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Message
re: Alaskan Cruise - looking for advice/suggestions
Posted on 1/14/17 at 6:38 pm to BigB0882
Posted on 1/14/17 at 6:38 pm to BigB0882
quote:
Do it. It is the single best vacation I have ever taken and we are going back this June.
Booked it on Celebrity, June 16-23
quote:
You absolutely must book the catamaran that takes you to the glacier in Tracy Arm. Also do whale watching in Juneau after you get back from the glacier. Makes for a long day but it was the most amazing day. The scenery was absolutely breath-taking.
Thanks, I'm waiting on the emails I'm supposed to get that talks about the excursions. Did you book through cruise or on your own?
1
Posted on 1/14/17 at 6:42 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
If you're more adventure oriented rather than arts/culture oriented, RCCI might be better for you.
I like both, but I was trying to make everything fun for everyone going. Now it's just me and wife going and we appreciate the better service.
quote:
Yeah, Tracy Arm was rough last year, it went into rapid retreat and dropped a lot of ice in the water.
Hopefully all good this June. Thanks again for your advice.
Posted on 1/16/17 at 12:06 pm to Sho Nuff
I booked through Celebrity by calling.
But dude, you need to transfer your booking to a travel agent who will give you OBC (on board credit). If you want I can give you the info of the lady I am using for my upcoming cruise. We transferred the booking to her and got $375 credit to spend on the cruise. The amount depends on what price your cruise was.
If you are interested you can email me, BigB0882@gmail.com I get no kick back for you using her, to be clear. You can also check with any travel agents you already know. It is a common thing that they do if you transfer your booking to them but you have to do it within so many days of booking the cruise so you would need to be quick.
But dude, you need to transfer your booking to a travel agent who will give you OBC (on board credit). If you want I can give you the info of the lady I am using for my upcoming cruise. We transferred the booking to her and got $375 credit to spend on the cruise. The amount depends on what price your cruise was.
If you are interested you can email me, BigB0882@gmail.com I get no kick back for you using her, to be clear. You can also check with any travel agents you already know. It is a common thing that they do if you transfer your booking to them but you have to do it within so many days of booking the cruise so you would need to be quick.
Posted on 1/16/17 at 12:26 pm to BigB0882
quote:
But dude, you need to transfer your booking to a travel agent who will give you OBC (on board credit).
Yeah, I did the booking through cruisesonly and got OBC, thanks for the advice though.
Just got an email from them today about booking excursions for 50% off, I haven't looked at what they're offering yet. You did excursion through your agent or Celebrity directly?
Posted on 1/16/17 at 5:44 pm to Sho Nuff
Excursions are done directly through Celebrity's website since it is a Celebrity excursion. They have other excursions you can take which you book privately and I am sure your agent can offer you some. Booking through Celebrity may be a bit more expensive but I did it for peace of mind. They will have all your tickets and info waiting in your room and they guarantee you won't miss the ship and if anything is canceled due to weather or what-not you get your money back with no problems.
I always book my own excursions for Caribbean cruises but in Alaska it was all so expensive that I didn't want to take any chances.
I always book my own excursions for Caribbean cruises but in Alaska it was all so expensive that I didn't want to take any chances.
This post was edited on 1/16/17 at 5:45 pm
Posted on 1/16/17 at 11:09 pm to Sho Nuff
You can book at the dock for less money but the ship will not accommodate you should something happen and your tour run late past departure time. You can get some smoking deals though. Ships get 30-45% of excursions booked through them.
For peace of mind book onboard. For better pricing, book at the port
For peace of mind book onboard. For better pricing, book at the port
Posted on 1/17/17 at 11:39 am to RogerTheShrubber
Ok, so here's what we're looking at:
The heli/dog sledding which leaves out of Juneau or Skagway. One better than the other? It's seems a little shorter and cheaper from Skagway maybe because the flight is shorter and less time to get to the heliport?
I hear the train is really cool in Skagway so if we do the heli we may not have time. They both total 5.5 hours and we have like 8 hours so if the times work it should be ok.
In Ketchikan we're looking at the flightseeing Misty Fjords or the Exclusive Skiff Fishing and Fresh Catch Wilderness Dining. Not sure how much the wife will dig the fishing and eating in the wilderness though
In Juneau depending on the heli choice there's also a Whales and Mendenhall Glacier tour.
I know a catamaran was mentioned but not sure if that's part of this tour or not.
What do you guys think? BTW, I checked directly with the sites for the heli/dogs and one was like $60/pp cheaper out of Juneau and the one out of Skagway was $30/pp cheaper direct.
The heli/dog sledding which leaves out of Juneau or Skagway. One better than the other? It's seems a little shorter and cheaper from Skagway maybe because the flight is shorter and less time to get to the heliport?
I hear the train is really cool in Skagway so if we do the heli we may not have time. They both total 5.5 hours and we have like 8 hours so if the times work it should be ok.
In Ketchikan we're looking at the flightseeing Misty Fjords or the Exclusive Skiff Fishing and Fresh Catch Wilderness Dining. Not sure how much the wife will dig the fishing and eating in the wilderness though
In Juneau depending on the heli choice there's also a Whales and Mendenhall Glacier tour.
I know a catamaran was mentioned but not sure if that's part of this tour or not.
What do you guys think? BTW, I checked directly with the sites for the heli/dogs and one was like $60/pp cheaper out of Juneau and the one out of Skagway was $30/pp cheaper direct.
Posted on 1/17/17 at 12:13 pm to Sho Nuff
Do the dogs in Juneau and the train is Skagway. Depending on operator, there are 3 different glaciers used and the ice field is incredible.
Read "The White Pass" by Roy Minter before you get to Skagway. It will exponentially increase the value of the train experience.
Read "The White Pass" by Roy Minter before you get to Skagway. It will exponentially increase the value of the train experience.
Posted on 1/17/17 at 12:19 pm to RogerTheShrubber
We did the train in Skagway. It is gorgeous and great if you are a big picture taker but it can get a bit boring if you have kids or don't want to take a ton of pics. I highly recommend it but I take lots of pictures. One ride is shorter and does not require a passport, the other is longer and does require a passport so book accordingly.
The catamaran is an excursion you book for the morning that you get near the glacier. You get off the ship about 8 that morning right onto the catamaran and then the catamarn will bring you back to the ship in Juneau around 1. So any excursion you plan in Juneau could not start too early in the day but you stay in port in Juneau until 9 or 10 pm so there is plenty of time and they usually run some late excursions specifically so people can do early and evening stuff.
The catamaran is an excursion you book for the morning that you get near the glacier. You get off the ship about 8 that morning right onto the catamaran and then the catamarn will bring you back to the ship in Juneau around 1. So any excursion you plan in Juneau could not start too early in the day but you stay in port in Juneau until 9 or 10 pm so there is plenty of time and they usually run some late excursions specifically so people can do early and evening stuff.
This post was edited on 1/17/17 at 12:24 pm
Posted on 1/17/17 at 12:31 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
Do the dogs in Juneau and the train is Skagway.
I also heard the heli/dog is the most canceled tour so by booking Juneau if it gets rained out we still have a chance to take it in Skagway. There's 2 trains, should we just do the shorter one?
quote:
Depending on operator, there are 3 different glaciers used and the ice field is incredible.
So this is worth the $1,000+ then? I read on some old forum someone not totally happy with the dog portion as much as the glacier land and said to just do the heli to glacier and it being less $. Didn't seem too much less to me.
quote:
Read "The White Pass" by Roy Minter before you get to Skagway. It will exponentially increase the value of the train experience.
Thanks, will look on Amazon.
Posted on 1/17/17 at 12:34 pm to BigB0882
quote:
One ride is shorter and does not require a passport, the other is longer and does require a passport so book accordingly.
Which one you took? 3.5 hours seems reasonable compared to 8 hours.
quote:
The catamaran is an excursion you book for the morning that you get near the glacier. You get off the ship about 8 that morning right onto the catamaran and then the catamarn will bring you back to the ship in Juneau around 1.
It's a matter of which tours to take at this point. I want to do some fishing but even that's looking difficult with the other things to do. I may just book a side fishing trip once on the cruise if it works out.
Posted on 1/17/17 at 12:42 pm to Sho Nuff
I believe the longer train ride takes you to Lake Bennett in Canada. It may also use the steam locomotive.
You'll get all you want from the shorter trip. If you have time left in Skagway, go to the Cemetery and then to Dyea.
You'll get all you want from the shorter trip. If you have time left in Skagway, go to the Cemetery and then to Dyea.
This post was edited on 1/17/17 at 12:45 pm
Posted on 1/17/17 at 12:49 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
So this is worth the $1,000+ then? I read on some old forum someone not totally happy with the dog portion as much as the glacier land and said to just do the heli to glacier and it being less $. Didn't seem too much less to me
Well, you'll find a few people unhappy with anything. Which operator?
If touch aren't dead set on the dogs, do the helicopter trekking with Northstar. It's awesome.
Helicopters do shut down with low ceilings and correct, you could do Skagway if the juneau tour is cancelled. There are 4 helicopter operators in Juneau, one (maybe two now) in Skagway.
Posted on 1/17/17 at 1:09 pm to RogerTheShrubber
Just looked we get to Skagway at 7am and leave at 6pm. It might be a good place to do the short train and heli/dog since we have 11 hours. I didn't see fishing tours on the list, do you know if there's any out of Skagway? Thanks for the tip on the cemetery.
In Juneau we can do the Mendenhall/Whales and maybe do some salmon or halibut fishing there. Although we have 8.5 hours total there and the fishing tours are 5 hours.
In Ketchikan we have 9 hours. Misty Fjords or fishing/eating excursion, can't do both. Flightseeing is only 2 hours so we'll have tome to do other stuff if we do Fjords.
In Juneau we can do the Mendenhall/Whales and maybe do some salmon or halibut fishing there. Although we have 8.5 hours total there and the fishing tours are 5 hours.
In Ketchikan we have 9 hours. Misty Fjords or fishing/eating excursion, can't do both. Flightseeing is only 2 hours so we'll have tome to do other stuff if we do Fjords.
This post was edited on 1/17/17 at 1:11 pm
Posted on 1/17/17 at 1:19 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
Well, you'll find a few people unhappy with anything. Which operator?
seriously. She did say she loved the tour overall just not that impressed with the dogs. Not sure which co. quote:
If touch aren't dead set on the dogs, do the helicopter trekking with Northstar. It's awesome.
I think it would be really cool to see the dogs but I'm not a huge dog guy so I can go either way. Same with the wife but I guess we sorta feel like the dog sledding will truly be more of a "once in a lifetime" type experience. I'm guessing the trekking is that too though..
quote:
There are 4 helicopter operators in Juneau, one (maybe two now) in Skagway.
I think it's just TEMSCO in Skagway so I would want to book sooner than later if doing Skagway. I read that Juneau is the most canceled with Skagway not far behind.
Posted on 1/17/17 at 1:29 pm to Sho Nuff
quote:
Which one you took? 3.5 hours seems reasonable compared to 8 hours.
We did the 3.5 hour one since we didn't have passports, it was our only option. The scenery is just breathtaking, really. I loved standing out on the platform and breathing in that crisp air. They do have someone narrating the entire way to tell you what to look for and you get the "good" view either going up there or back down so need to worry about what side to sit on.
Posted on 1/17/17 at 1:54 pm to BigB0882
quote:
We did the 3.5 hour one since we didn't have passports,
We're bringing our passports but 8 hours seems too much. 3.5 sounds perfect. Glad to hear you enjoyed it, I'm sure we will too. So many things we want to do
Posted on 1/17/17 at 5:57 pm to Sho Nuff
She,was probably surprised to see that sled dogs,are usually mutts, not huskies.
When it comes to fishing that time of the year, Ketchikan would be better.
The taku glacier lodge in Juneau is pretty kick arse. You do hit the ice field and the lodge is across the river from a glacier. Lots of bears, good salmon and it's only about 3.5 hours. You could do that and whale watching in Juneau, heli and train in skagway.
When it comes to fishing that time of the year, Ketchikan would be better.
The taku glacier lodge in Juneau is pretty kick arse. You do hit the ice field and the lodge is across the river from a glacier. Lots of bears, good salmon and it's only about 3.5 hours. You could do that and whale watching in Juneau, heli and train in skagway.
Posted on 1/17/17 at 7:07 pm to RogerTheShrubber
quote:
She,was probably surprised to see that sled dogs,are usually mutts, not huskies.
That was the first thing she mentioned quote:
When it comes to fishing that time of the year, Ketchikan would be better.
Ok, then I will see what I can find maybe for there.
quote:
The taku glacier lodge in Juneau is pretty kick arse. You do hit the ice field and the lodge is across the river from a glacier. Lots of bears, good salmon and it's only about 3.5 hours. You could do that and whale watching in Juneau, heli and train in skagway.
Thanks, that's a good idea to look into. I did talk to Coastline today out of Juneau and they do the extended heli/dog for $599/pp and you land high and low on a glacier. I may book with them so I still have the option to go Skagway if bad weather. I keep going back and forth but I think once we get amped to do the heli/dog we're not gonna want to miss it. These are good "problems" to have though. Thanks for keeping the ideas coming!
Posted on 1/18/17 at 8:20 am to Sho Nuff
quote:
I hear the train is really cool in Skagway so if we do the heli we may not have time. They both total 5.5 hours and we have like 8 hours so if the times work it should be ok.
We rented a car in Skagway and drove the pass so that's an option if the train trip doesn't fit your schedule. The road has mostly the same views as the train tracks. And if you have a car you can also drive along the coast to Dyea. Not much left of the old town but we saw bears and salmon and it's a nice drive.
We were on a Celebrity cruise, very good cruise line.
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