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Post by ukwil on Dec 31, 2015 11:36:24 GMT -5
Well we've booked our vacation for this year. We are doing a 7 day cruise from Vancouver, BC to Seward, Alaska and then taking a land portion back south. Plans were to do it in a few years, but my elderly grandparents wanted to go so we moved it up. We are planning on going to Denali, mining for some gold with my kids, doing a fishing charter, and lots more. Has anyone done a trip like this?
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Post by steiny on Dec 31, 2015 11:52:19 GMT -5
Sounds fun, who did you book cruise through if you don't mind me asking. I've studied it a bit online and it can get confusing.
Have been to AK several times hunting and have pretty much decided next trip will be a cruise with family and / or a fishing trip.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 31, 2015 12:23:12 GMT -5
We did a 17 day trip back in 2004. It was land (the Yukon and Alaska) and cruise with the cruise the last portion. We went with Collette, but I'm not sure if they offer the same package now. Best trip we ever took...
If I went back I'd skip the cruise part and just do the Yukon and Alaska land portion. The cruise is OK, but once you've seen a glacier, you've seen them all. The ports are basically tourist trap towns. Lots of made in China "Alaskan" souvineers....
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Post by ukwil on Dec 31, 2015 16:03:31 GMT -5
I'll have to ask my wife. She has a friend from high school who runs a travel agency. The land portion we are planning on our own.
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 31, 2015 16:27:04 GMT -5
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Post by Woody Williams on Dec 31, 2015 16:28:56 GMT -5
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Post by dbd870 on Dec 31, 2015 16:57:34 GMT -5
We did an Alaska cruise a handful of years back. Cruise is just meh to me but enjoyed the land excursions. The whale outing was excellent - lots of action
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Post by ukwil on Jan 1, 2016 14:52:10 GMT -5
Woody, the wife wanted me to ask how you guys got around in the ports and stuff? |
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Post by Woody Williams on Jan 1, 2016 16:53:04 GMT -5
These "port " towns are not all that big. Maybe ten cities blocks, IF that much. All the shops and some attractions are within walking distances of the dock. The ship will offer paid side excursions. Just pick and choose what you want there.
Two such excursions are the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau and the Totem Bight State Historical Park in Ketchikan. Those are not all that expensive. The train ride out of Skagway was pretty steep (money and mountains).
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Post by Woody Williams on Jan 1, 2016 16:54:40 GMT -5
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Post by Woody Williams on Jan 1, 2016 17:01:08 GMT -5
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Post by Woody Williams on Jan 2, 2016 16:31:29 GMT -5
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Post by hatchetjack on Jan 2, 2016 17:00:53 GMT -5
I have about 364 pics of our Alaskan vacation (land/cruise) from 2013 on photobucket if you want to look: smg.photobucket.com/user/jc9195757/slideshow/Alaska2013I agree that the land portion was much better than the cruise. Next time I'll just fly up there, rent a small motorhome or SUV and drive around. Jack |
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Post by Woody Williams on Jan 2, 2016 17:36:42 GMT -5
I have about 364 pics of our Alaskan vacation (land/cruise) from 2013 on photobucket if you want to look: smg.photobucket.com/user/jc9195757/slideshow/Alaska2013I agree that the land portion was much better than the cruise. Next time I'll just fly up there, rent a small motorhome or SUV and drive around. Jack Brought back memories...lots of familiar places... |
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Post by ukwil on Jan 2, 2016 18:53:21 GMT -5
Hatchetjack,
We loved the pics. Can you give us some details on what you did? We are debating on the train ride, planning on Denali, taking the kids panning for gold, and we are really wanting to fish. The planning has been overwhelming. Any tips or pointers?
Thanks,
Brandon
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Post by hatchetjack on Jan 2, 2016 22:48:25 GMT -5
I still have most of the info from our trip. I'll try and dig it all out tomorrow. In a nutshell we flew from here to Portland and then to Anchorage. Took a bus to the first hotel (very nice Princess lodge in sight of Denali) for 2 days. Took the train from there to Princess Denali Lodge for two days. Took a bus from there to Princess Copper River lodge for two days. Finally on the boat.
During the land part we went white water rafting. Did a day trip into Denali. Did a little hiking around. On the cruise we rode the ducks through one of the towns and did whale watching trip. We also just poked around the cruise towns (ship lines own everything)and hit a couple of bars, etc. We used Princess for everything so it was pretty nice. We booked with a friend in Greenwood and they went with us and a group of about 20. I think everyone was pleased with the trip. Again I got the most enjoyment one evening fly fishing for Arctic Char. Got back to the room around 11 PM and it was full light. The train ride was okay but I'll bet you can see more driving yourself around. Lots of stuff for the kids to do. If I go again I'll skip the cruise part (although I do like cruising).
Jack
P.S. Warning several folks signed up to go salmon fishing but I was too slow signing up. Well, when we got there in mid-June the fish were still out in the ocean and hadn't come into the rivers. We also had spectacular weather in that it never rained for the 14-15 days we were there and daily highs were near 80-90 degrees.
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Post by Genesis 27:3 on Jan 3, 2016 9:28:22 GMT -5
Never been but my uncle has invited me out a few times. He's a Fairbanks resident. Enjoy!
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Post by swilk on Jan 3, 2016 13:37:39 GMT -5
An Alaskan trip is on my bucket list....both to hunt and a separate trip to just see what can be seen.
My sister and mom/dad had discussed doing a cruise in 2016 but my niece got engaged with a July 2016 date so the cruise was pushed back. With the youngest of my kids being just 4 I would say it'll be at least 10 years before I get to go.
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