Veteran Cruisers Need Alaska Advice

[JackN]

My wife and I are taking my parents on an Alaskan Cruise on the Dawn Princess leaving Vancouver May 24th. We are cruise veterans, but we have never before taken a cold/cool weather cruise.

We are interested in any and all advice concerning what to pack in terms of clothes and advice on excursions. We are also taking the Princess Land tour that includes Fairbanks, Denali, Mt. McKinley and Copper River. Are their any excursions on the ship or in any of these locations that fall into the "must do" category? Any that should be avoided? Any that should be skipped off the ship because of the land portion?

We cruised on the Sun Princess in '98 and loved it. However, I have seen some brief negative comments about Dawn Princess on this site in recent weeks. Anything we should be aware of?

Thanks in advance for what I know will be terrific advice once again.

If if anyone is taking a European Cruise in the coming months, I still have my Millenium 2003 file on my desk. It was one of the best two weeks of our lives. I would be glad to share any and all information from our european cruise last June.

Jack in South Bend

Song of America '93
Monarch '96
Legend '97
Sun Princess '98
Voyager '00
Millennium '03

Song of America '93
Monarch '96
Legend '97
Sun Princess '98
Voyager '00
Millennium '03

[Host Caroline]

Check the thread further down on Packing tips.. you will find what you need or a good start anyway ([url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=268097554&m=21610153"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=268097554&m=21610153[/url]

Here are some links to the ports along the Inside Passage.. what type of excursions are you interested in? I'd check Princess "line up" to see what interests you and if you want to find something independently these are a good place to start. In Juneau whale watching with Orca Enterprises is excellent tour with small group, can schedule with glacier flightseeing if you want want to do both.[url="http://www.akduck.com/"]http://www.akduck.com/[/url] - The "Duck" tour in Ketchikan (kids love this)
[url="http://skagway.org/"]http://skagway.org/[/url] -lots links here to locals.. good starting point
[url="http://www.alaskainfo.org/index.html"]http://www.alaskainfo.org/index.html[/url]-overview of Inside Passage where you will be sailing and towns along the way!
[url="http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/"]http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/[/url]- for Ketchikan options
[url="http://www.traveljuneau.com/"]http://www.traveljuneau.com/[/url]

Host Caroline
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[Budget Queen]

Copied from my reply on the Princess board. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

I always encourage people to add a day in Fairbanks. You won't see much of the city other wise. Rent a car. As for you land portion- if you are on the Natural History tour- definately consider an upgrade. This 3 hour tour only gets 16 miles into the park vs 53+ on the Tundra Wilderness. If wildlife is a priority- you need to change this. McKinley Lodge is 100 miles south of the park entrance and 40++ miles from the nearest town of Talkeetna. Take a shuttle there and consider one of the great flying options to view McKinley that are available. You may not see it otherwise. If you trip does go to Copper River (not Cooper Landing). I would definately take a tour of the Kennicott mines with a fly in. Not much other touring in this area without a car. There are no "repeats" with your land and inside passage ports. Your experiences will be vastly different. On your cruise portion- look over a shore excursion list and narrow down YOUR interests. There are just too many great tours to recommend. Layers are they key- take a selection of sweatshirts, tshirts, turtlenecks, a lightweight lined jacket- quick drying is the key, 2 pair of walking shoes, knit hat glove, rain gear. I never take jeans but I spend all my time out doors. I like lined and unlined wind pants. For your land portion budget about 50% more than you would at home for meals - this will then give you a good cushion.