Something Different....ALASKA ???????

[jaylsparks]

After serveral cruises to southern & western Carib, we want new sights....comments needed about Alaska cruises....pro & con....I'm in a wheelchair, so I'm prepared to have to forgo a lot of the shore trips.....all comments are welcomed.....Thanks.......Jay

[robcool]

Hi, Jay!

My wife and I are thinking about the same thing. December will be our third carib cruise, and we are looking to Alaska next summer. My big question is to just cruise, or do one of the cruise-tours where you cruise for several days and then do a few days of land based vacation.

Thanks for starting this thread, I am looing forward to responses!

--------------------------
"Semper Gumby" - Always Flexible
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It's a Miracle! Cruising on the Miracle 12/12/04!
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[lstrong]

Alaska cruises are all about scenery. I absolutely love Alaska!

[Cotton]

A friend of mine recently did an Alaskan cruise through another cruise line. She did the cruise, train-ride to another place, and back on the cruise. Said it's absolutely breathtaking - best vacation she's ever had.

I'd go in a heartbeat; alas, my budget does not allow. The airfare, plus cruise, plus tour = BIG BUCKS!

Festivale 1987
Carnivale 1988
Mardi Gras 1989
Pacific Princess 1990
Norway 1994
Holiday 2001
Holiday 2002
Holiday 2003

[noodle]

I think this sort of cruise would be fantastic (I am booked on the spirit in May 2005), and also great for those in a wheelchair. I believe there are several excursions that can accomodate wheel chairs, possible a trip to Mendenhall glacier, a ride up the senic railroad in Skagway, or a whale watching excursion.

The scenery is supposed to be amazing and I cannot wait to set my eyes on those glaciers and heavenly blue icebergs.

Pride 02/15/04
Spirit 05/11/05

[stlrboo]

My Sweetie was on her first cruise two weeks ago and loved it!
She wants to do Alaska... I just picked up some brochures at my local AAA office.
Any cruise will be fine with me.. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]
Now I have to start playing the lottery so I can afford it!
ps: There was a young couple in wheelchairs on our cruise to the western Caribbean on April 17. I think they did more excursions and probably had as much fun, or more, as the rest of us! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]


I married my best friend in OchoRios, April 22!

[img]http://www.xpectmore.com/images/odie_anm.gif[/img]
Triumph 4/04
Imagination 5/00
OceanBreeze 11/96
USS 'Neversail' SanDiego 10/65

[glrounds]

I've had tablemates who after having cruised all over the world, decided to do an Alaska cruise just to have something "different". Many of them now rank it as the [B]best cruise they ever took[/B]. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Live well, love much, laugh often.

Gary [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]

[img]http://www.cruisemates.com/animated/Dolphins.gif[/img]

[relliea]

Alaska was our first cruise in 1998. My husband and I took my parents for their 49th anniversary on the Galaxy & we were hooked.
I'd always imagined cruising was for "older folks" & us being in our 40's we didn't feel old. Boy were we wrong, cruising is for ANYONE who has a sense of adventure!.
I fell in love with floating, all that amazing wildlife & scenery--Total bliss.
I took a helicopter ride and landed on a glacier. Stepping out on blue ice with an experienced guide explaining the life force that was moving below our feet. Unbelievable!
I'd never seen such a pure color blue before. That alone was worth the price of the entire trip.
There are no words to adequetly describe the beauty of Alaska. You just have to see it with your own eyes.
Take the cruise, I promise it will change your life forever.

RellieA

[marvholly]

I have 10 cruises over nearly 35 years under my belt. 7 were all over the carribean. 2 were mexican riviera. 1 Alaska and I am currently trying to plan Alaska for the entire family for July/Aug 05. Really want to go back & see more.

Holly

M/S Boheme 11/69
Rhapsody 2/77?
Azure Sea 3/89
Panama Canal 11/90
Mexican Riviera 3/98
Carnival Triumph 12/99
Carnival Spirit 12/01
NCL Dream 11/17/02
Celebrity Mercury 6/1/03
carnival Victory 3/28/04

[ConCo]

Here, here for Alaska!

We've been to the Carribean several times and have more planned. We went to Alaska last summer with three families and it was an experience of a lifetime. We saw and did so much that I still get out my pictures and ooooh and ahhhh! The pricetag was phenomonal (SP?) but it was worth every penny. We did everything, but you could sure see a lot from just the ship.

Can't wait to go back someday and just take in the experience without feeling I have to capture everything in video or film.

By the way, we were soooo blessed to have perfect weather in June, and even had 100% view of Mt. McKinley in Denali for two days! My husband took a flight around the mountain and the pilot wanted his pictures cause he said this was the best weather he had ever experienced for viewing.

Any questions, just ask.

Connie

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until we drink Pina Coladas on the Glory


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Until our first Costa Experience - Salud!!


Enchantment 6/98
Dawn Princess 4/00
Fantasy 10/01
Celebration 12/01
Coral Princess 6/03
Glory 6/04
Costa Mediterranea 3/05

[pazooter]

Jay, You are invited to join the Alaska cruise that a bunch of CCer's are taking in June. We're going on NCL Star, departing and returning to Seattle. We've got about 33 folks on this cruise. You can email me if you want to know more. We'd love to have you along. Cathy

[url="http://www.pazooter.com"][img]http://www.pazooter.com/bandc.gif[/img][/url]


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Until our **STAR** search
Seattle to Alaska on NCL Star
June 27, 2004

Fantasy 12/25/03
Inspiration 4/13/03
NCL Majesty 12/27/02
Jubilee 3/23/02
Norwegian Sea 11/23/01

[jimbug]

Alaska is wonderful--by all means, go! I am normally a Princess cruiser who is looking to take my first Carnival cruise next spring...hence, my presence on this board. Anyway, if you go to the boards of a cruise line who frequents Alaska (Princess, NCL, HAL, RCCI) etc, you will meet many with several Alaska cruises under their belts, and they will be able to tell you more information on which excursions are wheelchair-friendly. I am going on the Sapphire Princess to Alaska on 6/20, and after doing extensive research on which shore excursions to take, I do remember seeing quite a few that seemed to be very mild activity, and possibly compatible for you. Good luck and have fun!

Sapphire Princess 6/20/04 (honeymoon)

[bar10der421]

I have to add my voice to the accolades for the Alaska cruise. I was a little skeptical when DH first suggested it, but it is definitely a trip I hope to repeat one day.

I would highly recommend cruise and land tour if you can fit it into your budget. Denali is awesome! My suggestion would be land tour first (can be somewhat hectic) and cruise southbound (some time for relaxation).

You can't go wrong with an Alaskan cruise. It is wonderful!!

5/2 Miracle cruise
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[serene56]

I am turning 50 in 2006. We want to cruise to some place different then what we have been doing. Eurpore came up and I see that it will cost almost 5,000 pp to cover all that we want to do. Seems a bit pricey for a 7 day vacation.

My next suggestion was Alaska and I am being met up by " Its too cold" is that true?
I think ALaska may just be the place to celebrate if I can convince my family members that it isnt too cold.

Going NOWHERE
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Miracle, February 13, 2005
Legend, October 22,2004
Voyager August 31,2003
Victory September 22,2002
Regal Empress,June 2001
Sensation,August 2000

[Sea Turtle]

Jay—
Alaska—my favorite cruise so far. I went for the first time in Sept2000 with Princess and was awestruck. I sailed again in May2003 & June 2003 with CCL on Spirit. I could easily be talked into a 4th, 5th, etc. cruises there!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Downtown Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan are flatland towns so would be easily accessible by wheelchair. My favorite excursion on all three cruises has been whale watching in Juneau, and I do recall one of our passengers used a wheelchair and was able to go along with us with no problem. Taking a small motor coach or the train up to the Yukon out of Skagway would be a nice outing.

Serene56—
There were times when it was cold, and I had on wool gloves, a headband to cover my ears, and a wind suit but that was only for the times I was on my balcony/deck with wind blowing. It was definitely cold on the whale watching excursions but oh so worth it!!! All my Alaska cruises I took and wore shorts. But then I like cool weather so Alaska May-Sep suits me perfectly. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] I’ve been fortunate on all my cruises to experience some pretty incredible weather overall. Except for my first trip when we hit Skagway and I had 3 shore excursions booked for that day. All but one was cancelled due to gale force winds. Disappointed? You bet but I knew I’d return one day to tackle those excursions.

Alaska cruise is one not to be missed!

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