Alaska on July 19th, 2011 "Where a good tan is hard to find"

[manascarfan]

Cabin #6504
Barbara (me) 39
John (DH) 40
Sean (DS) 12
Samantha (DD) 9

Welcome Aboard

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Cabin #6504
Barbara (me) 39
John (DH) 40
Sean (DS) 12
Samantha (DD) 9

Welcome aboard....AND welcome to the DIS. You'll become quickly addicted.

Let us know if you have any questions about the cruise OR the DIS itself. Sometimes it's easier to ask them here than to post them on the BIG board where everyone can see. We're all friends here.

 

["Got Disney"]

Cabin #6504
Barbara (me) 39
John (DH) 40
Sean (DS) 12
Samantha (DD) 9

Morning everyone....and Welcome Barbara

So how did ya find the Dis? so glad that ya did! WE have a great crew in here and so glad that you could join us

like Tom said...if you need any help or any questions that you dont see on the main cruise board just ask many of us have been here for awhile. I still read the boards everyday because everyday I find something new.

I will be posting info on page one so if you come across something you think will help us all with this trip let me know and I will post it for all of us on page one

Tom and I seem to have no life since we are here all the time I am doing a lot of research being that we will have a guest with us this time and money for them is an issue so I need to get all the info for our trip ASAP to give them an idea on what they will need to save. We will be paying for part of it so need that info for myself also.

Again welcome aboard

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

First draft (remember I've been running a fever for 2 days, much better now, thanks, but I worked on this last night):

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

Here's a silly question (fever induced):

If we are leaving from a foreign port (Canada), does that mean we will have to go through customs upon arriving in Alaska??

 

["Got Disney"]

First draft (remember I've been running a fever for 2 days, much better now, thanks, but I worked on this last night):

Sorry your sick Tom Have you got the flu? Hope you feel better soon

This looks good. Can you bold the Date and make a little bigger and try it in a color other than black...maybe like an ocean blue...like the color blue you see on the ice caps in Alaska.....what is that like an Aqua

Maybe do one with a lighter blue also....the blue slammed me in the face when i looked at it but before changing the blue first see how the Date with a color looks with the dark Blue

Thanks Tom....you are soooooo good at this....it's worth the trouble of being on this cruise with you again just so to have you do things like this

Hmmmmm what are Alaska's flag colors.....I need to go and check...okay so I checked...they are Dark blue and yellow...just like you have was this a coincidence or did you know that already

 

[manascarfan]

Here's a silly question (fever induced):

If we are leaving from a foreign port (Canada), does that mean we will have to go through customs upon arriving in Alaska??

I believe we will check in thru Customs in Canada, then back thru Customs in Alaska.

 

[manascarfan]

First draft (remember I've been running a fever for 2 days, much better now, thanks, but I worked on this last night):

I think it looks great Tom, hope you are feeling better soon.

 

["Got Disney"]

I believe we will check in thru Customs in Canada, then back thru Customs in Alaska.

I found this but will search more.....http://www.al-cruise.com/FAQ.php


For an Alaskan cruise, would it be better to leave from Seattle or Vancouver? Why?

Both ports have their advantages (and disadvantages). Vancouver has perhaps the most spectacular setting of any city in North America (arguably even more beautiful than San Francisco’s location). Seattle is also a beautiful city set against the backdrop of snow-capped Mt. Rainier, but for people flying from American cities, Seattle’s chief advantage is that you can avoid going through customs at the airport. While Vancouver’s airport is beautiful and state-of –the-art, the lines at customs can be somewhat long. For anyone flying in from Canada, however, it would probably make more sense to fly in or out of Vancouver for the same reason – to avoid American customs at Seattle. Of course, a fairly large number of Alaska cruises travel using one-way north or southbound itineraries, so your trip will most likely include a flight in or out of Anchorage too.

here is some more info that might be helpful...

What are good side trips/land excursions for various ports?

Alaskan cruises usually offer a large variety of side trips/ land excursions. For example, in Ketchikan, a great shore excursion is the float plane trip to Misty Fjords National Monument, which is simply breathtaking. In Juneau, an excellent choice is the helicopter dog sled tour, which gives you an amazing aerial tour of glaciers, followed by a real Alaskan dog sled ride atop one of the glaciers. In Sitka, a really interesting underwater tour on Alaska’s only semi-submersible ship is offered by Sealife Discovery Tours. Finally, in Skagway, a trip on the White Pass Railroad into Canada’s Yukon Territory is a no-miss, with truly beautiful scenery along a track that dates back to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Of course, these are just some of the available options and a wonderful array of excursions is available in every Alaskan port.


What is the best pre or post cruise tour out of Vancouver?

One of the most popular inland tours from Vancouver is the Canadian Rockies tour, including stops at the amazing Lake Louise and Banff National Park. If any landscape in North America rivals that of Alaska, it is the landscape of the Canadian Rockies. The beautiful color of the lakes there defies description, and the peaks are about the most picturesque of anywhere outside of the Alps.

Where is the best place to view bald eagles in Alaska?

One of the things that you may be surprised is how many bald eagles you’ll see throughout the entire cruise route. You can literally spot them in most any port. But the very best place to spot large numbers of bald eagles is out of Skagway, on the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve rafting trip. Here you can see the eagles in their pristine natural environment, feeding in the clear river waters, perched in trees, or soaring high above. They are a truly majestic sight you will never forget.

Where is the best place to view bears on other wildlife in Alaska?

Again, bears and other wildlife are amazingly abundant along the Alaska cruise route. You are bound to see a black or brown (grizzly) bear feeding of salmon or other fish in a stream on any of a number of port excursions. The best place to spot Dall sheep is actually along the route between the airport in Anchorage and the port of Seward (or Whittier). Watch for them on the slopes that rise up on the opposite side of the road from the Turnagain Arm inlet. The long, narrow Turnagain Arm is also a great place to spot beluga whales, so look for them as your bus or train heads along the side of this inlet.


I don’t have much extra in my budget for shore excursions (and some run over $300 per person!) What are some fun yet inexpensive things to do while in port?

You don’t have to spend much at all to have a great time in each port. In Ketchikan, you can visit the stores along Creek Street for free, and you can stop by the Totem Heritage Center, which is about 15 minute walk from the docks. Admission is only $1 as of this writing. In Juneau, for about $10, you can catch a round trip bus trip to the visitor center at the base of the Mendenhall Glacier, where you can hike, view bears, and see the massive glacier up close. Then, in Skagway, stop by any of the many wonderful historical buildings in town, all just minutes from the dock. The Klondike Gold Rush history in this town is fascinating, and there is plenty to see and do on foot in the small but quaint town.


Is it true that not all cruise ships stop in Glacier Bay National Park? I heard that this was one of the most beautiful spots in Alaska and want to see it.

Yes, it is true that the U.S. Park Service has limited large cruise ship traffic in the park’s waters to two a day. This has led many cruise lines to seek alternate locations for glacier viewing along the Inside Passage, including Tracy Arm and Misty Fjords National Monument. Princess and Norwegian currently have the most ships allowed to enter the park, so if you really want to see Glacier Bay, then check out the itineraries for these two cruise lines.

My favorite cruise line does not stop in glacier Bay. What is a good alternative destination?

The two most popular alternatives to Glacier Bay National Park are Tracy Arm and Misty Fjords. Both of them are amazingly beautiful and you will not be disappointed if your ship stops in either of those places.

What about icebergs? Aren’t they dangerous? Will we see any?

Indeed, you will see many, many icebergs in the narrow fjords, as huge chunks of ice break off or “calve” from the glaciers. However, thanks to modern sonar and excellent piloting skills, the ships navigate safely through these icy waters. The ships go very slowly through the icy sections of the fjords, and it is actually quite safe.

 

[manascarfan]

Robin-Thanks for all that great info. You are so helpful

 

["Got Disney"]

Sealetter Cruise Tips: Alan Walker's Vancouver Airport Tips For any of you who will be leaving from Vancouver by air to the ... Tip #3: (actually, a warning): Once you go through the "check-in" procedure, you can't get back to the rest ... As you leave Vancouver, you will be passing through U.S. Customs (so that ... I have heard a rumour that your plane will finally arrive. ...

www.sealetter.com/Aug-98/yvrtips.html - Cached - Similar

 

[MrsG]

Tom,

Thanks for doing the Logo - it looks great! Hope you feel better!

 

[eeyorelvr10]

Eagles and Salmon and Bears. Oh my.

[QUOTE="Got Disney";33748764]
I thought about the same thing but when I was booked for the July 26th trip....they were using a similar name and also have a logo for it already.[/QUOTE]


Mute point but it was bugging me, I was trying to remember what the name of ad caption was, it was on FB and it went:

Whales, Glaciers and Bears.

Thanks to Tom because I found it on your site. The ad was on the right hand side. Now, my spastic brain can rest.

 

[jlawall]

Laura (eeyorelvr 10) & JoAnn (jlawll),

Are you both booked on this cruise, too???? AWESOME!!!!!! We've got a little Med reunion going on here. Anyone else from our Med cruise?

Mrs G.......100
our first (I think we should collect bears instead of pirates in light of our itinerary..........what does everyone think??)

 

[jlawall]

Thx Tom for the logo!!

 

[wdhinn89]

Love the logo Tom! Thanks and feel better.

 

[twinmom108]

Good Morning & welcome aboard to all who have joined us since Monday the 28th. I guess I haven't posted since then & we're already up to 12 pages.



Tom, the logo looks great! Hope you'll feel better soon.

Are we adopting the "Tan" name for our cruise or are we going to take a vote/poll on what everyone would like for our cruise name?

I'm leaving for WDW on Tuesday the 6th. In case you do a vote while I'm gone these are my favorite names for cruise in order:

1. The Wonder of an Alaskan Midsummer Nights Dream (The bear snoozing?)
2. Eagles and Salmon and Bears. Oh my.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

I'm feeling better this morning. Of course, I was feeling better at this point yesterday too......

Hope everyone has a great day.

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

How'd we end up on page 2 ?!?!?!?!


Robin.....where are you??????

 

["Got Disney"]

How'd we end up on page 2 ?!?!?!?!


Robin.....where are you??????

I'm here....Ed my roommate who is 86 came home from a 3week stint in the hospital so have been tending to him. In addition to paying those stupid bills that seem to just keep arriving month after month after month...Today has been a busy day.

so Tom glad to here you are up and feeling better it sure sucks getting sick doesn't it

I am getting rain gutters on my house at this moment and man thye are really noisy why they do it. dont they know I want some peace and quiet after paying the stupid bills....

Gee I need a hug