We would like to travel to Alaska this August and need recommendations for either just a cruise or a cruise and land tour. We are interested in nature, wildlife and scenery. My husband would be very unhappy on a large cruise ship with all the "gaga" activities. Can someone recommend a smaller ship that is informal. Also, what are the best destinations to focus on with a land tour? If possible we would like to travel by a smaller tour boat into some of the glaciers as a side trip. We would like to keep the cost under or around $3000 for up to 14 days. Any suggestions????

The best deal for people with a glacier priority is Princess - have a look at this August 7-day itinerary: http://www.princess.com/find/priceDe...ode=&date=0810 You can add on a cruisetour but not staying within your $3000 budget - a few days of independent travel could do it, and is easy to arrange.

While small ships are a great way to get up close and personal with Alaska, they're also very expensive. Cruise West is the most affordable of them and is still well over double the price of Princess ( http://www.cruisewest.com/ )

This sounds like a good itinerary. It is a way one cruise starting in Anchorage. Does anyone have suggestions for land tours or independent travel in anchorage for 3 to 5 days?

%3000 is an extremely low budget for Alaska.

Per person???

What is your main objective? Is cruise your main objective? You can spend a few days in Anchorage in a hotel, and take a day boat cruise to the glaciers. Anchorage is a city; there is no wildlife in Anchorage.

So, it's $6000 for 2 people?? Yes that's doable. I would do a one way cruise, then one week interior Alaska in a rental car.

You need to be flexable, in your cabin choice- inside ok? and modest in your accomdations, shared bath?

Check the Fodor's "cruise" forum, just click on "Change Forum" near the top of this page and you'll see the cruise option. There is even an Alaska Cruise topic.

Go to cruisecritic.com for information about various cruise lines that do the Alaska cruises. We have booked on Celebrity for a 7 day cruise from Vancouver round trip for $2500 for the two of us, no air, in July - got a great deal, just want to see the glaciers and some of the wildlife, will probably do a longer cruise with land tours in the future.

Hi evyce ,
We've done the trip both ways: with a land tour and then the next time with a rental car. We preferred the rental car for the second half of the trip. More freedom to roam around at our own pace. You can take the train from your arrival port into Anchorage to get a rental car. The train ride is wonderful.

Check out the various cruiseline websites and read about their daytrips while in the different ports. This might help you narrow down the choices that appeal to you and your husband.

Whatever you decide to do you will love Alaska. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Have fun,
Michele