diesel1973

Have been coming up here in Alaska for 20+ years (summer and winter) and have never taken a cruise. I've done and seen things you could never see on a cruise. Every year before coming up here(up here now) I do a little research and find one thing different to do every year. Snow machined along Iditarod race, car launch on 4th of july, moose-dropping drop , ferry rides to other towns, fished multiple rivers, ocean fishing charters out of multiple cities, ice fishing, camped at various campgrounds , attacked by a bear (unscheduled!) and on and on. This year I will be going to the state fair which I have always wanted to attend. There are endless things to do up here and I plan to find some more. So in my opinion if you want to see the real Alaska you must do land tours. I have been very fortunate and blessed.

Been to Thailand on 10 day land tour and no problem with finding people who speak English. Beautiful country ! Have a problem with going to Vietnam as I had 3 older brothers over there during war.

Am still up here in Eagle River and the bugs are really bad this year. Has been rainy up unto now and all those little buggers are starting to come out. I'm afraid when I leave at the end of this month that I'll be one big mosquito bite !

Before I travel I get about $200 in the currency of the foreign country at my local bank for incidentals. I learned that the exchanges at the airport don't have the best exchange rates.

Am in Alaska now and there are road closures at night for 1-2 hrs. south of Whittier. Possibly going on until Sept. We got delayed for 1/2 hr. during the day. Anyone planning on taking that route should allow for more time. Fishing has been great!!

Years ago we took our GC on a Disney cruise. Couple years later on a RCCL cruise. They enjoyed the Royal cruise more. So did I as it cost about 1/2 of what the disney cruise did.

It irks me when the occupants in the adjoining cabin leaves at 6 am and slams the door when exiting.

I think you have figured out how to determine who belongs in the YC and who doesn't. If they don't have their nose in the air, they don't belong there !!!!

Went to Myanmar about 5 yrs. ago during a land tour in Thailand. Our guide made it possible but we had to pay $45 " entrance fee"' Can't remember what city but was not impressed with the conditions . Garbage strewn everywhere, unsanitary conditions at the local market, etc. Did not feel comfortable there but found it very interesting !

Me too

First time to Alaska was 25 yrs. ago. My son and I booked an all inclusive trip snowmobiling along the Iditarod race for ten days. -50 deg. at night. Was great, no mosquitoes !!!!! Got hooked and have been going every year since, summer and winter. Have a place up there and will be up there mid July to end of Aug. Can't get enough !!

Sockeye and silver salmon are the 2 salmons mostly caught up there. If you're talking ocean fishing there is a large variety of fish to be caught. Also consider the price of having the fish processed and shipped home. It is very pricey !

Has anyone ever stayed at Holiday Inn Express on 1150 State Rd. 84? so how convenient is it to stores and restuarants? TIA

Not to mention all the junk I get by snail-mail. Not only from X but also all the other cruise lines. Almost every day I get something from one of them !

I have not read all the posts but have you considered renting a motor home? The savings in hotel rooms, dining out, food storage, unpacking and packing, etc. might be worth it. Also it's too bad you aren't in Glacier View on the 4th of July. Instead of fireworks they have a " Car Launch Event". Google it as it is a hoot! Good luck with your trip planning. I will be up there for 5 weeks this summer and am planning on going to the State Fair. Can't wait.

Sorry, got my citys mixed up.Been to both of them years ago by ferry. The highlight of the Cordova trip was going to Childs Glacier on the Copper river. Was just amazing sitting across the river listening and watching it calve. Understand the road there has been washed out and almost impossible to get to frpm Cordova.

You mention buying some distinctive looking luggage. We did this in the past with a wierd design on them. Sure enough someone had the same luggage as us and without looking at the tags took our luggage, Caught him luckily just before he went thru customs. Some people just never learn !!

One thing I can say about the Intercontinental, They have the most comfortable beds anywhere!!!!

Northern Aurora:: Isn't the bar where the Captain of the Valdez was drinking at the night before his ooops in Cordova? Years ago I visited Cordova and had a drink there. For some reason they just didn't want to talk about it !

I still have a flip phone. When I need to talk to someone (which isn't very often) I dial. When I hear hello I say hello I talk. They talk. They hang up. I hang up. That's all I need.

Good luck with your plans. Homer is my favorite town as the views from there are great. If your planning on going in the summer those roads can get quite congested with fishermen depending on the salmon runs I'll be up there July and August. Will probably be down in that area sometime depending on the fish. .

Sounds like a whole lot of driving. Have done all those trips in the past. How long are you allowing for the Anchorage-Homer-Seward trip. Be sure to allow extra time in case of accidents / road construction.. Are you returning to Anchorage or Seward for the cruise. If you rent the car in Anchorage I don't know if possible to drop car in Seward.

If you are going to Anchorage, 10th & M street fish market is the place to check out.

At least he got something for his problems. When I had a problem with them as a good will gesture they gave me and my wife a certificate for a free specialty dinner. When we used it we were charged for the dinner. When I contested it at GS the woman who gave the certificate to me denied giving it to me !! So after calling me a liar and stealing my money the only response from her was " There must have been some misunderstanding". That's why I don't deal with those pirates anymore.

Because I have not cruised for a while I lost my info. Was wondering what site to go on to see how many ships will be in a port on a specific day. TIA