Alaskian Cruise This July

We're booked on a Princess Alaskan Cruise for this summer(2016). Anyone have any fairly current thoughts about good and worthless activities either on ship or at ports. Starting at Fairbanks with Denaili tours.
Thanks in advance.

Wish I could help. Our Alaska Cruise was August 2015, and it rained every Port of call, and the wind made it impossible to try to do anything other than walk around in town of the Ports we were in.

we are going on the norwegian pearl the first week of august...these are the excursions we have booked

whale watching in Juneau

best of skagway and white pass railway

saxman and native village lumberjack show in Juneau

glacier bay

enchanting butchart gardens evening

We did the Alaska Cruise on the Norwegian Pearl August 2015. White Pass railway was highly recommended, and we booked it, however it was raining and very foggy, so we canceled. People that went on it said they couldn't even see out the window of the train. Sorry, can't help with anything else, we were washed out at all ports due to rain.

I am sorry to hear that you had bad weather.....I am sure hoping ours is better.

We lived in Adak Alaska in the Aleutian islands for 18 months.....we enjoyed BOTH nice days we had......

That's so funny!! We took a cruise to Alaska, maybe in 98 or so??? We had really spectacular weather for the week we were on the cruise and 3 days after in Denali. We did all excursions on our own. We had booked a dog sled excursion and couldn't do it because there was too much snow yet. Our cruise was VERY early for Alaska, can't remember now, around the middle of May maybe. We did a helicopter tour to a glacier from somewhere, not sure, a wildlife boat tour from Seward, maybe?, land tour to the glacier that is right by Anchorage, went to the Red Dog Saloon, had a wonderful time! Possibly the thing we enjoyed most was the cruise in Glacier Bay though.. Spectacular! We would love to go back someday, especially since we haven't seen any snow (thank God!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />), for 10 years, since we now live in Florida!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Well Carol....Steve had no interest in EVER returning to Alaska...so I had to do some convincing.....but the one thing he insisted on was that the ship go through glacier bay. Since the government licenses only so many ships to do this....it was more difficult than it sounds. First we wanted Disney...no glacier bay. Then Princess...no glacier bay. Bonnie recommended NCL...so thats what we did. in 97 days we begin our journey. We are booked at the waterfront Marriot...right across the street from the ship. So we will fly into Seattle on Saturday....stay at the marriot and walk across the street to the ship on Sunday.

I am really excited and I hope we have good weather.

I bought some new north face thermal jackets and have packed leggings and sweaters and boots. I am hoping I made the right choice in clothing. I also packed a couple of rain ponchos and an umbrella.

I know this will be the only time I get to do this....no way I will ever get him to go back again...lol

What??? Princess is no longer doing Glacier Bay??? At the time that we went, Princess and HAL were the ONLY ones doing it.

Hope you have great weather!

no princess is not going there this year.....i think it changes every year from what I understand. It depends on who wins the license.

I just checked, the Crown/Island Grand Princess all scenic cruise Glacier Bay National Park this summer as usual.....as is Holland America (even a couple Carnival trips) ALL PART OF CARNIVAL CORP....I think it is the addition of Norwegian to the mix that is the big new thing

I booked this trip over a year ago....at that time....Princess was not going to Glacier Bay.

It changes ....I don't know how often..I don't know how they decide.....but I booked NLC because Disney and Princess did not go to glacier Bay. I used Bonnie Buchanan who is a sponsor here at TTOL.

This is our first time to use NLC...I hope I am not disappointed.

Princess is definitely your best choice. When we go on that cruise, we will choose Princess as well. We usually pick the excursions from Princess, they may be a bit more expensive, but always worth it!

We are booked on the Coral Princess for July/August and we have 2 days by the Glaciers Hubbard and Glacier Bay so I guess I am confused when you said Princess didn't have the license to go through Glacier Bay. Our itinerary has Aug 1 as our GB day. I know we stay on the ship both these days but they do scenic cruising. Do you think I should be concerned or are you referring to something else. We booked this in November so maybe it was available then?

If your itinerary says you are going to glacier bay...then i would guess you are.Contact your agent to make sure...but I am sure it is ok.

I think all of the ships just go into Glacier bay then turn around and come back out. None of them allow you to get off the ship in Glacier Bay.

9 more days until we begin our journey North to Alaska...I hope i have packed the right clothes...

Any last minute advice?

Got the binoculars, extra data card for your camera? If taking a laptop do you have the ability to download your photos to the computer also. If not a simple usb card reader will do the trick.

binoculars are packed....laptop is going with us...and I bought unlimited internet. Steve will download the pictures to the computer everyday.

I am getting excited!!!!

I'm sure you already know to pack clothes you can layer, so you can take off and put on, as the weather changes. And make sure you have a coat with a hood, for when it rains, so you don't have to hold an umbrella, instead of the camera or the binocs! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" /> We went to Alaska a LONG time ago, back when you could smuggle liquor onboard without any problem. We would order room service coffee and then go refill the coffee carafe and had irish coffee on our balcony!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> I have to assume you have a balcony?? I hope so! If I were doing it again, I would pack a small light blanket for balcony sitting also! I can't remember where it was now, but we went in one of the ports and bought a piece of flannel fabric that we used on the balcony to wrap ourselves in. Worked out great! (...and we still have it today.. )

I have packed jeans and sweaters for steve and leggings and sweaters and boots for me.

We do have a balcony.

I have also packed an umbrella and jackets.

This cruise does not include formal nights..and everything is casual...though i did pack one nice dinner outfit for us.

We have the unlimited internet package....the unlimited liquor package....the largest photo package..the whale watching for Juneau...the railroad for Skagsway....the lumberjack show and salmon bake for Ketchikan...and the gardens for British Victoria. I booked three specialty dinners.

I will pack a light blanket...that's a great idea.

We fly to Seattle Saturday and will stay at the Marriott on the port so all we have to do is walk across the street to the ship.

As I said, we really used our jackets with hoods, so we didn't have to hang on to the umbrella.

Have a GREAT time! I am looking forward to hearing all about your trip and seeing those beautiful pictures!

I am sure steve will take tons of pictures!! at least i hope so!!

It has been so very hot here...in the 100's so I am actually looking forward to some cooler weather!

Living in Florida for the past 10 years, I also would welcome some cool weather sometimes, so long as I know it's only temporary!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Enjoy!!

We are in the inside passage today.....day three of our voyage...no rain yet. We arrive Juneau today for whale watching.

I will post a trip report at the end of our journey.

I do want to say...so far...NCL...wins as the best cruise line we have been on....

Glad it's going well! Looking forward to hearing all about it later.

sitting on our balcony...we have seen 15 whales in the past hour...

yep...this trip was worth every penny

Wow! Great! We saw several whales on a small ship excursion we took, but don't remember seeing any from the ship..

So Norm, Where is the trip report?? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> Love reading yours.