Alaskan Cruise - what the heck do i do?

Lleechef??? Al??? Anybody???

I get to accompany my mom to Alaska (yay!) but just got the itinerary (eek!) and I am confused!!!

When can I eat Roadfood? Which excursions should we do vs. seeing the city on my own? On Princess boats is one place to eat better than another? Should I book spa treatments now for "days at sea"?

Al - which train is my mom calling the "glass train" that goes along scary sheer cliffs?

Did I mention sharing small stateroom w mom?

OK, get ready - it's overwhelming...If you have been, or have feedback on cities and excursions, maybe you can copy and paste then erase stuff not related - it's a LOT.

Aug 11 2008 VANCOUVER, B.C. 04:30PM CHECK IN FM 12:00PM-3:00PM
ARRIVE AFTER 1:00PM
FOR A FASTER CHECK IN*

Aug 12 2008 AT SEA

Aug 13 2008 KETCHIKAN, ALASKA UNITED STATES 06:30AM 02:00PM
(Possible excursions: TOTEM TRADITIONS, SAXMAN NATIVE VILLAGE, POTLATCH PARK & HERITAGE TOUR, GREAT ALASKAN LUMBERJACK SHOW, ALASKAN CHEF'S TABLE, RAINFOREST WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, ADVENTURE KART EXPEDITION, BEAR CREEK ZIPLINE COURSE, WILDERNESS EXPLORATION-CRAB FEAST, MISTY FJORDS & WILDERNESS EXPLORER, Wilderness Bear Watch)

Aug 14 2008 JUNEAU, ALASKA UNITED STATES 08:00AM 09:00PM
( MENDENHALL GLACIER EXPLORER, RAINFOREST GARDEN ADVENTURE, A Taste Of Juneau --visit a cooking school and brewery Alaska's Whales & Rainforest Trails, Evening Whale Quest, Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Quest, Whale Watching & Orca Point Lodge dinner, MENDENHALL GLACIER HELICOPTER TOUR, HELICOPTERS AND DOGSLEDDING ON GLACIER I think that one is it!!!!)

Aug 15 2008 SKAGWAY, ALASKA 07:00AM 08:30PM
(To The Summit, WHITE PASS SCENIC RAILWAY, White Pass Bennett Lake Adventure (In vintage parlour cars???) Deluxe Klondike Experience & Rail Adventure (again parlor cars), Lake Bennett Train & Stampeder's Trek, Dog Sledding & Glacier Flightseeing, Alaska Nature & Wildlife Expedition)


Aug 16 2008 GLACIER BAY CRUISING, UNITED STATES 06:00AM 03:00PM SCENIC CRUISING


Aug 17 2008 COLLEGE FJORD CRUISING, UNITED STATES 05:30PM 08:30PM SCENIC CRUISING

LLEECHEF CAN I SEE YOU BETWEEN ALL THIS BOARDING AND DISEMBARKING???

Aug 18 2008 ANCHORAGE (WHITTIER), ALASKA 12:30AM

Aug 18 2008 BAGGAGE STORAGE INFORMATION

Aug 18 2008 TRANSFER: PIER TO RAIL DEPOT

Aug 18 2008 RAIL: DENALI EXPRESS TO DENALI 10.0 HR 06:01PM 08:15AM

Aug 18 2008 TRANSFER: RAIL DEPOT TO LODGE 06:32PM 06:01PM

Aug 18 2008 DENALI EVENING AT LEISURE

Aug 18 2008 A LA CARTE DINNER

Aug 18 2008 DENALI PRINCESS WILDERNESS LODGE

Aug 19 2008 DORMANT RESOURCE

Aug 19 2008 MORNING TUNDRA WILDERNESS TOUR 6-8 HR 02:00PM 06:00AM

Aug 19 2008 EVENING HUSKY HOMESTEAD TOUR 09:30PM 07:00PM

Aug 20 2008 DENALI MORNING AT LEISURE

Aug 20 2008 COACH: TO MT. MCKINLEY PRINCESS 2.2 HR 03:15PM 01:00PM

Aug 20 2008

Aug 20 2008 EVENING AT LEISURE

Aug 20 2008 A LA CARTE DINNER

Aug 20 2008 MCKINLEY PRINCESS WILDERNESS LODGE

Aug 21 2008 DAY AT LEISURE

Aug 22 2008 MORNING AT LEISURE

Aug 22 2008 TRANSFER: LODGE TO RAIL DEPOT 1.2 HR 04:30PM 03:15PM

Aug 22 2008 RAIL: TALKEETNA TO ANCHORAGE 3.7 HR 08:15PM 04:40PM

Aug 22 2008 TRANSFER: RAIL DEPOT TO HOTEL

Aug 22 2008 ANCHORAGE ACCOMMODATIONS

Aug 23 2008 TRANSFER: HOTEL TO AIRPORT

All the craziness seems all stuffed in at the beginning

whew, I'm exhausted already!!!

Spend sometime reading the boards here.
http://www.cruisecritic.com/

You are going to have a wonderful time!

When you are off of the ship eat everything you see that is different.

I've never been so I'll live it through you.

Not sure about whale blubber.

Ick

The only Roadfood suggestions I could make from that itinerary (though it looks like they barely give you time to breath!) would be the Talkeetna Roadhouse in Talkeetna - breakfast there is excellent, especially the sourdough pancakes - and the guy who sells reindeer sausage sandwiches from a cart in downtown Anchorage.

I've traveled to Alaska independently (non cruise) several times but we have always gone near the end of May. I will say that if you take Denali wilderness tour, take the one earliest in the morning. In August most of the animals are in the back country or up at higher elevations and I know many people who have gone in August and not seen any animals, early morning might at least give you a shot. I see that you will be in Denali several days, just be warned, it's pretty darned quiet and you are in the middle of a wilderness. If you are an outdoors type, you'll be in heaven. It's a shame they don't give you some time in Anchorage or Fairbanks.

Yeah, it looks crazy. I hope I can see Lleechef.

Even from the lodges it looks like there are MORE optional adventures I missed in the brochures - fly fishing and cuddling iditirod pups - will probably relax instead.

OK - updated after chat w mom. I said maybe they'll let her take the helicopter and watch me dogsled. She got all indignant and said, "Well, if you can dogsled I can certainly dogled! She's 72! Go, Mom!

Aug 12 2008 AT SEA

Aug 13 2008 KETCHIKAN, ALASKA UNITED STATES 06:30AM 02:00PM
(Possible excursions: TOTEM TRADITIONS, POTLATCH PARK & HERITAGE TOUR, GREAT ALASKAN LUMBERJACK SHOW, ALASKAN CHEF'S TABLE, RAINFOREST WILDLIFE SANCTUARY, BEAR CREEK ZIPLINE COURSE, Wilderness Bear Watch)

Aug 14 2008 JUNEAU, ALASKA UNITED STATES 08:00AM 09:00PM
HELICOPTER to DOGSLED ON GLACIER

Aug 15 2008 SKAGWAY, ALASKA 07:00AM 08:30PM
WHITE PASS SCENIC RAILWAY

Aug 16 2008 GLACIER BAY CRUISING, UNITED STATES 06:00AM 03:00PM SCENIC CRUISING

Aug 17 2008 COLLEGE FJORD CRUISING, UNITED STATES 05:30PM 08:30PM SCENIC CRUISING

LLEECHEF CAN I SEE YOU BETWEEN ALL THIS BOARDING AND DISEMBARKING???

Aug 18 2008 ANCHORAGE (WHITTIER), ALASKA 12:30AM

Aug 18 2008 BAGGAGE STORAGE INFORMATION

Aug 18 2008 TRANSFER: PIER TO RAIL DEPOT

Aug 18 2008 RAIL: DENALI EXPRESS TO DENALI 10.0 HR 06:01PM 08:15AM

Aug 18 2008 TRANSFER: RAIL DEPOT TO LODGE 06:32PM 06:01PM

Aug 18 2008 DENALI EVENING AT LEISURE

Aug 18 2008 A LA CARTE DINNER

Aug 18 2008 DENALI PRINCESS WILDERNESS LODGE

Aug 19 2008 DORMANT RESOURCE

Aug 19 2008 MORNING TUNDRA WILDERNESS TOUR 6-8 HR 02:00PM 06:00AM

Aug 19 2008 EVENING HUSKY HOMESTEAD TOUR 09:30PM 07:00PM

Aug 20 2008 DENALI MORNING AT LEISURE

Aug 20 2008 COACH: TO MT. MCKINLEY PRINCESS 2.2 HR 03:15PM 01:00PM

Talkeetna Roadhouse (Eats)

Aug 20 2008 EVENING AT LEISURE

Aug 20 2008 A LA CARTE DINNER

Aug 20 2008 MCKINLEY PRINCESS WILDERNESS LODGE

Aug 21 2008 DAY AT LEISURE

Aug 22 2008 MORNING AT LEISURE

Aug 22 2008 TRANSFER: LODGE TO RAIL DEPOT 1.2 HR 04:30PM 03:15PM

Aug 22 2008 RAIL: TALKEETNA TO ANCHORAGE 3.7 HR 08:15PM 04:40PM

Aug 22 2008 TRANSFER: RAIL DEPOT TO HOTEL

Aug 22 2008 ANCHORAGE ACCOMMODATIONS

Aug 23 2008 TRANSFER: HOTEL TO AIRPORT

As mar52 said, you'll have a ball.

Your cruise is not the same as ours, so the parallels aren't exact. I'll just try to "highlight the highlights," so to speak.

KETCHIKAN: We watched a program on eagles, I believe, then walked over to a salmon hatchery. That may also have been where we went to a totem pole museum.

Do NOT miss the helicopter glacier ride! Jan did it (I couldn't) and loved it. She brought back a bit of ice (legally!), which was amazingly flavorful. Great with Scotch.

Don't miss out on shopping; prices either drop or rise as one gets closer to Anchorage. (We cruised up, flew back.) I can't remember which way it was, but surely someone else will be able to tell you. Incidentally, a friend of ours bought an ulu, a knife that looks like a mezzaluna. He says he uses it all the time--and it's neat-looking, too

Yeah, I was just reading about the totem poles. If I am doing the train, whale watching, helicopter and dog sled in the other ports I should take it easy and look at totem poles or something that stop.

I wish all 3 days orf action weren't scrunched together like that. It's a 2-week event, but there are only 2 days I can go see whales.

Hi Elise: I'm so excited for you. What a wonderful trip. You will love it all, especially once you get to Whittier. I look forward to seeing all the great photos and hearing your description of all the food. It will be interesting to hear what "Alaskan" specialtys are served on board ship. "Bon Voyagee'" as Bugs would say. Give Lisa and Bob our love when you see them.

Your friends, Patti and Jeff

ET, We flew both ways, no 'cruising', so our time was all in the Anchorage-Seward-Takitna areas. We took the rail 'day-trip' from Anchorage to Seward, then the half-day coastal boat tour to see the wildlife, then returned to Anchorage by rail. That day trip was amazing. Not only did the train slow to allow a lot of scenic photos Opp's, but the crew announced where to see animals and eagles as we came upon them enroute.

You don't say how much time you will have in Anchorage, but there are a number of fine places to eat in the city, and LLeechef is in town, if you have the time for a meet-up. Lisa and Zee are great company and know everything about that area. Take their advice if you have any free-time !

We used a rental car for our ten day visit and it was great. We like to wander a bit and had lots to see and do. Will your land transportation be a rental, or the tour buses? That can affect how much flexibility you have.

We are sure you will have a great time. Be prepared for very long days !!(lots more daylight than here!) Pass on a hug to Lisa and Zee. We hope to get back up there for another visit in a year or so.

I'm eagerly awaiting responses & a trip report. We're booked on Sapphire Princess for May, 2009. A party of 8. We are also doing the cruisetour that includes the Tundra Wilderness Tour at Denali. If mom is footing your bill, go hug her neck now! Trust me, it's not a cheap trip!

I stumbled on this review which is very lengthy, but contains good information on food, dress, tours, etc. Remember I said it was long. But I found it valuable.

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=30808

Ship is big. Occasionally, I'd have to put my mother on one end & I'd have to go the other just to have a little space. But this will be a trip of a lifetime for both of you.

Watching for a full report!

If you like bars instead of restaurants, you'll be fine. But you should be able to get a good fish sandwich, probably a good hamburger in Ketchikan and Juneau.

Thanks!

Our ground transpo appears to be 2 trains and a bus. The one lodge is 1/2 hr shuttle to town. I think I will have to get a list of a few good places in wach town and pray.

I've ehard the Carnival food is crap, but there's lots of it! We will be on the one with a Cajun pay-for-it restaurant so I will prob eat catfish every night esxcept for the reindeer chili cookoff. Oooh, I wonder if I can compete in that? Anyone know any reindeer cooking tricks?

More than anything, what you need to do is get back to the ship or train on time. Seriously. If you go wandering about with your own agenda and are late, they'll leave without you and you'll be responsible for arranging and paying for your own transportation to meet up with the ship.

One of my friends who lives in St. Thomas tells me that taxi drivers will sometimes take cruisers who stop there for the day by roundabout routes so they'll miss the ship departure and then offer to make arrangements for them getting to the next stop. It's more profitable than a jaunt around the town.

We took a Holland-America cruise and the food was good. On board ship you should not lack for food.

Ketchikan has a small brewpub. It was slightly off the beaten tourist path but we found it.

Talkeetna was the highlight for road food.

Ship's usually get in in the AM usually about 8 and depart again at about 5. So you have your days free. We river rafted in Denali, took a fixed airplane up the side of Mt. McKinley and took the all day bus tour in Denali.

In Juneau we took the helicopter tour that landed on two different glaciers.

In Ketchikan we kayaked in the bay.

Hey Elise! Looking forward to seeing you! Let me know if you need anything. About the reindeer cooking tricks, it goes like this:
1. Find a reindeer.
2. Shoot the reindeer.
3. Drag the reindeer to your sled.
4. Have the dogs pull the sled home. (I tried this with cats....it doesn't work.)
5. Skin the reindeer and cut it up and freeze.

OR.....you can just go and buy some reindeer sausage (a favorite of Patti and Jeff) !!

quote:

Originally posted by lleechef

Hey Elise! Looking forward to seeing you! Let me know if you need anything. About the reindeer cooking tricks, it goes like this:
1. Find a reindeer.
2. Shoot the reindeer.
3. Drag the reindeer to your sled.
4. Have the dogs pull the sled home. (I tried this with cats....it doesn't work.)
5. Skin the reindeer and cut it up and freeze.

OR.....you can just go and buy some reindeer sausage (a favorite of Patti and Jeff) !!

Well, of course it doesn't work with cats. First of all, they are too small. Second of all, they are too chewy. Lastly, the dogs won't pull them.

So true Lisa. Jeff really loves that sausage. Elise once you taste it you will definitely have something in mind in the way to prepare a fabulous dish, I'm guessing something Cajun. I know you can do it and take photos to prove it.

We miss Alaska it is soooo beautiful and the people are really friendly.

Ditto on the quality of Holland-America food. The mug of split pea soup at Glacier Bay was especially memorable.

Hey Patti and Jeff, why don't you just wander up here this summer? The Skamper is on the truck, the boat is not exactly in the water but can be! The sun doesn't want to go down. We have lots of sleeping bags and pillows, fishing rods and bait. We can load you up with enough reindeer sausage to last Jeff until next summer!!!

Didn't mean to de-rail this thread.....back to you Elise.

I AM SOOOO JEALOUS!!!!
I am reserved a cruise to ALaska this summer for the family,
and what the economy we had to be "fiscally responsible"
and cancel...sigh....
yet another trip planned and not taken.
sounds great
maybe someday for me
I know you will have a great time-
The only time you need to be in the cabin is when you're sleepin'
And do reserve any spa treatments you want ahead of time, because they will get booked up.

I'm so envious - I've been to Alaska 3 times - two cruises, and a visit to Anchorage to see my brother and would go in a heartbeat.

I second Mark's recommendation of checking out: www.cruisecritic.com It has everything you could possibly want to do and see on an Alaska cruise.

My wife and I did an Alaskan Cruise with Celebrity last August. We had an absolutely wonderful time. I also recommend the Talkeetna Roadhouse. Enjoy the whale watching and the White Pass Scenic Railroad.

Hey Elise, are you staying overnight in Vancouver prior to the cruise?

Yes, just one night in Vancouver. We usually hang out in Vancouver, but I think my mom is concerned about the vacay being too long.

Lisa sounds too good to be true. We would love to see beautiful Alaska once more and fish and enjoy that sunshine, especially your hospitality. Elise you would make that trip extra special. We will be going to the Tiki Convention in late August... that is our vacation this year.

Don't underestimate your vacation. Seldom do you get do overs and to shirk Vancouver once you get there you may wish you had planned more time.

My biggest regret in our Alaskan vacation was once we got to Fairbanks I passed up an opportunity to take a flight north of the Arctic Circle and visit in Inuit village.

I think that you have a fantastic vacation planned. It's not too long at all.

Unlike so many vacations, your time is designed in such a way that you and your mom can do as much or as little as you wish many days. You won't have to be constantly checking in and checking out of hotels.

You'll also have the insurance of a night in Vancouver before your trip. Too many people expect everything to go perfectly and plan flights that arrive a few hours before cruise departure and then have to buy an expensive last-minute ticket to the first cruise stop when they miss the connection--all too easy to do in these days of routine flight delays.

I lived in Vancouver, but you sound like old Vancouver hands, so won't lay on any advice, unless you have specific questions.

Have a wonderful time.

Hi - Did almost the same cruise/land last year - dying to go back now on our own. Be prepared for LONG trips via bus/train. Two of our favorites - in Talkeetna definitely the Roadhouse; the pancakes were bigger than my husband's head, and the staff there is a hoot. In Anchorage you MUST hit the Snow City Cafe for breakfast - the most amazing food, and all local folks. We stayed at the Captain Cook and it was right uo the street. Enjoy!

http://www.snowcitycafe.com

What ship are you on?