akyraty

great review and read. I ordered the Mitchener book this morning in preparation for my June trip.

JAGIRL

I loved this Report. I'm planning an Alaska trip too and this was very very helpful.

traveller1959

Thank you for your kind comments.

I had given MIL the Michener book before our trip, but she could not read it because her glasses were not appropriate any more.

Now, she has gotten new glasses and she is enjoying reading about all the places where she had been and uses her brand new tablet to do additional research. So, the cruise turned out into a lasting experience.

AndreaNewEngland

Wow, traveller, thanks for posting the link to this. What a great trip report. I had been struggling with what to do in Skagway, but now we are going to rent a car and follow your suggestions. We share you disdain for--well, you know. It takes some effort to avoid being one of the sheeple (herds of sheep-people), especially on a cruise.

It's also interesting that you felt you saw enough whales from the ship to skip taking a whale-watching cruise in Juneau. Some people say it's a quite different experience. I'm still undecided.

FACS

Seeing a whale from a zodiac or small boat that has scouts looking out for them is a better bet than possibly seeing one from a cruise ship from my experience.

traveller1959

Maybe a little late for Andrea: I got some pretty good pictures of breathing whales, jumping whales and flukes from the cabin balcony.

Of course, the very small boats are totally different experience, especially when you are so lucky to see a whale bubble-feeding.

On the other hand, I once was on a whale watching tour on a medium-sized ship in New England, and this was very disappointing.

traveller1959

Just learned that people are still interested in reading this thread. So, I send it to the top again.

dwooddon

Traveller1959,

Thank you for topping this. You have no reason to apologize for your use of language.

I've been to Alaska about a dozen times and never tire of it but I've just booked my first cruise, 14 days from Seattle on MS Amsterdam this summer, so finding this thread was especially timely and I enjoyed it very much. I have a slightly different view of Talkeetna. I agree, it is quite overrun during summer days but I've stayed there for a few days at a time and once the day trippers depart, it reverts to its old-timey Alaskan self. I enjoy staying at the Roadhouse with its way outdated rooms and heart clogging food.

I'm sure I'll be referring back to this thread as the time for my cruise approaches. Thank you again.

mlgb

I didn't see this thread the first time and found it interesting. Was on one of the similar HAL ships last June, Noordam which has the advantage of stopping in Haines on the northbound itinerary, vs Skagway.

Never did eat in the Pinnacle DR and now I'm glad I didn't! Agree the MDR food and service is quite good on HAL, as is the Breakfast in the Buffet.

Have never done a ship's tour in AK. In Ketchikan I used the public bus to head north to Totem Bight, which is better than Saxman IMO.

cferrb

You just changed our plans for traveling from Anchorage to Fairbanks and back. We have to return via Denali, but we will now travel north through Glennallen. Thanks so much for the tip.