hey, i'm gonna take that alaska cruise.

[mopinko]

i had a thread up in here about this the other night that i basically posted and went to bed. several people replied that i should grab it. thanks to those that took the time to post.
we found a cruise that sounded like it fit us- informal, relaxed, and not toooo awful much money. (norwegian line.) so, we did it.
my cheapskate self is quaking a little. but alaska is way high up on my bucket list.
ok, i gotta go out for a while, but please post your thoughts and advice.

[greenbriar]

1. LOVE cruising

[mopinko]

5. that's cool

our ship carries 2200. not the biggest, but big enough.

[LibDemAlways]

2. I've been to Alaska many times on cruises.

What ports are you stopping at? Let me know and I'll give you some pointers.

[mopinko]

4. ports

Ketchikan, Alaska
Juneau, Alaska
Skagway, Alaska
Prince Rupert, Canada

can't wait

[Awsi Dooger]

9. I took NCL to Alaska in '05

I was aboard the Norwegian Star, which might be your ship also.

Awesome cruise, much better than my NCL experience in Hawaii last year.

Let's see:

Juneau: see the glacier. Also a decent museum not far from the pier. That stopover is long enough to rent a car and make use of it. You can get to the glacier in maybe 20 minutes, if I remember correctly.

Skagway: the railway is the feature. "On to Alaska With Buchanon" or something like that. You'll know what I mean if you do it. Otherwise you've got the small old west town from the gold rush days, everything in walking distance, including tales of Soapy Smith the ill fated Skagway con man.

Ketchikan: the old red light district is on stilts and is a pleasant walk. Otherwise plenty of totem poles at a few high profile venues. Nice restaurant with a view atop a lift. I remember a walking tour that took only a couple of hours and hit many highlights, including fisheries with hawks and eagles perched outside, waiting for their share of the take.

Our cruise departed Prince Rupert so I don't remember much from that venue. We stopped in Sitka which is apparently missing from your itinerary.

[LibDemAlways]

11. Posted my reply in the wrong place. See #10 below.

[Blue_In_AK]

13. It's really beautiful down there...

I'm sorry you won't get up to our neck of the woods, but Southeast Alaska is absolutely gorgeous.

[LibDemAlways]

10. OK - One thing you should try to avoid is the overpriced

"optional excursions" offered by the cruise lines. Those towns are all small enough to be explored on foot on your own. When you exit the ship in Juneau, pick up a walking map at the pier and take off. You'll see a lot. If it's a weekday you can catch a guided tour of the capital building. You'll pass by the governor's house, and just down the hill from there is the Alaska State Museum which is interesting. In town there is the Red Dog Saloon which is very touristy but can be a good place to rest your feet and listen to the old time piano player. If you are tempted to do something more physical in Juneau, the only organized excursion I'd recommend is the 2 hour river raft trip that leaves from the base of Mendenhall Glacier (which sadly is in retreat). The rafting has small patches of white water and basically takes you on a course through some suburban backyards, but we have seen bald eagles up close and it's kind of exhilerating to be on the water.

Skagway is a very small town with a lot of gold rush history. Again, pick up a map at the pier and explore it on your own. The tours offered by the ship include a visit to a recreated mining camp (not worth the $$) and a train that will take you into Canada. The scenery along the way is beautiful, but the excursion is pricy. Trust me, you will see incredible scenery just standing on deck on the ship at any given moment. Alaska has some of the most spectacular scenery on earth.

Ketchikan is another port that can be seen in a short time on foot. Again get a walking map. Be sure to climb the hill to see the Totem Heritage Center. Lots of good examples of totem poles up there. There's a salmon hatchery there as well. In town there's plenty of shopping opportunities and Creek street, where Dolly's brothel was a big draw during the gold rush.

There are lots of opportunities for helicopters that land on the glacier, flightseeing by sea-plane, fishing expeditions, etc. But be warned. They are all very expensive, so if anything like that sounds attractive, it will add significantly to the cost of the vacation.

I've never been to Prince Rupert. I hope to on a future trip.

Have a wonderful time. I'm jealous!

On edit, pack a good umbrella. You'll need it.

[Callalily]

3. I've never been on

a cruise, but I'd just LOVE to visit Alaska!

Wishing you a great time! Be sure to post pics.

[Richard Steele]

6. I've heard they're a great way to spend a few days.

Have a good time, y'hear? :hi:

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. My sister and her husband took one last summer...and loved it.

I think it was a Celebrity cruise. Not sure what time of year you are going (they went in July), but take more warm clothes than you think you might need. My sister and bil didn't,and regretted it. They said the food on the ship was to die for. And they loved the scenery.

Enjoy!

[mopinko]

8. going the first week in may, so expecting cold.

we went to maine a few years ago, and went of one of those whale watching boats. froze. in august. saw some whales, tho. smelled them, too. whale belches are amazingly smelly.
were surrounded by a pod of atlantic white-sided dolphins, too. cool trip, but yeah, very cold.
this is norweigian. supposed to be not so frilly. i'm sure we will be a little too well fed.

[Blue_In_AK]

14. Yes, bundle up.

Up here the first week in May is usually pretty chilly still...I'm not sure about Southeast but be sure to have warm clothes and a raincoat.

[mopinko]

15. silk longjohns

one of mankind's greatest achievements.

[Blue_In_AK]

12. You will love it.

I'm so glad you decided to make the trip.

[TexasLady]

16. My sister and I had the bestestest time EVER

it wasn't Alaska, but a 7 day-er to Cozumel, Belize..and I forget the other port.
But the only time I didn't have that much fun was when I was sleeping..and even THAT was like being rocked in a cradle!

We walked through the towns wearing groucho marx glasses, and trying out the local beers and food.
We met a dozen awesome people on the ship, that we try to still keep up with.
I'd do it again in half a heartbeat!

If I do it again, it would definitely be Alaska, though!

[grace0418]

17. Hey cool! Which sailing? I posted in your first thread that we are taking the

cruise in July. We're taking NCL as well, the Norwegian Pearl. When are you going?

:hi:

[mopinko]

19. may 11

the star

[cordelia]

18. You will love it!

Some of the shore excursions can be a little pricey.

We found a guy in Skagway who drove us into the Yukon for $35 a head. A couple we met had rented a car and driven to Whitehorse.

And, we got to see a glacier calve - twice!

In addition to warm clothes, take binoculars.

I hope you enjoy the cruise as much as I did. NCL is excellent; none of that assigned dinner seating - it's all free-style. Eat when and with whom you choose.

Bon voyage!

[Broken_Hero]

20. I hope you have a great time, your first stop in AK will

be in my hometown...:D I hope you have a great trip, and be sure to bring a lot of soda/water with ya.

[WCGreen]

21. My sister went on a cruise up and down the Alaska Coast...

And 9/11 happened right in the middle of their cruise...

They love cruising...