re: Alaskan Cruise recs

Any comments on Disney 7 day out of Vancouver
Going next June

We did Ruby Princess.

If you can do a one way cruise starting or ending in Vancouver, it's better. We did Seattle because we wanted to see a little bit of the city and it was cheaper. However, the Seattle/Vancouver portion is just at sea and has the potential to be the roughest water.

Don't miss Glacier Bay. I would not take an Alaskan cruise without Glacier Bay if I had not seen it before.

Skagway - the White Pass Yukon RR is great. Book Chilkoot tours and do rail and bus. You see more that way and the bus is a smaller, 24 passenger one. Because of the size, they can choose to stop along the way if there is something to see, like a bear, etc. You should book directly with this company. They have been doing it for years and don't mess up. No need to be in a big group with the cruise.

We booked whale watching in Juneau with Jayleen's Alaska. Her dad is one of the guys that started Harv and Marvs. We were on a small boat and it only holds like 8 people. I prefer the small boat to the bigger ones the cruise lines sell. This really depends on what you are looking for. I always prefer small groups. You are perfectly safe booking with smaller companies for whale watching. They get you back.

We also just took a taxi to Mendenhall Glacier and saw it on our own. Called for a taxi back. There are also buses. I just prefer to be on my own time as there isn't really any benefit from a tour guide here. The glacier is less than a mile down the trail. It's a short walk to the visitor center. The taxi drops you at the park ranger gate, while I think tours can drop you at the visitor center.

We went in mid June. It was very cold (55 degrees) and rainy for a lot of our trip. You need a bunch of layers and a hooded rain jacket or some kind of poncho/frog togs. Ketchikan is pretty much the rainiest place in the US. I needed all my layers and was warm enough with long underwear/leggings or long sleeved tech shirt under whatever leggings, pants, or shirt I wore. I also wore a fleece jacket with a rainjacket over it. I'm cold natured and live in Houston, so Alaska felt just like winter in Houston. Sometimes it's 70 and sunny, so could be anything.

We did a sea plane trip to Misty Fjords and landed on the fjords and watched a bear snacking on a bunch of berries. The fjords are gorgeous and show how vast and untouched Alaska really is. This excusion can easily get cancelled due to weather and also can be a little dangerous. Make sure it's a reputable pilot/company. Planes crash up there pretty often. Our pilot who was pretty well known crashed the next year. Those pilots have to talk to each other a lot to stay safe.

Info about crash

We loved our tour, but know before you go.

Alaska is the most beautiful, and truly untouched place I've ever been. Even with the tourists that go, Alaska is so large, that there really aren't people everywhere. The main tourists are from cruise ships so it's not too busy in ports.

Also, agree on paying attention to port times. It stays light a long time and you want to take advantage of that, if possible. An Alaskan cruise is about the ports, not the ship. You want to be a floating hotel that allows you to see as much in port as possible.

Agreed on Skagway Brewing and walking around the town a little. We also liked the Red Dog Saloon in Juneau even though it was touristy. It was very rainy for part of our Ketchikan day, so we didn't walk around a lot, but I wish we had gone to the Totem Bight park. It should be an easy taxi or bus ride. You don't need a tour. Same for the lumberjack show.

I'm about to book a week long trip on Holland America (Eurodam, will include Glacier Bay).

Does anyone have any booking recommendations? Should I do it through the HA site, or elsewhere? HA's website claims that it can provide lower cost flights as part of a package. Anyone tried this?

Any other recommendations? I'm most likely doing a Signature Suite (not a subtle brag, aside from random Gulf Shores visits, I only do a proper vacation once every ~4 years, so I go all out). Will be doing the "Have It All" package unless someone can convince me otherwise. I drink a decent amount of alcohol, so it seems like it's worth it.

Cruise leaves on a Saturday around 3PM. Any recommendations on where to stay in Seattle near the port?

Check out Uncruise. Small boats with 20-30 people. Excellent tour.

Will be booking one of these soon. Seems Holland America has the most recommendations.