Alaskan cruise-tour questions.....

[littlegreenalien]

Anyone been on Holland America's Alaskan cruise tours? I'm taking a 15 day tour in June and am looking at booking the "shore excursions". Is it necessary to book some of these or can we just wander around the various ports and see the attractions for ourselves and will it be cheaper? Is seeing the glaciers from the boat/stateroom enough or is the flight-seeing tours worth the extra money? Any hidden charges I need to be aware of? Did anyone do the snorkling or the submarine/boat ride? I'm thinking it is too darn cold to snorkle plus I hate snorkling/seasick and am thinking of doing the sub ride because then my mother would go too and I really want to see some kelp forests. Thanks for any info. You can pm me too.
:alien:

 

[crpntr133]

Anyone been on Holland America's Alaskan cruise tours? I'm taking a 15 day tour in June and am looking at booking the "shore excursions". Is it necessary to book some of these or can we just wander around the various ports and see the attractions for ourselves and will it be cheaper? Is seeing the glaciers from the boat/stateroom enough or is the flight-seeing tours worth the extra money? Any hidden charges I need to be aware of? Did anyone do the snorkling or the submarine/boat ride? I'm thinking it is too darn cold to snorkle plus I hate snorkling/seasick and am thinking of doing the sub ride because then my mother would go too and I really want to see some kelp forests. Thanks for any info. You can pm me too.
:alien:

Snorkeling in Alaska!! (I really need my eyes checked) Maybe in a dry suit.
Of course this is the guy that did white water rafting, twice, while I was there.

I did the HAL cruise 7 years ago so things probably have changed. I did the inside passage. I don't recall any tours that were sold out but if you really want to take it, book ahead. HAL has online booking for land tours.

There is usually plenty to see at the ports if you don't want to book a tour. I found out that a lot of times you can hop a bus or taxi and go to the same places that the tour is going and pay less. Keep in mind that you may not get the info that the tour guide is giving from your taxi driver. Also ask the natives for off the beaten path places to go.

Air tours for the glaciers, I asked my wallet if it was worth the money and it said no.
Hidden charges, not that I have ever ran into, on any cruise.

Take plenty of film and enjoy.

 

[baltimoron]

I did the Princess Cruises version. I would say that this trip is just a boat without the shore excursions. If you really want to go to Alaska, you are going for the excursions and not for the boat itself, no? The glacier walk and helicopter ride was not to miss, nor was the kayaking we did, or the rock climbing and bike tour. If you are going on this tip beacuse you want the cruise experience, go to the carribean. The towns are pretty boring except Ketchikan, which is pretty much Nassau on ice, so you're going to want to do something. And yes, I did meet some people that did the snorkeling in Ketchikan in the kelp forests. They had fun, but I'd take the kayaking or canoing trips over that one. If you are in Skagway, DON'T DON'T DON'T do the train ride. NOBODY I saw on the boat that went was happy afterwards.

So it comes down to this: Do you want to vegg out on the boat, or really experience Alaska. This isn't something to do on a shoestring, but you will be happy afterwards if you really splurge on it. A lot of people I have met said this was the best vacation they had. However, if just chillin out on the boat would make you happy as a clam, go to another destination.

 

[akscubainst]

I'm running dive charters here in Juneau this summer. hint, hint, You like wrecks???

You need to spend a little time in each town but if you want to have a good time get out of the towns even if it's just a taxi tour around the areas.

Juneau for example has the Mendenhall glacier 10 miles from the docks. The flightseeing tours are supposed to be really good but very expensive. I've been in Alaska most of my life and have never done a flightseeing tour.

Let me know if you have specific questions about AK and I'll let you know what I know.

Dave

 

[littlegreenalien]

hahahahah dive in Alaska? I freeze in the carribean in Dec with a full wetsuit. And no I don't really like wrecks, I'm a reef/shallow person. I do want to see the kelp forests and pacific octopus. We are doing 8 days on land from gates of the arctic national park to anchorage. Then 7 days on boat to Vancouver. I've heard about Mendenhall glacier, Juneau whale watching and flight-seeing as the big excursions. I'm not sure if we should do a kenai fjiords boat tour or flight-see a different glacier. It would be kind of neat to be on top of a glacier. Thanks for your insights.