Alaska Cruise
 

<BR>Planning an Alaskan cruise for seven days would really appreciate any info. Recommendations for must do, clothing(Aug/Sep). Would like to hear from an experienced Alaska traveller!Thanks

I am also taking a cruise in Sept. to Alaska and wish to know the same information. Please forward any replys. <BR> <BR>Thanks

We're leaving for alaska this sat 8/15 & would appreciate any advice also.

We took a Holland American Inside Passage Cruise and the highlight of the trip was Glacier Bay. Whichever line you choose, make sure it goes to Glacier Bay. I think the second most memorable thing was a seaplane ride over the icefields.

To Lisa (and to Chuck)-- <BR>Hi! <BR>My wife and I took a May cruise last year -- and loved it. May was coolish weather (definately light coat needed.) <BR>Among the excursions available on the Sun Princess was a raft trip/Eagle viewing just outside of Skagway. This included a plane ride over Glacier Bay -- excellent!! The headsets we wore while looking out the window played wonderful instrumental music to set the "audio" mood while you gazed out the window at the beautiful glaciers and mountainsides. <BR>Also offered at Skagway was a bike trip to the "ghost town" of Dyea. It was also well worth it (it was good to work off the meals we had taken in thus far on board!!) <BR>Have a great trip! <BR>

Our Holland America cruise was also Inside Passage from Vancouver to Seward with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, and Valdez. We cruised Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord rather than Glacier Bay. Absolutely spectacular, especially viewed from the many foredecks or the Crowsnest Lounge on the Ryndam... A highlight was the helicopter flight from Juneau over the bays to the Norris glacier, where we landed and spent a quiet half-hour walking. We went in June: dress in layers, as you will want to be on deck for extended periods of time (I wore t-neck, fleece layer, and windbreaker with hood; many people wore less but they didn't look all that comfortable!) Enjoy your trip - it is wonderful. Feel free to email me if you have any specific questions.

I am a lifelong Alaskan with an urgent request. Please do not take helicopter tours while you are here. They are extremely noisy and disruptive to the local people and to the wildlife. The helicopter companies and cruise lines have been insensitive to concerns expressed by those of us affected. To give you a picture, helicopters in Juneau fly in fleets of up to fly helicopters, back and forth passing over any given point four times an hour (taking about 4 minutes for noise to pass) from early morning to evening seven days a week all cruise tourist season. They are so loud that you sometimes cannot hear on the phone when inside with the windows closed. I know that you are on vacation but please give us all a break and take a quiet excursion. Thanks. <BR>

Took the Princess Alaska cruise in Sept of 96. Spectacular! As far as clothing goes, dress in layers and bring a rain coat. I took a light fall jacket that was water repellent and was sufficiently warm without being overly so. If you have a chance, take the wildlife excursion while in Juneau. Saw several whales which made the trip worth the cost. Those who planned the helicopter tours were fogged in and could not fly plus they lost out on the chance to take some of the other ship sponsored tours. It may rain while there, as it did when we went, but it never put a damper on any of the activities we planned. Again, just remember to bring a waterproof jacket and a travel umbrella.

My father went on the alaskan cruise on princess.. its been 2 years and he is STILL talking about how great it was.. now I want to go!Tracy