Cruises, Cruise Deals & Cruise Holidays

Hello Mike, We did 2 nights in Copper River - did our own thing, 2 nights Denali (Tundra Wilderness Tour included in package - as answer below states take extra food). We didn't see Wolf but saw same as Carol Moose/Caribou, Squirrell, State Alaskan Bird - Ptarmagan - ours was early tour. On way back they dropped us at Visitor Centre in Park so we went to the Dog Sled show at the kennals - that was quite someting AND FREE!! Also 1 night McKinley and 1 night Anchorage before early flight to Chicago then 5 hours in airport with nothing to do before late night BA flight to Heathrow. I would try to fly from Vancouver if possible! Princess transfers v good and cases always in cabins/rooms. Embarkation at Vancouver slow! Anything else you need to know let me know. Sue

Thanks Sue, it's all helping to point me in the righ direction. Mike.

Hello, We were on the same wonderful cruise! We did landtour which was 2 nights in Denali & one in Fairbanks, well worth it. We booked the Tundra Wilderness tour direct with Denali so didn't use the short Morning natural Hist. tour supplied by Princess as we thoght to go 17 miles into Denali was a waste of time. Although it rained at first & the bus windows steamed up, we saw bear at a distance, moose, snoeshoe hare & a wolf trotting down the road! If you don't go in mid season there should be room to change yor Denali tour with the ranger who comes on board the domed train, should you want to. We'd have done that if we'd known. She helped us find out the precise time of our tour though. Everything was well organised & clockwork - no need to worry there. Cases alwasy in your cabin or room on arrival. Returning, we asked Princess to let us fly back from Vancouver & avoided waiting in any USA airports. ( & yes, American immigration for boarding ship was a nightmare! - nothing to do with the cheerful hospital Canadians) Hence we flew from Fairbanks to Seattle ( Alaskan are a good airline), Seattle to Vancouver - a short v. scenic hop on a small twin prop. Bombadier plane, then Van. - Heathrow with BA. Alaskan airlines "checked" our lugguage thorgh to Heathrow so we never saw it again. (You just go through transit in Vancouver rather than passport control.) So, we only waitied two hrs in two airports. Van. airport international depts. is pleasant with a "river" and huge fish tank, eating places etc. Tours taken -Ketchican just walked round & found own way to Eagle sanctuary & salmon hatchery - interesting & Creek St novel, walked a huge "stepped" road too. Juneau - whale watching tour am - humpbacks galore, sea lions Juneau afternoon river rafting from Mildenhall glacier - so got to see that too. Althogh class 3 at beginning, rest was a river float & "boring" in comparison, but good to do. Skagway - White Pass Railway summit by train - excellent scenery & experience. Domed train to Denali - scenic, comfortable seats, could order food at seat or dine in restaurant loos, tiny gift shop & outside platforms to view from. 9 hrs went quite fast! Denali Tundra Wilderness Tour - worth the 9 hrs in cramped "school" coach for wildlife but made lots of stops too. Take extra food on all trips if poss. in case yo dont' like what they supply, whiwch isn't much. ( unbuttered roll with wrapped cheese or reindeer salmai to put in it, crisps & a ceral bar on T.W. tour) Riverboat Discovery, Fairbanks - commercialised but really interesting - nice finish to trip. Heard that people who spent a lot & went on dog sledding on a glaceir thought it fantastic. However you do see some huskies on Riverboat trip. Yo can also see some free at the kennels in Denali with a bit of effort - they tell you how. Had a balcony on Baja deck B316. From there towards back for quite a distance, you are under an overhang and can't be overlooked - but we coudl see people on the balconies below. Balcony was best investment ever as we could nip outside for photos of glaciers etc when we wanted. Don't forget to look for "weeds" going past in fjiords as somethimes they were sea otters carrying their young on theri tummies! Extensive free room service menu so tea etc 24hrs & prepaid tips meant we didn't have to tip them either! Free icecream on deck too! 2nd best investment if you can afford it woudl be to upgrade to World Traveller Plus ( or above) with BA as economy is a bit dire! Going was cramped but returning, Vanocuver flights are not so full as some American ones & we had 4 seats to ourselves to lie down across. ( Guess they have more cruise traffic in one direction, most flying back form American gateways & staying in America.) Book early when Princess are giving the 45% discount shown in brochure & try to weedle 10% off travel agent as well. We gott his as members of CSMA but agents often have offers anyway. Shop round for quotes. I look at this site sometiems so will try & answer anythign yo want to know. Caorl

Thank you, Carol, for taking the time and trouble to provide such a wonderfully comprehensive and detailed response. As you will appreciate, there are so many options available for 'doing' Alaska - not just with different cruise lines but also with the multitude of land tours available as an add-on part of the holiday plus, of course, the attraction of perhaps having a few days in Vancouver etc. Hearing from people like yourself, who can relate their response to experience, is a great help. Once again, many, many thanks. Regards, Mike.

That's o.k. We'd been to Vancouver under our own steam before so didn't stay this time, but it's a wonderful city. We cycled round Stanley Park a few years ago & we're in our 60s! You can take city tours and go up Grouse Mountain gondola etc. Don't know if you have visited the Rockies, (particularly the Calgary - to above Jasper area) but that's one of our v. favourite places, especially for wildlife. The Rockies are more spectacular that the Coastal Range, and there is more wildlife sa it's protected. Whatever you decide to do, you will enjoy it. Also we find the Canadians so welcoming. Carol

Hi. Thanks for spending time writing such a comprehensive review. Am trying to organise a Rockies trip/Alaskan Cruise for next year and your experience is bery helpful. So much to consider! Have seen lovely packages and "add ons" etc by a company called Titan Travel. Thanks for the advice re the flight home via Vancouver.