How we chose our Alaska cruise itinerary

First, we chose a one-way cruise because we wanted to be sure to see both Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord.

Second, we chose a northbound cruise because it seemed that the scenery would become increasingly awesome as we sailed north.

Third, we chose to add a few days on land after the cruise so we could explore more of Alaska while we were there. The big three for us were Prince William Sound (glaciers up close and personal), Kenai Fjords (marine wildlife), Denali (wildlife and Mt. McKinley). We created our own 4-day land tour (with a rental car) because it gave us the flexibility to see what we wanted to see.

Here is the itinerary from our trip to Alaska last July, beginning with a one-way cruise on the Diamond Princess and then a land tour on our own with a rental car.

Saturday

Diamond Princess departed from Vancouver

Sunday

Day at sea cruising the Inside Passage

Monday

Ketchikan. We picked up a free copy of the “Ketchikan Walking Tour Map” at the Visitors Center and explored the town on our own.

Tuesday

Juneau. We had a fabulous whale watching excursion with Harv & Marv’s (the shuttle stopped on the way back to the dock to let us spend a little while at Mendenhall Glacier). Then we explored the town on foot.

Wednesday

Skagway. We took the White Pass Railroad excursion. Afterward we explored the town on foot with a self-guided map we picked up at the Visitors Bureau.

Thursday

Scenic cruising through Glacier Bay National Park – breathtaking scenery!

Friday

Scenic cruising through College Fjord – breathtaking scenery!

Saturday

Cruise concluded at Whittier. We took the 6-hour Prince William Sound Explorer Glacier Cruise (Alaska Heritage Tours) for up-close-and-personal exposure to the glaciers. After dinner at Swiftwater Seafood at the dock in Whittier we drove an Avis rental car to Seward (beautiful scenery along the way). Stayed overnight in Seward.

Sunday

We took the Kenai Fjords Tour (Alaska Heritage Tours) and saw a variety of marine wildlife (whales, sea lions, harbor seals, puffins, etc.). Seward is a charming town to explore.

Monday

We drove from Seward to Denali, stopping along the way to hike at Exit Glacier and visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. Stayed overnight at McKinley Creekside Cabins in Cantwell.

Tuesday

We took the Denali national Park shuttle as far as Eielson and back. Lots of wildlife. And the magnificent mountain was in full view! Stayed overnight at McKinley Creekside Cabins in Cantwell.

Wednesday

Drove to Anchorage, dropped off the Avis rental car at the airport, and flew home.

It was an outstanding vacation experience!

Sounds very much like the things we want to do. You had a fantastic plan!

We will be on the Sapphire Princess May/June 2009, going northbound on the same itinerary. We will do a precruise stay at the Pan Pacific simply for convenience of the hotel already being at the cruiseship dock in Vancouver. We stay for one night.

Then we head off to the ship the next day. During our cruise we plan to do the following:

-Ketchinkan - Bering Sea Crab Boat Tour (For my husband who loves the Deadliest Catch Show on the Discovery Channel), then we'll see Creek St. for shopping.

-Juneau - Do Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier (Harv & Marv)

-Skagway -Do the Yukon/White Pass Railway Tour with Dog Sled (Chilkoot Charters)

Then of course we'll end our cruise with the scenary of College Fjords and Glacier Bay ending in Whittier. Will do a post cruise transfer back to Anchorage and start our post cruise tour there.

We have 4 days after our cruise, any "must do" suggestions? I know we'd love to see Denali & Mt. Mckinley (Mt. Mckinley the most). We don't have much time, so won't have time to see Prince William Sound or the Kenai Fjords (unless they are must do's of course! ;))

I was considering doing a 3 day tour that Princess Tours offers through the cruiseline. It goes via a dome railway from Anchorage to Denali, staying a night at Denali, then heads off to Mt. Mckinley for a night there, then a railway back to Anchorage.

Some people suggest a rental car is better from Anchorage though. Unsure what would be better, we would enjoy either.

We liked the flexibility of a rental car. We could stop whenever and wherever we wanted to.

At Denali National Park, we took the shuttle bus to Eielson Visitor Center. Clouds had been obscuring the view of Mt. McKinley, but as we approached the sky cleared and we had a perfect photo opportunity. Even our shuttle bus driver got excited to see such a clear, magnificent view!

We saw quite a bit of wildlife. Binoculars are nice to have, because the animals are roaming wild and are often a good distance away from the bus. Our driver knew the area well and was excellent at spotting critters and pulling over so everyone had an opportunity to see them.

Thank you Kerry&LuAnn. You just did about 75% of our land vacation for 09.

We will be doing the Island Princess August 17, 09 Vancouver to Whittier and was trying to figure which of Princess 4 day land tours to do after the cruise.

Their price which includes the train and their lodges is somewhat high to say the least and we have done the train and Princess lodges before and we love them so we decided to check into putting our own together this time. So to the Alaska board I went and there it was. Thank you.

For Travel Jen Kenai Fjords Nat Park is, in our opinion, in in the top 10 of must sees in Alaska. We will do it again in August with Alaska Heritage Tours and that is who we did it with last time.

Also did PW Sound two years ago with Phillips. The weather was so bad they had to turn around. We had our grand daughter with us age 13. Stayed in Whittier two days at the Inn rained whole time. Think they get 35 feet or so of rain a year.

Then did the Coral Princess to Vancouver. First cruise for granddaughter and for her aunt and uncle (youngest son and wife) who just happened to show up. Believe me they are all hooked on cruising now. Son and wife even went on our Mexican Rivera cruise with us last February on the Golden.;)

If it sounds like we love cruising and Alaska, WE DO.:D

Sounds very much like the things we want to do. You had a fantastic plan!

 

We will be on the Sapphire Princess May/June 2009, going northbound on the same itinerary. We will do a precruise stay at the Pan Pacific simply for convenience of the hotel already being at the cruiseship dock in Vancouver. We stay for one night.

 

Then we head off to the ship the next day. During our cruise we plan to do the following:

-Ketchinkan - Bering Sea Crab Boat Tour (For my husband who loves the Deadliest Catch Show on the Discovery Channel), then we'll see Creek St. for shopping.

-Juneau - Do Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier (Harv & Marv)

-Skagway -Do the Yukon/White Pass Railway Tour with Dog Sled (Chilkoot Charters)

Then of course we'll end our cruise with the scenary of College Fjords and Glacier Bay ending in Whittier. Will do a post cruise transfer back to Anchorage and start our post cruise tour there.

 

We have 4 days after our cruise, any "must do" suggestions? I know we'd love to see Denali & Mt. Mckinley (Mt. Mckinley the most). We don't have much time, so won't have time to see Prince William Sound or the Kenai Fjords (unless they are must do's of course! ;))

 

I was considering doing a 3 day tour that Princess Tours offers through the cruiseline. It goes via a dome railway from Anchorage to Denali, staying a night at Denali, then heads off to Mt. Mckinley for a night there, then a railway back to Anchorage.

 

Some people suggest a rental car is better from Anchorage though. Unsure what would be better, we would enjoy either.

Just my opinion, but 4 days is not a lot of time, and I never recommend Seward/Denali Park in a single day. Absolutely Prince William Sound, Kenai Fjords and Denali park are all top attractions. But I recommend you have at least 5 days to include them all.

For clairfication, Princess McKinley lodge is out in the middle of nowhere, 100 miles from the national park entrance, which many do not realize. It is also 50 miles from the nearest town and the train depot, Talkeetna. It is EXTREMELY unlikely to get a McKinley Mt view with only one night. On average it shows about 20% of time, or about every 5 days.

A BIG problem with these short cruisetours- is the Natural History tour at Denali Park, a complete waste of time, and a BIG mistake, since you are completely missing out on getting into the Park. Which means scenery and wildlife. Another thing many do not realize. It is extremely important, with cruisetour purchases to completely understand everything about what you are booking. Most do not. It is far better to do your homework in advance, compared to trying to fix big mistakes later, which many times it can't.

Thanks for posting. You made many logical decisions in planning this trip and I applaud you for taking the time to share this with everyone.

Keith