Alaska ABD vs. Alaska Cruise

[mmrunsdisney]

Hi - Looking to see if anyone has opinions/experiences with both or would make recommendation about taking the ABD Alaska Trip or seeing Alaska via the cruise ship. Initial concern is availability of some of the excursions, but, loved our recent ABD to Costa Rica.

 

[sayhello]

I have not done an Alaska cruise with DCL, but I have done both the Alaska ABD and an Alaska cruisetour with Princess.

They are very different trips. The DCL cruise (and most Alaska cruises) stay in the very southwest corner of Alaska along the Inside Passage. While this area is very cool, and worth seeing, it can't really hold a candle to inland Alaska (Denali National Park, the Kenai Peninsula, etc). When I took my cruisetour, the cruise part was nice (especially cruising Glacier Bay), but the best part of the trip was definitely the land portion that went inland to Fairbanks, 2 areas of Denali National Park, Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula (and included rides on the Alaskan Railroad).

The Alaska ABD also does Anchorage, Denali National park and the Kenai Peninsula, and a very short ride on the Alaska Railroad.

Personally, if I could only do one trip (an Inside Passage cruise vs the Alaska ABD) I would definitely choose the Alaska ABD. But that's just me. You know your family best. The best would be a trip that included both! If you're looking at taking a cruisetour with another cruiseline like Princess, then that's a whole different story.

Sayhello

 

[dizneekrazee]

I have not done an Alaska cruise with DCL, but I have done both the Alaska ABD and an Alaska cruisetour with Princess.

They are very different trips. The DCL cruise (and most Alaska cruises) stay in the very southwest corner of Alaska along the Inside Passage. While this area is very cool, and worth seeing, it can't really hold a candle to inland Alaska (Denali National Park, the Kenai Peninsula, etc). When I took my cruisetour, the cruise part was nice (especially cruising Glacier Bay), but the best part of the trip was definitely the land portion that went inland to Fairbanks, 2 areas of Denali National Park, Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula (and included rides on the Alaskan Railroad).

The Alaska ABD also does Anchorage, Denali National park and the Kenai Peninsula, and a very short ride on the Alaska Railroad.

Personally, if I could only do one trip (an Inside Passage cruise vs the Alaska ABD) I would definitely choose the Alaska ABD. But that's just me. You know your family best. The best would be a trip that included both! If you're looking at taking a cruisetour with another cruiseline like Princess, then that's a whole different story.

Sayhello

Sayhello, this reminded me to ask you. The Alaska ABD does NOT go to Fairbanks, correct? Alaska is the only US itinerary I would consider, but, Fairbanks is a must. Were you, by chance, able to see the Northern Lights on the ABD?
(I'm just keeping up with posts now, decided to do Japan instead of risking Egypt & being disappointed).

Thank you for your help, always.

 

[sayhello]

Sayhello, this reminded me to ask you. The Alaska ABD does NOT go to Fairbanks, correct? Alaska is the only US itinerary I would consider, but, Fairbanks is a must. Were you, by chance, able to see the Northern Lights on the ABD?
(I'm just keeping up with posts now, decided to do Japan instead of risking Egypt & being disappointed).

Thank you for your help, always.

And you are totally welcome.

The Alaska ABD does not go to Fairbanks anymore. (It used to start there). I agree it's worth seeing! You could go there ahead of the ABD, spend a couple of days, then head down to Anchorage to start the ABD (or do it at the end). I did not see the Northern Lights on our ABD. I was there in early September, and I'm not sure that that was the right time of year yet to see the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights is definitely on my bucket list, so I guess I'll just have to go back to Alaska some time...

By the way, you could take the Alaska Railroad from Fairbanks to Anchorage or the other way around. It takes all day (8am to 8pm) but it goes through some amazing scenery on the way!

http://alaskarailroad.com/travel/Schedules/DenaliStar/tabid/99/Default.aspx

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Sayhello, this reminded me to ask you. The Alaska ABD does NOT go to Fairbanks, correct? Alaska is the only US itinerary I would consider, but, Fairbanks is a must. Were you, by chance, able to see the Northern Lights on the ABD?
(I'm just keeping up with posts now, decided to do Japan instead of risking Egypt & being disappointed).

Thank you for your help, always.

I don't believe you will be able to see the northern lights on an ABD. When we took the trip in July, the sun dipped below the horizon for a short time, but it never got dark at all (you could easily read a book by the daylight at the darkest time of day). There might be an hour or two of darkness in June and August. ABD doesn't have any 2014 Alaska trips scheduled after August.

 

[dizneekrazee]

Thank you both for your replies!! I may just have to keep Alaska as a do it myself trip. Although the rail travel sounds really nice.

And I agree, Northern Lights is most certainly on that Bucket List.

 

[carpenta]

We did the Alaska ABD that did start in Fairbanks. I had to admit the oil pipe line which we saw on tour was impressive. Then we headed south after a visit to a mushers dog kennel. Fairbanks is not that large at all with one main street and not much else. If you have any questions I will try to help but as Sayhello stated the tour has changed since we went. The Alyeska hotel was really, really nice. The train ride was really nice on a self propelled two story Bud type car. Coming from a railroad family it was nice to speak to the engineer. He was actually employed by Union Pacific for many years before heading to Alaska. But I would say the cruise captures more of the coastal living where the ABD shows more the native species of animals as well as the Native peoples and "new comers" that try to tame this wild place. We had a wonderful time and still rates as one of our favorites trip of all time and style.

 

[mmrunsdisney]

We did the Alaska ABD that did start in Fairbanks. I had to admit the oil pipe line which we saw on tour was impressive. Then we headed south after a visit to a mushers dog kennel. Fairbanks is not that large at all with one main street and not much else. If you have any questions I will try to help but as Sayhello stated the tour has changed since we went. The Alyeska hotel was really, really nice. The train ride was really nice on a self propelled two story Bud type car. Coming from a railroad family it was nice to speak to the engineer. He was actually employed by Union Pacific for many years before heading to Alaska. But I would say the cruise captures more of the coastal living where the ABD shows more the native species of animals as well as the Native peoples and "new comers" that try to tame this wild place. We had a wonderful time and still rates as one of our favorites trip of all time and style.

Thanks for the information. It is on my 'to-do' list, just would love to see other recent experiences with the 'newer' trip itinerary. Hoping to see a trip report or comments about recent experiences. I just wonder how far into Denali it goes as I understand the roads can be windy - would need to secure my spot in the front of the bus.

 

[carpenta]

Thanks for the information. It is on my 'to-do' list, just would love to see other recent experiences with the 'newer' trip itinerary. Hoping to see a trip report or comments about recent experiences. I just wonder how far into Denali it goes as I understand the roads can be windy - would need to secure my spot in the front of the bus.

To go into Danali only busses that are certified by the government can enter the park. No private or charter busses.The busses they use are like the yellow school busses that transport kids to school. We bought tickets and did the 10 hour tour and it went pretty far into the park and the roads are windy with little guard rails BUT it is one of the most beautiful trips you will ever take. On the bus the driver has a high capacity camera with scope so they capture any wildlife they see and broadcast on TV screens on the bus. They offer a DVD that recorded all the wildlife you see on the trip. We seen a lot of wildlife, bears, moose, wolves, eagles etc.Also a bag lunch goes with the trip. Knowing Disney I would bet they would reserve a bus just for the ABD group.

 

[Bobo912]

We were on the second ever departure of this trip, so that was back in the days when it went to Fairbanks. I loved the trip. It is my favorite of the ABD's I've taken (SWS is a close 2nd). Looking at the 2014 itinerary, on paper at least, I think it looks even better!

 

[sayhello]

We were on the second ever departure of this trip, so that was back in the days when it went to Fairbanks. I loved the trip. It is my favorite of the ABD's I've taken (SWS is a close 2nd). Looking at the 2014 itinerary, on paper at least, I think it looks even better!

I kind of agree about the new itinerary. There are a lot of changes to this itinerary that I like. It goes much further into Denali than we did with the "wolf tracking", takes the Alaska Railroad for a more scenic ride between Girdwood & Seward (but no river rafting). For a minute I thought they cut out the Kenai Fjords, but it's just labeled as "Resurrection Bay". No Kenai Fjords cruise would be sad, sad, sad!

Am I crazy to be tempted to take this tour again?

Sayhello

 

[Bobo912]

Am I crazy to be tempted to take this tour again?

Sayhello

LOL I was thinking the same thing. But I must resist the temptation. Too many other places I haven't been yet.

 

[lrweaver]

My daughter and I did ABD Alaska last year. The train part was not included. Seeing wildlife was definitely great.