karrie020852

Thank you all for responding. I certainly didn't mean to open a can of worms! This is only our 3rd cruise...the 1st to the Caribbean. I had received an email from Princess Cruise Line stating that for formal nights women wore cocktail dresses or formal wear and men wore suits or tuxes.  We have neither formal wear or tuxes, but wanted to make sure we would be appropriate. We have always dressed nicely for dinner whether it was formal night or not and take a really nice outfit for formal nights. I do plan to wear a dress, (not a formal) or nice slacks and top and my husband has a sports coat and nice slacks.  We are looking forward to our cruise and are counting the days! Thanks again!

Thank you! I was hoping that we didn't have wear formal attire. The other cruises we've been on were about the same as your answers. Whew😃

First time on a Princess Cruise. Going to the Panama Canal. Just how formal are formal nights? Do we I have to wear a formal gown and my DH a tuxedo?

I was terrified of the flight to Alaska...but after a couple hours in the air I was ok. But in Juneau we were scheduled to take a helicopter and land on a glacier...it was cancelled and I felt so relieved! We had also booked a float plane ride over Misty Fjords. I was so scared! I remember sitting in the plane before takeoff saying to myself...why did I do this? why did I do this? It was the highlight of our trip! It was the softest takeoff and landing EVER! The sights were beautiful and I would do it again in a minute! It was so cool to see everything from the air like we did...DO IT! you won't regret it!

If we were do go to Alaska again, we would skip the land tour part and do that ourselves. We didn't enjoy being herded around and left at the hotels. If you didn't go to the Salmon bake or dinner theater you had to eat a the hotels...there were no other choices as to where to eat. I thought the $10.95 continental breakfast at the one hotel was a bit steep! We bought muffins in the gift shop and ate those for breakfast! The best part of the tour is that they took care of our luggage for us. If we might get the chance to go back to Alaska, I think we would rent a camper and go that way...and then meet the ship at the dock. The cruise I would do again, just because we would love to visit the cities again...there is so much to do in each city!

We will have 2 nights in Denali, any recommendations of possible night time excursions to do or places to eat near the Mt. Mckinely Chalet? And we disembark in Vancouver and staying an extra 2 nights, looking for an affordable hotel in the downtown area so we can explore the city. Any recommendations? Thanks

When you're at Denali, if you're interested in sled dogs or the Iditarod go to the Husky Homestead presentation. It was fun and very interesting. Our hotel had a shuttle, so yours might also.

If you were doing one flight, would you do Island Wings in Ketchikan to Misty Fjords or something out of Talkeetna, and why? It will be our first and maybe only trip to Alaska and first small flight ever!

 

Thank you!

We went flightseeing with Steve of Sea Winds Aviation in Ketchikan. Misty Fjords is beautiful. We had a great ride and everyone was so nice. They picked us up at the dock and returned us there.

Alaskan CruiseTour

August 23 – September 6, 2014

Day 1: Cleveland to Chicago, Chicago to Anchorage, Anchorage to Fairbanks

Picked up rental car at airport.

-Dinner at Pump House in Fairbanks.

Stayed at Best Western Chena River Lodge.

Day 2: Drove around Fairbanks, north of town, went to

-Morris Thomas Cultural Center,101 Dunkel Street, Fairbanks, AK Ph: 907-459-3700, 8am-9pm Free

-Museum of the North at the University of Alaska. $12.00

-Santa Claus House, North Pole, AK http://www.santaclaushouse.com/

-Ate at Ivory Jack’s Restaurant, north of Fairbanks

Day 3: Drove to Chena Hot Springs, took a little hike, went to

-The Great Alaskan Bowl Company, 4630 Old Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99701,10-6 M-F Sunday 12-5pm

Returned our rental, took shuttle to Pike’s Waterfront Lodge where we met our tour group.

Ate dinner at Pike’s

Day 4: Fairbanks City Tour, Gold Dredge 8. Cruise down the Chena River.

Lunch at Soapy Smith’s Pioneer Restaurant, 543 2nd Ave., Fairbanks

Dinner at Pike’s Restaurant

Day 5: Train to Denali

Jeff King’s Husky Homestead Tour

Overnight Denali Park Village near Denali National Park

Day 6: Tundra Wilderness Tour

Overnight at Denali Park Village…did laundry…it was free!

Day 7: Bus to Anchorage, then on to Seward where we go on board The Radiance of the Seas.

Day 8: Hubbard Glacier

Day 9: Juneau Taku Taxi Tour with 2 other couples

Era Helicopters Taku Glacier Adventure (cancelled)

Mt. Roberts Tram

Day 10: Green Jeep Ride to Emerald Lake – 907-983-3512

Ate at the Bistro in Carcrosse

Day 11:Misty Bay Whale Watching with one other couple

Walked around Hoonah

Day 12: Misty Fjord Tour Flightseeing with Seawind Aviation

Walked around Ketchikan

Day 13: Sea day

Day 14: Arrive at Vancouver – took taxi to airport and picked up rental car. Drove to Seattle, WA

Chihuly Garden and Glass, 305 Harrison St., Seattle WA 11am-7pm $19.00

Pike’s Place Market, 1st Ave and Pike St., Seattle, WA 10am-6pm

Rode the Monorail

Stayed at Doubletree by Hilton at SEA-TAC

Day 15: Seattle to Chicago Chicago to Cleveland

I am not usually a "ball cap" kind of person, but having a hat with a bill came in handy to wear under the hood of my waterproof jacket when it was raining. Here is a photo of my husband with his hat on taken in Juneau. It rained ALL day long and it was so nice to have the extra protection for our faces.

 

I don't usually wear a ball cap either, but I also had one and it came in handy when it was raining. I wear glasses and it kept the rain off my glasses. Glad I took it!

We took a month long trip to Alaska in May/June of 2013. We spent three weeks on a small (76 passenger) ship, cruising Southeast Alaska. This was actually 3 week-long Un-Cruise Adventures combined to make the longer trip.

 

We traveled from Juneau to Ketchikan, back to Juneau, then on to Sitka via Glacier Bay National Park.

 

We had a wonderful time, and were lucky to have good weather much of the time. Highlights included seeing Tracy Arm and Sawyer Glaciers, Misty Fjords National Monument (including flight seeing with Island Wings), Glacier Bay National Park, learning about Alaska and Tlingit culture, visiting Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, and much more.

 

We saw lots of wildlife, but that didn't really pick up until the second week of our trip. Scenery was amazing, and we enjoyed life on the small ship.

 

We ended the trip with a short tour to Denali, and also visited Redoubt Bay in Lake Clarke National park.

 

 

Our report is quite long, although it is mostly photos. There are links to allow you just to skim a particular day or week. I will be happy to answer questions, since I got so much information here when planning the trip.

 

 

Our Ultra Alaska Un-Cruise Adventure

Thank you for such a lovely review...and your pictures are amazing! I loved it all!

First trip up there in mid-July!! Even made lunch reservations at the Glacier Brewhouse!!:p:cool:

119 days for us! So excited...we also rented a Green Jeep in Skagway. All our plans are in place and we're just waiting and waiting! I have to resist the urge to start packing! :D

Can someone please post a picture or link to what "tactical" or "technical" pants are?

 

Also, what are "exofficio" shirts and underwear? Is this a brand name?

 

Also, to Karrie 020852 - Did you really get all of that in a carry on bag? Hard to imagine that all those items fit into a carry on. Or is that what you pack and you wish you could get it in a carry on?

 

I think I pack way too many toiletries. Always the "in case I need it stuff". Always have a medicine bag of stuff.

Seems like I have gotten sick on way too many trips lately.

 

Just back from a week on the "Silhouettte" and got sick on the ship with upper respiratory stuff that turned in to bad bronchitis, horrendous cough and 2 ear infections. Next time, I go I will try to get my doctor to give me the same medication to take with me on the trip that he gave me when I got back. It has now been 3 weeks since I got sick and now are just getting well. It was nasty. I had taken decongestant with me and tylenol but that wasn't enough.

 

I was proud of me last time that I went from 2 suitcases and a carryon down to one suitcase and a carryon. That was a big improvement for me.

 

After going to Alaska 5 times already in the past, you definitely need more room for the bulky items even carrying your jacket on the plane. It is very cold standing out on the deck watching the glaciers so you really need a warm fleece underneath the waterproof, hooded parka. We have also found low cut waterproof hikers very helpful. Were great when it poured in Ketchikan and also just keep your feet warmer when it is cooler.

 

I have watched those Rick Steve's videos and am amazed. I see none of them take hardly any toiletries though.

 

Well, I will keep working on it. Thanks for the tips. After cruising so much, you would think I would have it down better than I do, but I just keep juggling all the luggage.

 

Thanks.

This is not my list....I got it here on cruise critic and would like to be able to pack all this stuff in a carry on too. Don't know if I'll really be able to do it either...but want to give it a try.

Ok, I only have one question....toboggan? Really? Maybe it's not what I'm picturing, because in this neck of the north woods, a toboggan is along wooden sled. Please explain what YOUR toboggan is?

A toboggan is a stocking cap.

I would also like to take one carry on... I got this on ace1zoe2's Cruise Critic review of her 16-day trip to Alaska. Also she suggested to watch this video at: http://www.packinglight.net/travel_info_depot.aspx

Originally Posted by ace1zoe2

This is what fit in my hubby's bag:

1 dress pant

1 tactical pants

1 technical pants

1 zip-off convertible technical pants

4 long sleeve button up technical shirts

2 short sleeve button up technical shirts

2 light weight polo shirts

2 exofficio t-shirts

4 exofficio underwear

1 set cuddle duds long underwear pant/shirt

1 long sleeve mock turtle neck

2 long sleeve dress shirts

1 black tie

1 bathing suit

1 pair flip flops

1 toboggan

1 pair gloves

2 pair wool socks

2 pair regular socks

1 pair dress socks

Rick Steve's day pack - folded & put in outside pocket

Quart size back in outside pocket with liquids for airport security check

My bag contains the following:

2 dress pant

2 technical pants

capri pant

2 dresses

bolero jacket

4 dressy shirts

4 long sleeve shirts

2 short sleeve shirt

thermasilk long under wear & shirt

6 underwear

2 bras

2 wool socks

2 regular socks

swim suit

cover up

flip flops

dress shoes

toiletries bag with all the contents listed above

quart size pull out liquids back for airport security

Rick Steve's daypack, folded and put in an outside pocket

Hubby's backpack contents:

Both of our 3-in-1 jackets folded & placed in the bottom half

Binoculars

Hubby's dress shoes

Reusable Nalgene water bottle in outside pocket

My back is a LowePro Camera bag which contains the following:

Canon 7d body

Canon 28-135 kit lens

Canon 70-300 IS Zoom lens

Canon battery grip

Canon speedlite flash

Olympus Tough Waterproof Point & Shoot Camera

Extra batteries for both cameras

Extra Compact flash cards 16gig, 2 8gig, 4 gig & 2gig

Chargers for both Cameras

Iphone & Ipad chargers

Earbuds

In the outside pocket is my travel wallet that contains our passports, credit cards, insurance and donor cards, some cash and my driver's license. Hubby's iPad mini will fit in his backpack.

We will each wear our Merrell Hiking shoes on the plane. I still think we are taking more clothes than we need... we could always take less and if we need something buy tshirts or sweatshirts when we get there. Also we will have a rental car the first day so if we really need anything or thought we couldn't do without a certain type of shampoo or other liquid or hairspray we would just stop at Walmart or a local store and buy it. But I think my travel sized hairspray will be plenty for me.

Hopefully this will help you see how it can be done... just think you won't have to wait on your luggage at the airport, or on the ship when you get to your room, or on the morning that you debark the ship or at the airport again when you get home.

I don't know if I missed this in your review, but how did you finally find out where you were staying in Fairbanks? I would also like to know and they told me 49 days out I would know. We will be going a day or two early and would like to stay in the same hotel. Thanks...your review is great!:)

Cindy,

Thank you so much for your review...I know it was time consuming, but so informative for us newbies! And I appreciate it so much! We have booked our Alaskan cruise/tour for August 2014...only our second cruise! For now I have only one question...when you were in Skagway this time or before did you do the White Pass Railway or know anything about it? Just wanted to know if it was worth it. I am a bit OCD also and NEED to know how things will work! Thank you, Thank you!