Lorraine

We are newly retired and planning our first Alaska trip (with cruise, train and driving portions) for this August or September. We also want to be in Fairbanks and Denali during a new moon to give us the best chance to see the aurora (according to the folks at the Alaska Geophysical Institute, because there are 4 hours of darkness during the August new moon, we do have some chance.)

As you'll see, one itinerary uses HAL and the other is an expensive Cruise West but the land portions are fairly similar, including Denali and the Kenai Peninsula. We love nature, wildlife, spectacular scenery and easy hikes, and even though we're not interested in casinos and shows have no objection to big-ship cruises. We look forward to visiting some small towns along the Inside Passage, but we're also interested in the excursions offered.

So here are the two possible itineraries:

Cruise West "Alaska's Inside Passage" #8A

8/12: Fly through Seattle to Fairbanks
8/13: Fairbanks (riverboat trip?)
8/14: Train to Denali, arrive 12:15 pm
8/15: Denali
8/16: Train to Anchorage, arrive 8 pm
8/17: Anchorage
8/18: Rent car, drive to Chugach State Park to hike and/or Begich Boggs Visitor Center. Drive to Seward, evening cruise Kenai fjords?
8/19: Drive to Soldotna, then Homer
8/20: Homer
8/21: Drive 6 hours to Anchorage; take 6:47 pm flight to Juneau (arrive 8:22 pm)
8/22: Hike around Juneau, then board Cruise West Spirit of '98
8/23: Cruise to Skagway and Haines
8/24: Cruise around Glacier Bay
8/25: Cruise to Sitka
8/26: Cruise Frederick Sound and Tracy Arm
8/27: Cruise to Petersburg
8/28: Cruise Misty Fjords, visit Matlakatla
8/29: Arrive in Ketchikan and take 4:14 pm flight to Seattle
8/30: Seattle
8/31: Fly home

Holland America Northbound "Glacier Bay Discovery"

8/24: Fly to Vancouver
8/25: Visit Victoria
8/26: Vancouver, then board HAL Glacier Bay Discovery cruise (5 pm departure)
8/27: At sea along British Columbia
8/28: Cruise to Ketchikan – take HAL's Misty Fjords excursion?
8/29: Cruise to Juneau – take public bus to Mendenhall Glacier
8/30: Cruise to Skagway – take HAL's helicopter dog sledding excursion?
8/31: Cruise around Glacier Bay
9/1: Cruise through College Fjords
9/2: Reach Seward, take Kenai Fjords Tour, overnight in Seward
9/3: Bus or train to Anchorage, rent car and drive to Homer (or, for more money, rent car in Seward and drive through Soldotna)
9/4: Homer
9/5: Homer
9/6: Drive to Anchorage, return car, tour
9/7: Morning train to Denali (arrives 3:45 pm)
9/8: Denali
9/9: Afternoon train to Fairbanks (arrives 8 pm)
9/10: Fairbanks (riverboat?)
9/11: Fly home through Seattle

rm_mn

Are you restricted to only this much time? It seem that your trip is pretty rushed for someone that is retired. Some people would want to add more time in Fairbanks, Denali (especially if you want to hike a bit) and Seward needs more time too. At least the half day Kenai fjords cruise and lots would suggest an all day fjords cruise. Anchorage has some nice things too. A couple of days would still be too few. How about a glacier cruise out of Whittier? It's different from Kenai Fjords.

Lorraine

We can only be away from home for 3 weeks. Do you suggest we skip the week-long cruise in favor of specific day cruises?

Another option is to skip Fairbanks and spend the extra time in Anchorage. Or remove a day from the Homer area?

Miss_Maple

When I looked into taking a cruise and then I saw all of the excursions it dawned on me that the excursions really made you experience Alaska. So, I decided to not go on a cruise but to fly in/out of Anchorage and do a driving tour instead. The cruise you can always take when your older and less mobile. Opt for a more active vacation by either renting a RV if you are into camping or renting an SUV to take your time going through the interior of Alaska. You can fit in the Kenai Fjords day cruise to see wildlife and glaciers but then you have much more time even to go over to Valdez and Copper Center -- drive the McCarthy road and stay at Kennicot Lodge. The Copper Princess is very nice as well.

That's what we did in 2005 -- and we are coming back in 2008 to see and do what we missed before. Get out and hike a glacier, maybe kayak a lake, or visit the musk ox farm etc..

NeoPatrick

I'm not a cruise enthusiast, but I understand people who are. Yet your comments about newly retired (meaning you're not on a very limited schedule?) and your lack of interest in specific "cruise amenities", makes me agree that you might be better off doing your own thing. The excursion tours are available to independent travelers all over Alaska. We spent a month in Alaska with our own SUV, and returned via the Alaska Marine Highway (ferry system). That way we had the benefit of seeing the inside passage, but we could stop and stay several days at each of the inside passage cities we wanted to and do MORE excursions than the cruise ship schedule would allow.

And by the way, the highlights of our trip were the two three-night stays at Denali Backcountry Lodge and Kenai Backcountry Lodge. For real nature lovers, those stays were fantastic, and cant' be touched by the single night stop with a bus tour into the "wilderness" that most cruise excursions offer.

NeoPatrick

Hmmm. Somehow I missed your post about three weeks. But I think that still gives you ample time to do your own thing. During our month, the only thing I would have definitely cut out if I had it to do over again would be Fairbanks. We stayed two nights there, but frankly if we hand't gone at all, I wouldn't have been disappointed.

BudgetQueen

Your first choice with Cruise West is superior for the cruise experience and would definately be my choice. You get so much more vs a major cruise line.

I find your aurora priority, a little limiting. IF you truely want the best chance- then you need time- NOT a specific day- which is only an ideal- under specific ideal conditions- which are not likely. You also need your own transportation- which I don't see you having?? There is no way that sitting in a Fairbanks hotel or Denali Park hotel will offer you good viewing, without you being able to drive completely OUT of lit areas especially Fairbanks.

For aurora priorities then go with your later choice, end of August into Sept. Very very unlikely for aurora earlier.

For clairfication- it isn't the public bus you are likely to want for Mendenhall, it's a shuttle bus. The city bus' stop is over a mile from the Mendenhall Visitor center.

Lorraine

Thank you, all. You've given me much to think about, and now I am seriously considering dropping the Inside Passage cruise in favor of day cruises and longer stays in Denali and Kenai.

pollyvw

We took the Cruise West Inside Passage trip you are considering. We did not take the land portion. We would not trade our experience on this small ship (we were on the Spirit of '98) for any other vacation we have ever taken.

Yes, some of the 'Alaska Experience' is via the excursions, but Cruise West includes at least one "free" excursion in each port. In Ketchikan, they have a native Alaskan who gives an incredible presentation on Alaskan culture including information about the tribes and their customs. I found no place else on our trip where we would have learned what he had to impart. Each night on the ship, there is an eductional presentation about what you will be experiencing the next day. One night it was about totem poles; another about wildlife in Glacier Bay. I can't rem others, but we were well educated when we returned.

Also, the 'extra' excursions seemed to be priced just as they would be for someone 'walking up' to take them. I specifically noticed on a couple of them because many have complained about cruise lines overcharging in that regard.

After posting this I am topping (on the Cruise Forum) the post I made when we returned from that trip.

Lorraine

Thanks, pollyvw. I just read your report and am very tempted to spend the money!

LOYL

I went to the cruise forum but couldn't find Polly's trip report? I'm sure it's operator error (it usually is). HELP!
J

pollyvw

I just topped it for you...should be close to the top if you come back for it soon.

CiaoLeone

Have you considered Lindblad's 8-day Alaska Coastal trip ... from Juneau or Sitka ... which would show you part of Alaska and also leave time for other places.