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

[twinmom108]

Hopefully we will get what we want, but here is what we have selected:

Juneau - Disney Exclusive Glacier Dog Musher for a Day
Skagway - Liarsville Gold Rush Character Experience
Ketchikan - Bering Sea Crab Fishermans Tour

Wonder if things will fill up??

I heard that the Crab Fishermans Tour was a good one.
I bet the Dog Musher will be a great experience too.

 

[Schachteles]

Congratulations Kim on the Packers heading to the SuperBowl! We watched both games yesterday. Two of my 3 sons like Football. The oldest twin likes the Steelers & the younger son likes the Packers. I like both teams so our family was pretty happy about the outcome of both games.

The SuperBowl should be exciting. Since I like both teams which one am I going to root for? Of course - the team who's wearing Yellow!

It sure will be an interesting game. One of my best friends and I are looking at making the trek to Dallas to see the game...we will see where that goes...with Alaska this summer, we are a little tighter on money coming up, so we have to see if we can swing it. She is looking into tickets. I know I will kick myself if I don't go, but then I don't want to take away from our Alaska trip to be able to go.

GO PACKERS, the better yellow

 

[Schachteles]

I heard that the Crab Fishermans Tour was a good one.
I bet the Dog Musher will be a great experience too.

Some people have said the Crab Tour was their favorite. The Dog Musher one looks awesome...I am just SO worried that things will fill up.

 

[twinmom108]

It sure will be an interesting game. One of my best friends and I are looking at making the trek to Dallas to see the game...we will see where that goes...with Alaska this summer, we are a little tighter on money coming up, so we have to see if we can swing it. She is looking into tickets. I know I will kick myself if I don't go, but then I don't want to take away from our Alaska trip to be able to go.

GO PACKERS, the better yellow

Wow that would be awesome if you could go. I know what you mean by not wanting to take away from the Alaska trip. Our twin sons are going to So. Calif. on a High School Band trip for spring break & the band is playing at Disneyland among other places. They wanted me to go since I know Disneyland like the back of my hand AND I would love to see them play there too, but we don't have the additional money to do it.

Now I need to get ready to pick up one of those twins from school to take him to traffic court. UGH!

 

[Schachteles]

Wow that would be awesome if you could go. I know what you mean by not wanting to take away from the Alaska trip. Our twin sons are going to So. Calif. on a High School Band trip for spring break & the band is playing at Disneyland among other places. They wanted me to go since I know Disneyland like the back of my hand AND I would love to see them play there too, but we don't have the additional money to do it.

Now I need to get ready to pick up one of those twins from school to take him to traffic court. UGH!

It is tough...because I know I will kick myself if I don't do it, but with $3228 in excursions and everything else and then both my girls are in competition dance and dance comp season is just starting and costs a LOT, I feel like it might be a bad decision to go. We will see.

Hope traffic court goes good I don't look forward to those days with my kids.

 

[mouseclick1]

Skagway: Yukon Expedition

Juneau: One of the Mendenhall Glacier Combo tours (Rainforest or Tramway)
Also in Juneau I heard about a Crab Shack (definitely not fancy) that has wonderfal crab dishes, so we want to do that too.

Ketchikan: Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles.

Also if we have time we want to stroll around the town.

SO has anyone else decided what shore excursions they want to do?

I plan on the following activities:

Juneau: Whale watching with Harv and Marv (already booked)
Skagway: Hoping to book the Takshanuk Mountain Trail 4 X 4
Ketchikan: No plans for an excursion. This is the town I just want to stroll through leisurely and enjoy!

I am kind of stumped on the pre-cruise time in Vancouver and was wondering if anyone had an opinion to share. We will have 2 1/2 days in Vancouver before the cruise, and the full afternoon when we return since our train doesn't leave for Seattle until 5:45.

I was thinking of taking a day trip on one of the pre-cruise days since we will have plenty of time to see Vancouver. I just can't decide if we would be better off going to Victoria or Whistler. I've been looking at tours for both and can't make up my mind! It would be me, DH, and DSs 20 and 21. Any input??

 

["Got Disney"]

I plan on the following activities:

Juneau: Whale watching with Harv and Marv (already booked)
Skagway: Hoping to book the Takshanuk Mountain Trail 4 X 4
Ketchikan: No plans for an excursion. This is the town I just want to stroll through leisurely and enjoy!

I am kind of stumped on the pre-cruise time in Vancouver and was wondering if anyone had an opinion to share. We will have 2 1/2 days in Vancouver before the cruise, and the full afternoon when we return since our train doesn't leave for Seattle until 5:45.

I was thinking of taking a day trip on one of the pre-cruise days since we will have plenty of time to see Vancouver. I just can't decide if we would be better off going to Victoria or Whistler. I've been looking at tours for both and can't make up my mind! It would be me, DH, and DSs 20 and 21. Any input??

That's who we wanted to do the whale watching with also...but still deciding since we have done whale watching here in San Diego...but in Alaska it would be different I'm sure...

As for Whistler or Victoria...we are doing Whistler for 3 or 4 days....we are planning to do white water rafting...biking, hiking, the gondola and BBQ and canoeing tour .....we are taking the train up and the bus back.(to whistler)


Still trying to decide what to do in Alaska...the boys want to look for gold so we will do that.

 

[Meskamooska]

Hi All!

First and foremost... Congrats to everyone celebrating happy couple hood. The DH and I celebrated our 7th last June 21 and will be belatedly celebrating our 8th on the cruise.

Now on to other topics... Pixie dust would be appreciated as I am a Realtor and am hoping that the two deals I have in the works will close in time to pay off the balance of our cruise. What with my oldest stepson's wedding in late March (and taking place at our home) things are stretched pretty thin.

I saw all the discussion about excursions. Do I have to wait until we have finished paying for the cruise before I can get a look at what will be offered and the costs involved. I know my DH would love to do one of the air excursions and I have heard tell that the train ride is not to be missed. Any advice would be appreciated.

Oh and are there any updates on the FE list?

Have a "Wonder"ful week all!

Tisza

 

["Got Disney"]

No you can view them at the DCL website....but you wont be able to book till you are paid up in full and also depending on how many cruises you have taken on if you get to book early....but I believe they start for Gold at 120 days and everyone else 90 days....but dont quote me on this.

Final Payment Due for Alaska Cruises: suites 150 days; non-suites 120 days before sailing.

 

[Schachteles]

Hi All!

First and foremost... Congrats to everyone celebrating happy couple hood. The DH and I celebrated our 7th last June 21 and will be belatedly celebrating our 8th on the cruise.

Now on to other topics... Pixie dust would be appreciated as I am a Realtor and am hoping that the two deals I have in the works will close in time to pay off the balance of our cruise. What with my oldest stepson's wedding in late March (and taking place at our home) things are stretched pretty thin.

I saw all the discussion about excursions. Do I have to wait until we have finished paying for the cruise before I can get a look at what will be offered and the costs involved. I know my DH would love to do one of the air excursions and I have heard tell that the train ride is not to be missed. Any advice would be appreciated.

Oh and are there any updates on the FE list?

Have a "Wonder"ful week all!

Tisza

No updates on the FE list...still pretty thin for participation. Hope we get lots more!!!

 

[scoutsmom99]

Allen & I did decide on some excursions but of course they're not totally set in stone yet. Also we did not consider any of the pricy excursions so the personal tours, dog sledding, & flight seeing ones are out.

Skagway: Yukon Expedition
Juneau: One of the Mendenhall Glacier Combo tours (Rainforest or Tramway)
Also in Juneau I heard about a Crab Shack (definitely not fancy) that has wonderfal crab dishes, so we want to do that too.
Ketchikan: Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles.

Also if we have time we want to stroll around the town.

SO has anyone else decided what shore excursions they want to do?

Those sounds like great excursions. I wish we were in Ketchikan longer that is the one port I'm having trouble deciding on an excursion.

Hopefully we will get what we want, but here is what we have selected:

Juneau - Disney Exclusive Glacier Dog Musher for a Day
Skagway - Liarsville Gold Rush Character Experience
Ketchikan - Bering Sea Crab Fishermans Tour

Wonder if things will fill up??

I have been doing my homework over on cruise critic on the AK board and are you planning a back-up of any sort in case the dog musher excursion is canceled? I would like us to book that one too, but quite often over there people are quick to post that the dog sledding tours are the most canceled excursion because of weather problems.

 

[Schachteles]

I have been doing my homework over on cruise critic on the AK board and are you planning a back-up of any sort in case the dog musher excursion is canceled? I would like us to book that one too, but quite often over there people are quick to post that the dog sledding tours are the most canceled excursion because of weather problems.

Thanks for the heads up...I warned my kids today that we could sign up and then not be able to go because of weather. I anot sure how you can plan a backup. Guess if that happens we will tour the town, I am sure we can find something to do. Need to check out my books.

 

[Princess April]

I'm Baaaaack! Wow, it's been an interesting year and I didn't know if I was going to be able to make the cruise but YES!!!!! On with the show!!!!!

 

[MrsG]

Welcome Back!!!!

We are buried here under snow in the northeast and all I can think about it palm trees and trade winds.............

I just told DH that I can't believe that in the summer we are going to see more SNOW!!!!!!

Our Feb. trip to WDW can't come fast enough.

 

[mootmoot]

So, we are GOING!! Yay!! I'll have to plow through the boards to see what everyone is up to and find all the threads on this trip...but in the meantime, I can't remember if I've said "hi" or not yet, so...

REALLY hoping to do another FE exchange - the kids loved that last time! Looking for inexpensive things to do, possibly an excursion or two (we didn't do any on Podcast 2.0 and didn't feel like we missed anything - but with Alaska - ??).

 

[Meskamooska]

Hi All,

First of all, welcome MootMoot! glad to have you aboard. There is indeed an FE group (which I am very excited about and have been making things for since last summer), check the first post of this thread for more info on that.

I have been doing tons of research on things to do in Alaska and have poured over the DCL offered excursions (thanks to the heads up on where to find them.

As an FYI for anyone interested, the "Dummies Guide" to Alaska has seemed pretty helpful and interesting. I have also put in some time looking to go to the source for offerings as the cost is reduced (sometimes significantly). By the way, does anyone know what the policy is if you book and then cancel an excursion last minute thru DCL? I have seen repeated warnings that some of the things we are most interested in doing are very weather dependent (like the train ride in Skagway).

I am thinking that we will only try to book one thing in each locale and then, depending upon the time constraints, will just "wing it".

Each day as we get closer and closer I get more excited about the trip.

I am curious, is anyone else planning to book their own excursions outside of DCL or is it just us?

Well it is late and I really should sign off if I want to be worth anything in the morning.

Take care all, help lots of people and have a "Wonder"ful week!

Tisza

 

[mouseclick1]

Hi All,

I am curious, is anyone else planning to book their own excursions outside of DCL or is it just us?

Tisza

We planned our whale watching in Junea on our own (through Harv and Marv), but will book skagway through DCL. We aren't booking an excursion in Ketchikan due to the short time there - I want to simply stroll through the town and enjoy!

My big decision to make now is whether to rent a car for a day trip to Whistler or book a tour through one of the companies in Vancouver. I've given up on the idea of a day trip to Victoria, but thought Whistler might be fun. I know some of you are staying a few nights in Whistler, but is anyone taking a day trip there?

Welcome to Mootmoot!

 

[CBEB]

We're thinking about the onboard Adventures by Disney "excursion". Anyone else doing this or have opinions about it?

 

[twinmom108]

Since we're not familiar with Alaskan ports we're just going to go through Disney & then explore town on foot.

 

[Meskamooska]

Hi All,

The Harv and Marv trip looks like fun, I will need to see if the DH is game... And speaking of games... I do believe this is a qualifier for the Swan and Pirate so... I shall sign off and do the happy dance