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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: SMC_Irish_68]
#38623
02/08/2015 09:11 AM
02/08/2015 09:11 AM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,146 Louisiana
o2bnsxm
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,146
Louisiana
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Yes, inside passage, and were hoping to do it around July 23rd which would work out great !! Thank you ! Our basic plan is to fly in the day before and stay at a hotel at SeaTac airport, then catch a cab the next day to the Cruise terminal. Any suggestions ?
Last edited by o2bnsxm; 02/08/2015 09:57 AM.
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: SMC_Irish_68]
#38624
02/08/2015 10:11 AM
02/08/2015 10:11 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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I don't know if that is something new or not, but we went to Alaska several years ago now and we were very early in the season, around June 1, and we went to Glacier Bay. One thing we did miss because of going early is that we were not able to do the dogsled expedition we booked, because there was too much snow still in the area where they drop you off for the tour. Way early in the season or way late is often MUCH cheaper than the cruises smack in the middle of the season. When we went, we had zero mosquitoes. The weather was actually quite nice when we went and fairly warm, but that is all very much a crap shoot. We got to see a tremendous amount of eagles closer than normal. The tour guides said that later on, after the salmon are running, the eagles are full with salmon and thus don't feed from the tour guides as much. We didn't see the salmon run and didn't see the bears fishing, which happens later than when we went. If and when we go again, I definitely want to go later, to be able to see the salmon and the bears fishing.
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#38625
02/08/2015 10:25 AM
02/08/2015 10:25 AM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,146 Louisiana
o2bnsxm
OP
Traveler
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,146
Louisiana
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Carol, by later, do you mean around Sept 1st or October 1st? Right now the prices for the Cruise departing July 18 are around $1250.00 for two. Do the prices get better around Oct 1st? Roundtrip airfare seems like a deal at $400.00 pp, non-stop on Alaska Air from New Orleans to SeaTac.
Last edited by o2bnsxm; 02/08/2015 10:43 AM.
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: o2bnsxm]
#38626
02/08/2015 10:45 AM
02/08/2015 10:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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Actually, by October 1, I'm not sure they are even still running Alaska cruises! September 1 is pretty late in the season..
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: SMC_Irish_68]
#38629
02/08/2015 02:53 PM
02/08/2015 02:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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That's interesting, we did see many seal pups, so maybe they have changed the rules since we were there.
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: SMC_Irish_68]
#38630
02/08/2015 10:23 PM
02/08/2015 10:23 PM
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507 Florida
RobT
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Traveler
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Posts: 507
Florida
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Definitely go the Vancouver the day before. We did that in June 2014. We got to the hotel near the airport, but our bags did not make it. They ended up being delivered directly to the boat by the airline.
Beach Hunter
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: Cathyg]
#38632
07/16/2015 09:56 AM
07/16/2015 09:56 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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Cathy--Does Norweigan do Glacier Bay? It used to be that HAL and Princess were the only ones to do it, not sure if that is still the case. Glacier Bay is not to be missed!
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: Cathyg]
#38636
07/16/2015 09:47 PM
07/16/2015 09:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Traveler
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Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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Cathy--If you're booking with Bonnie, you can't go wrong, regardless! Enjoy!
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: o2bnsxm]
#38640
07/17/2015 11:20 AM
07/17/2015 11:20 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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Honestly, you really should get out of the Alaskan towns, as there isn't that much there that's not straight tourist crap. Take a cool float plane ride or better yet a helicopter over a glacier!! One of a kind experiences. Excursions in Alaska are way expensive, but some of our most awesome memories from our Alaska cruise include the helicopter to the glacier and walking around on snow that had never seen human footprints, and the boat trip to see whales and eagles! Get out of town!!
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: o2bnsxm]
#38642
07/17/2015 08:13 PM
07/17/2015 08:13 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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Wow, that's not a good itinerary, to me. Not very far north and very little time to enjoy any excursions off the ship, and a whole day in BC, versus in Alaska..
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: Cathyg]
#38644
07/18/2015 08:41 AM
07/18/2015 08:41 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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Cathy--at least you get to Glacier Bay and have a bit more time in the various ports. I still don't see wasting a day in BC on a 7 day Alaska cruise though. If you're going to see Alaska, I would start further north to begin with. Regardless, enjoy your trip!
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: Cathyg]
#38646
07/19/2015 09:14 AM
07/19/2015 09:14 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
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Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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Does "kids going with us" translate to "we're paying for the kids"?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> Having a balcony in Alaska really is the way to go! Not sure whether NCL does it, but Princess had lovely blankets you could get for the deck. If they do have them, they are great! Plus we made our own Irish Coffee on our balcony. We bought whipped cream and bailey's in Vancouver, and got a carafe of coffee from the buffet. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Guess you can just order them up with your drink package, but Irish Coffee on the balcony, with your binocs and a good blanket--ulitimate Alaska balcony!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: Cathyg]
#38648
07/19/2015 02:46 PM
07/19/2015 02:46 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,723
Central Florida!
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Regarding excursions, do check on helicopter rides over the glaciers. Expensive, but well worth it!!! And check on wildlife boat excursions, to see whales, eagles, etc. Juneau has a glacier you can drive to also. Helicopter rides I think were also from Juneau. I personally don't care for salmon, but a lot of people like those excursions, that include a salmon bake.
Carol Hill
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Re: Best time of year for Alaska Cruise
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#38650
08/09/2015 04:10 PM
08/09/2015 04:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884 St. Thomas, USVI
Nutmeg
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884
St. Thomas, USVI
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I was talking to someone who just returned from an Alaska cruise. They didn't do a single excursion, just walked around the towns. I can't imagine...
[color:"red"]NUTMEG[/color] Today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday.
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