bruin70
Joined: 12/04/12 Posts: 57
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Posted Sun, May 19 8:53 am
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In response to Really OT : My Alaska Cruise Next Weekend (blue and gold 4-ever)
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We were there last September and loved every minute of it! Hubbard is just a day of rest and beauty. I'm trying to remember the stop that had the world's biggest zip rider! Amazing! Ketchikan...DO NOT do the misty Fjords cruise. Too many sales pitches and not enough beauty. Juneau...Mendenhall Glacier hike!!!
Let me know the other stops you'll be making. ENJOY! It's so beautiful. |
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Brewin Fan
Joined: 10/11/09 Posts: 8,878
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Posted Sun, May 19 9:05 am
(Edited Sun, May 19 9:14 am)
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In response to Really OT : My Alaska Cruise Next Weekend (blue and gold 4-ever)
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Harv and Marv's Whale Watching Tour in Juneau was fantastic. We had the small, fast boat. It only had a party of 6 people on board and he was able to go very fast tracking down the whales. We saw Humpbacks, Orcas, Porpoises, Sea Lions, Glaciers, and others. I did a wildlife tour of Haines when we were in Skagway that was very good as well. As the other poster recommended I would definitely do the Mendenhall Glacier hike, but you can do that on your own, you don't need a guide for that one. We also did the bald eagle, totem pole, whale, seal tour in Ketchikan which was pretty good, but I can't remember the name of the tour. The Captain did play his trombone to attract some whales which was pretty funny. If possible try to make it to Denali.
It depends on what your interests are and how much cash you are willing to spend.  |
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IE55
Joined: 1/13/14 Posts: 121
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Wandering Jomad
Joined: 6/29/12 Posts: 3,811
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Posted Sun, May 19 7:29 pm
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In response to Really OT : My Alaska Cruise Next Weekend (blue and gold 4-ever)
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But funny, as I never do any of the tourist stuff. Depending on how many hours you're here and how much you want to spend, you almost can't go wrong.
The aforementioned totem/wildlife tours are a good way to see the island and wilderness, particularly since you said land based. |
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wassily
Joined: 8/11/14 Posts: 1,094
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Posted Sun, May 19 11:44 pm
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In response to Really OT : My Alaska Cruise Next Weekend (blue and gold 4-ever)
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These cruises are about nature. Not really the weather to make use of outdoor pools too much.
Get some decent binoculars and enjoy the scenery and nature around you while your are lounging on a deck chair.
Or walk around the deck to make sure you catch what could be swimming close by or flying around the trees.
Ketchikan: For a 6 hour window.. there's not much you should do. I would just walk around the small town and grab some local bites. Otherwise, there's a lumberjack show or an Eagle hatchery you could do without worrying too much about time and getting back on the boat. Or walk around and you'll see some Salmon trying to swim upstream by the creek. Bawden Street is pretty much the main brewery there.
Juneau: Looks like you've got a lot of time here. I would skip Medenhall Glacier since you will see Hubbard Glacier (which imo is better). Medenhall has receded so much since the first time I've been there.. pretty sad. Although last time I went, saw a Mama bear and her 2 cubs walking in the forest about 20 yards away.
I've taken a boat out to Medenhall before... it was okay. Nice to hear the local guide talk about how delicious seal meat is. Apparently you have to be a native Alaskan to hunt them.
Otherwise, take a helicopter to see the topography from above.. it's really amazing. Or take a boat out and go fishing.
Breweries: Alaskan Brewing Company is there. Close by, there are a few other local breweries in the area. However, if you are into Gin, there is a Distiller there called Amalga. I get my Gin fix there when I'm in Juneau.
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Slomos55
Joined: 9/22/13 Posts: 757
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Posted Tue, May 21 4:00 am
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In response to Really OT : My Alaska Cruise Next Weekend (blue and gold 4-ever)
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Mrs Slomos & I lived in Alaska for almost 11 years. Our two kids were born there. I would probably still be there if the Mrs. had not announced a return to the Lower 48. Go figure
If you make it as far as Haines/Skagway, you have to hit up the Chilkoot Pass. Did miliary training there many moons ago, as well as a university internship.
Be careful with the float plane excursions, as they had a recent tragedy , in Ketchikan. WATCH OUT FOR BEARS! Time of the year they are out.
Tons of Bruins in the state especially Anchorage. Enjoy your trip. |
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Bruin Steve
Joined: 2/08/10 Posts: 132
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Posted Tue, May 21 6:03 am
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In response to Really OT : My Alaska Cruise Next Weekend (blue and gold 4-ever)
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I've done three of these cruises...all on Celebrity, southbound out of Seward to Vancouver: Hubbard Glacier, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Ketchikan...
For Hubbard Glacier, they sail in, then turn the ship around several times so everyone gets a view...it is magnificent...But, rather than view it from my balcony, best views are from the Heliport up front--but you have to get an invite (which means be in a Suite or be "Elite" or better in Captains Club)...if not, maybe the open upper deck--but beware, it gets crowded. Other thing to note is that it gets VERY cold when cruising right in front of the glacier--wear long pants and a jacket...
Skagway: I've usually skipped the touristy train and done private tours up into the Yukon...Once a horseback riding thing with Southeast Tours, then a van tour with "Dyea Dave's"...and this last time with Chilkoot Adventures--who ran a pretty good operation, though the included lunch was meh...
Icy Strait Points--definitely Whale Watching--more whales than anyplace else on earth...We've done it three times there with three different operators (there are several there--but they tend to fill up fast). Best one we did was with "Misty Bay Lodge" on a boat only licensed to carry 6 passengers--though the boat was mush larger so ample room to move around indoors and out. With a small boat, you can zoom around looking for whales...and get a little closer than the larger boats.
Best excursion we've done in Alaska hands down was in Juneau--a helicopter landing on a glacier with Coastal Helicopters--VERY pricey, but still way less than through the cruise line. Extremely cool--they take you way out into the ice fields and land you on a pretty much unspoiled piece of blue ice...where you get to walk around for a while (careful about the crevasses). Unreal experience...
Ketchikan isn't too exciting...This last summer, we were there on the Fourth of July and watched the local Independence day parade--wacky small town Americana...The "Duck Tour" ius an interesting way to see Ketchikan...or head to one of the Totem Pole parks...
Have fun... |
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DocJock
Joined: 2/03/05 Posts: 15,584
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