torybruno

I love the last paragraph! That was written for you, Race fan!!

That's awesome! I really don't remember what we paid, it was on our July 2016 cruise. I'm thinking it was around $70 each, and I don't remember an additional fee... but my memory is not that great! I just remember it was the absolute best excursion, EVER!!! 4 hours out on the glacier, and most of the day was sunny. We dressed in layers, and filled our water bottles right from the melting glacier! I'm sure now the ice trek is at least double... so much cheaper than the fly in helicopter tours that spend 20 minutes on the glacier! Racefan... maybe you can help me... I joined CC way back whenway before apps and cell phones... so is there an app now for CC on your phone, or do you just use the website? I'm a little tech challenged!

Thank you!

Can anyone tell me what is in the back corners? Is it a crew only area? Is it a small outdoor area that is accessible to anyone? Trying to figure what cabin category will give us the most bang for our buck! TIA!

Curious how you have dinner in the MDR at two different scheduled times?

Hello all! I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed this post and reading through all 8 pages! I used to visit cruise critic often during our first cruises, but have not lately. We are newly retired, just turned 60, and have been tasked with planning an Alaska adventure with 2 other couples who have not been. We've been twice, and both times only booked and planned two months out. After reading this post, I'm thinking I better get on it for June 2024!! I really appreciate the news about Denali, I was thinking we would do it again this time, but after reading you cannot go as far into the park... the Seward area is peaking my interest with the bike rentals and boat excursions. We have narrowed down our time line to the last 2 weeks of June, it's just a matter of what cruise line to pick. We are not loyal to any one, we have sailed most of the big lines. Both Alaskan cruises we have done were on HAL. The first time, we did 3 nights in Denali with the cruise line. The absolute best thing we did on that cruise was fly in a day early, rented a car and drove to Majestic Valley Wilderness Lodge for the night. In the morning we did the Matanuska Glacier trek for FOUR hours with MICA guides. Hands down, two trips to Alaska, and this was the most amazing thing we did, and want to repeat it in 2024. Afterward we drove back to Anchorage and met up with our party for the beginning of the cruise/tour. The second cruise we did three years later, when a deal came in my email that was too good to pass up! Round trip out of Seattle, we had two free Marriott nights in Seattle, one free airfare, and the cruise visited two different ports we had not been to the first time, and very cheap for a balcony. If anyone is interested... here's some of the excursions we have done... Juneau, whale watching on a private 6 passenger boat, second time we took a taxi to Mendenhall glacier, hiked to the glacier, then took the tram up and ate lunch at the top, and did a small hike at the top. Glacier Point Wilderness Safari to Davidson Glacier was my second favorite tour after the MICA guides. We did this from Haines, but it's my understanding the same tour runs from Skagway. I'm not sure if they still let you exit the 21 person canoe and walk up to the face of the glacier like we did, but it was an AMAZING tour! Ketchikan... we did an all you can eat crab leg excursion and wilderness tour, and the second time we did a float plane to Misty Fjords with Island Wings (highly recommend!) Victoria was also a new port on the second cruise, and Butchart Gardens did not disappoint! Also loved sailing Glacier Bay day! Again... thank you for this wonderful post, I look forward to following it!

We are currently looking for our first visit to Hawaii. We are looking at four different cruises for the fall, celebrity Solstice, and RC Brilliance, Quantam or Ovation. All are out of Vancouver, and seem to be good deals right now. We just don’t know if it’s better to cruise, or just fly to Hawaii and book hotels at two different islands. 🤷‍♀️

Thanks everyone! I haven’t cruised with “apps” before!

Are the drink prices posted anywhere? It may be worth it if every drink is $15!

We’ve found both our Alaskan cruises (on Holland America) to be quite casual in the main dining room. More casual then I would dress for a Caribbean cruise.

Just trying to figure if this drink pkg is worth it. We drink wine, bloody Mary’s, aperol apritz, jack and coke, martinis and old fashioned mostly… I just don’t consume a lot in one day, maybe there would be one or two sea days I may… if anyone has a list of current drink prices, I’d appreciate it!