Alaska cruisetour or independent travel?

Old Feb 7th, 2007, 06:48 PM
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Alaska cruisetour or independent travel?

We're planning our first trip to Alaska this August and are conflicted about the best way for us to experience it.

On the one hand, it's easiest to take a cruisetour. We're looking at one offered by Princess that begins 8/12 with two nights in Fairbanks, one night at Denali Lodge, one night at McKinley lodge, 2 nights at the Kenai Lodge and then to Whittier to board the Sapphire Princess for the Glacier Bay/Inside Passage cruise that ends in Vancouver on 8/26.

On the other hand, it's tempting to do the land portions ourselves to go at a slower pace and perhaps get more of a feeling we're in a wilderness and less like we're surrounded by multitudes. If that were the case, we'd more likely fly to Anchorage, drive down the Kenai peninsula to Homer and stay there 3 nights, drive back to Anchorage, take the train to Denali, stay 2 or 3 nights (taking the bus to Wonder Lake one day), train back to Anchorage, transfer somehow to Whittier to board a Princess or HAL cruise ship southbound to Vancouver.

Our priorities are to see wildlife, glaciers calving, wilderness scenery, some exposure to native culture, and learn about what it's like to live in Alaska (economic, political, social concerns). One HUGE bonus would be if we got to see the aurora.

Any feelings about these two approaches? Thank you!
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Old Feb 7th, 2007, 08:33 PM
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It's really up to your personal preferences. Do you mind driving long distances in a car? Do you like the structure of a guided tour? My preference would be to go independently. You have more freedom to go at your own pace without adhering to a rigid schedule developed by someone else. You'll meet more locals and see more of the "real" Alaska. The tours are basically large groups of tourists hanging out together and going to the most "touristy" places verus "local" places. To each his own, either way might be fun but I would hate having to be confined to a tour group.
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Old Feb 8th, 2007, 05:06 AM
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This is our quandary as well....independent travel or a Princess tour. May I ask what the ballpark price is for the Princess tour you have mentioned? We aren't so much enthralled with the cruise part, but have heard good things about the Princess land excursions, especially Denali.
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Old Feb 8th, 2007, 05:31 AM
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We did cruise and independent tour of Alaska last June. Cruise was great but really enjoyed driving and train trip after cruise. Took train from Seward, rented car in Anchorage. With this great site and other internet sites it is not a hard trip to plan. I'm sure you can do this alot cheaper if you don't mind driving, my husband enjoys that part lucky for me. You get the real feel of Alaska. Have Fun.
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Old Feb 8th, 2007, 06:39 AM
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I think the land cruise service provided by Princess is great for the older passengers who cannot (because of age restrictions) rent a vehicle and therefore utililize the train/coach options. The Princess lodges are first rate accomodations and I believe they have helped improve the lodging standards. Also, the train options are the best way to handle the sheer volume of visitors that a park like Denali and a small town like Seward can handle.

If you like to research and plan on your own, this website, guidebooks will be of great help. If you are not interested in spending hours doing that, and I think most Fodorites will agree, it does take hours; then go with the preplanned tour. You will love Alaska no matter what way you go.

We are in our 50's and planned our own land drive tour. I decided to wait and do an inside passage cruise when I am a little older and less mobile. We went in 2005 and are going back in 2008.
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Old Feb 8th, 2007, 07:11 AM
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I vote for indendent travel. DH and I went last year for a month, we chose to drive ourselves from Minnesota, we are retired and had all the time in the world. We tell our friends who are planing to fly into Anchorage and rent a car, as they do not care to drive that far. We were able to see what we wanted to see, stop whereever we wanted to stop, eat and sleep where we wanted. But it is up to you. DH and I do not care for cruises so that was out for sure. Beautiful state and so much to see and do.
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Old Feb 8th, 2007, 05:41 PM
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Thanks for your comments--you all raised excellent points.

Philsbert1, FYI the cruisetour I described would cost approx $3600 per person plus air (for a cabin with balcony. Is it too cold to sit on your balcony in Alaska??)

Miss Maple, we are in our mid-50s and I too thought we'd save the Alaska cruise for our less active years -- but now I'm concerned about glaciers melting away!

I do feel like I need to have both a land and water component to this Alaska trip. Today I looked into Cruise West, which has much smaller ships (and is more expensive), as an alternative to Princess. Any thoughts?

If I don't decide soon, I may have to delay the trip until 2008!
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Old Feb 9th, 2007, 03:35 AM
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You will be able to see glaciers on a day cruise from Seward or Whittier. Hike to one such as Exit Glacier. See them from places like the top of Mt Alyeska in Girdwood (take the tram to the top). Or fly over one. I think independent travel would suit you best if you want to learn more about Alaska. I enjoyed reading Looking for Alaska by Peter Jenkins. There are dozens of books about the Iditarod race. You can visit the Anchorage Daily News website to read stories before your trip. Use your interests to identify events or places to visit. On our last trip my husband would have enjoyed a plowing demontration at the Transportation Museum in Wasilla but it was the same weekend as another local event that was top on our to do list. I have gone on neighborhood garden tours, visited local quilt shows, etc. It sounds like you would prefer b&b's so you could visit with the hosts and other guests. (Just make sure you choose a b&b with a place for socializing not a one room over the garage type of place.) There are tons of organizations/club that have open meetings. Do you already belong to a club that has a chapter some place in AK? We never felt like we were surrounded by the multitudes (except when the cruise ships were in Skagway and then the streets were mobbed) but it may take some effort to feel like you are in a wilderness, perhaps a trip to see bears. Go this year if you can.
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Old Feb 9th, 2007, 05:00 AM
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when i went to alaska i spent the first week with a tour which happened to be an outdoor camping hiking tour. it was the first time i let someone else "plan" the trip. but the second half i picked up a car in anchorage and did independant travel going to homer and seward - loved it. i used b&b's. a tour can give you some good info, but then independant travel is always my choice. I like to do things on my schedule not someone elses! enjoy!!!!!
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Old Feb 9th, 2007, 05:24 AM
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Lorraine: I would save the inside passage cruise for later years -- take the Kenai Fjords cruise out of Seward to see lots of wildlife and tidewater glaciers or as dfrostnh suggests, the glacier tour out of Whittier (we are planning to go that one in 2008). We are also planning a hike tour of the Mantanuka glacier then as well. There is so much you can do and see in Alaska -- you can't fit it all in one trip. Having your own vehicle allows you freedom to do what you want to do and go where you want to go. (I always liked the Mamas and Papas). Go for it!
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Old Feb 9th, 2007, 05:31 AM
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I am a strong advocate of independent touring in Alaska and have nothing good to say about cruisetours. Fixed point to point travel in Alaska misses all the great stuff that can and does happen. The cruisetours have a great deal of time in transit and waiting.

The one you have chosen also probably does NOT have time for much in Denali Park with only one night at the Denali Princess lodge, with most likely the NHT included??? The McKinley lodge is 100 miles away- ok if McKinley is viewable, but seldom is. Out in the middle of nowhere and 50 miles from the nearest town- Talkeetna.

You can see and do much more on your own, planned for your priorities. Easy to do. You are too early for Northern Lights, if a priority go a week later with a north bound cruise. You need very end of August into Sept. for the chance. And with that TIME. Check predictions DAILY- http://www.gedds.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast/

With your wildlife priority, include Denali Park and Kenai Fjords. From Anchorage going southbound on Princess, take the ARR to Whittier then a day boat to PWS glacier cruise. FAR superior to anything you will see from your cruiseship.
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Old Feb 9th, 2007, 07:04 AM
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In planning our 2008 trip to Alaska, we were orginally planning on a cruise. I balked at the idea of traveling with 1500-2000 other people on a ship that had casino, a "lido" pool and Vegas type of entertainment. Some are quite happy with this arrangement, but not for me on a trip to a place like Alaska.

We looked at several options such as Cruise West, Country Walkers etc. Have finally decided to book trip ourselves. We will be able to do everything we want ( indeed even more than cruise options), at less cost and with a high degree of flexibility. It takes some research and time, but I'm happy we made this decision.
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Old Feb 18th, 2007, 09:29 AM
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We looked at booking a land cruise to denali for 3 days, two nights. It was $2,400 for two. I booked the train through tour saver for two for $360 or close to that, two nights at Denali Lakeview Inn around $110.00 per night and have rented a car in Denali. The price difference is significant. You can take any of the tours through Princess by yourself......look them up on line. It just takes a little time to plan it yourself.....but it really is alot of fun! Marilee
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Old Feb 18th, 2007, 12:38 PM
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If one of your priorities is to see wildlife, I would suggest driving rather than the cruise or even taking the train. As you are driving the highways, you can stop whenever you see something interesting.

We drove the Turnagain Arm many times while we visited Alaska (we were staying in Anchorage and took daytrips to Whittier for a kayak trip and for a glacier cruise--also drove down to Alyeska Resort for dinner at the Seven Glaciers Restaurant one night). At one point along the highway, there were often large numbers of Mountain Goats. We were able to stop--and even got a picture of a baby nursing! A salmon run was going on while we were there, and we were able to stop and watch the fisherman at Bird Creek, also. I think we also stopped to see a moose along there. And stopped to see the "Bore Tide" come in one day!

On our drive from Denali to Seward (a long day!), we got our best pictures of a mother and baby moose. They were standing in a pond, a bit off the road, and the baby reached up and gave the mother a kiss!

Anyway, I assume we would have missed many of those moments if we hadn't had the flexibility of being in our own car!

P.S.--depending on what kind of shape you're in, consider hiking up along the Exit Glacier to Harding Ice Field. It's a strenuous hike. But it is absolutely gorgeous. You walk up along the glacier, among fields of wildflowers. We saw a mom and baby black bear along the way, and ate lunch ABOVE the mountain goats. It was one of the highlights of our trip!

For exposure to native culture, be sure to go to the Native Heritage Center in Alaska. We spent a very enjoyable afternoon there, and learned a lot!
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Old Feb 19th, 2007, 09:59 AM
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Definitely an independent land tour--we are going in late July and spending a week on a Princess cruise going north from Vancouver and once we get to Anchorage renting an RV and spening 7 days doing just whatever!! The RV is a great alternative to spending lots of $$ on hotels/B and B's and will enable us to do our own breakfast and lunch and then go out to dinners. THe RV parks are all over and if you go to a public campground rates ranges about $15 a night!!
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Old Feb 20th, 2007, 03:36 PM
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Calligirl, where is the Native Heritage Center? The drive along Turnagain Arm sounds great--did you hike there too?

Marilee, does one need a car in Denali? I thought one rode a park bus.

BudgetQueen, what is NHT?

Again, thank you all for taking the time to share your expertise.
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Old Feb 21st, 2007, 06:22 AM
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NHT Natural History- a complete waste of time to consider in Denali Park. My opinion only a car is necessary at Denali Park, this allows far more dining and lodging options, plus the freedom and better use of time for activities. It is simple and efficient to drive to a ranger activity at the visitor center, it can take a couple hours to coordinate with shuttle schedules from lodges.

The Native Heritage Center is in Anchorage. http://www.alaskanative.net/
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Old Feb 21st, 2007, 12:34 PM
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Lorraine,
We didn't hike along the Turnagain Arm--but I know there are all sorts of options around there.

I think there's a hike that goes all along the hills on the side of the road. Also Potter's Marsh is along there. Lots of water birds. We wanted to do some walks there--the light looked beatiful in the morning--but couldn't spare the time right then.

Maybe someone who knows what all the options are can chime in. It is absolutely one of the most scenic drives I have ever done. Gorgeous.

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Old Feb 21st, 2007, 06:49 PM
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After considerable discussion with DH, we have come up with a tentative itinerary, to which I welcome your input:

8/24 Fly to Vancouver, tour
8/25 Tour Victoria
8/26 Tour Vancouver, then board HAL Statendam
8/27 HAL at sea along British Columbia
8/28 HAL to Ketchikan – Misty Fjords excursion
8/29 HAL to Juneau – Mendenhall Glacier
8/30 HAL to Skagway – either helicopter and dogsled on glacier excursion or helicopter, hike and White Pass rail excursion
8/31 HAL cruise around Glacier Bay
9/1 HAL cruise through College Fjords
9/2 Disembark at Seward. Take Kenai Fjords excursion; overnight in Seward
9/3 Rent car and drive to Homer
9/4 Homer
9/5 Homer
9/6 Drive to Anchorage
9/7 Anchorage
9/8 Drive to Denali
9/9 Denali
9/10 Denali
9/11 Drive to Fairbanks
9/12 Fairbanks (riverboat?)
9/13 Fly home
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Old Feb 22nd, 2007, 05:04 AM
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You have a nice itinerary, except, I never recommend Victoria as a day trip. Always at least one over night. Not sure how you are planning on going there. I also always take a car over.

If you plan on the bus tranfers, you spend too much time in transit in my opinion and miss out on the considerable areas of interest. Far better with only one day is to fly back and forth.
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