b.leder

planning a trip for next summer. does anyone have suggestion re: cruise line ,which passage, what to do as side trips etc.?????? any suggestions will be appreciated.

Paul Rabe

Presumably you'll be going to Alaska to view the beautiful scenery and wildlife [if you're going for the collection of Impressionist art, you may be a BIT disappointed :^) ] The scenery and wildlife are just as spectacular (or, in the case of fog, just as obscured) no matter how much you spend for transport and lodging; so you may want to consider how much you're willing to pay for the amenities of a cruise. The Alaska Ferry system goes to all the places cruise ships go to, and will permit you to take your car onboard. With your car, you can then see the interior of Alaska with no guidance from anyone (which may or may not be something you like). Or you may just fly into Anchorage, rent a car (make SURE it has unlimited miles), and then drive to your heart's content.

Just a thought to consider ALL options when going to Alaska; cruise ships are NOT your only option.

One important note: the earlier in the season you go, the less you'll be pestered by swarms of pests -- either mosquitoes OR other tourists.

Polly

Paul, please give us some more insight about the ferry...not schedule information or how to find them, but a real traveler's feel for what that type of transportation is like. I can envision standing on the rail with salt water and rain splashing my face, waiting impatiently to get to port with only a deck chair to rest my travel weary bones. What can I expect once I get on the ferry with my car in tow...sleeping...eating...any other information?

Paul Rabe

Am embarassed to admit I have never actually traveled the Alaska Ferry, but just wanted to make you aware of its existence so you can check all available options. Its URL is

www.dot.state.ak.us/external/amhs/home.html

Paul Rabe

Am embarassed to admit I have never actually traveled the Alaska Ferry, but just wanted to make you aware of its existence so you can check all available options. Its URL is

www.dot.state.ak.us/external/amhs/home.html

Paul Rabe

Am embarassed to admit I have never actually traveled the Alaska Ferry, but just wanted to make you aware of its existence so you can check all available options. Its URL is

www.dot.state.ak.us/external/amhs/home.html

Ann

Polly, thanks to the Fodors system, I just posted a very long (probably too long) message about my trip on the Ferry. I just don't have time right now to post it again. I'd be happy to try later, but if it's lost in never never land and the Fodors web people can find it, that would be a better solution.

Just briefly, it's an adventure!!! More later.

Barry

One of the earlier writers was right. There is more than one way to see Alaska. Our family went up a couple of years ago and we put together our own overland trip from Anchorage to Denali to Fairbanks and down to the Kenai Fjords.

The last stop afforded us a day on the water to see the glaciers calving, whales,eagles, puffins, sea lions and other critters. That day and our vacation ended with a delicious salmon dinner watching a double rainbow over the Bay of Alaska.
Along the way we saw some of the most magnificent scenery in the world, took in a musk ox farm, sailed a paddle wheeler down the rivers at Fairbanks and spent a wonderful day in Denali National Park where we saw a wide array of bears, foxes, dall sheep, elk, etc. Whatever you do -- cruise or by car -- be sure to have breakfast at Gwennies restaurant in Anchorage.

Marian

August, 1997 we took a 7 day inside passage cruise on Holland America which was combined with a 3 day land tour with Westours and it was really great! Flew to Anchorage, took a sight-seeing train to Denali, stayed overnight and took a bus tour of the park, then the train took us to Fairbanks, stayed overnight and had a bus tour there. Flew back to Anchorage and then another bus tour to Seward where we boarded the ship. Our 7 day cruise had ports of call at Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan and ended in Vancouver, where we spent another day. We sailed through the Bay of Alaska, Glacier Bay and the Inside Passage and took the tours the ship offered in each port (they offer several and you have your choice). This was far and away my best trip and I wouldn't mind doing it again sometime. By the way, the weather in Alaska is best in August--we hardly had any rain, and we saw Mt. McKinley! They say only 10% of the tourists see it because of the weather, and we saw it from the train on Friday and the from the bus on Saturday.

Nicole

I found a great web-site about Alaska Cruises check it out: www.cruisealaska.com

JoAnn

We did the cruise, train, land trip similar to the one mentioned and loved it. We took a helicopter ride in Juneau to a glacier and got to walk on it. Stopped in Skagway and walked around the town that was the beginning of the trail to the Yukon to find gold, and then took the train ride up and back. Spectacular scenery the whole trip. Our last trip to Alaska we worked with a mission team at a kids camp, but then went to Denali, Seward--and DO take the Kenai Fjords all day trip. It was fantastic! We had a B&B in Soldotna and went fishing in Homer for Halibut and twice on the Kenai River for King Salmon (I caught a 73# King--beat the guys on the boat!). For some really great reading, get James Michner's "Alaska" and read about where you want to see, and the history of a wonderfully beautiful state.