EagleRocker Posted March 3, 2014 #26 Share Posted March 3, 2014 You have been given good advice here. I am envious that you get to experience Alaska for the first time - you will, indeed, want to go back. My two cents, having done three cruise only trips (two on HAL and one on Royal Caribbean) and one 14-day cruisetour (Celebrity), is that you do a cruisetour, definitely land portion first. We have liked the HAL ships best, one small (Amsterdam) and one larger (Zuiderdam), including the opportunity to go to Glacier Bay, but that said we had a great time on the Celebrity cruisetour (and we did like the Millennium). We started in Fairbanks (two nights), took a glass topped train to Denali for two nights (spectacular, although the loonngg bus trip into the park is a bit grueling, tho well worth it), went to Talkeetna for a night (very enjoyable, nice hotel and town, and we were blessed with clear views of Mt. McKinley the whole time), another glass topped train to Anchorage for the night, then on to Hotel Alyeska for one night, and then on to Seward for the trip south to Vancouver (and viewing the gorgeous Turnegan Arm). The cruisetour portion was fairly fast-paced (in terms of having very little down time and often needing to be up and out of the hotel early), but you get to see a LOT and it is not physically strenuous - and everything is taken care of. (Just remember to put yout cruise clothes in one bag and your landtour clothes in another, so you only need to have one brought into the hotels.) I have not looked at the HAL cruisetour options, but if you can find one that has an itinerary somewhat similar to what I described above, I think you will be very happy doing that for your first visit. And after that (because I know you will want to go back), you can do what we are doing this year - doing our own version of a cruisetour by driving around to a variety of places on our own, then catching a southbound cruise. Good luck finding and booking something! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwestchick Posted March 4, 2014 Author #27 Share Posted March 4, 2014 You have been given good advice here. I am envious that you get to experience Alaska for the first time - you will, indeed, want to go back. My two cents, having done three cruise only trips (two on HAL and one on Royal Caribbean) and one 14-day cruisetour (Celebrity), is that you do a cruisetour, definitely land portion first. We have liked the HAL ships best, one small (Amsterdam) and one larger (Zuiderdam), including the opportunity to go to Glacier Bay, but that said we had a great time on the Celebrity cruisetour (and we did like the Millennium). We started in Fairbanks (two nights), took a glass topped train to Denali for two nights (spectacular, although the loonngg bus trip into the park is a bit grueling, tho well worth it), went to Talkeetna for a night (very enjoyable, nice hotel and town, and we were blessed with clear views of Mt. McKinley the whole time), another glass topped train to Anchorage for the night, then on to Hotel Alyeska for one night, and then on to Seward for the trip south to Vancouver (and viewing the gorgeous Turnegan Arm). The cruisetour portion was fairly fast-paced (in terms of having very little down time and often needing to be up and out of the hotel early), but you get to see a LOT and it is not physically strenuous - and everything is taken care of. (Just remember to put yout cruise clothes in one bag and your landtour clothes in another, so you only need to have one brought into the hotels.) I have not looked at the HAL cruisetour options, but if you can find one that has an itinerary somewhat similar to what I described above, I think you will be very happy doing that for your first visit. And after that (because I know you will want to go back), you can do what we are doing this year - doing our own version of a cruisetour by driving around to a variety of places on our own, then catching a southbound cruise. Good luck finding and booking something! Oh, I already made that mistake :o...I thought I was so organized on our last cruise tour and then when we got to our hotel in Venice, I realized I should have at least put the clothes for the tour on top :rolleyes:...I felt sorry for DH...he's the one that had to lift up the large suitcases so I could dig through them. I think cruise tours have their good side and not so good side. But then our's was an experience I won't forget and we loved it. It was fast paced and we were on the go all the time, even though we had some private time but found we didn't rest. We crammed as much into the tour as we could. And, yes...suitcases by the door at 7:00 A.M. and then you're off again. Even if you're at a hotel for two nights, it gets to be a lot of work. I'd much rather get on a ship, unpack and enjoy the cruise. We did not have the option to have our luggage sent to the ship ahead of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmarya Posted March 4, 2014 #28 Share Posted March 4, 2014 If you have a lot of time but don't want to spend a fortune, you may want to consider planning your own tour. Consult the Alaska cruisecritic board for ideas. The driving is easy and roads are good.We took a cruisetour which we enjoyed, but could have used our time more wisely had we done our tour independently. Car rentals, hotels, and food are all expensive. At the time we booked our cruisetour, it was cost effective to book that way, but the cruise price dropped ridiculously after we booked so it would have been less expensive to do it on our own. Anyway, each traveler has to choose what is important and plan accordingly. If finding and booking all of the arrangement yourself is overwhelming, do a cruisetour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwestchick Posted March 4, 2014 Author #29 Share Posted March 4, 2014 If you have a lot of time but don't want to spend a fortune, you may want to consider planning your own tour. Consult the Alaska cruisecritic board for ideas. The driving is easy and roads are good.We took a cruisetour which we enjoyed, but could have used our time more wisely had we done our tour independently. Car rentals, hotels, and food are all expensive. At the time we booked our cruisetour, it was cost effective to book that way, but the cruise price dropped ridiculously after we booked so it would have been less expensive to do it on our own. Anyway, each traveler has to choose what is important and plan accordingly. If finding and booking all of the arrangement yourself is overwhelming, do a cruisetour. I didn't even think about the price dropping and that's correct...if the price of the cruise drops, it makes you ineligible because you booked the cruise tour package. :eek: That's an excellent point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwestchick Posted April 3, 2014 Author #30 Share Posted April 3, 2014 After much research, DH has decided, due to the horrendous winter we've had, he does not want to do Alaska this summer. Neither of us want a cruise where there's a chance the weather could be cool and nasty, although I know weather is never a given. It's the beginning of April and we're still having winter type weather here....we really need a warm vacation. Back to the drawing board for summer travel plans. Also, this will give me a lot more time reading and gathering information for an Alaska cruise in 2015. Thanks to each and everyone of you for all your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissShelllly Posted April 3, 2014 #31 Share Posted April 3, 2014 I hope you enjoy whatever cruise you decide to take. Michelle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwestchick Posted April 4, 2014 Author #32 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Thank you, Michelle. I'm sure whatever it is, we will enjoy it. Anything has to be better than this April winter we are having. :rolleyes: ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockfan2 Posted April 4, 2014 #33 Share Posted April 4, 2014 We have been to Alaska 3 times. The first was a 7 night out of Seattle on the Rotterdam. Great staff.ur first visit to the Hubbard Glacier can only be described as spiritual. It was amazing. Our second time was 14 nights on the Amsterdam to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. DH totally surprised my by arranging for us to renew our vows. It was a very special trip. Our third time was this past summer. 7 nights on the Oosterdam out of Seattle. After 14 nights on the Amsterdam, 7 nights just wasn't enough. Rockfan2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agabbymama Posted April 4, 2014 #34 Share Posted April 4, 2014 After much research, DH has decided, due to the horrendous winter we've had, he does not want to do Alaska this summer. Neither of us want a cruise where there's a chance the weather could be cool and nasty, although I know weather is never a given. It's the beginning of April and we're still having winter type weather here....we really need a warm vacation. Back to the drawing board for summer travel plans. Also, this will give me a lot more time reading and gathering information for an Alaska cruise in 2015. Thanks to each and everyone of you for all your input. OH, that's too bad. Alaska in the Summer isn't really like the Winter weather the East is experiencing. It's not the Caribbean, but it is not snow & freezing either. It is an awesome destination. Hope you make it one day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwestchick Posted April 4, 2014 Author #35 Share Posted April 4, 2014 OH, that's too bad. Alaska in the Summer isn't really like the Winter weather the East is experiencing. It's not the Caribbean, but it is not snow & freezing either. It is an awesome destination. Hope you make it one day. It's okay...we just can't seem to thaw out here....and honestly, after looking at a friend's vacation pictures from Alaska, the thought of packing jackets and warm clothes doesn't thrill me. The pictures were gorgeous. We will make it one day...probably next summer. I looked at the NE/Canada cruise too for May and I don't think that will be a warm one either. HAL has a great sale on it for May departures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solocanadian Posted April 4, 2014 #36 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Copper, John - what a nice description of the Land Tour portion. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwestchick Posted April 4, 2014 Author #37 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Copper, John - what a nice description of the Land Tour portion. Thanks for posting. Yes, it certainly was. A lot of excellent information on this thread. I'm going to have to print it up and save it for future reference. If all of the HAL cruisers are as nice as everyone has been on this thread, I'm really looking forward to sailing on HAL. :) :D :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted April 4, 2014 #38 Share Posted April 4, 2014 I looked at the NE/Canada cruise too for May and I don't think that will be a warm one either. HAL has a great sale on it for May departures. It won't. Be a warm cruise, that is. That's exactly why HAL has a great sale on May departures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwestchick Posted April 4, 2014 Author #39 Share Posted April 4, 2014 It won't. Be a warm cruise, that is. That's exactly why HAL has a great sale on May departures. Well, now a May departure won't work anyway...DH's passport expires Nov. 1 and they say 4-6 weeks for the new one. Mine is good until January but we may as well get them both renewed at the same time. We talked about this a few months ago...then it kind of slipped through the cracks. :o I actually talked to one TA that told me it wouldn't matter in Canada. :eek: :rolleyes: He said the 6 month rule wouldn't apply. I wouldn't think of taking that chance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borasue Posted April 4, 2014 #40 Share Posted April 4, 2014 Yes, it certainly was. A lot of excellent information on this thread. I'm going to have to print it up and save it for future reference. If all of the HAL cruisers are as nice as everyone has been on this thread, I'm really looking forward to sailing on HAL. :) :D :cool: Ditto! We're booked on our first cruise, Canada/New England, departing May 24th. Already toying with the idea of booking Alaska next, possibly even while onboard the first. Thanks to all for the good information re: Alaska. Looks like I need to research a lot more, too, before deciding! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Watson's aunt Posted April 6, 2014 #41 Share Posted April 6, 2014 Hi Its impossible to see all of Alaska in one trip. I would recomand doing the Amsterdam 2 week cruise. thet dropped it last year. But we all complained and its back this year. it brings you to different ports each are different. I will be going back on my 3 in4 years same ship. The Amsterdam is a wonderful ship and the grew is wonderful. If you want to be treated as royality thake this cruise. It is only going 4 times this year. Mary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midwestchick Posted April 6, 2014 Author #42 Share Posted April 6, 2014 I agree...I think the 14 day cruise would be much better...7 days just doesn't seem long enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stateroom_Sailor Posted April 6, 2014 #43 Share Posted April 6, 2014 We're doing Celebrity now ocean only, followed by HAL's Y5C (or longer) Yukon cruise tour in a couple of years. As others have mentioned, you can rest up if you do the cruise 2nd, but also you get an extra day at sea and get to see Glacier Bay. Down the road, we would love to do the 14 day cruise as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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