Questions for early Alaskan cruisers!

[Candy Apple]

We did the boat excursion and it was one of the best excursions we have ever been on. This was cruise 12 or 13..not all Disney...for us with lots of excursions in our past. The boat has a jet engine, there is a full time narrator who was the best speaker historian naturalist I have ever heard. The seating is like deluxe airplane but roomier, the snacks (3x) are yummy, the customer service was as good (or better) than Disney. We had a wheelchair in our party and they handled her fantastically. Have been to Alaska before and we did all our "shopping" in Skagway - best prices and selections for "Alaska" stuff this time and only bought post cards in Ketchican. There is not much time to see the city is you go to to Fjords but the scenery was breathtaking!

Do you think this would be a good excursion for DS11 and DS13? Right now, we are scheduled for the Misty Fjords Flightseeing. Unfortunately, the early excursion is booked so we have the 4:45-7:15. Of course, we have early dinner and it is Nana's birthday that night! She is not going on that excursion. So, I'm trying to decide whether to change the excursion to something else. Any comments from anyone who has done either of these are much appreciated!

 

[deepakwa]

Did anybody do the Bering sea Fisherman tour in Ketchikan? How was it?
Is it possible to do Fisherman tour followed by Lumerjack show considering the little time difference between them?

 

[joycsk]

We are in NJ and we are flying (Continental) into Seattle spending one night there, taking Amtrak (very cheap for 4 people) to Vancouver a couple of days before the cruise and then flying out of Vancouver. This was the cheapest way we found without having to go back to Seattle to fly home.

We are flying Newark to Vancouver on July 30. The Continental flight is ALSO Canada Air. I think it's really Canada's flight with a rebranding of Continental. Canada gives us 1 free checked bag. I can't say it isn't pricey, but I decided I didn't want the hassle of transferring to Vancouver. I apologize if I'm wrong about Canada Air.

 

[mmmears]

We did the Mexican Riviera in 2005 (it was the last one before the Magic sailed back). We got a fleece blanket as a CC gift. It's disappointing that they don't have anything different for Alaska.

I'm not overly concerned about any gifts we may or may not receive, but a fleece blanket would be a nice and useful gift in Alaska.

 

[Schachteles]

Did anybody do the Bering sea Fisherman tour in Ketchikan? How was it?
Is it possible to do Fisherman tour followed by Lumerjack show considering the little time difference between them?

I have heard from people that the Bering Sea tour is the BEST excursion I have ever been on.

I don't know if there would be time. I know we are doin the Fisbhermans tour and it is at like 4:30 to 7:45 or something.

 

[rsjj]

anyone did the dog sledding (the one where you fly onto a glacier) excursion? if so, how was it? worth it? or not all that? really appreciate all your input. tia!

 

[jilljill]

Selected guests?
Okay what scarf are we talking about?
If it's the blue alaska one- I kept seeing that around and figured people purchased it or something- but when we were on the shuttle at one of the alaska stops I asked a woman about where she got it, assuming it had been sold on the ship and were already sold out and that's why I hadn't seen it or something- she said it was at some D23 convention awhile back that they were given to them at the convention.... so there were a whole lot of people from that convention on the inaugural Alaska cruise apparently LOL

Is that the scarf you're talking about or another one? If it was some other scarf and it really was selected guests- how were they selected? that doesn't seem fair to the rest of the platinum guests.... platinum guests really don't get anything more than Gold guests do? Or is it just the extra for them is the free Palo and choose a treat to be delivered to stateroom?

I was reading on one of the blog's from the first AK cruise and the person said they rec'd the scarf as a gift from their TA and it was in their cabin waiting for them. So it's possible it's not for selected people but a gift from their TA.

 

[denise]

i have all the navigators posted on my photo site

www.k-gphotos.phanfare.com

they are pretty clean scans and should be readable

the mendenhall adventure hike is worth it, but you will need good hiking shoes, and it does have a couple of strenous spots, but the views of the glacier are much better than anything from the visitors center, much closer

we did the 4:45 lumberjack show, it's worth it, no disney characters, but the logging skills are pretty neat, it's still a competitive sport in that area. it's an easy walk from the cruise docks, highly recommend the fresh halibut fish and chips from the fish house, it's a little fish place right next door to the lumberjack show.

I liked your scans and your photos! Great shots.
I have a couple of questions about your pictures.....if I can ask....
do you use a tripod or monopod for some of them?
Any special settings? or filters used?
I was on the repo cruise and took my tripod with me. Worked at times but sometimes I just couldn't use it because there were too many people around. We are doing Alaska in July and wonder do I bring it again and the monopod...or just one or none? Any thoughts?

 

[poohj80]

we did the 4:45 lumberjack show, it's worth it, no disney characters, but the logging skills are pretty neat, it's still a competitive sport in that area. it's an easy walk from the cruise docks, highly recommend the fresh halibut fish and chips from the fish house, it's a little fish place right next door to the lumberjack show.

Did you book the show through DCL or the show directly? There's only $5 difference but wondering what that $5 gets you - maybe a ride instead of walk to the show?

 

[Schachteles]

Are they selling any Big Figs onboard???

 

[Shanny145]

Are they selling any Big Figs onboard???

Big Figs???

 

[Schachteles]

Big Figs???

They are a collectible...hand painted resin figures that are about 20" or so tall.

 

[couturegirl]

OK it may be a silly question but are there any Harley shops nearby the ports to buy T-shirts. We have friends who love to get shirts when we vacation. when we toured in 2004 there were some just cant remember where.....

Squid

Went into the HD store in Skagway (all the way up the street on the left) and saw the store in Juneau. Not sure about Ketchikan. Make sure you bring beaucoup bucks. NOTHING in the Skagway store was on sale.

 

[mom_rules]

Went into the HD store in Skagway (all the way up the street on the left) and saw the store in Juneau. Not sure about Ketchikan. Make sure you bring beaucoup bucks. NOTHING in the Skagway store was on sale.

Can you give us an idea?

 

[Cindy Girl]

What ports are tendered and what ports do we dock at?

Thanks

 

[poohj80]

What ports are tendered and what ports do we dock at?

Thanks

From photos posted form the first cruise, I didn't see any tenders needed.

 

[mellers]

THANKS! What was it that was disappointing? Was it that there was really no guide in Saxman's? or did you overall feel like you could have done most of it on your own?

I'm really stumped on what to do in Ketchikan...nothing seemed all that interesting to me. My DH said he doesn't want to do the Lumberjack show. Maybe I'll have to do some convincing

It's not done by Disney, but we really like the Duck Tours. That might be a thought for Ketchikan:

http://www.akduck.com/

 

[eandesmom]

two to add to the list

1. Has anyone done, or is scheduled to do this excursion? I would love to hear about it!

Enchanted Taku Glacier Lodge Flight and Feast

2. Are they offering any special Alaska/Pacific Northwest Microbrewery beers on board draft or bottle? That will impact what we bring with us. I'd love a list of both.


Thanks!

 

[n8tivecaligirl]

Thanks for the duck tour option. There are two departures after we dock available and the cost is $38 pp(adult) $24 pp (child)

 

[HiMagicFan]

From photos posted form the first cruise, I didn't see any tenders needed.

Agreed didn't see the need.....but if there are already ships at the dock then I am guessing our ship will have to anchor and we would have to tender? Like at Ketchikan there appears to be only three places for ships to dock...what if there are four there at a time?

I can't find that darn link that tells you which ships will be in port on the dates you will....