple of tours where I tipped slightly above that because the guide/driver was outstanding.

     

    Also, it was around 20% tip on top of each taxi/car service journey.

     

    Is there anything else I can help with? :)

     

    Thanks for the quick response...

    DUI and Canada - never seen this

    in Alaska

    Posted

    A 30 years old DUI is not likely going to be an issue, after 10 years you will be deemed to have been rehabilitated. If it does come up, answer any questions honestly and if it continues to be a problem with the CBSA officer ask if you could speak with his or her supervisor. The absolute worse situation that could occur would be that you would be told to head directly to the border or YVR with a document to turn in to the CBSA office upon departure from Canada.

     

    Thanks Putterdude

    DUI and Canada - never seen this

    in Alaska

    Posted

    I have a friend who travels to Canada each year for a vacation trip. He had a DUI many years ago and knew he was taking a chance each time. He finally hired a lawyer and with a great deal of time and money has made his peace with Canada. This was worth it to him so he did not have to worry.

     

    That said, my family member who traveled with him just decided to quit going. Now we are cruising from Seward to Vancouver and I must admit I am a little worried. This DUI was over 30 years ago.

     

    We will see what happens.....

     

    Gertieginsc

    Skagway Auto Rental - fueling up

    in Alaska

    Posted

    Thanks so much DougH.

     

    I rented a Corolla last week from Avis and drove up to Emerald Lake and back. It only took 3.8 gallons to fill up on the return so it didn't cost much to add back in myself. When I first got in the car the trip computer showed an expected range of 390 miles and a full tank. After I topped off on the return it showed a range of 388 miles so it looks pretty accurate.

     

    Most of the time you will only be driving about 45-50 mph so expect pretty decent gas mileage.

     

    Had fantastic sunny warm weather and saw a bear alongside the road only about 5 miles outside of Skagway, just short of the highway bridge.

    Skagway - White Pass Scenic Railway Choices

    in Alaska

    Posted

    Thank you bonvoyagie for taking the time to post this. Gives me a clearer picture of what is available.

     

    Gertie - I went back and looked at the three rides you posted. They are probably all the same basic ride - to the summit and back - this takes about 3.5 to 4 hrs - in one case they have a special car where they serve some snacks - it is probably right behind the locomotive. These will most likely board at the station - which is a short walk from the docks.

     

    The WP&Y RR runs three basic trains to three different destinations.

     

    The longest is all the way to Carcross via Bennett - with a motor coach ride back to Skagway - usually with a side trip to Emerald Lake. This train runs one way only and on some days it starts in Carcross. The cruise lines and Chilkoot usually call this the Bennett Scenic Journey (this tour does not run every day - check with Chilkoot or the RR for the schedule)

     

    The next longest train ride is to/from Fraser - a small town just over the border in BC. It is also where the hy and rr cross/meet. From here busses will take you either back to Skagway via Liarsville, the suspension bridge, or the gold dredge at 40 below OR on to Carcross and the Yukon with stops at Caribou Crossing for lunch and on up to Emerald Lake before returning to Skagway. I believe that for the most part they run several of these trains each day so you have the choice of doing the train first or last. I also know that on the days the Bennett trains runs up from Skagway they haul a set of passengers to Fraser - when I went we had three cars worth - we also left the cars at Fraser for other trains to use.

     

    The last train runs roundtrip to the summit and back. They usually run two each day - one in the AM and one in the PM - both are around 3.5 hrs long.

     

    Some combination tours offered by the cruise lines include this train and pick you up in Skagway and run you out to places like 40 below or Liarsville - which are both on the outskirts of Skagway.

     

    If you want to do more research on all AK ports look at www.cruiseportinsider.com

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