modestobruce

I keep hearing about how wonderful Alaskan cruises are; my sister and her husband just returned with their two kids and said they loved it. For the life of me, I don't understand how sailing in a glacier bay looking at icebergs and water is wonderful. Please educate me as we're planning a h.s. graduation gift vacation for one of our daughters for next summer (along with our 13 year-old).
thanks......

doug_stallings

There's nothing to "educate" you about. If you don't love the scenery and the natural beauty of Alaska and long to go there, then I don't think an Alaska cruise will appeal to you.

The only consolation is that if you're on a huge cruise ship there's always lots to do aboard the ship itself. But you can do that a lot closer to home and with nicer weather by taking a cruise to Mexico.

jacketwatch

I agree with Doug. If you need convincing then skip it. This reminds me of someone I know who went to India, saw the Taj Mahal and said it was "OK."

abram

We spent 17 days in Alaska and I was amazed that I never tired of looking at glaciers.
Plus, there's lots more to see and do--but if Alaska doesn't interest you, don't go--the world is full of other fascinating places.

modestobruce

That's my question, besides the view, what is there to see and do?

Sassafrass

This a personal thing. Some people like to hike mountains - others like to walk the beach or snorkel. Does your daughter and 13 yr old have any interest in Alaska? If not, why not a Caribbean cruise instead?

Dayenu

The scenic cruising is usually one day only, the rest you spend on land - it's your choice what to do, just like on any other vacation. The difference is, your "hotel room" sails to the next destination at night, docked or anchored all day so you can explore the area.

abram

Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier (video, seeing the glacier, hiking), Tracy Arms Glacier watching boat ride, Mt. Roberts Tram/hiking, Alaska State Capitol, Alaska State Museum, self-guided historical walking tour.
Skagway: Yukon & White Pass RR, national park Service exhibits & walking tour, City Hall Museum, Corrington Museum
Ketchikan: Saxman Native Village, Totem Bight Park, Totem Heritage Center, Deer Mountain Hatchery & Eagle Center
Anchorage: Earthquake Park, Art & History Museum, self-guided walking tour, Alaska native Heritage Center
Sitka: semi-submersible boat, wildlife watching boat, Sheldon Jackson museum, Totem Park, Russian Bishop's House, St Michael's Cathedral, Tribal Dance performance, Raptor Center
Fairbanks: U of Alaska Museum, Riverboat Discovery
Denali National Park: loved the all day bus ride (with commentary)

I'm sure there's lots more!

cary999

"I don't understand how sailing in a glacier bay looking at icebergs and water is wonderful"

Well, sort of like ice cream, it's hard to describe why it taste so good. Especially rocky road!!! We do all types of travel to many places around USA and world and we still like to cruise. Last vacation (2012) was safari in South Africa for three weeks. Soon, this Oct, 28 day cruise on Princess to South Pacific. Next spring a road trip from CA to East Coast and back.

Yes, we've been on Alaska cruise twice but our favorites have been the Panama Canal and a long one in the Near East/Europe (Bangkok to Venice).

regards - tom
ps - that is, Lord willing. We've been traveling since 1970.

bettyk

Suggest you google "what to do on an Alaska cruise" just like I did. You will find websites like the following from Cruise Critic and Trip Advisor:

http://www.cruisecritic.com/articles.cfm?id=1353

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...es-Alaska.html

andrews98682

I've never been to Alaska but would like to go. I'm assuming your daughter wants to go, since it's for her graduation, so why not give it a shot? Maybe Alaska surprises you and you wind up having a great time. What do you have to lose (I mean, um, besides the thousands of dollars spent on the trip)? Seriously, how bad can it be if millions of people visit every year?

modestobruce

Well, if this isn't irony I don't know what is....My wife and I just received a free cruise to Alaska on Royal Caribbean with RT airfaire included for sitting through a sales pitch for a timeshare. My sister warned me these people are sharks and it will be very difficult to say no to them. I didn't think it was difficult at all, especially when we brought our maxed-out cc with us and knew it wouldn't be approved! So, Alaska-here we come!

jacketwatch

I have a feeling that the Titanic will pull into NY before you ever get this promise fullfilled.

modestobruce

What happened to the Titanic?

jacketwatch

Same that's going to happen to your "free" time share cruise. .

Eschew

modestobruce, got to remember the maxed out cc trick. My no job, so savings, no assets line worked well, but then we don't get any timeshare invites.

Years ago, I "won" a color TV from a Vegas Hotel promo. All I have to do is claim it. I called and they said that I have a couple of options: one was picking up the TV in person at the hotel and they will throw in a free 3 nights hotel stay on top, and there is a "welcoming reception" and a "short" presentation just for me.

The other choice was have it shipped to me. The shipping charges and handling fee is $500. Needless to say, I didn't claim my color TV.

The new Titanic II maybe pulling into NYC one of these days ...

Dukey1

I can only say that when my partner and I "did" the Alaska cruise thing, HE was not impressed ("too many fir trees and totem poles") and so forth. He was also disappointed that the glacier thing wasn't as close up as he thought it might be (think seeing the calving action on an IMAX screen vs. on a ship that is, for safety purposes if nothing else, a bit further away).

When we did this cruise we were not in any sort of balcony cabin so we were up on deck to watch the glacier activity. Think people can be rude in terms of all hut shoving you out of the way so they can have a better view because, after all, THEY paid all that money??? Get ready.

Now if you DO have a balcony perhaps it will be on the "correct" side of the ship.

Alaska is obviously spectacular in terms of the vastness if nothing else and you may simply have to GO there to find out what all the commotion is about.

There is so much more to a cruise than the scenery, of course, and hopefully your next trip will be memorable in good ways.

utahtea

Dukey1, On Holland America the ships captain rotated the ship 360 degrees the whole time we were at the glacier in Glacier Bay so it didn't matter where you stood or where your balcony cabin was...everyone got a chance to see. Our ship got really close to the glacier!

modestobruce,

Congratulations on getting the free cruise. What are the ports or destinations of this cruise?

Hopefully you will get to realize just staring at those magnificent glaciers is well worth all the time you put into it. Hearing the roar of a glacier calving is fantastic.

Watching for wildlife in the ocean and on land was fun too. How many times in your daily life do you get to see puffins, bald eagles, bears, dolphins, otters and whales?

Utahtea

tower

Bruce...you back again? Last saw you concerned about daughters being left in a Paris Hotel..hope you worked that one out. Now Alaska...can I assume kids will be going alone?

At any rate, we're not usually cruisers, but our Holland America experience paralleled UtahTea's above and was delightful...even caught very good sunshiny weather most of the way. It was my 50th state...my wife's 30th. Well worth it IMO.
I will post some pics below to familiarize you with the S.E. Alaska cruise. It includes the usual land excursions for Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka, Ketchikan...we did not do Skagway.

tower

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...AndGlacierBay#

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...10AlaskaSitka#

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...askaKetchikan#