Semi live review Y1L Holland America’s Alaska Land and Sea CruiseTour, June 1 – June 19, 2022

[Alphen]

Black Diamond ATV Adventure & Backcountry Dining

 

Last night we did an ATV excursion, great fun on ATV’s, although covered to our eyebrows in dust, we had a blast. Food and tour were great!

 

[Merryland Cruiser]

Thanks for the great review. We leave on June 15th for the 19 day cruise tour out of Vancouver (3 day Zuiderdam cruise, land portion and 7 day Nieuw Amsterdam cruise). Looking at all of the breakfast buffet pictures got me wondering if there is a package that you can buy upfront or is it pay as you go? Also what is the cost? Thanks!

[Btimmer]

Thanks for all of the commentary and pictures.  We start our Land/Sea tour on 6/28 in Fairbanks and head south on the Noordam.

[GrandmaOhio]

Thank you for taking the time to document and share your adventures.  We start our Denali/cruise tour next Wednesday and your photos and commentary are very helpful! Hope you have a wonderful vacation!

[Alphen]

44 minutes ago, Merryland Cruiser said:

Thanks for the great review. We leave on June 15th for the 19 day cruise tour out of Vancouver (3 day Zuiderdam cruise, land portion and 7 day Nieuw Amsterdam cruise). Looking at all of the breakfast buffet pictures got me wondering if there is a package that you can buy upfront or is it pay as you go? Also what is the cost? Thanks!

We have the breakfast package , pay as you go is around the same price if you include gratuity which is in the package , around $25

[Alphen]

Denali Highway Jeep Excursion

 

Today we did the jeep excursion, Joe and Luke were our guides, great jeeps, not old and only little over 2000 miles done.

 

Great scenery, sadly no wildlife, but Denali for the second day in a row, not bad!

 

We we’re with just two of us in the jeep, where the tour mentioned 4 in a four door jeep, so really happy.

[Mary229]

15 minutes ago, Alphen said:

Denali Highway Jeep Excursion

 

Today we did the jeep excursion, Joe and Luke were our guides, great jeeps, not old and only little over 2000 miles done.

 

Great scenery, sadly no wildlife, but Denali for the second day in a row, not bad!

 

We we’re with just two of us in the jeep, where the tour mentioned 4 in a four door jeep, so really happy.

How are the bugs?

[Alphen]

2 hours ago, Alphen said:

Denali Highway Jeep Excursion

 

Today we did the jeep excursion, Joe and Luke were our guides, great jeeps, not old and only little over 2000 miles done.

 

Great scenery, sadly no wildlife, but Denali for the second day in a row, not bad!

 

We we’re with just two of us in the jeep, where the tour mentioned 4 in a four door jeep, so really happy.

[Alphen]

2 hours ago, Mary229 said:

How are the bugs?

There are mosquitoes around, so take precautions.

[Alphen]

Temperature has come down quite a bit, around 10 to 12 degrees, together with quite some wind , but still sunny.

[Alphen]

Denali National Park

 

Today we went to the Sled Dog Demo, in the National Park.

[Hogladyrider]

Worth purchasing a mosquito head net if going to Denali.  I got mine years ago at Tractor Supply, best $1 I ever spent...still have it today.

[Mary229]

Just now, Hogladyrider said:

Worth purchasing a mosquito head net if going to Denali.  I got mine years ago at Tractor Supply, best $1 I ever spent...still have it today.

I have mosquito hat/shirt and DEET.  I am hoping that by going late in August I might forego mosquitoes.  I am hate mosquitoes.  What do you think?

[Hogladyrider]

1 minute ago, Mary229 said:

I have mosquito hat/shirt and DEET.  I am hoping that by going late in August I might forego mosquitoes.  I am hate mosquitoes.  What do you think?

If you are going to Denali National Park there will be BIG mosquitos.

[Mary229]

1 minute ago, Hogladyrider said:

If you are going to Denali National Park there will be BIG mosquitos.

That’s too bad.  We used to summer in Ontario and Quebec and once the temperature rose to the highs in early August the bugs would slowly diminish.  I was hoping the same for Alaska.   We are going just before Labor Day when it should be cold 

[Alphen]

Regarding Mosquito’s in Denali, we have seen only little ones, but these seem to be flying teeth, they bite like big ones. Only know about current  situation, but this sign says it all! The sign is actually at several places in the Denali area.

 

 We are using Deet, but they are not impressed, we are scratching accordingly.

 

Edited June 10, 2022 by Alphen

[Hogladyrider]

When we did our land tour in Denali we took the bus all the way 92 miles into the park and we stayed 2 nights at Kantishna Roadhouse Cabins.

 

All excursions were included and let me tell you the bugs were out in full force in August and the mosquitos were big and biting, I felt blessed to have my mosquito netting on under my hat!

 

Bugs may have changed over the years, but I would be surprised if it was for less bugs.

[Alphen]

1 minute ago, Hogladyrider said:

When we did our land tour in Denali we took the bus all the way 92 miles into the park and we stayed 2 nights at Kantishna Roadhouse Cabins.

 

All excursions were included and let me tell you the bugs were out in full force in August and the mosquitos were big and biting, I felt blessed to have my mosquito netting on under my hat!

 

Bugs may have changed over the years, but I would be surprised if it was for less bugs.

Well, mile 42 will be the new norm for the next few years, as we understand from employees. It will probably get worse and there are so many different authorities involved in getting things solved by a proposed bridge as per park officials, that it will take a long time for everyone at all levels (state and government and such) to get on the same page, before any work will be done. 

[cat shepard]

1 hour ago, Alphen said:

Temperature has come down quite a bit, around 10 to 12 degrees, together with quite some wind , but still sunny.

 

Wow, just wow! You two are so lucky to see Denali more than once!  

[cat shepard]

Interesting about mosquitoes. I was in Denali in 1995 right after Labor Day. There had been a light snow fall and we never encountered any mosquitoes. Big or small. 
 

Perhaps the snow did them in. But consider me forewarned, I will pack my mosquito netting. Thank you for the heads up. 

[indychillin]

Thanks so much for your daily blog!  My husband and I go on June 29th Alaska/Yukon trip starting in Vancouver for a 19 day HAL trip sea for 3 on Zuiderdam, land for 9 and back to sea on Nieuw Amsterdam on July 10th for 7 days from Whittier to Vancouver, so we stop in most all the same places you are blogging about.

[Alphen]

Music Of Denali at Gold Nugget Saloon

 

Sadly, our stay in Denali is coming to an end. Tonight we went to “Music Of Denali at Gold Nugget Saloon”, a dining and music event here on McKinley resort. Dinner was a family style all you can eat dinner, salad, mashed potatoes, vegetables, brisket, smoked salmon and apple crisp and coffee for dessert. Waiters were also the performers during and after dinner. Seating was on long tables, but I must say, food and show were very good, an excellent finish to say goodbye to Denali tomorrow.

 

[Hogladyrider]

IMO Denali National Park is truly a "Special" place.  The size of it, the beauty if just amazing.

 

Glad you got to see "the mountain" as most of the time it is cloud covered.

 

This is a great review so far and a very good example of a two thumbs up ship land tour!

 

Looking forward to following along as you board the ship for your cruise part of your adventure.

[Alphen]

Mckinley Explorer Denali-Talkeetna - Talkeetna-Anchorage

 

Today we are leaving Denali, the first time since we started the land tour, we woke up with a partially cloudy sky, temperature not much over 10 degrees.

 

For those visiting The National park today could be good and bad news. Wildlife might be out more since it is not as warm (according to the experts), views for Denali may not be as good.

 

[Alphen]

McKinley Chalet Park Morning Stroll.

 

After breakfast, just before leaving, we took a little morning stroll on the nature trail that is around the chalet park, along the Nenana river. No wildlife spotted, but plenty of signs of Moose, judging the many droppings.