OMG - my friend doesn't have plans

[mskaufman]

Don't worry if your friends don't have plans. There will be something left for the cruise line to sell. If its too expensive, in Juneau, you can go to Mt. Roberts (on a nice day) or Mendenhall. In Ketchikan they can go to Fleet St. or Totem Bight. They will figure it out to meet their budget and likes.

[JimAOk1945]

a bike with three or four seats....

https://www.facebook.com/SitkaPedicabs/photos_stream

Thanks for the link. It looks like fun. I see on the facebook page the business is up for sale.

[Tee & Chilli]

Don't worry if your friends don't have plans. There will be something left for the cruise line to sell. If its too expensive, in Juneau, you can go to Mt. Roberts (on a nice day) or Mendenhall. In Ketchikan they can go to Fleet St. or Totem Bight. They will figure it out to meet their budget and likes.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll pass them along. I mentioned cruise critic to my friend as a great resource.

[bottom-dragger]

In Ketchikan they can go to Fleet St.

 

 

 

er, uh, um, there is nothing in ketchikan even remotely like Fleet St. Perhaps you meant Creek St??

[mskaufman]

Right,

 

Teach me to do too many things at once.

[Langley Cruisers]

We cruise to Alaska next month and have absolutely no plans or excursions booked. Nada. Nothing. Zip. :D And we don't care, either.

[bonvoyagie]

So far we have done three AK cruises - the first one was our very first cruise - we did a tour in almost every port - all through the cruise line.

The very next year we repeated the same cruise but with our teenaged children. Again we planned and did tours through the cruise line. BTW this was in 02 and 03 and the cruise lines were not doing much over the internet - I think we were sent a brochure on all of the shore excursions and booked them through our travel agent. Our third AK cruise was in 12 in-between, I discovered this board and learned more about private excursions, and other options. I also had a much better idea of what I wanted to do in each port and how to do it. Someday we will take an AK cruise and not have any excursions planned - I don't know when that will be - I am a habitual planner :D.

[SilverLining4Me]

Many people go on vacation without plans for each day that they are gone. I certainly wouldn't be concerned about going to Alaska on a cruise and not having it all planned out. Make your plans and let your friends do what will suit them ... try not to stress about it.

 

If there were certain things I did NOT want to miss (like the train or dog sledding), then yes, I would plan now.

 

We like to go with the flow of the day mostly on our cruises. There is so much to see in the cities even on foot.... the waterfront, the museums, the town, parks etc.

 

Even without plans, we have always had a wonderful time. For us, it is even more relaxing than having every day planned out.

[TATraveler]

I may book a drive to the Yukon or something, but otherwise I have no plans. I figure that I'm on vacation so adhering to rigid schedules is something I want to get away from. The cruise itself is a huge excursion! The towns look lovely and have character and culture in their own right without having to go do something else. Looking for wildlife off-shore and such will be fun. And I'm a hiker, so I'll take in the sights via finding a peak to walk or something. I found some lovely looking walks to high points in Ketchikan, for instance.

 

Of course one of the reasons that I'm cruising is to figure out which ports I might like to visit another time as a fly and ferry trip. So I'm doing this knowing that I'll likely go again. But most of the excursions are to places similar to what we'll see along the route, so no reason to break the rest rhythm to do them--or incur the cost--unless you really want to. And maybe your friends don't.

 

I'm surprised that you don't want to share a rental car with them if they are good enough friends to invite on a cruise, but that's just me.

[Lois R]

I may book a drive to the Yukon or something, but otherwise I have no plans. I figure that I'm on vacation so adhering to rigid schedules is something I want to get away from. The cruise itself is a huge excursion! The towns look lovely and have character and culture in their own right without having to go do something else. Looking for wildlife off-shore and such will be fun. And I'm a hiker, so I'll take in the sights via finding a peak to walk or something. I found some lovely looking walks to high points in Ketchikan, for instance.

 

Of course one of the reasons that I'm cruising is to figure out which ports I might like to visit another time as a fly and ferry trip. So I'm doing this knowing that I'll likely go again. But most of the excursions are to places similar to what we'll see along the route, so no reason to break the rest rhythm to do them--or incur the cost--unless you really want to. And maybe your friends don't.

 

I'm surprised that you don't want to share a rental car with them if they are good enough friends to invite on a cruise, but that's just me.

 

Hi...if you re-read the OP's first post......she did not invite them to go

with her......she said she booked last year and they booked a couple of months

ago.....so we don't know if they are good friends or not.

Edited April 9, 2015 by Lois R

[laughing husky]

I cannot tell you how many visitors come to Alaska...especially from other countries and have no plans....not even a hotel room in July....It is frankly a bit scary, but somehow it mostly works out, or it doesn't....

[Tee & Chilli]

Hi...if you re-read the OP's first post......she did not invite them to go

with her......she said she booked last year and they booked a couple of months

ago.....so we don't know if they are good friends or not.

 

Correct. .very good friend and I did not invite them on this cruise. There's a reason why people choose to vacation solo.

[JimAOk1945]

On our previous Alaska cruise, our "plan" was to window shop at Ketchikan, then ride the funicular up to Cape Fox Lodge for lunch, walk down Married Man's Trail, and go back to the ship. Haven't had so much fun in a long time.

 

If you want to see pictures, just click on the link below. My wife took them and made a slide show for her website.

 

Ketchikan ~ A Walk About Town

 

Happy cruising!

[cruisevers]

On our previous Alaska cruise, our "plan" was to window shop at Ketchikan, then ride the funicular up to Cape Fox Lodge for lunch, walk down Married Man's Trail, and go back to the ship. Haven't had so much fun in a long time.

 

If you want to see pictures, just click on the link below. My wife took them and made a slide show for her website.

 

Ketchikan ~ A Walk About Town

 

Happy cruising!

 

Those are some of the most beautiful pictures ever! Is she a professional photographer? If not she should be. What kind of camera does she use? Unless it's simple, i wouldn't be able to use it! LOL

[5waldos]

As far as friends wanting to join up and share cars and plans- we have been in that position before. I say great but- and in this case the but is that I get to make the decisions (with input for sure) and we stay with the schedule. If we are due to leave at 9am, I may wait til 9:05 but then I am gone. I refuse to serve as an alarm clock or prodder. I make it very clear that the plans are the plans and I don't wait around and waffle around with plans. Has worked very well. Yes my friends missed a few adventures but they learned quickly that I was serious about what we were going to be doing.

[Pushka]

I think thats a great idea 5waldos. Several times last year on a private excursion people were late. No apologies offered. Its like the world revolves around them.

[kathywin53]

Many yrs ago on first AK cruise did our planning with mostly last minute decisions. Friends joined us with no plans expecting us to take them along. Things seemed ok until 4 yrs later and 2 more cruises when ex friend pointed out I ruined her vacation by being controlling.... That is why we now cruise with strangers or independent researchers with amazingly satisfying results.

 

 

 

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[Txfeenix]

Our 1st cruise was Alaska and we booked it about 6 weeks before leaving. Knew nothing about cruising (or this board). I didn't even know there were "excursions"! (And I'm a planner!!) We spent most of our time watching the scenery out the windows of the Spinnaker Lounge and evenings in the casino. We did end up taking the Whitepass train but that was it.

 

Our next cruise was supposed to be New England/Canada and I had found this board, joined the roll call and planned all sorts of things! But we had to cancel last minute due to a death in the family. Then came Hawaii (yes, we are getting the 2 far away states out of the way early). I planned excursions in all the ports and we were busy busy busy!

 

DH works long hard hours all year. When we got back from Hawaii he said that trip wasn't near as enjoyable as the Alaska cruise. He prefers to just hang out and relax and watch the scenery. THAT'S a vacation for him.

 

We are taking our grandson (who's never been anywhere) this year to Alaska for graduation. We have nothing planned! For us, Alaska is one of the beautiful places on earth that just looking at it is awe inspiring... we probably won't do anything but watch the scenery go by in the Spinnaker Lounge and donate to NCL in the casino.

[Lois R]

Many yrs ago on first AK cruise did our planning with mostly last minute decisions. Friends joined us with no plans expecting us to take them along. Things seemed ok until 4 yrs later and 2 more cruises when ex friend pointed out I ruined her vacation by being controlling.... That is why we now cruise with strangers or independent researchers with amazingly satisfying results.

 

 

 

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Hi Kathy...omg...you ruined her vacation?:eek:....sometimes I really

have to shake my ahead.....sounds like it was her problem, not yours.

They expected you to take them along and then she says her trip

was ruined?:confused:

[chipmaster]

Everyone's expectation and approach to vacation can be different.

 

Our first cruise to Alaska was very different than our second, each is a learning. My planning for each vacation can evolve based on my want/need and state of mind as well as input from friends. Sometimes I take them sometimes I don't.

 

If I had a friend going on a cruise.. instead of asking hard question like have you started planning... that might get you something you can't understand. As a "friend" you might suggest a more positive approach.. Talk about how exciting it would be, what are the fun or alternative things to do in each port. Maybe a more supportive approach my get them going.

 

As to car sharing.. I am always careful about sharing tours. I am sure everyone understands how my family vacations and our schedule / interest. I never pressure but always welcome. There have been times our guests didn't have the same schedule, tension but when worked thru makes for closer friends if it gets worked out :p

[xlxo]

Everyone's expectation and approach to vacation can be different.

I agree... the larger the group... the more complicated it gets....

 

I now say.... this is my intinery/plan (pre-cruise hotel, cruise date, dining choice, excursions, restaurants, post cruise hotel). Then leave it open ended if they want to join you or not. For those not joining you(budget? other interest? indecisiveness? been there/done it?)... do present them options on how to fill their time. This if far less stressful and it's a quick survey to see what others are interested in.

 

When I joined relatives on a trip.... we went on different excursions but would trade stories when dining together in the evening. Everyone was happy.

[varoo]

There are tourist information places at all the ports where you can get advice, suggestions for things to do on the spur of the moment, and pick up brochures and maps.

 

If your ship has a naturalist on board, he or she is always a good source of information.

 

Our first Alaska cruise was also a last minute closeout sale at a price too good to pass up, long before Cruise Critic. We just packed up and went without knowing anything about Alaska and had a wonderful time, learning as we went along.

 

All you need to do is mention that it is your first time to your fellow passengers on the ship and you will get tons of suggestions and more advice about what you should or should not do than you would ever want. :D

 

We have been back to Alaska many times again since then, sometimes with advance reservations for excursions and sometimes without, but have always found things to do and see that we enjoyed.

 

As others have stated, it really is nothing to worry about.

If your friends miss out on an excursion they want because it is sold out, there are plenty of other things they can enjoy instead, and it only gives them a reason to come back again another time. ;)

 

[plenox]

Last year, I traveled with people who made no plan. I had my own cabin, and my own plans. Not my circus, not my monkeys. They shopped. :rolleyes: I did what I wanted. I planned a day in Ketchikan that they were welcome to join and they did join me. Then they shopped.

 

I repeat, not your circus, not your monkeys ;) Perhaps you could give them some links to low-cost things to do in each port?

 

good advice

[agabbymama]

On our previous Alaska cruise, our "plan" was to window shop at Ketchikan, then ride the funicular up to Cape Fox Lodge for lunch, walk down Married Man's Trail, and go back to the ship. Haven't had so much fun in a long time.

 

If you want to see pictures, just click on the link below. My wife took them and made a slide show for her website.

 

Ketchikan ~ A Walk About Town

 

Happy cruising!

 

Beautiful pictures, thanks for sharing. It was pouring when I was in Ketchikan, so stayed close to the pier but did venture to book a native mini-van tour with a sign for $15 out to Saxman Village in the pouring rain. But never did get to just walk and see Ketchikan itself. I really enjoyed seeing your photos.

[TXRed]

Truthfully, we have done AK 3x and are working on our 4th this May. We've gone with and without plans. There are expensive and inexpensive options galore! The only port that we have ever really felt hemmed into make plans was Skagway. Honestly, they may just be happy with the scenery as we were on our first trip.

 

Some cheap independent options that we have done:

Ketchikan.....public bus to Totem park less than $5pp r/t

Juneau.....Blue Bus to Mendenhall Glacier $20pp r/t

Sitka....walked the town to see the Russian Orthodox Church, National Park Museum, and explore the Totem park(bit of a walk...but there was a pedi-cab that would take you)

 

Hi, would you please elaborate on the Blue Bus to Mendenhall? Is the Blue Bus a local bus? Where would one get it? How close did you get? Thanks in advance