Alaskan Cruise

[Southern Geek]

DW and I did a 2-week Alaska cruise and land tour combo 2 years ago. In At Ketchikan, I'd recommend a self-guided walking tour. If you go in late summer, the salmon will be spawning on the river that runs right through the middle of town. Be prepared for rain. Ketchikan is one of the rainiest places on earth. On our trip we were there on one of the rare summer dry days. The locals kept telling us how lucky we were.

In Juneau we did this tour. Pricey, but DW and I both agreed it was the highlight of our trip. After the tour, we had time to walk to the Alaska State Museum and spend a few hours viewing the exhibits there.

In Icy Straits, a whale watching excursion would be my recommendation. OTOH, if you are an adrenaline junkie - the longest (and at one time, the highest, and fastest) zip line in the world is located there. Even if you don't zip, it is worthwhile to eat at the restaurant near the terminus and watch the brave make the trip.

The wild card in any Alaska trip is the weather. You never know what you are going to get from one day to the next. Be prepared for changes in plans. And always pack a poncho.

 

[robnplunder]

We did the white pass rail tour.

I skipped this one but my family and relatives did it. They all loved it.

Lumberjack show - so so.

I did hikes and they were good ... and free.

 

[akck]

Be aware that the Alaska State Museum is currently closed, as they are constructing a new building for it. The Juneau/Douglas City Museum is open, but it is a smaller museum. It is within walking distance from the docks and if you have time to kill, you can tour the State Legislature building right next door for free, assuming they haven't been cut for budgetary constraints.

 

[grasshopper]

While in Juneau and if you are on your own for lunch this is a great place to watch float planes from. And the food and beer is pretty good also.

Hangar On The Wharf, Juneau - Menu, Prices & Restaurant Reviews - TripAdvisor

 

[Dancer373]

We did the same as Eagle43....first the land tour and then relax on the ship cruising home. I highly recommend the 2 week tour as there is so much to ground to cover and so much to see. Holland America was a great cruise line for this. I would love to do it again.....

 

[BellBarbara]

Funny I am working on the same thing right now. We are cruising 11 days in Sept - we do have that stop in Skagway. We are booking a car there. May drive on our own because there will be more than 10K people in dock at Skagway that day.

We can always change to the train if it works out. We are mostly concerned that the weather is bad, then we paid $200 a person to see not much. The only bad reviews you see are from this issue.

They do post on the cruise critic boards that when you walk off the ships there are tour companies there who will negotiate, although someone said the cruise lines are pressuring them to stop.

 

[Evie]

We did a small ship cruise, with a land/ train to Denali/Kantishna.

View attachment 21542

That is a FANTASTIC photograph! Love it!

 

[BellBarbara]

My stops are Ketchican, Skagway, Icy Strain Point, Juneau, Victoria and Nahaino, BC.

We will prob do no tours in Ketchican or nahaino. Will take cab to Butchart Gardens in BC (Celbrity tour cost is silly). Rent the car in Skagway and drive up into the Yukon to Emerald lake. So I really only need to figure out Juneau and Icy Strait Point.

We are big kayakers so maybe Icy Point for this depending on weather.

 

[Meadbh]

My stops are Ketchican, Skagway, Icy Strain Point, Juneau, Victoria and Nahaino, BC.

We will prob do no tours in Ketchican or nahaino. Will take cab to Butchart Gardens in BC (Celbrity tour cost is silly). Rent the car in Skagway and drive up into the Yukon to Emerald lake. So I really only need to figure out Juneau and Icy Strait Point.

We are big kayakers so maybe Icy Point for this depending on weather.

I think you mean Nanaimo. I think you will enjoy the Butchart Gardens. Here is a photo I took there last September. I wonder whether it might be cost effective to rent a car in Nanaimo to do that?

 

[Lsbcal]

what is a typical Alaska cruise cost? just a rough number please

Thanks.

 

[BellBarbara]

I think you mean Nanaimo. I think you will enjoy the Butchart Gardens. Here is a photo I took there last September. I wonder whether it might be cost effective to rent a car in Nanaimo to do that?

Is it close to Nanaimo? It's only 13 miles from Victoria.

the picture is AWESOME! My husband is a huge gardener.

 

[braumeister]

what is a typical Alaska cruise cost? just a rough number please

Thanks.

No such thing as typical.
Anywhere from $2,000 per person to $15,000 per person for a one to two week excursion.

 

[Lsbcal]

No such thing as typical.
Anywhere from $2,000 per person to $15,000 per person for a one to two week excursion.

Thanks. I know the question is kind of open ended. We tend to spend maybe $300 per day for a "nice" domestic car driving vacation. Maybe $450 per day for a European vacation including everything (for 2 including airfare, etc.).

So I'm just looking for a middle-of-the-road number. We could drive or fly up the West Coast and then do the cruise. DW lived in Alaska in her early teens. She'd love to see it again. Neither of us has done a cruise.

 

[Evie]

what is a typical Alaska cruise cost? just a rough number please

Thanks.

I'm sure it depends on a lot of stuff. We're doing a 7 day cruise. We reserved last fall when the prices were lower, so around $1500 per person with a window, but no balcony. I think now they're running closer to $2000 per person. We also got a drink perk that I don't remember all the particulars, but basically I think we're drinking booze for free all week.

One of my friends who likes to travel in style inquired about the state room, which is a big suite type room I think. He said that normally the cost for a suite type room would be 2 or 3 times the cost the lowest price cabin, but in this case, it was $11k per person! Crazy! He ended up booking a smaller room.

 

[Meadbh]

Is it close to Nanaimo? It's only 13 miles from Victoria.

the picture is AWESOME! My husband is a huge gardener.

Nanaimo is 118 km (73 miles) from the Butchart Gardens. I have attached a map.

 

[Moemg]

We cruised Alaska when the economy was awful so we were able to get a balcony on a seven day cruise for $900 each .In Juneau we did a whale watch about $69 each & in Skagway we did a private tour to Emerald Lake in the Yukon.That tour was also $69.00 each . We then went to the Red dog saloon for reindeer pizza .

 

[Meadbh]

Do have tea at the Butchart Gardens. It's an occasion!

 

[Meadbh]

For some reason my iPad will only allow me to post one photo at a time.

 

[Meadbh]

Last photo from the Butchart Gardens.

 

[audreyh1]

Do have tea at the Butchart Gardens. It's an occasion!

We totally enjoyed the Butchart Gardens tea experience. The most fun discovery was the rose tea. Delicious!

 

[Evie]

I'll add Butchart Gardens to the itinerary for the week in Vancouver following the cruise!

 

[Southern Geek]

We can always change to the train if it works out. We are mostly concerned that the weather is bad, then we paid $200 a person to see not much. The only bad reviews you see are from this issue.

Yep. That's what happened on our trip. Great weather till we got to Skagway, then dense fog. Thus, about the only thing we saw on the rail trip up to the pass was the rail cars in front and behind us. Knowing what I know now, the next time I'll purchase tickets for the rail after seeing what the weather is like when I get there.
Because the dense fog continued for the remainder of the cruise, we did not have an opportunity to view a glacier from the ship while in Hubbard Bay. The fog was so bad, you couldn't see from the bow to the stern of the ship. The captain turned the ship around about halfway to the glacier because he couldn't see to navigate around the icebergs in the bay. It was the only real disappointment of the trip.

 

[Meadbh]

I'll add Butchart Gardens to the itinerary for the week in Vancouver following the cruise!

Will you take the ferry or fly to Vancouver Island?

 

[BellBarbara]

Thanks - that is an idea to do it that day. This forum is so great.

 

[Evie]

Will you take the ferry or fly to Vancouver Island?

The last time I went to Vancouver Island, I think we took the ferry, so likely the ferry? I remember it was huge, with five levels for cars I think. I'll be in Vancouver with a group (partial group from the cruise), so gotta coordinate with them.