Considering booking Alaska

[BopRN]

So what do I need to know. We want to take a land tour before the cruise....there are SO many itineries/choices that I am not sure what to book.:confused:

[OfTheSeasCruiser]

There are just so many options for an Alaskan cruise. We are leaving for our first Alaska cruise on the Radiance Friday actually!

 

You probably know there are one-way Northbound/Southbound and Roundtrip Seattle and you would need a one way in order to have a nice land tour. I have also seen many recommendations to planning a DIY land tour rather than a cruise tour, however, can't comment on that since we are not taking a land tour.

 

I know this isn't much info, but Hope this helps just a little in your planning. Good Luck!!

Edited May 29, 2014 by cruiserccl1212

[alaskawdw12]

When I was planning our Alaskan adventure I basically lived in the Alaska forum on CC :)

You'll find lots of info over there and extremely knowledgeable and helpful CC members over there. just go into Ports of Call to the Alaska board.

[CRUISEFAN0001]

When I was planning our Alaskan adventure I basically lived in the Alaska forum on CC :)

You'll find lots of info over there and extremely knowledgeable and helpful CC members over there. just go into Ports of Call to the Alaska board.

We just got back from the Inner Passage roundtrip on Radiance ported in Vancouver. Whales, glaciers, and other wildlife, as well as Lumberjacks and Totem Poles. The Tracy Arm Fjord day was stunning for scenery.

 

Amazing trip. I have my 1680 photos now whittled down to a measly 530. :D

 

We came in a day early and also added 2 days after the cruise for both a local tour of Vancouver itself as well as one day that included the ferry over to Victoria for the day.

 

One key value point is that a roundtrip simplifies the air travel there and also is much lower in cost. A North or South cruise means you have to fly into one city and leave from another - adding significant cost to the air travel part of this trip. We also really enjoyed Vancouver and Radiance of the Seas itself.

 

Like others have said...plenty of options.

[knittinggirl]

We've done both the Seattle round trip, and the Vancouver to Fairbanks Cruisetour. We did the cruisetour on Princess, and loved seeing Glacier Bay, which Royal doesn't do. If you can afford it, do a cruisetour. We also did the Connoisseur tour with Princess. Two meals per day were included, and we had an escort that handled all our dinner reservations and more. At the end of the cruise, he also handled our plane reservations for us because our TA had botched my last name, and no one could find them.

 

Normally, we're loyal to Royal, but in the case of the Alaska Cruisetour, we'll stick with Princess. Keep in mind, that Princess only sea days, no land days. I think Royal counts land days w/ cruisetours, but haven't had a chance to test this.

[DragonOfTheSeas]

You will love Alaska--it is a wonderful cruise. :):)

 

Alaska is the one cruise that takes the most planning. The excursions/activities are as important as the cruise.

I agree that you need to spend time reading on the Alaska forum before you make any decisions. I wish I had done that before I booked. Alaska is expensive--get your money's worth.

 

I felt the land portion was better than the cruise.

 

What I would have done differently is do the land tour DIY. Most of the cruise ship land tours are OK--but, not the best for people that can handle their own luggage and drive themselves.

 

For example most offer the Natural History Tour in Denali. This tour only goes 17 miles [of the nearly 100 miles] into the park. We upgraded to the Tundra Wilderness tour because it goes to mile 66 [mile 53 early and late season]. We would have take a shuttle bus, but we could not cancel the tour and get our money back for the tour. The NHT cost $68 and is included in any land tour price. The TWT is $118. You must spend 2 nights in Denali or you will not be able to take any of these except the NHT.

 

The land tours give very vague descriptions of when you will arrive and leave Denali. Look up the Alaska Railroad site and see when the trains leave either Anchorage or Fairbanks and when they arrive in Denali. The cruise ships add their rail cars to the back of the Alaska RR.

 

This is the site to check it out.

http://www.nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit/visiting-denali.htm

 

 

I did a ive thread from the Radiance when we went 2 years ago. You may find the pics of Denali and the Radiance useful.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1697232

 

 

Also, a good site.

http://www.cruiseportinsider.com/juneau.html#.U4cl5fldXg8

 

Have fun planning this great trip!!:D

 

edit: PS--Look for posts on the Alaska board by "Budget Queen." She can be a little direct in her advise, but she is an expert on Alaska cruises and tours.

Edited May 29, 2014 by DragonOfTheSeas

[paylady]

Decisions, decisions. As another poster said the Alaska ports of call board is your friend. Study it thoroughly. Look at old trip reports on that board --- there is a sticky for 2013 trip reports. Once you learn more about your preferences, you will know which tour is best for you.

 

You'll first want to decide whether to start in Fairbanks or Anchorage.

 

You a also need to decide whether the train is a priority of yours since different tours offer different options of bus and train. The Alaska RR is worth the ride. The most scenic stretch is between Anchorage and Seward.

 

Denali is a given since I doubt there are few tours that don't offer a day in the park. Talkeetna will probably be offered on your tour as well.

 

Is Anchorage a priority for you? There are many options just outside Anchorage. Which are of interest to you?

 

The Hotel Aleyeska in Girdwood? A stay in Seward?

 

Unless you hate boats and marine life, I strongly suggest an itinerary with a tour in Resurrection Bay out of Seward. You'll see sea otters and other marine life in their natural habitat.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums mobile app

[Alaskalovr]

Alaska is an amazing place to see. But like others have said, it takes a lot of planning to get the most out of your trip.There are lots of decisions to make and pros and cons for each. Our first trip to Alaska was a regular vacation, no cruise, for 2 weeks and basically took 2 years to plan, but that was before I knew about this site. Here you can benefit from others who have already done a lot of the research. Our second trip we did a week on our own and then picked up the cruise portion in Seward. As you know Alaska is huge and there is no way to see it all in one visit. Many people plan a return and many do return but still look at it as a once in a lifetime trip because not everyone makes it back.

I would recommend you make a list of your top 10 things to see or do. You will need to look at some sites that give you some options. Then there will be a few things that will help you narrow the field like cost, time, logistics of travel.

There are lots of ways to save money. Coupon books like Alaska Toursaver and Northern Lights are phenomenal. They are also helpful in planning your trip.

Flights can be budgeted also. Alaska Airlines offer a great credit card incentive.

Someone else mentioned roundtrip air being cheaper but I disagree with that as a blanket statement. You have to really look at where you are flying from etc.

You also need to decide if you are adventurous. Would you like to be in charge of your itinerary on land and then meet up for the cruise or would you rather just let the cruiseline plan it. I personally did not like the schedule the cruiseline set for the land portion. It was really just as easy to plan yourself.

After you have narrowed down some of your choices, come back here and ask again for more specific info.