We just returned from the June 1st-June 8th Alaskan cruise. We are a party of 6; Mom, Dad, and our 4 kiddos (21, 19, 17, 14). We booked 1 1/2 years ago. We had room 6108 (balcony) and 6109 (inside). They were in an excellent location. Easy to walk up 3 flights for food or down 1 or 2 flights for Parrot Cay or Animators. Movie Theatre was right under us.
We arrived at the port by 11. Customs took about 10 minutes but after that we waited and waited. I think we got on the ship close to 1. Went to lunch at Parrot Cay and only had to wait for a few minutes after that for our rooms.
We really just relaxed the first and second day. Watched movies, played ping pong, foosball, enjoyed the scenery.
Tracy Arm Day - so glad for our balcony. It was just beautiful! We did go up to the top deck to look at all of the beauty we were surrounded by. Words and pictures can not even describe it! Just amazing, breathtaking, majestic! It was so cold!
Skagway - we booked Chilkoot Charters privately. Bus up, train back. It was about 7 hours total. Brian, our bus tour guide, was great! Stopped at all of the photo stops plus more! He did a great job telling us about the area and the history. We did get lucky and saw a bear just snacking away on dandelions. I highly recommend Chilkoot Charters!
Juneau - rented a van from Juneau Rental Car so we could do Juneau on our own without being slave to bus schedules and tour schedules. Went to Mendenhall Glacier and hiked to Nugget Falls. It was a great hike there. I really could have stayed there all day. Then just drive around Juneau. Tons of Eagles!!! They were just lovely!
Ketchikan - we did not book anything in this port. We walked around Creek Street. Found a great private book store (Parnassis Books). Great staff and very helpful. It was too early in the season for salmon but it was still cool to see the creek and salmon ladder.
Last sea day - We had brunch at Palo's. It was a beautiful morning and we could see everything! Even a whale breaching! It was so funny because we heard applause and we thought someone had just been proposed to. Then everyone ran to the window (including the Palo staff, lol) and their the whale was just playing in the water. I think she breached like 4 more times! It was great! After brunch, it got really cloudy! Made it easier to pack up though.
Our cruise was simply a dream come true. It was cold and rainy for every port but that did not stop us from enjoying it. We saw humpbacks and orca whales, Eagles, porpoises and seals all from the ship. Bring binoculars for easier viewing. I highly recommend you bring layers. It is a much more casual cruise than the Caribbean cruises. Our son forgot his nice pants for formal night and had to wear jeans. He was still dressed nicely and nobody batted an eye.
One more thing, we stayed in Vancouver for 4 days before the trip. We stayed at Time Square Suites Hotel. It was an apartment style hotel (full kitchen, living room, bathroom AND laundry). This hotel exceeded my expectations! I highly recommend it! Taxi ride to port was around $8.00.
Please let me know if you have any questions! This cruise needs to be done by everybody! It is so different than the Bahama and Carribean cruises! We absolutely loved it!
We arrived at the port by 11. Customs took about 10 minutes but after that we waited and waited. I think we got on the ship close to 1. Went to lunch at Parrot Cay and only had to wait for a few minutes after that for our rooms.
We really just relaxed the first and second day. Watched movies, played ping pong, foosball, enjoyed the scenery.
Tracy Arm Day - so glad for our balcony. It was just beautiful! We did go up to the top deck to look at all of the beauty we were surrounded by. Words and pictures can not even describe it! Just amazing, breathtaking, majestic! It was so cold!
Skagway - we booked Chilkoot Charters privately. Bus up, train back. It was about 7 hours total. Brian, our bus tour guide, was great! Stopped at all of the photo stops plus more! He did a great job telling us about the area and the history. We did get lucky and saw a bear just snacking away on dandelions. I highly recommend Chilkoot Charters!
Juneau - rented a van from Juneau Rental Car so we could do Juneau on our own without being slave to bus schedules and tour schedules. Went to Mendenhall Glacier and hiked to Nugget Falls. It was a great hike there. I really could have stayed there all day. Then just drive around Juneau. Tons of Eagles!!! They were just lovely!
Ketchikan - we did not book anything in this port. We walked around Creek Street. Found a great private book store (Parnassis Books). Great staff and very helpful. It was too early in the season for salmon but it was still cool to see the creek and salmon ladder.
Last sea day - We had brunch at Palo's. It was a beautiful morning and we could see everything! Even a whale breaching! It was so funny because we heard applause and we thought someone had just been proposed to. Then everyone ran to the window (including the Palo staff, lol) and their the whale was just playing in the water. I think she breached like 4 more times! It was great! After brunch, it got really cloudy! Made it easier to pack up though.
Our cruise was simply a dream come true. It was cold and rainy for every port but that did not stop us from enjoying it. We saw humpbacks and orca whales, Eagles, porpoises and seals all from the ship. Bring binoculars for easier viewing. I highly recommend you bring layers. It is a much more casual cruise than the Caribbean cruises. Our son forgot his nice pants for formal night and had to wear jeans. He was still dressed nicely and nobody batted an eye.
One more thing, we stayed in Vancouver for 4 days before the trip. We stayed at Time Square Suites Hotel. It was an apartment style hotel (full kitchen, living room, bathroom AND laundry). This hotel exceeded my expectations! I highly recommend it! Taxi ride to port was around $8.00.
Please let me know if you have any questions! This cruise needs to be done by everybody! It is so different than the Bahama and Carribean cruises! We absolutely loved it!
will remember to bundle up for the upper decks if need be ;-)
