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Alaskan Cruises?
#4136128
05/23/24 06:12 AM
05/23/24 06:12 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 25,757 Locust Fork, Alabama
BC
OP
Freak of Nature
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OP
Freak of Nature
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 25,757
Locust Fork, Alabama
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I'm looking for some advice from those that have been on them. Been doing a little research on them here and there and the choices of where to go and what cruise lines to use seem limitless. For those that have been what destinations did you use and what cruise line, and what's the best time of year to go? My wife's lifelong dream has been to go on an Alaskan Cruise and see the Northern Lights. She was super excited about the Northern Light show in Alabama a week or two ago so I'd like to take her on an Alaskan cruise next year for our anniversary so she can see them again and cross that Alaskan cruise thing off of her bucket list.
Any advice would be appreciated.
"Some men are mere hunters; others are turkey hunters."
-- Archibald Rutledge
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Re: Alaskan Cruises?
[Re: BC]
#4136156
05/23/24 07:14 AM
05/23/24 07:14 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,943 Boxes Cove
2Dogs
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 34,943
Boxes Cove
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It's gonna be tough to do a Alaskan cruise and see the Northern Lights on the same trip. Their big Cruise season is May till mid - September , that's outside Northern Light viewing season. We went in '17 on the rail tour through Princess Cruise lines, but didn't go via a cruise. We flew into Fairbanks and worked our way back to Anchorage, spending 8 days in AK . We went last week of August and did a lot of tours . Princess has their own rail cars made for viewing , you just click along about 40 MPH and see the scenery. When we went into Denali the leaves were turning and we saw A BUNCH of wildlife . The Moose were sheading velvet. I can't speak for a cruise , however, if you go to Alaska and do a cruise only , you've missed Alaska. I don't care much for Whales and icebergs. You could spend 2-4 weeks up there and still only hit the high spots. One of the few places I've been that I want go back to, we plan on going back soon.
"Why do you ask"?
Always vote the slowest path to socialism.
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Re: Alaskan Cruises?
[Re: 2Dogs]
#4136197
05/23/24 09:15 AM
05/23/24 09:15 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 25,757 Locust Fork, Alabama
BC
OP
Freak of Nature
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OP
Freak of Nature
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 25,757
Locust Fork, Alabama
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It's gonna be tough to do a Alaskan cruise and see the Northern Lights on the same trip. Their big Cruise season is May till mid - September , that's outside Northern Light viewing season. We went in '17 on the rail tour through Princess Cruise lines, but didn't go via a cruise. We flew into Fairbanks and worked our way back to Anchorage, spending 8 days in AK . We went last week of August and did a lot of tours . Princess has their own rail cars made for viewing , you just click along about 40 MPH and see the scenery. When we went into Denali the leaves were turning and we saw A BUNCH of wildlife . The Moose were sheading velvet. I can't speak for a cruise , however, if you go to Alaska and do a cruise only , you've missed Alaska. I don't care much for Whales and icebergs. You could spend 2-4 weeks up there and still only hit the high spots. One of the few places I've been that I want go back to, we plan on going back soon. Good information. I'm not locked in on a cruise at all.
"Some men are mere hunters; others are turkey hunters."
-- Archibald Rutledge
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Re: Alaskan Cruises?
[Re: BC]
#4136199
05/23/24 09:19 AM
05/23/24 09:19 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 10,401 Alabama
whack-n-stack
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 10,401
Alabama
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It's gonna be tough to do a Alaskan cruise and see the Northern Lights on the same trip. Their big Cruise season is May till mid - September , that's outside Northern Light viewing season. We went in '17 on the rail tour through Princess Cruise lines, but didn't go via a cruise. We flew into Fairbanks and worked our way back to Anchorage, spending 8 days in AK . We went last week of August and did a lot of tours . Princess has their own rail cars made for viewing , you just click along about 40 MPH and see the scenery. When we went into Denali the leaves were turning and we saw A BUNCH of wildlife . The Moose were sheading velvet. I can't speak for a cruise , however, if you go to Alaska and do a cruise only , you've missed Alaska. I don't care much for Whales and icebergs. You could spend 2-4 weeks up there and still only hit the high spots. One of the few places I've been that I want go back to, we plan on going back soon. Good information. I'm not locked in on a cruise at all. If you're wanting to go see the most in the shortest amount of time, the intrastate flights aren't bad. Raven Air and I think the other one is Grady both offer multiple daily flights between cities that are pretty affordable.
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Re: Alaskan Cruises?
[Re: BC]
#4136258
05/23/24 10:42 AM
05/23/24 10:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 255 North Al.
HDS64
4 point
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4 point
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 255
North Al.
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I will echo what 2Dogs said, A few years ago my wife and I wanted to check out Alaska, her bucket list item was dog sled, mine was northern lights, so after some research we decided January was our best time to go. We spent a week based out of North Pole / Fairbanks. We rented a car and Airbnb a house, -34 most days, but we had prepared and bought heavy clothing, it was a blast. Drove one day to Denali and back, drove east one day, went ice fishing, and snowmobiling , but we felt like we saw the real Alaska, I would love to see everything again but in spring/ summer without snow this time. All that said I think a cruise would be beautiful also, Alaska is so huge and beautiful, but different from the coast vs inland.
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Re: Alaskan Cruises?
[Re: BC]
#4136261
05/23/24 10:56 AM
05/23/24 10:56 AM
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 26,074 Fayetteville TN Via Selma
jawbone
Freak of Nature
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Freak of Nature
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 26,074
Fayetteville TN Via Selma
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We did Royal Caribbean, my Mother's choice, and it was fine. Left Seattle, stopped in Juneau, Skagway, went up the fjord to a Glacier, then stopped at Victoria. Our group did various excursions ranging from whale watching and a fly in fishing trip in Juneau. My kids went with grandmas for the whale watching and enjoyed it. My brother went fly fishing and said it wasn't worth the cost. Me, my wife and daughter just walked around town and probably had the best time of all in Juneau. I really wanted to go Halibut fishing but no one else was interested.
Skagway some went on a train ride but me, my son, brother, and SIL rented a jeep from Green Jeep Company and drove into the Yukon. Saw much more than the train riders for a lot less money. When we got back we still had plenty of time to ride around the Skagway area. If you stop anywhere you will need your bug spray to try to keep the hummingbird sized mosquitoes at bay. Had my fill of fresh Halibut downtown and it was great.
Make sure to get up early and get a good spot on deck for the glacier. The ship goes up the fjord to the glacier and then does an impressive 180 to get back out. Enjoy a Hot Chocolate with Brandy while enjoying the view. Take binos because we saw a lot of wildlife. More Sea Otters than I could count.
Victoria is a city I would like to return to one day. Some went to some Gardens and museums while the rest of us rode a double decker bus to see the sites. It makes a big loop around the city and then you can return to what interests you. We then walked back to their little China Town area for real Chinese food. I think what we got in Seattle at Pike's Market was more authentic, but both good. Then we just walked around along the water and did tourist stuff. A very clean city. I enjoyed our day there but the walking wore me out. You'll need a Passport here.
We stayed at a motel by the airport right next to a Light Rail stop. It was real easy to hop on it and go into Seattle to all the high points like Pike's Place Market. My wife and daughter insisted on getting coffee from the Starbuck's Mother ship there. No different than any other but we can say we've done it. Personally, Pike's was where I got my first ever Boba tea and I liked it much better than Starbucks.
The one thing about this trip is the scenery. Not often on the cruise are you not able to see land and even then you can sit on the deck and spot whales. Especially Orcas. Tons of them.
I was hoping to see the Northern lights, but never did. I've got a friend that took his family to Iceland last year and they saw them. Might want to look at something that way. They really enjoyed that trip.
The only cruises offered to AK are in Summer months so they kind of make your mind up about when to go for you. I loved it so have fun and don't feel like you have to book excursions. Some of our most fun times were just walking around.
Lord, please help us get our nation straightened out.
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Re: Alaskan Cruises?
[Re: Lockjaw]
#4136282
05/23/24 11:45 AM
05/23/24 11:45 AM
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,191 Satsuma
kodiak06
Booner
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Booner
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 12,191
Satsuma
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I fly out of Atlanta to go on one saturday. Goes into Juneau, Skagway, cruises thru Glacier Bay, then to Kethcikan, and finally Victoria BC. It;s thru Norweigan. We booked excursions thru them in case we are late getting back, they hold the boat for us.
I want to see the northern lights something awful, but really don't expect to see them on the cruise. BC is my wanna be archery hunt for Roosevelt Elk, bulls around 400" there...
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Re: Alaskan Cruises?
[Re: BC]
#4136608
05/23/24 09:40 PM
05/23/24 09:40 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 9,993 Hampton Cove
foldemup
14 point
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14 point
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 9,993
Hampton Cove
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I’ve been on a Disney interior passage from Vancouver and a Royal Caribbean outward passage from Seattle. Loved both cruises, but I like the interior passage much better. We did the normal stuff like whale watching and dog sledding and took a helicopter tour to a glacier. I would like to go again and do the interior train thing.
If you want to always win, never play anyone better than you!
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Re: Alaskan Cruises?
[Re: BC]
#4136887
05/24/24 02:23 PM
05/24/24 02:23 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 25,757 Locust Fork, Alabama
BC
OP
Freak of Nature
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OP
Freak of Nature
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 25,757
Locust Fork, Alabama
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Thanks for the info fellas. I may hit a couple of yall up soon.
"Some men are mere hunters; others are turkey hunters."
-- Archibald Rutledge
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