NCL Sun - Alaska CruiseTour 2017 - Lots of Newbie ?

[jandjmom]

For my 50th birthday, my husband and I are planning a 12-day cruise/land tour from Vancouver to Seaward then 5 day Alyeska/Denali tour with NCL Sun. I have many questions:

 

1) NCL Calls? I have put on a courtesy hold my reservation (repeatedly) and gotten calls from a rep who said they may have a better deal. Are they worth talking to?

 

2) Land Portion inclusions - I can find a general literary online, but as far as specific information - hotel room type, meals included (type), admission fees, etc. Basically, I want to know how much I should budget for. I assume if it isn't listed, I pay? BTW it states that the 8-hour train ride back from Denali that the bar and meal tab is ours, but not the others.

 

3) Aft-Balcony Penthouse - yes I plan on splurging. Does this affect the land portion hotel room type as well as airfare? Any land portion perks? The website is frustrating quiet on the land portion.

 

For example, NCL wants to book airfare for $1200 a person from DFW. I can book first class airfare myself for that price which is 2x coach. Is that price first class or is it that overpriced? I would feel comfortable booking the air with NCL as if there are delays/missed connections, etc, NCL would foot the bill (plan on buying the insurance, too at the 90% level).

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited September 26, 2016 by jandjmom

[4774Papa]

For my 50th birthday, my husband and I are planning a 12-day cruise/land tour from Vancouver to Seaward then 5 day Alyeska/Denali tour with NCL Sun. I have many questions:

 

1) NCL Calls? I have put on a courtesy hold my reservation (repeatedly) and gotten calls from a rep who said they may have a better deal. Are they worth talking to?

 

2) Land Portion inclusions - I can find a general literary online, but as far as specific information - hotel room type, meals included (type), admission fees, etc. Basically, I want to know how much I should budget for. I assume if it isn't listed, I pay? BTW it states that the 8-hour train ride back from Denali that the bar and meal tab is ours, but not the others.

 

3) Aft-Balcony Penthouse - yes I plan on splurging. Does this affect the land portion hotel room type as well as airfare? Any land portion perks? The website is frustrating quiet on the land portion.

 

For example, NCL wants to book airfare for $1200 a person from DFW. I can book first class airfare myself for that price which is 2x coach. Is that price first class or is it that overpriced? I would feel comfortable booking the air with NCL as if there are delays/missed connections, etc, NCL would foot the bill (plan on buying the insurance, too at the 90% level).

 

Thanks in advance.

 

I am confused with your post.

 

Isn't your cruise and land tour priced? Are you concerned only about a few items not covered by the tour?

 

Everything in Alaska is about 50% more than in the lower 48.

 

We had an aft cabin on our recent cruise and it was great. That is the way to go.

We flew into Vancouver from JAX, FLA and back from Anchorage for about $550 pp. for economy.

[jandjmom]

Thanks for replying, papa.

Yes, I have a price. The problem is don't know what is included for the land portion - what hotel, what room type, meals, activities, etc. I would like to plan the budget for wha is not included plus know the value of the inclusions.

[4774Papa]

Thanks for replying, papa.

Yes, I have a price. The problem is don't know what is included for the land portion - what hotel, what room type, meals, activities, etc. I would like to plan the budget for wha is not included plus know the value of the inclusions.

 

Amazing that NCL didn't provide you with more details. We didn't take the land tour with NCL, but one with Alaska Tours and Travel.

 

It may not include meals (ours did not). If you are going to Denali, most likely the Tundra Wilderness Tour is included.

 

There are two ways of transport, the train or bus. The dome top train is more expensive than the bus, so if your tour doesn't specifically include the train, then it is probably via the bus.

 

Perhaps others can assist that have taken the land tour with NCL. We didn't take the land tour with NCL because we booked our cruise early, before land tours were available and NCL would not let us add the land tour to our cruise. We had three persons in the cabin and only two wanted the tour. They told us all three would have to take the tour.

 

I know that NCL offers several different land tours. Here are some links:

 

https://www.ncl.com/cruises/11-day-anchorage-denali-express---northbound-cruisetour-NBDENALIXPRESS2SUN7VANKTNJNUSGYSWD?cruiseTour=1&autoPopulate=f&destinations=4294961386&cruiseHotel=1&cruise=1&numberOfGuests=4294953449&pageSize=10&sortBy=Featured&from=resultPage&state=null&currentPage=2&cruiseHotelAir=1&itineraryCode=NBDENALIXPRESS2SUN7VANKTNJNUSGYSWD

 

One of our best value land tours for time-conscious guests offering an up close Denali experience, tour of Alaska's largest city and moderate hotel properties.

 

 

11-Day Anchorage Denali Express - Northbound Cruisetour

Unique to this tour:

Alaska Railroad Adventure Class from Denali to Talkeetna

Explore Denali with 4-hour Natural History bus tour

Tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Brief city tour of Anchorage

So much more...

Special Benefits To Norwegian Cruisetours:

All tours are fully escorted by local Alaskan guides

Guaranteed animal sightings

All tours feature travel on the rails of Alaska Railroad

*Hotel is subject to change.

 

 

 

12-Day Denali-Alyeska Explorer - Northbound Cruisetour

The best way for nature lovers in search of rustic elegance to experience Denali and the heart of Alaska's wilderness.

 

Unique to this tour:

Deluxe Dome Railcar from Denali to Anchorage

Explore Denali with a 7-hour Tundra Wilderness Tour

Visit an Iditarod Sled Dog Musher's kennel for a private tour

Overnight stay at the deluxe Hotel Alyeska Resort

Tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

So much more...

Special Benefits To Norwegian Cruisetours:

All tours are fully escorted by local Alaskan guides

12- and 14-day Cruisetours include a visit with an Iditarod Sled Dog Musher

Guaranteed animal sightings

All tours feature travel on the rails of Alaska Railroad

*Hotel is subject to change.

 

 

14-Day Authentic Alaska - Northbound Cruisetour

 

The most complete tour of Denali and Alaskan life in the past and present. For the active, outgoing guest, this tour offers spectacular vantage points of Mt. McKinley with time to purchase an optional all-day fishing excursion.

 

Unique to this tour:

Riverboat cruise and city tour of Fairbanks including a stop at the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline

Explore Denali with a 7-hour Tundra Wilderness Tour

Deluxe Dome Railcar from Talkeetna to Denali

Visit Talkeetna, one of the best vantage points for Mt. McKinley

Visit an Iditarod Sled Dog Musher's kennel for a private tour

Kenai Peninsula and the artsy fishing community of Homer

Opportunity to purchase a full-day Halibut and Salmon fishing excursion

Tour the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

So much more...

Special Benefits To Norwegian Cruisetours:

All tours are fully escorted by local Alaskan guides

12- and 14-day Cruisetours include a visit with an Iditarod Sled Dog Musher

Guaranteed animal sightings

All tours feature travel on the rails of Alaska Railroad

*Hotel is subject to change.

[jandjmom]

Yes, thank you - we are planning the 12-day tour. I am sorry, but I find this listing very vague - how many meals? what type of accommodations? And what does 'so much more' include?

[4774Papa]

Correct, it could be more descriptive. Perhaps others that have taken the 12 day tour could tell you what hotel they stayed in.

 

Since meals were not included, you will probably be responsible for those. The Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour does include a nice snack, but many people brought box lunches on the tour.

 

Our hotel, the mid-priced Denali Bluffs did not include breakfast, and we had to pay for that. Plan on $100 a person a day for meals. Alaska prices are higher than in the lower 48.