Holland America cruise+land tours vs connoisseur by Princess?

[jaitip]

My name is Jaitip from Thailand.

I have read some threads saying about connoisseur by Princess that it is good. But don’t find about HAL yet.

 

I want to know that HAL cruise+land tours are escorted.? They don’t say it is escorted , so I am not sure.

 

I am interested one by HAL. It is called “D3L day double denali and sea journey”. Do any guys have experiences with HAL cruise tours? Are they good? Does everything run smoothly? Do I have to handle my luggages on my own?

 

I saw people said with Princess the luggages will be directed to the room. Passengers do nothing. Things run smoothly. What about HAL?

 

But I guess the two might be different because Princess tours are very expensive. I know that Princess offer very good hotels including dinner which cause higher price but what about the other things?

 

Thank you.

P.S. if you guys can’t understand my English , I have to say sorry because sometimes I find it hard to say what I want to say.

 

 

 

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[oaktreerb]

D3L is a good choice for a cruisetour with HAL but to my knowledge you will not have a host with you on the trip. You would be traveling with the same group of travelers throughout your trip and you will always have a HAL representative to assist you at each location. Your luggage will be handled by HAL, you will be given your room keys by a HAL rep when you reach your destination, you will be told where to meet each day but you will not have a person with the tour as an escort.

 

Only on the Yukon itineraries does HAL provide an escort called a Journey Host.

[jaitip]

D3L is a good choice for a cruisetour with HAL but to my knowledge you will not have a host with you on the trip. You would be traveling with the same group of travelers throughout your trip and you will always have a HAL representative to assist you at each location. Your luggage will be handled by HAL, you will be given your room keys by a HAL rep when you reach your destination, you will be told where to meet each day but you will not have a person with the tour as an escort.

 

Only on the Yukon itineraries does HAL provide an escort called a Journey Host.

 

 

 

Is it crowded in each trip? If i want to go in late May, let’s say May 20 onwards will it still be too cold ?

 

Thank you

 

 

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[oaktreerb]

Is it crowded in each trip? If i want to go in late May, let’s say May 20 onwards will it still be too cold ?

 

Thank you

 

 

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Your group will probably have 40-45 people in the group. You want to be in Denali early in June (not May) if you want the best experience in the park. Last year Denali had some snow in early June and the road into the park was closed to busses for a few days.

 

You need to plan to take short sleeve t-shirts, long sleeve shirts to wear over the t-shirts and a light weight fleece jacket and a light weight water proof jacket for the Denali part of the trip. You need good hiking shoes. On the ship you will also need a warm hat or hood and gloves for glacier viewing day. Some places will be warm, some will be cold so you must plan to layer your clothing.

[Budget Queen]

You need a wide range of attire. :) As long as your Denali dates are June 1 or later you will get the maximum distance on the TWT. So a northbound cruise at the end of May works very well.

 

I wouldn't be too concerned with an "escort". Cruise tours are very good about having someone available to always help you and are well organized moving everyone easily.

[jaitip]

Your group will probably have 40-45 people in the group. You want to be in Denali early in June (not May) if you want the best experience in the park. Last year Denali had some snow in early June and the road into the park was closed to busses for a few days.

 

 

 

You need to plan to take short sleeve t-shirts, long sleeve shirts to wear over the t-shirts and a light weight fleece jacket and a light weight water proof jacket for the Denali part of the trip. You need good hiking shoes. On the ship you will also need a warm hat or hood and gloves for glacier viewing day. Some places will be warm, some will be cold so you must plan to layer your clothing.

 

 

 

Thnak you

 

In case Denali is closed and the busses can’t get in, will i receive refund for that? Or if my mom doesn’t want to take Denali tour , will it be refunded for her, do you know this policy?

 

Actually i don’t really mind to get till the end of the road as far as i could still see enough animals but just afraid that it would be too cold for my mom. The price is also about $800 different from June which is quite a lot.

I am from such a hot country so i need to buy all things new^^

Can i buy hiking shoe in Seattle or fairbanks? Are they available?

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

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[jaitip]

You need a wide range of attire. :) As long as your Denali dates are June 1 or later you will get the maximum distance on the TWT. So a northbound cruise at the end of May works very well.

 

I wouldn't be too concerned with an "escort". Cruise tours are very good about having someone available to always help you and are well organized moving everyone easily.

 

 

 

Thank you.

I am concerned about the things because my mom aged 80 will come with me. I am also concerned in that i would not understand English well when have to speak and listen. I might not understand some words if not opening dictionary[emoji4]

 

 

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[Budget Queen]

Thank you.

I am concerned about the things because my mom aged 80 will come with me. I am also concerned in that i would not understand English well when have to speak and listen. I might not understand some words if not opening dictionary[emoji4]

 

 

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I find what's outside the window more important. :) Alaska is visual, I'm sure you will do just fine, and it will only take a little back and forth perhaps with communication, but your English is very well written, And it won't be difficult to go with a group.

[Budget Queen]

Thnak you

 

In case Denali is closed and the busses can’t get in, will i receive refund for that? Or if my mom doesn’t want to take Denali tour , will it be refunded for her, do you know this policy?

 

Actually i don’t really mind to get till the end of the road as far as i could still see enough animals but just afraid that it would be too cold for my mom. The price is also about $800 different from June which is quite a lot.

I am from such a hot country so i need to buy all things new^^

Can i buy hiking shoe in Seattle or fairbanks? Are they available?

 

Thank you.

 

 

 

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The road to Eielson has opened every year by June 1 for over the 20 years I have been going there. In the past, the only company to refund the Denali tours was Princess. I have never known HAL to do so.

 

The reason I suggest you consider having a tour that gets into Denali June 1 or later, is that date has the TWT going to mile 63, prior to then, it goes to mile 53. That 10 miles is significant, in my opinion. Prices with cruise tours are fixed.

[oaktreerb]

If you take a HAL cruisetour you and your group will board the bus for the Tundra Wilderness Tour at your hotel. The tour will not be cancelled by HAL and there will be no refund if you decide not to get on the bus. It is part of your cruisetour.

 

You may not need hiking shoes if you don’t plan to hike. You can wear tennis shoes with stockings to keep your feet warm. The problem with most tennis shoes is that they get wet when it rains. Some people wear sandals. You can buy shoes in Fairbanks or Seattle but surely you can find some closed toe shoes or tennis shoes in your home country to bring with you. If the shoes get wet you will need dry shoes while the wet shoes dry out.

[Budget Queen]

If you take a HAL cruisetour you and your group will board the bus for the Tundra Wilderness Tour at your hotel. The tour will not be cancelled by HAL and there will be no refund if you decide not to get on the bus. It is part of your cruisetour.

 

 

Sorry, this changed last season. All tour buses now load at the WAC. HAL buses there, they then get the TWT bus.at WAC.

[KruzeKrazy!]

Jaitip -

 

And no apologies are necessary for your English! I've been to Thailand (loved it!) and your English is MUCH better than my Thai could ever be.

 

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[jaitip]

Sorry, this changed last season. All tour buses now load at the WAC. HAL buses there, they then get the TWT bus.at WAC.

 

 

 

May I ask what WAC is?

 

Thank you

 

 

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[jaitip]

If you take a HAL cruisetour you and your group will board the bus for the Tundra Wilderness Tour at your hotel. The tour will not be cancelled by HAL and there will be no refund if you decide not to get on the bus. It is part of your cruisetour.

 

 

 

You may not need hiking shoes if you don’t plan to hike. You can wear tennis shoes with stockings to keep your feet warm. The problem with most tennis shoes is that they get wet when it rains. Some people wear sandals. You can buy shoes in Fairbanks or Seattle but surely you can find some closed toe shoes or tennis shoes in your home country to bring with you. If the shoes get wet you will need dry shoes while the wet shoes dry out.

 

 

 

Oh i see

Thank you

 

 

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[jaitip]

I find what's outside the window more important. :) Alaska is visual, I'm sure you will do just fine, and it will only take a little back and forth perhaps with communication, but your English is very well written, And it won't be difficult to go with a group.

 

 

 

Hehe

Thank you.

I hope that i could enjoy with a group and has someone to talk to..don’t want to be lonely[emoji38]

 

 

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[jaitip]

Jaitip -

 

And no apologies are necessary for your English! I've been to Thailand (loved it!) and your English is MUCH better than my Thai could ever be.

 

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Hehe...it is not strange about your Thai as you didn’t learn since young. But i learn English since young , even lived in UK for a year but still don’t feel it is not good as it should be. I can read but not well in listening and speaking. [emoji4]

 

 

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[oaktreerb]

Sorry, this changed last season. All tour buses now load at the WAC. HAL buses there, they then get the TWT bus.at WAC.

We were there last season on Yukon cruisetour and we boarded the bus for the TWT at the Chalets and did not change busses.