LiveLifeLoud Posted May 30, 2017 #1 Share Posted May 30, 2017 I hope that this thread will be helpful to people who are looking to do a land/sea vacation with HAL. I had a hard time finding out about the land portion. I will get started now and will update and answer questions as I can. Unfortunately work needs me tomorrow! We did the 14 day D3L tour on the Zaandam. Our itinerary was as follows: Land portion: Fairbanks Denali Anchorage Seward Cruise ports: Glacier Bay (not really a port but wow!!! so beautiful and has to be noted) Haines Juneau Ketchikan debark in Vancouver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveLifeLoud Posted May 30, 2017 Author #2 Share Posted May 30, 2017 We arrived at the airport in Fairbanks about midnight. Got our luggage and headed outside to get on the bus and I promptly was welcomed by the unofficial state bird, the mosquito! (I bought bug spray and didn't have anymore problems). We arrived at Westmark Fairbanks Hotel around 1 to 1:30am. One of the elevators was out of service and the staff was so kind to help us and opened up the staff elevator for us to use also. The hotel isn't anything fancy and shows her age but our room was very clean. We had an early morning excursion (9am) on the Riverboat Discovery then went to see the Gold Dredge and pan for gold. Sorry not posting more tonight. I have to get to bed. I knew if I didn't start this now then life would get in the way and I wouldn't do it. Please bear with me ;0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted May 30, 2017 #3 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Will be following along. Sent from my iPhone using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted May 30, 2017 #4 Share Posted May 30, 2017 I'll be following along as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruizer Bill Posted May 30, 2017 #5 Share Posted May 30, 2017 This is great! Keep it coming! :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmpiterniak Posted May 30, 2017 #6 Share Posted May 30, 2017 Following!!! Am doing the same trip in reverse on Noordam! JoAnne :cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCLovesTravel Posted May 30, 2017 #7 Share Posted May 30, 2017 I am doing the same cruise in August so look forward to seeing your comments and any suggestions for excursions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveLifeLoud Posted May 31, 2017 Author #8 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Back again! The location of the hotel at Fairbanks wasn't very good. Glad we didn't spend more time there. Walked around a bit. Behind the hotel the whole road was dug up so all of those businesses were closed :( We headed to Denali on a bus. Loved the resort at Denali! We stayed in the McKinley Chalet Resort. Room was great and we could just get out and walk. It is very easy to walk to the square from where we stayed. We were the first bus to arrive for the season and were greeted by all of the employees :) We ate at the restaurant in the square and were told by the manager that we were the first table of the season. Thought that would give us some kind of a gift, but all we got were bragging rights. We also ate at the steak house at the main lodge. All of our food was wonderful! Went into Denali park but we could only go 29 miles. They are now taking people further in. We got to see Denali partially on this trip as she likes to hide. We saw so many animals while we were there. Had a great bus driver! He truly loves what he does. I am trying to remember his name. I do believe it was Gary :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveLifeLoud Posted May 31, 2017 Author #9 Share Posted May 31, 2017 I am doing the same cruise in August so look forward to seeing your comments and any suggestions for excursions. Definitely do the Taku Glacier Lodge, Feast & Five Glacier Seaplane Discovery in Juneau! It was pricey but it was worth it!!! We only did the excursions that were part of the package for the land portion of the trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwaysfrantic Posted May 31, 2017 #10 Share Posted May 31, 2017 Sorry to hear the Fairbanks Westmark is jush meh. We will be there 2 nights. But we will have a rental car to see more than just right there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IllinoisGirl1978 Posted May 31, 2017 #11 Share Posted May 31, 2017 I was on one of the last tours of the season last year. I loved the Zaandam and I loved visiting Haines, I did the kayaking in Lake Chillkoot, two coastal bears walked past the kayaks as we were suiting up on the platform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwaysfrantic Posted June 1, 2017 #12 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Did you have Denali Dollars in your promotion? If yes, how did they work? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveLifeLoud Posted June 1, 2017 Author #13 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Did you have Denali Dollars in your promotion? If yes, how did they work? We didn't have that, so I am not familiar with it. We did have the Explore4 promotion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiveLifeLoud Posted June 1, 2017 Author #14 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Sorry to hear the Fairbanks Westmark is jush meh. We will be there 2 nights. But we will have a rental car to see more than just right there. You will be just fine then :) Get out and explore! We loved the Steamboat Discovery if you are doing that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donnadoll Posted June 1, 2017 #15 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Did you have Denali Dollars in your promotion? If yes, how did they work? We have Denali dollars for our upcoming cruise. I believe you can spend the dollars at the McKinley Chalet resort.. for dinner, gift shop, drinks etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwaysfrantic Posted June 1, 2017 #16 Share Posted June 1, 2017 We have Denali dollars for our upcoming cruise. I believe you can spend the dollars at the McKinley Chalet resort.. for dinner, gift shop, drinks etc. I wonder if they are actual paper certificates in our envelopes. I'd imagined them as a credit on our rooms, but was told there isn't room charge at Denali; just pay as you go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCLovesTravel Posted June 1, 2017 #17 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Where do you get Denali Dollars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Gail & Marty sailing away Posted June 1, 2017 #18 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Thanks for the review.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted June 1, 2017 #19 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Do tell us about the Riverboat Discovery tour and what you saw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim80134 Posted June 1, 2017 #20 Share Posted June 1, 2017 I am doing the same cruise in August so look forward to seeing your comments and any suggestions for excursions. Me too![emoji2] Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using Forums mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alwaysfrantic Posted June 1, 2017 #21 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Where do you get Denali Dollars? It was a vague booking incentive. I thought $50 each but it might be $25 each. It seemed to be something they were offering to everyone sailing this summer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alberta Quilter Posted June 1, 2017 #22 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Where do you get Denali Dollars? I found this information by doing a search on the HAL website: This Promotion Had Ended Terms & Conditions *Denali Dollars offer is based on promo DT. Denali Dollars can be used for dining, tours and shopping on the land/hotel portion of your Journey in Denali National Park. Guests who book Denali Land+Sea Journeys (D1-D8, R1, R6, V7, Y1) will receive US$25 per person (US$50 per stateroom) or Yukon+Denali Land+Sea Journeys (Y2-Y5, R2, R5) will receive US$50 pp ($100 per stateroom.) Denali Dollars are non-transferable, refundable, and not for cash value. For full terms and conditions applicable to your cruise, please refer to hollandamerica.com. Offers are capacity controlled, and may be modified or withdrawn without prior notice. Other restrictions may apply. Offer ends 19 March 2017. Ships' Registry: The Netherlands. So, you had to book a certain cruise tour prior to Mar 19/17 to get the Denali Dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donnadoll Posted June 1, 2017 #23 Share Posted June 1, 2017 Where do you get Denali Dollars? Last Aug., 2016...On Stage Alaska was a presentation by Holland America at a Marriott in Cincinnati. If you booked within 2 weeks of the presentation...you were granted several very nice perks, one of which was 50 Denali Dollars. Not sure if it came from AAA or Holland America. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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