REVIEW: NCL Sun 13-Day Authentic Alaska Cruisetour Review Aug 18-30, 2014

[grobma]

I have submitted the following as a review, but thought I would post here as well.

 

Cruise Critic was so helpful in my planning of this two-week trip, that I felt it only right to return the favor with a very detailed review of our 13-day Authentic Alaska Cruisetour on the NCL Sun. For easy of use, I have separated out this review into the following sections:

 

The first post includes:

• Background on The Trip and Us

• Vancouver Pre-Cruise

• Impressions of the Sun, Boarding, and Miscellaneous

 

The second post includes:

• Cabin and Suite Life

• Food

• Entertainment

• Ports and Excursions

 

The third post includes:

• Land Tour

 

Background on the Trip and Us

We are a family of four, including a 16-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl, from New York City. We sailed on the Breakaway last year and had such a good time, we booked this trip within a week of our return. I have been to Anchorage twice on business and had done day trips to Seward, Girdwood, Portage and other close places, but had never been to Southeast Alaska nor the interior. This was a once in a lifetime bucket trip - possibly one of the last as a family before the kids decided they'd rather backpack through Europe than vacation with Mom and Dad, so I wanted to make sure it would be special.

 

A bit about what we brought that we found very useful. It may have been one of the smallest objects, but we learned from our last cruise that one of the most important things are magnetic clips. They were so helpful for hanging up the Freestyle Daily, notes, etc.

 

Packing-wise, I listened to everyone here and brought layers. But I didn't go crazy. I brought a bunch of tech t-shirts (short and long sleeve), a few polo shirts, a couple of sweat shirts and a fleece jacket, a waterproof hooded jacket, a few pairs of khakis, hiking boots and sneakers. And a hat and gloves for Glacier Bay. That was fine. Being away for 2 weeks, I was able to easily wash the tech shirts, underwear (tech too), and socks in the sink once on the trip. Because they were mostly tech, they dried quickly (socks took the longest- about 24 hours). Because tech needs to be washed in cold water and tumble-dried low, I chose not to use the ship's laundry which is only done in hot water.

 

For photographers, I brought the following, which I found to be key. Two lenses - a 18-140mm and a 70-300mm. I used the shorter lens most of the time, but the long lens was invaluable for whale watching, Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier, and Denali. I had one very fast card with me (90MB transfer rate - the rest can be slower) which came in very handy for continuous shooting mode, again for whale watching and for catching a glacier calving. A circular polarizing filter is highly recommended. The two other devices I was very happy I had with me were a Sanho Colorspace Hyperdrive for backing up SD cards, and an SD card reader for my iPad. I was able to copy over some choice pics on a daily basis and then post them on Facebook while in port.

 

One of the most important things to know is that when I booked, I got the last aft mini-suite left at the time for my wife and me, and an inside directly across the hall for the kids (9144). We sailed in an aft balcony on the BA last year and are among the converted. I watched fares all year long and a few months before the trip found an amazing deal that allowed us to upgrade to an aft penthouse suite (9076). Between a lot of OBC and lots of other deal perks, the difference came out to be about $800. As you will see when I talk about suite-life below, I found it to be money well spent. I also didn't tell my wife. This was going to be one heck of a surprise.

 

Vancouver Pre-Cruise

My first surprise for my family was that I had booked us first class air tickets. We flew on miles and because it was a multi-city trip (JFK - YVR and FAI - JFK) the trip required a lot of miles per person. For whatever reason, it was only 25% more miles to fly in first, so given this was a bucket trip and given the length of the flights, I opted to do it. I didn't tell them and I wish I had been able to photograph their faces as we boarded and stopped at row 2.

 

Caution to those choosing to fly in the day of the cruise. We hit customs in Vancouver the same time as two large planes arrived from Asia which resulted in VERY long lines at border control.

 

We arrived in Vancouver late afternoon and packed a lot into a day and a half, so I'll list the highlights:

 

• Stayed at the Hampton Inn on Robson by BC Place. Very convenient, very clean, microwave and fridge in all rooms. Stayed on points so don't know how much the room would have cost, but they do a lot of tour business.

• Saturday night strolled through Yaletown and had a great dinner at Yaletown Brewing. Great food, service, beer, and music. And we ate outside on a beautiful evening.

• Mancakes on Robson. Awesome flavors of cupcakes. Liked the grapefruit-peppercorn the best.

• Sunday was a busy day. Started at Garden Villa in Chinatown for dim sum. You know how in movies when the fish out of water walks into a bar, the music screeches to a stop and all conversation stops as all eyes turn towards the door? That was us as every Chinese man over 75 in the neighborhood seemed to be there and looked up from their food and conversation at us. Smiles soon broke out and they waved us to come in. Excellent dim sum though if you're a newbie, you might want to go across the street to New Town bakery where you can see most of it to know what you want (no carts at Garden Villa - you order off the menu). The place is pretty run down, but the food was top notch (from a dim sum connoisseur).

• Tour Guys. Found them on line and they are either the number one or two rated activity in Vancouver on TripAdvisor. Free walking tours, with the guides totally dependent on tips. We did two tours - a 90 minute tour of Chinatown which also covered parts of downtown, and a 60 minute tour of Granville Island. Both were excellent.

• Granville Island. Go there. Don't ask, just go. Great food, shopping, art, vibe, views. Take an Aquabus for a nice treat.

• Guu Garden - or any of the Guu restaurants - for Japanese tapas.

• Capilano Suspension Bridge. Well worth the trip and the cost of admission. Took us about 2 hours to do just about everything, though it helped that we got there as the doors opened on Monday morning, so no crowds at that time. Took a bus from downtown directly there, and a bus, Seabus, and subway back. Did this the morning of the cruise and we were back in plenty of time.

 

Impressions of the Sun, Boarding, and Miscellaneous

• Canada Place was a zoo. The Disney Wonder was boarding at the same time. We arrived at 1:15 (hotel told us later was better due to crowds, especially with Disney boarding at the same time, but I now doubt this advice) and we were on board at 2:45. It's important to note that none of that was under NCL's control. Actually, their check-in was the best and shortest thing about the process.

• Both our concierge Patrick and our butler Randy greeted us at check-in, and Randy escorted us to our cabins. At this point, my wife was now looking at me questioningly - why were we getting such special treatment? I broke the news to her about the suite and she was completely bowled over. Her reaction upon then seeing the suite and learning about suite perks just made her all the more astounded.

• It was an interesting day for Randy, our butler. As we boarded, we found out his wife was in labor with their first child, in the Phillipines. She gave birth to a boy that evening, and we celebrated with Randy all week long. We felt terrible that he will not be able to see his son until February. Luckily, he and Patrick are good friends and Patrick organized special staff events and support for Randy. We gave Randy a gift for his son, and he and Patrick said they had never met such nice guests. Aw shucks.

• Rolly was the cabin steward for both our cabin and the kids'. He was great. One night, he gave us lessons on making towel animals. It is very involved and I will never remember nor be able to replicate the skill he demonstrated.

• Yes, the Sun is dated and old. But it is clean and in good repair, so it has character. And yes, it is a bit confusing to get around at first because "you can't get there from here" but you get used to it soon enough.

• It was great to meet all the CC members from our roll call at the Meet and Greet. All of the dept head officers showed up (no bridge officers) and were very welcoming. It turned out that some of the roll call members were our balcony neighbors.

• Due, I think, more to the itinerary, this is a more sedate and older crowd. It could also be because people are more early to bed, early to rise to catch the fabulous sunrises and two early port days.

• Alaska is a much more casual itinerary clothing-wise. And it was so nice to not be hot on a cruise!

• Speaking of which, if you live in a warm climate and don't own fleece or waterproof jackets, don't bother buying them at home. All the port towns sell them for ridiculously low prices. I saw nice warm and waterproof jackets for $20 in every port. My daughter bought a great pair of fleece sweatpants in Ketchikan for $10. I think they were even selling jackets in Canada Place.

• Everything they say about the Sun's crew being so friendly is absolutely true.

• I probably should have said this earlier, but it was kind of a "don't hate me because I'm beautiful" moment. It's about the weather. From the moment we landed in Vancouver and with the exception of the day at Hubbard Glacier which was cold and rainy, it was nothing but sunny, cloud-less skies. No one could believe it. Even the locals in the port towns couldn't believe it. I had prepared myself by expecting rain every day and figured any day it didn't rain would be gravy. It would be a gift. I didn't expect such a windfall. I guess I must have done something good either now or in a previous life to have deserved this. The crew said that the entire previous south-bound cruise was rainy every day, and they said it's the first time in a month they were able to see the mountain tops in Glacier Bay because they were usually in the clouds.

[grobma]

Cabin and Suite Life

• Totally understand now why people love the suite life and, in particular, this cabin. It is huge, has an awesome balcony, a dressing area and large Jacuzzi tub in the huge bathroom (separate from the shower), and lots of outlets. There is also a DVD player with surround sound in the living room, and a list of recent releases available to borrow.

• We ended up using our butler Randy much less than we expected (evening snacks were always delivered and in abundance, and we asked for movies twice which were delivered promptly and with popcorn), and using our concierge Patrick much more than we expected. It was very nice to be able to consult with him on dining options, and then have him make the reservation. We always got premium seating in the restaurants, and wonder if that was Patrick’s doing. He also anticipated our needs, including rescheduling a back of the house tour that the Food & Beverage manager offered us because he knew it conflicted with peak viewing times in Glacier Bay.

• La Cucina for breakfast and lunch was one of the absolute best features of suite life. Only my wife and I as the suite guests were eligible, but the kids were always sleeping for breakfast and preferred the buffet anyway. To have a nice, elegant breakfast in a quiet venue with great service was so much appreciated. And French press coffee to boot. We only had lunch there twice, but again – far from the crowds of the rest of the ship, and a great menu. Once when we had an early excursion and again on disembarkation day we ordered room service breakfast, which in the suites includes hot items. We ordered for four people and had the kids join us – no problem at all.

• I am an early riser, and it was so easy to let my wife sleep in the bedroom while I stepped out onto the huge aft balcony from the living room (there is also a door from the bedroom) to catch the awesome sunrises. The kids also spent most of the time they would have spent in their cabin when they weren’t asleep, in our cabin and on the balcony which comes with two loungers, two chairs, a table, and room for triple that.

• The Sun is the only ship that does not have Lavazza espresso machines in their suites, due I think to the very short depth of the countertop. The four-cup Mr. Coffee-style machine is a poor substitute, but was fine for heating up hot water for the tea I drink in the morning.

• The kids’ inside cabin was a nice size for a small inside. It was larger than the inside we had on the QM2.

• Warning – you definitely feel the thrusters in the aft to the point that they wake you up. However, as they are only used when docking or disembarking, they only woke us up twice, and once was when the ship was moving into the channel to enter Glacier Bay which was a good thing – otherwise I would have slept through that part of the cruise which, as it was shortly after sunrise, was quite pretty.

• We discovered the specialness of an aft balcony on the Breakaway, and are so happy we went with it again on the Sun.

 

Food

• Cagney’s and La Cucina were good for dinner but not spectacular. We found La Cucina on the Breakaway to be better.

• We definitely enjoyed Moderno which, with some self-control, did not leave us totally stuffed, though that was certainly an option. The salad bar could have been better managed as there were a lot of empty and near-empty dishes when we went up.

• Teppanyaki was good, though reservations are the most difficult to be had (the one restaurant you can’t book in advance as there are only 12 seats).

• I now totally understand the comments from other cruisers about the buffet. I thought people might be complaining inappropriately about the lines, configuration, and offerings, but it definitely leaves much to be desired – especially having experienced the Breakaway’s which is far superior on all counts.

• We loved the Great Outdoors, whether eating from their buffet line, or simply carrying our buffet food out there.

 

Entertainment

• Again, having experienced the Breakaway, our expectations were somewhat misaligned with the actual entertainment. This may have been a result of their trying out all new shows, and it left us somewhat wanting. There was a different show every night at 7:15 and again at 9:15. That being said, the entertainment was probably on par with other cruise lines – the BA is just simply outstanding. We were too tired in the evenings for much else anyway.

• The Stardust Theater is quite comfortable, and we found the balcony to have better seating and views (and less crowded).

• Bingo was meh. Low energy level. Somewhat disappointing.

• We missed the Dueling Pianos and Second City that we had experienced on the BA.

• We all had different types of massages. This is due in part to their sales technique. On embarkation day, you could drop by and they would give you a short chair version of each of the massages offered. The sales technique worked. We knew to expect the very high prices, but hey – this was vacation. The only disappointment is that the pre-massage consultation and post-massage hard sell are part of the time slot, so a 75 minute massage included only 65 minutes of “hands-on” time.

• As mentioned earlier, we had the good fortune to be offered a back of the house tour of the food operations. This came from a nice chat at the CC Meet and Greet with the F&B department head. There were 10 of us, and it was fascinating. The crew who works in the galleys and back of the house were actually thrilled to be able to show off their areas to guests they rarely see. And if there was any question in your mind about cleanliness, you can put hem out of your heads. I have never seen a cleaner, safer or more organized food operation.

• The casino is large and fun. Yes, it smells of smoke, but it’s not horrible and the smell does not extend beyond the doors of the casino.

 

Ports and Excursions

• Ketchikan: Probably the cutest of the ports we visited. Thanks to Cruise Critic, we chose a 4-hour sea kayaking trip with Southeast Sea Kayaks to Orca’s Cove. We thoroughly enjoyed it, even getting close to a fishing trawler, which was pretty fascinating to watch, and had enough time for lunch and walking around town upon our return.

• Juneau: Least attractive port, but again – thanks to Cruise Critic – went on a whale watch tour with Harv & Marv. We had Captain Scott, and there only six of us on the boat. What was especially awesome was that we were there on the one day all summer when whales were sighted doing cooperative feeding, also known as bubble feeding. We saw seven whales working together to round up schools of fish. AMAZING!! Capped that off with dinner at Tracy’s Crab Shack which lived up to its reputation. We had stopped off in the morning to ask how crowded it would be at 6PM that evening, and were told there would be a very long line. We asked if it was possible to order and pay in advance, and have it ready and waiting for us. It seemed like this was the first time they had been asked this, but they agreed to it. And it worked out so well. When we arrived, there was a big line, but we went straight to the cook shack, gave our name, and were given our food. The Sun docked at the AJ dock which is a about a mile walk from downtown and the other docks, but there is a shuttle bus that runs constantly. It was not a problem. An extra treat was being on the balcony at 5:30AM as were approaching Juneau, and having two whales do tail slaps just about 50 yards behind the ship.

• Skagway: Another cute town, though in a different way from Ketchikan. More authentic. We did the Chilkoot Charter Yukon Rail/Bus/Dog Sled excursion, which was great. We started on the train (sat on the left side of the train, again thanks to Cruise Critic info – right side if taking the train back), and then a small bus up from Fraser, BC to Caribou Crossing, Carcross, Emerald Lake, Bennett Lake, and other stops of interest in the Yukon. As mentioned on Cruise Critic, taking the small bus with Chilkoot as opposed to the larger buses on a cruise line-booked trip gives you many more options to stop when you want and for points of interest. Our guide was great, with lots of good info and stories. The lunch at Caribou Crossing was surprisingly good given that it is a tourist factory, but the sled dog puppies and the dog cart ride were great. Lots of good info provided about the dogs and the Iditarod as well. Make sure you check out the bakery in the small town of Carcross if you stop there.

• Glacier Bay NP: We were the first ship in that day (only a few are let in every day, on a schedule). The ranger who came on board gave a great narration including history and stories about what we were seeing. It is broadcast throughout the ship on the P.A. This was the first time my long lens came in handy for close-ups, including of calving. Peak viewing times were 9 to 11AM. We found a great trick – if your TV is near the door to your balcony, the narration is carried on the bridge-cam channel. We left it on loud while we were out on the balcony with the door open. Another tip – while everyone gathers on deck 12 forward outside the observation lounge, it was MUCH less crowded on deck 6 along the rail, where the views were just as good, and almost seeming to be closer as you were at the level of the glaciers instead of above them. Oh – and this and Hubbard Glacier are why they tell you to bring gloves and hats. It was cold, even in the sun.

• Hubbard Glacier: While this is only one glacier, it is the largest tidewater glacier in North America and very impressive. Because it is one glacier that is still growing, there is lots of calving which made it all the more exciting. We entered the bay around 7AM and were in front of the glacier (very close!) between 8 and 9AM. Again, better on deck 6 (and less windy too).

[grobma]

Land Tour

 

General:

• The trip is run by Premier Alaska Tours which also does them for Royal Caribbean, Globus, and others. Our guide Scott has lived in Alaska for 15 years and was very knowledgeable and passionate. Not the best organized, his stories and knowledge more than made up for it. He was very easy going, helpful, funny, and approachable.

• The bus itself was very clean and in good condition. Our driver Lindy was very safe, having operated heavy machinery before retiring. He is a native Athabascan and although was very quiet most of the time, ended up telling us stories about growing up Athabascan for two hours while he drove on our day three drive from Anchorage to Talkeetna.

• The “bag pull” is one of the best features of the trip. About an hour before leaving each hotel, you put your bags in the hallway. They are collected and loaded on the bus. When arriving at each hotel, bags were either waiting for us in our rooms, or delivered very shortly thereafter. My back was never so happy.

• We were the youngest on the land tour portion. There were 40 people, and I would guess that the median age was 65. Everyone was in good shape, and while some moved slower than others, no one held up the tour at any point. As a matter of fact, I’ve never seen a group who was so prompt – even for the early morning departures.

• Speaking of which, there is the debate about going southbound or northbound. I can understand both views. I booked the northbound because A) it included Glacier Bay (which the southbound did not), B) the dates worked for us, C) northbound is a little less expensive, and D) I thought the land tour would not be so taxing. Turns out the land tour – with late nights and early departures (7AM bag pull, 8AM departure) is pretty taxing. I think, though, that northbound is still the way to go because Fairbanks was the least impressive stop, so we were tired for that day rather than Homer which we enjoyed more.

• No laundry options in Homer. The Sheraton in Anchorage had one washing machine and one dryer, but there is a laundromat which has machines and also does fluff & fold service just a block away. The Grande Denali Lodge had laundry facilities.

• The cost of living is high in Alaska due in part to the fact that all supplies (except fish) have to be barged or flown in. Consequently, be prepared for pricier restaurants than you might expect.

• All the hotels we stayed in were spotless and comfortable. Some were nicer than others, but all were perfectly acceptable (and I am a critical former road warrior who used to spend over 100 nights/year in hotels)

 

Day 1: Whittier to Homer

• We had to be in the Stardust Theater at 6:45AM and were off the ship by 7:30AM. Bags were put out the night before and were already loaded on the bus when we got there.

• It was raining in Whittier when we arrived and for the first few hours on the bus, but cleared up during the day.

• Stopped in Soldotna to pick up lunch (on your own) and any supplies you might need at a Fred Meyer

• Stopped at the Soldotna Visitors Center – make sure you take a walk down to the river’s edge not only because it’s pretty, but because you’ll also see people fishing for salmon.

• Stopped in Ninilchik – a Russian fishing village, which was very interesting. Beautiful coastline.

• Stopped at the Islands and Oceans Visitors Center in Homer for over an hour. Fascinating museum about the Aleutian Islands and the marine life and research that goes on in the area. Great views as it is right on Kamechak Bay.

• Stayed at the Ocean Shores hotel, which is right on the bay as well. Rooms in the 30s and 40s are in the first building; all with amazing views of the bay and a short walk down a steep hill to the beach where there is a huge difference between high and low tides. Free wifi, but unreliable.

• Went to Homer Spit for dinner. It has a feel not unlike Key West. Ate at Captain Pattie’s for excellent fish (Homer is the halibut capital) and great service. They will be expanding the restaurant out to the back deck after the season for more capacity next year (we got there just before a huge line started).

 

Day 2: Homer to Anchorage

• The Ocean Shores has no breakfast facilities so although the itinerary says “breakfast on your own” there is no place to go. Scott arranged for us all to go to Sourdough Express, which may have been one of the best breakfast places we’ve ever been to. Started by a couple over 25 years ago who still run the place, it was a treat for the eyes as well as the taste buds (and for the wallet by Alaska standards).

• If you want an early coffee, Fat Olive’s operates an espresso shop just a few minutes walk down the road from the hotel, and they’re open early.

• Stopped in Soldotna again to grab lunch, this time in a place with more options. If it’s in the Safeway parking lot, make sure to stop by the Moose Is Loose Bakery and Gift Shop next door. Everything moose-related, and yummy treats.

• Stopped at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. I had been here before and it did not disappoint even the second time. They save native animals and either recover them for re-entry into the wild or let them live there. Great opportunity to see many species up close.

• The Sheraton will be the plushest hotel you will stay in. Great free wifi, but only one device per room can register for it. This is also the only hotel that includes breakfast (great buffet).

• Had dinner at Glacier Brewhouse which is one of the best places in town (Scott, our guide who lives in Anchorage, feels similarly). I knew to make a reservation several weeks in advance (they’re on OpenTable) – when we arrived the wait was 90 minutes for those without. And people waited – it’s that good.

 

Day 3: Anchorage to Denali

• Started with a 2 ½ hour drive to Talkeetna during which we were treated to stories from our driver Lindy about growing up in an Athabascan village, the culture, family life, and living in Alaska. It was a real treat and made the ride go so fast.

• The Wilderness Express railcars we were on are owned and operated by Premier Alaska, and are hooked right onto the Alaska Railroad train. They similar to the Dome Class cars on the railroad with all seating upstairs in an over-height railcar, and in very comfortable plush seats with plenty of legroom. Drinks and espresso are served upstairs at any time, and you are called down to the dining section on the lower level in stages as it only seats 32 people at a time. The lunch was surprisingly good and the service was excellent. Our train host provided periodic updates and stories about what we were passing and seeing.

• The day before, Scott had reviewed with us optional excursions for our arrival in Denali as well as the night in Fairbanks. We opted for white water rafting in Denali (more on the Salmon Bake and show we booked for Fairbanks in that section). It was FANTASTIC. There are two options – oaring, which where you sit in a large raft and just ride while the guide controls the boar with huge oars, or paddling which we did. It is a smaller raft and everyone paddles through Class III and IV rapids. You are picked up at the hotel and outfitted with dry suits before heading out down the Nenana River. Neither my wife nor I had ever rafted, but our kids had, so we were gregarious. We were so happy with our choice. There is nothing as bracing as 36 degree glacier melt water splashing all over you, but the good news is that the dry suits worked. Even when my daughter, at the end on a smooth stretch of river, elected to jump in with the approval of our guide. She was freezing but dry.

• We stayed at the Grande Denali Lodge, which had amazing views of the valley. Wifi was free but somewhat spotty.

• We had dinner at Prospector’s Pizza, which is a favorite of locals as well. It was great – amazing selection of excellent pizzas, some with Alaskan-only toppings (e.g. reindeer sausage, elk, halibut) and we were sorry we didn’t have room for dessert as they looked fantastic.

• The hotel’s shuttle runs frequently and reliably to “Glitter Gulch” – the collection of shops and restaurants down the hill.

 

Day 4: Denali

• The only options at the hotel for breakfast are the restaurant or the espresso and snack stand in the lobby, which actually has a pretty large selection of items. We opted for the buffet at the restaurant both mornings, and the food was really very good.

• We went to Jeff King’s Husky Homestead where the first thing they do as you get off the bus is hand you a husky puppy to play with. This is actually part of their training as they have to get socialized very early in their lives. It was adorable. What follows is a very detailed talk and demonstration about raising and training huskies, and a presentation on the Iditarod by Jeff King himself. The entire presentation is carefully scripted, though still entertaining, informative and funny.

• From there we went to the Denali NP Visitors Center, which has a great film on Denali wildlife and exhibits, including a big one about Athabascan life. Highly recommend spending some time here before going out on your Tundra Wilderness Tour (TWT), and also getting lunch here. Surprisingly good for a national park concession.

• The TWT is in a school bus outfitted with more comfortable seats and good climate control. We went about 57 miles into the park, some of it over very narrow gravel roads which wind up the sides of mountains. This and the visitors center make you realize that Denali NP is not about Mt McKinley (which you can almost never see anyway because it’s in the clouds most of the time), but about the wilderness and the natural beauty of the park. Even though it was the end of August, it was peak color-changing season for the tundra as this was their fall (snow will start by mid-September). A park naturalist is the driver and narrates the entire 7-8 hour trip (length depends on how many stops you make for wildlife). We saw many bears, moose, and caribou. This was another time when my long lens came in handy.

• Had dinner at the Great Alaska Fish & Chips Company in Glitter Gulch. Meh.

 

Day 5: Denali to Fairbanks

• Stopped in downtown Fairbanks for lunch and walking around. Walking around is easy – downtown is about four square blocks.

• Fairbanks is more interesting for why it is there (a mistake) and the coldness of the winters (30 degrees below zero is normal) and how people live there in the difficult conditions.

• Stopped at the Alaska Pipeline which was very interesting.

• Went on the 3-hour Riverboat Discovery tour. I’m not saying anything negative about it because there was some very good information and parts were entertaining, but be prepared that if Disney ran a riverboat tour of the Chena River, this would be it. Can’t knock the free blueberry donuts though.

• The Rivers Edge Resort where we stayed was adorable! Of all the hotels we stayed in, this is the one we wished we had stayed in longer. Rooms are actually cottages, all a few steps from the river. And the building where the office and restaurant are, are charming.

• We went to the Salmon Bake and show at the Palace Theater in Pioneer Park and loved it – it was a perfect last night of our trip. I had read about other salmon bakes being kind of kitschy and with varying levels of food quality. Not only was the food great and plentiful, but the show itself is a great 75 minute vaudevillian riff on life in Fairbanks. The only disappointing thing is that we didn’t know how charming other parts of Pioneer Park were and we would have arrived earlier to spend more time exploring had we known.

• We left on a red-eye and had a very easy transfer to the Fairbanks airport, which was larger and nicer than I expected.

[umpy10]

Thank you for that outstanding review. We'll be on the Sun next year for a 7 Day Van.-Van. (Sept.21-28) and you gave some great tips on each port. This will be our 2nd time on the Sun and can't wait to board.

Our TA did the Alaska Cruise earlier in late July and had nothing but rain and cool temps., she also mentioned the clothing that we should bring, layers, and the $20 Jackets in Ketchikan.

 

cheers...the Ump...:D

[starfish the second]

planning a trip in 2015 or 2016 good to hear about the land tours thanks so much for the review

[JimS4210]

Glad you had a great cruise! We were on the Sun this past June in Suite 9076 also and had a wonderful time as well. Congrats to Randy (also our butler) on the birth of his son! It's gotta be brutal being away from his wife and newborn son until February...

 

Jim

[CaliforniaDreamer]

I bet you took some awesome photos. Will we be getting to see any of them?

I hope.

[grobma]

I bet you took some awesome photos. Will we be getting to see any of them?

I hope.

 

I did, but am in the middle of switching post-production software and hosting site. Will get them up as soon as possible. Thanks for asking!

[Love my butler]

The Sun is just an awesome ship. Patrick, Brian and most of the crew are very welcoming. La Cucina for breakfast and lunch is great partly because La Cucina is such a hidden spot and so quiet. Yeah, the buffet isn't good but I don't think they can improve it given the space.

 

Patrick gives such great personal service and with only 20 suites he has less people to attend to.

 

As an old school cruiser the Sun, Star etc are the best ships. The new ships are too big and too impersonal for my taste.

[PathfinderEss]

Nice review, thanks for posting.

[uvasag]

Great honest review. We are sailing on the Sun in July 2015. We are southbound from Seward to Vancouver. Our halt in Juneau is the shortest. 7:00 am - 1:15 pm . What would you recommend in that time ?

[uvasag]

Posting another reply so I can subscribe to this thread.

[Laszlo]

Great review! I'm confused.........how did you have a concierge and butler? I thought you have a mini suite? Where you upgraded and I missed it?

 

Edit...missed your upgrade:D

Edited September 2, 2014 by Laszlo

[deladypilot]

Thank you for taking the time to review your cruise. We too loved the Sun and her crew. So wish we could be back on her

[Cruise_More_Often]

I really enjoyed your review. You were in our favorite cabin on our favorite little ship and in our favorite cruise area. We're doing a land tour next year, probably independent, and your review of what you experienced was extremely helpful. We hadn't considered doing one through NCL, but maybe. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell us about your trip.

 

Please let us see your photos. We can't get enough of Alaska.

[grobma]

Great honest review. We are sailing on the Sun in July 2015. We are southbound from Seward to Vancouver. Our halt in Juneau is the shortest. 7:00 am - 1:15 pm . What would you recommend in that time ?

 

As we really only did Harv & Marv's, I would still recommend them. The entire trip is 4 1/2 hours, and if you book far enough in advance, you can get one of the earlier trips. It might even still leave you time for lunch at Tracy's Crab Shack!

[grobma]

I realized that one of the topics I did not address was the debate amongst some regarding taking a tour versus DIY.

 

Let me first repeat what our guide Scott said: "Why would anyone come all the way to Alaska to take a cruise, and not continue into the interior? That's only seeing one little piece of Alaska."

 

I understand that cost and time are always a variable, but having done a cruisetour, I do understand his point. What we saw on the land portion was so very different that the ports of SE Alaska, and quite magnificent.

 

Now, back to tour versus DIY. I completely get that this is a personal choice - I am just articulating my perspective, which is that I am so happy we did the tour.

 

First of all, I am a planner by profession. When I'm on vacation, I want to have done as much planning in advance as possible, and then not worry about anything on the trip. That's why I like Club Med - once I've paid, all I have to do is get myself to the airport. Done. To walk off the boat - luggage free I might add - and have transportation, hotels, sightseeing, and bags all taken care of without having to give anything a second thought is truly relaxing for me.

 

Secondly, while I like to drive - and the driving is very easy in Alaska (at least during the summer) - I was there to see. Some of the things I was able to look at, watch, and see while gazing from the windows, I would have missed had I been driving. Also, as mentioned before, it was at times a rigorous schedule so being able to nod off here and there was appreciated. And if you're headed into the interior, remember that Alaska is 2 1/2 times the size of Texas. It takes a while to drive anywhere. Sure, you don't get to stop at every cute little shop or other sights at your whim. It was a small price to pay for me.

 

Lastly, the narratives, history, and stories that we were treated to by both guide and driver added immeasurably to our enjoyment and appreciation of Alaska. It was far more valuable and informative than anything we could have read in books.

 

So that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it. As I said earlier, everyone is different and your mileage may vary. This is just my perspective, and one I felt worth sharing.

[Linda the Book Lover]

I loved your review. It was as if I asked questions and you had the answers. I would love to cruise to Alaska again. Thanks for giving us an idea of what it would be like to take both the land and cruise vacation.

[PittGrrl04]

Great review, thanks! We are just off the Breakaway to Bermuda and are in the process of planning next year's Alaska Cruisetour. Your review was most helpful, and I too am hoping for some pictures when you get the chance!

[Cargill]

Great honest review. We are sailing on the Sun in July 2015. We are southbound from Seward to Vancouver. Our halt in Juneau is the shortest. 7:00 am - 1:15 pm . What would you recommend in that time ?

 

We booked a return bus trip up to Mendelhall Glacier (only a short ride from town) - it was quite cheap, and there are a number of ticket stalls on the wharf to choose from. Very impressive glacier, and some nice short hikes to various points - probably had two hours there.

 

Then back into town for a walk around and a coffee (we didn't take the Mount Roberts Tramway because there was low cloud cover in the afternoon, but would have had it been a fine day).

[uvasag]

We booked a return bus trip up to Mendelhall Glacier (only a short ride from town) - it was quite cheap, and there are a number of ticket stalls on the wharf to choose from. Very impressive glacier, and some nice short hikes to various points - probably had two hours there.

 

Then back into town for a walk around and a coffee (we didn't take the Mount Roberts Tramway because there was low cloud cover in the afternoon, but would have had it been a fine day).

 

Thank you. I have rented a car at Juneau for that day. For a family of 4 renting a car was turning out to be cheaper than the bus.

[Cargill]

Sounds a good plan.

 

One very peculiar sight in Juneau is the number of RV vehicles parked everywhere. There are no roads into Juneau, so they must arrive and leave by barge. Difficult to imagine why people would do such a thing ... why not fly to Anchorage and rent one?