hern@bgsuvax.UUCP (Thomas Hern) (11/05/85)
Would appreciate any info or accounts of experiences on cruises to Alaska. Any recommended or non-recommended lines? What not to miss. [May hit expo 86 now: thanks wm] <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> From the terminal of: Thomas Hern, Bowling Green State Univ., Bowling Green OH 43403. 419-372-7450 UUCP: cbosg!osu-eddie!bgsuvax!hern CSNET: hern@BGSU
wm@tekchips.UUCP (Wm Leler) (11/07/85)
> Would appreciate any info or accounts of experiences on cruises to > Alaska. Any recommended or non-recommended lines? What not to miss. I recently returned from a cruise to Southeast Alaska. We decided to only go to the southeast section (sometimes called the panhandle) because several other friends who did the whole thing (i.e., Anchorage and Denali) said that SE was the best part. We sailed on the North Star, run by Exploration Cruise lines. Since this was our first cruise, I'm hard pressed to compare it to other lines. We choose them because they had a smaller ship and went to more places. The cruise was ok, my main complaint was that the food was mediocre. There was not much opportunity to meet people. With few exceptions, most of the people on the cruise were retired. Activities were planned. Trying to do things on our own was met with amusement from the cruise people. They carted us around on buses, I prefered to walk or hitch. The cruise, naturally, had a fixed schedule, and if you wanted to stay longer somewhere, too bad. On the other hand, we did get to see an awful lot of SE Alaska in a reasonable period of time. I guess I am actually glad we took the cruise. But now that I know which places I like, I think next time I would take the state ferry system. The cruise did go to quite a few places that you would have to hire someone to take you do if you were on the ferry, so an equivalent tour taking the ferry and staying in hotels along the way would certainly be more expensive. But if you know where you want to go, then the ferry would be cheaper and more fun. > What not to miss: GLACIER BAY, GLACIER BAY, GLACIER BAY. Expensive, but worth it. We also rented a car and drove up into the Yukon from Skagway. This trip was well worth it. I cannot describe the otherworldly beauty of fall in the Yukon. The third highlight of our trip was a small plane flight over LeConte glacier and icefield, near Petersburg. LeConte is the southernmost tidewater glacier. It moves 23 feet a day, and is dropping off (calving) icebergs constantly. Because of its speed, the glacier itself is broken up into amazing ice castles. Keyword for SE Alaska -- EXPENSIVE. Expect to pay and pay and pay. Food is expensive. Travel is expensive. If a tourist needs or wants it, it is expensive. This was by far the most expensive vacation I have ever taken. It was very strange to cross the border into Carcross (Yukon) or Prince Rupert (BC) and have the prices drop so dramatically. We spent the night in a room in Prince Rupert for CDN$20; an equivalent place in Ketchikan would be US$50. Personally, I think you are better off spending time in the Canadian Rockies and the Yukon than in Alaska. > [May hit expo 86 now: thanks wm] You are certainly welcome. See you there. wm
prs@lanl.ARPA (11/08/85)
"Would appreciate any info or account of experiences on cruises to Alaska. Any recommended or non-recommended lines? ...." I've been collecting all the data that I can get on a desired trip to Alaska. Have had sent to me literature from almost all of the cruise companies available. You name and it and I can pass on the info... Will try to remember to bring the papers in tomorrow. Patricia R. Snider 90 Royal Crest Los Alamos, NM 87544 505-662-4336 or 667-4584
smh@mhuxl.UUCP (henning) (11/13/85)
**** **** From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA mhuxl!smh > "Would appreciate any info or account of experiences on cruises to Alaska. > Any recommended or non-recommended lines? ...." My wife and I completed a 3 1/2 week tour of Alaska this summer. We took ships, planes, and rental cars and it was much cheaper than a tour and we saw everything south of the Arctic Circle. 1) If you want to see grizzly bears, golden eagles, foxes, wolves, moose, caribou, and other wild life, then Denali National Park is a must. 2) If you want to see whales, seals, bald eagles, and tide water glaciers, Glacier Bay National Park and the Columbia glacier are musts. 3) If you want to sample Alaskan life, past and present, Fairbanks, Juneau, Anchorage, Ketchikan, and Sitka are representative of just about every thing. 4) If you want sheer beauty, then a drive from Skagway, to Whitehorse, Yukon, to Haines Junction, and then to Haines is probably your best bet. 5) If you want to spend some time in one place and make excursions, then Anchorage is idealy situated with Portage Glacier, Columbia Glacier, Cook Inlet, Alyeska Resort, Homer, Matanuska Valley and Glacier, and a train trip to Denali National Park. 1) Denali Park is best reached by train and has a beautiful lodge, and many wilderness lodges available by reservation. 2) Glacier Bay is best seen using Exploration Cruise Lines to arrange a trip based out of Juneau. 3) The area from Skagway to Ketchikan is best toured by the Alaska State Marine Highway, the ferry system. They have very reasonable cabins available by reservation and have a very good schedule. They have a U S Forest Service naturalist on board every ferry to help in spotting whales and eagles and explaining the history etc. The ferry takes about 3 days roundtrip and costs about $150/each plus $50 a night for a 2 berth cabin. There are fine hotels and B&B's in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, and Skagway or Haines. 4) To drive the loop from Skagway to the Yukon and back to Haines, you can rent a National rental car in Haines and use the ferry from Haines to Skagway to complete the trip (a 1 hour trip). 5) Anchorage and most other cities of Alaska are blessed with a fine system of Bed & Breakfasts which we found very hospitable and much friendlier than the big hotels. The country road houses vary from super to gross. Food was surprisingly varied and good most everywhere we went except in the Yukon. Somehow the Yukon is one of the peas, carrots, and potatoes places which are so common in Canada. You can find good food there, but it takes more work than in Alaska. My favorite chain restraunt was Truman's, named after Harry Truman of Mt. St. Hellens.
agk@ihuxn.UUCP (A Kegel) (11/15/85)
> **** **** > From the keys of Steve Henning, AT&T Bell Labs, Reading, PA mhuxl!smh > Mr. Henning gave a fine summary. I would like to add a trip to Misty Fjords National <Park? Monument? Forest?> outside of Ketchikan. We took a small plane (7-8 seater) in to the Misty Fjords, transfered to a motor cabin-cruiser (not sail), cruised the fjords and returned to Ketchikan on the cruiser. Wonderful day trip. Caution: If you take any of the ferries, be sure to take a sweater and windbreaker to keep warm, and all the film you need for the day (I have a marvelous collection of slides of whale splashes -- several rolls worth -- them big critters are fast). -andy kegel ...!ihnp4!ihuxn!agk