Louand66

A couple of people on another forum have mentioned a wagon ride excursion.

Has anybody done this one ?

8 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

Through the years we have stayed at the Princess McKinley View Lodge a number of times.  We stay there when we are returning home to Fairbanks, Alaska from either Seward or Homer.  We don't like to spend a very long day driving, and the McKinley View is a convenient stop.

 

It is located up a rather steep hill off of the George Parks Highway.  While there is Alaska state park land in close proximity the McKinley View Lodge is positioned so that folks can't easily walk to any attraction.  Many people see it as essentially a "holding pen" for those on cruise tours, hence the poor reviews.  

 

The guest rooms are in various lodge buildings across the property.  Rooms are rather basic with no air conditioning. There is a restaurant and more casual dining facility on the property.  From reading reviews throughout the years some folks find it a convenient location to do laundry (there is a guest laundry).  There are some walking paths along the property, but I would not characterize them as "hiking trails."

 

Expect a shuttle to run from the McKinley View to the community of Talkeetna.  Depending on road construction expect to be on the shuttle ride to last from 45 minutes to an hour.  In Talkeetna you might consider booking a jet boat trip with Mahay's Jet Boats; very reputable company which has been in business a very long time.

Thank you for all of your helpful information.

Is there much to do at Talkeenta. Is this east to get to?

23 minutes ago, Northern Aurora said:

Through the years we have stayed at the Princess McKinley View Lodge a number of times.  We stay there when we are returning home to Fairbanks, Alaska from either Seward or Homer.  We don't like to spend a very long day driving, and the McKinley View is a convenient stop.

 

It is located up a rather steep hill off of the George Parks Highway.  While there is Alaska state park land in close proximity the McKinley View Lodge is positioned so that folks can't easily walk to any attraction.  Many people see it as essentially a "holding pen" for those on cruise tours, hence the poor reviews.  

 

The guest rooms are in various lodge buildings across the property.  Rooms are rather basic with no air conditioning. There is a restaurant and more casual dining facility on the property.  From reading reviews throughout the years some folks find it a convenient location to do laundry (there is a guest laundry).  There are some walking paths along the property, but I would not characterize them as "hiking trails."

 

Expect a shuttle to run from the McKinley View to the community of Talkeetna.  Depending on road construction expect to be on the shuttle ride to last from 45 minutes to an hour.  In Talkeetna you might consider booking a jet boat trip with Mahay's Jet Boats; very reputable company which has been in business a very long time.

We are staying at Princess Mount KcKinley Lodge for 2 nights. I am looking for any thought or ideas of things to do whilst there either with Princess or Independently.

Also I have just been on Trip Advisor and there are page after page of negative reviews with 1 or 2 stars. Is it really that bad.

Many thanks for any help.....

So its only 1 gadget but you can log off of one and join another?

What is the quality of it would be my concern. We are going to Canaries in March and are thinking of it?

On 2/7/2023 at 4:36 PM, Gardyloo said:

Assuming you're flying out of London, then flying to Seattle (nonstop on British Airways, American Airlines, Delta, or Virgin Atlantic) will let you connect to direct flights to Fairbanks easily (operated by Alaska Airlines, a BA partner, or Delta, which is also a Virgin Atlantic partner.)

 

However if you want to fly out of Plymouth instead of schlepping to London, you might consider Aer Lingus to Dublin, connecting to Aer Lingus' nonstop to Seattle.  One advantage of going via Dublin is that one "pre-clears" US immigration and customs at Dublin airport, so that when you arrive in the US it's just like coming off a domestic flight - collect bags and off you go, or if you're continuing to Alaska, your bags will be checked through so you'd just go to the connecting flight.  

 

Now all that said, can I comment on your overall plan, and make a (big) suggestion?

 

Do the trip in reverse.  Fly nonstop to Vancouver (British Airways, Air Canada) and cruise northbound. 

 

Why?  A couple of reasons.  First, the weather in interior Alaska (Fairbanks, Denali) will have more time to improve.  June is still pretty early for those parts of the state.

 

Second and more importantly (IMO) is the time change factor.  Flying across nine time zones and landing in Fairbanks in June, when it really doesn't get dark at all, then climbing on a tour bus and get herded about, is not my idea of a relaxing time.  You'll be staring out the bus windows through bleary eyes, and the scheduling of stops and excursions will be pretty hard on your jetlagged systems.  

 

Instead, fly into Vancouver (8 hours difference) and when you get on the cruise ship, the first couple of days don't involve any stops; you'll be sailing through beautiful Inside Passage waters.  If you want to nap, fine, nothing to stop you.  You'll arrive in Alaska more rested and ready to hit the streets with more energy.  

 

Do think about it, okay?

On 4/2/2023 at 7:51 PM, 6rugrats said:

Dates?  Class of service?

Brilliant....Thank you very much....

20 hours ago, wolfie11 said:

Fairbanks, you will likely be at Princess Lodge near the airport.  I think they might still run a shuttle into town, but there's lots of great restaurants within a two-mile radius.  Denali, you'll be right in Glitter Gulch with lots of restaurants in a couple of block radius.  Mt. McKinley is in the middle of nowhere and you're stuck with their restaurant.
 

 I would skip the prepaid and venture out on your own.  Fairbanks has great restaurants from Thai to steaks and salmon to the furthest north southern bbq (no pasties though).  Denali has great pizza, the Salmon Bake, and a brew pub that will pick you up and drop you off in their van.

Hi all,

I wonder if some kind person could help me a little.

We are doing a Land Cruise from Fairbank and then a cruise which finishes in Vancouver.

So basically we need to get from London to Fairbanks via somewhere and then Vancouver to London.

Just wondered if anybody had done this journey and could advice in any way.

Head Spinning with so many options and Im getting nowhere.

Any help greatly apprechated.

Many thanks

Hi all,

We are going with Princess. I have no idea exactly where we are staying but we are in the following areas:

Fairbanks 2 Nights

Denail 2 Nights

Mt Mckinley 2 Nights.

Many thanks for any help.

Thank you. 

Don't need to make any calls just the internet and text.

We are starting in Fairbanks, doing a 1 week land tour and then a 1 week cruise finishing in Vancouver

Thank you.

Don't really want to pay that much especially as wife eats very little.

Stocking up on snacks and no cooking facilities seems to hard.

Looks like we are buying the ships package.

We are from the UK.

Is it easy to just buy a sim card and phone and internet package whilst in Alaska .

Many thanks

We are doing a land tour and then cruise to Alaska.

The cruise line has offered us a meal package on the land part of the tour.

They have offered 6 Breakfast, 1 lunch and 5 Dinners for 2 people for 540$ each so 1080 Dollars so nearly £900.

I know things are expensive but this includes tip and gratitudes.

I would really appreciate anybody thoughts on this for value or can I get things much cheaper locally.

Many thanks

1 hour ago, wolfie11 said:

I have taken Icelandair in the summer to the UK.  It's one of a few flight that go directly to Europe from Alaska with a stopover in Reykjavik.  It's about a 7 hour flight to Reykjavik and another couple of hours to the UK.  It was the best transatlantic I've ever done from Alaska, saving many hours in flight time and sitting in airports.  And, you can always do a couple of days in Iceland at no extra cost. Icelandair also flies into Vancouver and the flight is also about 7 hours.  

Thank you very much.....

On 2/7/2023 at 9:16 AM, nijh said:

Hi

 

Try a search on a flight comparison website, that will show you available routes.  Not sure what we can and cannot mention here, but one is owned by Google and my favourite is ‘a type of a canoe’.  
 

After that go to the airline websites that it throws up as it is often clearer there about hidden charges for luggage, seat choice etc.  For example I was surprised  to find that Icelandair no longer provide food on their long haul - just some very unappetising sandwiches to purchase.

 

I’m betting you’ll route through Seattle or Chicago.

On 2/7/2023 at 4:36 PM, Gardyloo said:

Assuming you're flying out of London, then flying to Seattle (nonstop on British Airways, American Airlines, Delta, or Virgin Atlantic) will let you connect to direct flights to Fairbanks easily (operated by Alaska Airlines, a BA partner, or Delta, which is also a Virgin Atlantic partner.)

 

However if you want to fly out of Plymouth instead of schlepping to London, you might consider Aer Lingus to Dublin, connecting to Aer Lingus' nonstop to Seattle.  One advantage of going via Dublin is that one "pre-clears" US immigration and customs at Dublin airport, so that when you arrive in the US it's just like coming off a domestic flight - collect bags and off you go, or if you're continuing to Alaska, your bags will be checked through so you'd just go to the connecting flight.  

 

Now all that said, can I comment on your overall plan, and make a (big) suggestion?

 

Do the trip in reverse.  Fly nonstop to Vancouver (British Airways, Air Canada) and cruise northbound. 

 

Why?  A couple of reasons.  First, the weather in interior Alaska (Fairbanks, Denali) will have more time to improve.  June is still pretty early for those parts of the state.

 

Second and more importantly (IMO) is the time change factor.  Flying across nine time zones and landing in Fairbanks in June, when it really doesn't get dark at all, then climbing on a tour bus and get herded about, is not my idea of a relaxing time.  You'll be staring out the bus windows through bleary eyes, and the scheduling of stops and excursions will be pretty hard on your jetlagged systems.  

 

Instead, fly into Vancouver (8 hours difference) and when you get on the cruise ship, the first couple of days don't involve any stops; you'll be sailing through beautiful Inside Passage waters.  If you want to nap, fine, nothing to stop you.  You'll arrive in Alaska more rested and ready to hit the streets with more energy.  

 

Do think about it, okay?

1 hour ago, wolfie11 said:

I have taken Icelandair in the summer to the UK.  It's one of a few flight that go directly to Europe from Alaska with a stopover in Reykjavik.  It's about a 7 hour flight to Reykjavik and another couple of hours to the UK.  It was the best transatlantic I've ever done from Alaska, saving many hours in flight time and sitting in airports.  And, you can always do a couple of days in Iceland at no extra cost. Icelandair also flies into Vancouver and the flight is also about 7 hours.  

How does it work that when you go through Dublin pre clears US customs.

Many thanks

Thank you so much. Some wonderful thoughts.

Really appreciated.

Thanks for your help.

Yes seattle has been mentioned by a few....

Hi all,

We are doing a land tour and cruise with Princess in June 2024.

We start our land tour at Fairbanks and finish our cruise at Vancouver.

I don't think there are any direct flights from UK to Fairbanks so I just wondered if anybody had any ideas of our best route to get to Fairbanks.

Many thanks for any help in advance.

Lou

Do you know if Marella do any Electric bike tours or just bike on their mediterranean cruises.

We are on the Canadian flavours and Atlantic island starting on 28th February.

Many thanks for any help

We are going to cruise New Zealand with Princess in November and the first day has Fiorland National Park and in brackets Scenic cruising as our stop..

Alternatively there is a trip called Fiordland, Queenstown & Dunedin Overland which is 1200$.

I just wondered if anybody has done this cruise and what the Fiordland, Queenstown & Dunedin Overland trip is like and is it value for money or is it just as good to stay on the ship for the "scenic cruise".

Many thanks for any help

Lou

We are hoping to do a tour we have found on Trip Advisor called the "Popular Cruise Ship Tour" Bay of Islands and Glow Worm Caves Small-Group Tour when our Princess cruises trip lands on Bay Of Islands.

Can you please tell me where our ship docks as this is one of the questions the company is asking.

Also has anybody done this particular tour or any suggestions of a full day tour like it.

Many thanks for any help

5 hours ago, onlyslightlymad said:

If it's just a day you may as well go into Christchurch.  Jump on the little tram that does a circuit around the city and you can hop on and off.  Go for a walk in the Botanical Gardens and into the Museum, Art Gallery and Arts Centre.  Walk to the Square and stare at the remains of the Cathedral post Earthquake.  Go shopping at Ballantynes dept store.  Jump off the tram at New Regent St and grab lunch at one of the cafes or restaurants there.  Take a walk along the new river walkway and feed the ducks.  A lot of the CBD is still vacant post earthquake but there are still some nice things to do.  Akaroa is lovely but it's a good hour's drive on a windy road.

Thank you very much for your help. Very much appreciated...

Hi all,

On our November trip we are stopping at Lyttelton from 8.00am to 6.00pm. I was just wondering if anyone could advise of any good day trip please.

We had hoped to do a day trip  at Akaroa but someone said we might be to far away.

Any help greatly apprechiated.....

ps...We arent' into Wine tasting...