GardenerGuy Posted July 18, 2007 #1 Share Posted July 18, 2007 We are taking the Double Denali cruise tour at the end of August / start of September and have not found much information about the accommodations in Denali. Is the hotel an HAL property, or is it a chain? What is it like as far as services and quality? Thanks – this board has been great for us as we prepare for our first cruise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
localady Posted July 18, 2007 #2 Share Posted July 18, 2007 HAL uses Mt. McKinley Chalet for their guests in Denali. It is one of the less fancy lodgings, but is more than adequate. They have built a new and very lovely lodge area, but the units themselves are older and have a bit of "rustic charm". ;) Each room has a small front room and then a bedroom in the back with single and double bed. Denali is a stunning place, and although the hotel isn't 5 star, it's more than adequate for the time you are there!! Enjoy your trip!!:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom23guys Posted July 18, 2007 #3 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Last year we stayed at the McKinley Chalet, it was filled with HAL cruisers. I don't know how they decided which guest go to McKinley Chaley and which go to McKinley Lodge. Mckinley Chalet is close to the main tourist area commonly called "Glitter Gultch" This is where the Dinner show is. There are a number of small lodges (rustic) that go down a hill towards the river. There are shuttle buses that circle the property to get you up to the main lodge. The restaurants at the main lodge are very good. We saw a momma and baby moose on the property when walking to the dinner show. really amazing to just come across her when leaving our lodge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hikergirl Posted July 18, 2007 #4 Share Posted July 18, 2007 HAL put us in the new Cottonwood building at the McKinley Chalet. The rooms are nice and have two queen size beds. It's a little walk up the hill to the dining room,but there are shuttle buses if you can't or don't want to walk. The full breakfast buffet is pretty good for $15. The Chalets are right in the main restaurant/hotel/gift shop area and the shuttle bus will take you there as well or you can walk. The website says that the entrance to Denali is 1 mile away. That may be true, but the Denali visitor center is at least two miles away. I don't know if Holland America owns the resort but when you walk into the lobby there is a huge Holland America sign. You can get more info at http://www.denaliparkresorts.com/lodging-food/index.cfm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schwabby Posted July 18, 2007 #5 Share Posted July 18, 2007 Mt. McKinley Chalets is owned by the National Park Service. I have stayed there twice and have had many, many clients stay there while on HAL Alaska Cruisetours. It's rustic, amongst the pines and charming. Just the type of accommodation that's perfect for the wilderness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lurker1 Posted July 19, 2007 #6 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Mt. McKinley Chalets is owned by the National Park Service. I have stayed there twice and have had many, many clients stay there while on HAL Alaska Cruisetours. It's rustic, amongst the pines and charming. Just the type of accommodation that's perfect for the wilderness. Exactly, you don't go there for a luxury hotel, you are literally in the middle of nowhere, and it's beautiful and wild. If you have a "double denali", take advantage of your extra day to book some excursions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cp556 Posted July 19, 2007 #7 Share Posted July 19, 2007 Our room was in a lodge right by the river (Cottonwood? Sounds familiar). We had a window and a small deck overlooking the bubbling water, and it was gorgeous. Fancy? No. Clean and quite adequate? Yes. The lure of Denali, I think, is in the views and the wilderness of it all ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GardenerGuy Posted July 19, 2007 Author #8 Share Posted July 19, 2007 thank you all for the information! very helpful Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realnurse2 Posted January 25, 2011 #9 Share Posted January 25, 2011 Also booked on the 11 day discovery cruise and double denali southbound from August 18-28 2011. Might see you there! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittycat2009 Posted January 26, 2011 #10 Share Posted January 26, 2011 We stayed in the McKinley Chalet in 2009. We booked this on our own, unaware that HAL cruisers would be there too. It was funny to see all the friends we had met as we had rented a car and drove up, while they took the bus. This was our first cruise so we were clueless that there was an extended tour. Anyways, we loved the Chalet. Our room was quite large, comfortable, with a small balcony overlooking a river. We could hear the water from the balcony. We did find the restaurant to be pricey, so went on a search for something else. There is not much in that area. We did end up finding a Golf Club that had a small restaurant not too far from there. Turned out to be a very nice dinner. Enjoy your cruise! And Denali! I wish we would have had a bit more time there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtl513 Posted January 26, 2011 #11 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Also booked on the 11 day discovery cruise and double denali southbound from August 18-28 2011. Might see you there! Do you realize you've dragged up a 3.5 year old thread? In Sep 07 we were put in the then-new Chalet Canyon Lodge at the McKinley Chalet Resort. It was a modern hotel with a rustic tone to it, and was very nice. It had free wi-fi in the lobby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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