Alaska May Cruisetour Questions

[wilal]

Hi Everyone,

 

Thanks for all of the wonderful assistance we have received on these boards, which we discovered after we precipitously booked an Alaska cruisetour. (If we get back to Alaska in the future we would undoubtedly tour independently but want to make the most of what we have booked.)

 

We are going on the May 20 Celebrity Cruisetour 2 trip.

 

Could anyone help us with information on what the time schedule is likely to be on the landtour portion and suggestions of excursions during those times (we got wonderful assistance in planning for the cruise ports from reading all of your posts.)

 

Our itinerary is below. The landtour portion shows what is included in the package. (I hope the formatting transfers.)

 

Thanks in advance for all of your help.

 

Vancouver

20 May

Cruise Inside Passage

21 May

Juneau

22 May

Captain Larry 12:30 pickup; 1-4 cruise

Alaska Fly & Fish Bear Country 4-7

Skagway

23 May

Yukon Exploration and White Pass Scenic Railway 8hrs

Sitka

24 May

PuffinsandWhales 11:00 3hr.

Icy Strait Point

25 May

F.I.S.H.E.S. Wildlife & Whalewatch 4hrs

Salmon Fishing on return trip

Cruising Hubbard Glacier

26 May

Seward

27 May

· Alaska Sea Life Center

· Resurrection Bay Wildlife Cruise

· evening, board the Wilderness Express,® our glass-domed traincars, to Alyeska

· spend the night at Alyeska Prince Resort.

Alyeska/Anchorage

28 May

· In the morning, you're free to explore Alyeska on your own.

· Alyeska Tramway.

· afternoon, motorcoach to Anchorage

· Alaska Native Heritage Center

· evening can be spent at your leisure

• Overnight Anchorage Marriott

Anchorage/Denali

29 May

· morning motor coach to Denali.

· You'll have the rest of the day and evening free to explore on your own.

· Overnight McKinley Village Lodge

Denali

30 May

· morning, Tundra Wilderness Tour

· The afternoon is yours to explore Denali or choose an optional excursion,

· Overnight McKinley Village Lodge

Denali/Fairbanks

31 May

· After breakfast, motorcoach and drive to Fairbanks

· El Dorado Gold Mine

· Your evening is free for optional activities

· Overnight Pikes Waterfront Lodge

Fairbanks

1 June

Fairbanks airport for your flight home.

[Budget Queen]

As only a suggestion, since your rail cars look like they are going to be attached to the regular run of the Alaska RR, leaves at 6pm, you may want to consider skipping your cruisetour plans and get out on a Kenai fjords boat tour that will be way superior to the "bay" tour. There are several that will get you back in time for the train. You need at least 6 hours on the water. The bay trips don't even loose sight of Seward and see little if any wildlife.

 

You'll arrive Girdwood around 9pm. It's a 45 min bus ride to Anchorage, sit on the left side of the bus for the Arm views.

 

Depending on your departure- usually early, it's about a 6 hour bus ride to Denali park with stops.

 

There will be several morning departures of the Tundra Wilderness tour, allow 6-8 hours.

 

2 hours bus ride to Fairbanks, gold tour about 1 1/2 hours. Suggest you consider Pioneer Park. If you have a late departure the next day, definately rent a car. You are not near anything with your lodging and it's a big spread out city. Request visitor guides http://www.explorefairbanks.com http://www.anchorage.net

[wilal]

As only a suggestion, since your rail cars look like they are going to be attached to the regular run of the Alaska RR, leaves at 6pm, you may want to consider skipping your cruisetour plans and get out on a Kenai fjords boat tour that will be way superior to the "bay" tour. There are several that will get you back in time for the train. You need at least 6 hours on the water. The bay trips don't even loose sight of Seward and see little if any wildlife.

 

You'll arrive Girdwood around 9pm. It's a 45 min bus ride to Anchorage, sit on the left side of the bus for the Arm views.

 

Depending on your departure- usually early, it's about a 6 hour bus ride to Denali park with stops.

 

There will be several morning departures of the Tundra Wilderness tour, allow 6-8 hours.

 

2 hours bus ride to Fairbanks, gold tour about 1 1/2 hours. Suggest you consider Pioneer Park. If you have a late departure the next day, definately rent a car. You are not near anything with your lodging and it's a big spread out city. Request visitor guides www.explorefairbanks.com www.anchorage.net

 

 

Thanks for times and recommendations. They will help in the planning the rest of our trip. I've requested the visitor guides and am checking into the other tours.

 

We can hardly wait for our first trip to Alaska!