Thread: Please help me decide-when and how....

Okay, I figure this is the best place to post this..... My Dear Husband (DH) and I are both retired. We only have two cruises under our belts, one with an outside room, the other with a balcony. It has been a dream of mine for a very long time to take an Alaskan cruise. I turn 60 next year, so DH has decided to celebrate my milestone birthday by fulfilling my dream. He also says that we are "gonna do it up good". We are going to book a 19 day land/sea from Toronto with a tour company that we travel with regularly. We pretty much think that this will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but something tells me that, like a lot of people, we will be back. I suppose it would be easiest just to post the itinerary. My questions are at the end....

Alaska Motorcoach Tour & Cruise

19 days

Explore the northern towns and cultures of Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon enroute to Alaska. Combine this overland tour with a 7-day Glacier Bay Discovery cruise and you have the ultimate Alaskan holiday. Enjoy a 12-day motorcoach tour through Canada’s west to the Yukon and Alaska, including historic landmarks, majestic mountains, awesome scenery and abundant wildlife. Board one of Holland America’s outstanding fleet for an impressive cruise from Alaska, through the Inside Passage past mountains and glaciers, to Vancouver, British Columbia.


Departure Points

Itinerary
Day 1 - Edmonton, AB: Fly to Edmonton, and get your bearings with an orientation tour, and then some free time. Visit the West Edmonton Mall, or enjoy the amenities of your downtown accommodation.
Stay: The Westin - Edmonton
Nights: 1

Day 2 - Dawson Creek, BC: Travel a northwesterly route through an area known as the parkland with broad valleys, rippling prairie fields, lakes and streams to Dawson Creek.
Stay: George Dawson Inn
Nights: 1
Travel: 600 kms
Meal(s): B

Day 3 - Fort Nelson, BC: The construction of the Alaska Highway began in March 1942, and the 2,223 km access road was completed in just 8 months. It originated as an emergency passage for American troops, providing a direct land route linking the United States to the Alaska Territory. Starting the Alaska Highway journey at Mile Zero, follow the Peace River Valley, travel a rugged section of the Rockies crossing Pink Mountain and stop in Fort Nelson for an overnight stay.
Stay: Woodlands Inn - Fort Nelson
Nights: 1
Travel: 450 kms
Meal(s): B,L

Day 4 - Watson Lake, YK: Travel alongside 7,000 foot high mountains, watching for Stone Sheep which often stray onto the road in search of salt. At Watson Lake visit the Sign Post Forest, originated by a homesick highway construction worker in 1942.
Stay: Belvedere Motor Hotel
Nights: 1
Travel: 525 kms
Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 5 - Whitehorse, YK: This morning’s route affords spectacular views of the Cassiar Mountains. Cross the Great Divide, where waters flowing north drain into the Arctic Ocean, and those flowing west make their way to the Pacific. Tonight enjoy the Frantic Follies, a comic vaudeville style show featuring a chorus line and skits from Robert Service poems.
Stay: Westmark Klondike Inn
Nights: 1
Travel: 450 kms
Meal(s): B,L

Day 6 - Dawson City, YK: Today’s route was originally the miner’s trail in the days of the Klondike Gold Rush. Wherever one goes in the Yukon, stories will be told bringing life to myth and legend. Enjoy a Salmon Barbecue tonight.
Stay: Westmark Hotel - Dawson City
Nights: 2
Travel: 525 kms
Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 7 - Dawson City, YK: This town has been classified as a national historic site, and many of Dawson’s buildings have been restored to reflect life during the gold rush. Relive the excitement of bygone days with a guided tour which includes time to pan for gold at Guggie-Ville. This afternoon is free for you to explore the boardwalk, shop for gold nugget jewelry or visit Robert Service’s cabin for a poetry recital. This evening try the games, or watch the show at Diamond Tooth Gerties, Dawson’s non-profit casino.
Travel: 50 kms
Meal(s): B

Day 8 - Tok, AK: The Top of the World Highway traverses the mountains above the tree line and offers spectacular views in all directions. Continue to Tok, the trading centre for Athabasca native villages, supported by gold panning, dog sleds and tourism.
Stay: Westmark Hotel - Tok
Nights: 1
Travel: 300 kms
Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 9 - North Pole, AK: Travelling the final leg of the Alaska Highway, visit the town of North Pole, and Santa Claus House, a trading post featuring a great toy department and a unique gift shop. After lunch in Fairbanks, follow the George Parks Highway to Denali National Park.
Stay: McKinley Village Lodge
Nights: 2
Travel: 550 kms
Meal(s): B

Day 10 - Denali National Park, AK: Denali, The High One, is the name the Athabascan people gave the massive peak that crowns the 600 mile long Alaska Range. In the morning, enjoy a tour of Denali’s interior, a rare opportunity to visit the Alaskan “bush”. Returning to the hotel, you have a free afternoon to relax and enjoy the park’s quiet splendour.
Travel: 50 kms
Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 11 - Anchorage, AK: Anchorage is Alaska's largest city and is home to almost half of the state's residents. Landmarks denote both the Russian and American First Nations heritage. A tour of Anchorage leads to Ship Creek, Lake Hood and through the downtown. Enjoy free time to explore the shops, museums and art galleries.

Please note the June 11 departure will overnight at the Alyeska Resort.
Stay: Westmark Hotel
Nights: 1
Travel: 400 kms
Meal(s): B,L

Day 12 - Seward, AK: Transfer to Seward, a charming seaside town, flanked by snowcapped mountains, tidal glaciers and icefields. Board one of Holland America’s grand ships for a 7-day Glacier Bay Discovery cruise. Holland America has been chosen for the style of music, entertainment and dining, which DeNure Tours’ clientele find
to their liking.
Meal(s): B

Day 13 - College Ford Cruising: Prince William Sound's College Fjord is one of the northernmost inlets on the Gulf of Alaska. It terminates in Harvard Glacier, more than two miles wide and 300 feet tall at the face. On the west side of the fjord, the glaciers are named after colleges for women; on the east, after colleges for men—hence the name College Fjord.

Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 14 - Glacier Bay : Cloistered in the rocky recesses of Alaska, Glacier Bay is a world still emerging from the Ice Age. Sixteen dazzling tidewater glaciers creep back and forth by millimeters, chiseling great masses of moraine onto their pristine surfaces.

Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 15 - Haines, AK: Nestled on the shores of America's longest fjord, Haines is in a spectacular setting. Fill your day with a float trip through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve which protects the habitat of the nation's avian symbol, or visit the Sheldon Museum, art galleries and local hops in town.
Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 16 - Juneau, AK: During your day in Juneau, Alaska's capital, you may wish to tour the city by bus, visit the State Capitol, the Alaska State Museum, the Governor's Mansion or St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church. A day trip to Mendenhall Glacier can be arranged.
Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 17 - Ketchikan, AK: Clinging to the mountainside and stretching along the sea, Ketchikan is a picturesque community of boardwalks and turn-of-the century buildings perched on pilings. Take time to visit the Totem Heritage Centre, Tongass Historical Museum, or poke around the shops of historic Creek Street.
Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 18 - At Sea: Between Prince Rupert and Port Hardy, enjoy 274 nautical miles of mountains, islands, waterfalls, glaciers, sea lions, whales, eagles, and some of the grandest coastal scenery on the continent.
Meal(s): B,L,D

Day 19 - Vancouver, BC: After disembarking, you will be transferred to the Vancouver airport by Holland America’s coach, for your return flight to Toronto.

Meal(s): B

THESE PRICES ARE FOR OUTSIDE CABIN…..


Departures
June 17, 2009
$7,195 Twin - per person
$9,595 Single

July 15, 2009
$7,195 Twin - per person
$9,595 Single

August 12, 2009
$6,795 Twin - per person
$8,995 Single


TO UPGRADE TO BALCONY CABIN WOULD BE 600 pp
TO UPGRADE TO BALCONY SUITE WOULD BE 1600 PP



Included In Price
7-day Glacier Bay Discovery cruise, with Holland America Line, outside stateroom, all meals on board, includeing all port charges
Return airfare from Toronto
Breakfast daily, 7 lunches, 4 dinners during coach tour; All meals on cruise
All accommodation and motorcoach travel
City tours of Edmonton, Dawson City, Anchorage, and Whitehorse.
All taxes and port charges
Transfer to/from port
Services of a Tours Driver and Tour Director
S.S. Klondike National Historic Site
Denali National Park
Whitehorse Frantic Follies Stage Show


OKAY……NOW HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS. THIS TRIP (AT LEAST TO US) IS A LITTLE ON THE EXPENSIVE SIDE. BUT (DH) WANTS TO SPOIL ME… HE WANTS TO UPGRADE TO A SUITE…..


1) WHEN: WHICH MONTH WOULD YOU BOOK? WHY?

2) HOW: WOULD YOU UPGRADE TO THE SUITE, OR JUST THE BALCONY?

I can’t seem to find a definitive answer as to the BEST time to go…. I’m sure there really isn't a BAD time to go. We would love to see wildlife and glaciers calving and hope that we can see the scenery clearly, without too much mist/rain..although I understand that may be impossible.

Am I hoping for too much? Am I asking you guys for too much? If so, I aplogize.

My husband and I are in our 60's, been to Alaska twice. First time 7 day cruise, not long enough, so back again for a 14 day cruise. Husband is disabled so not able to do land tour, but yourtrip and cruise sounds wonderful!!! Enjoy and let him spoil you, you must deserve it, if it really wants to do it.

Weather is iffy, our early August cruise was really nice, but our ealry June cruise was far better, even thoguh it is a little cooler, to be able to see the snow on the mountains, and the animals coming out from hybernation, was great. Compared to August we saw way more animals, whales, seals, otters, bald eagles, bears, mountain goats etc. well you get the idea. And most of this was from our Balcony. The views are breath taking and the pictures will be wonderful. One tour we did do was a flaot plane over the glaciers and mounatains and I recommend it to anyone. I am a scaredy cat, but sucked it in, because DH wanted to go and I loved it. We always tell others who are going to Alaska to do it also and they have and all came back with the same way we had felt and so glad they did it.

One of our cruisemates lives in Anchorage, and this year was a cold and rainy year, so it is something you just have to play by ear. Maybe because it was rainy this year next year will be so much better, but whatever the weather you wil fall in love with Alaska.

We are hoping before too long to do it again if not next year the following year, God willing.

Enjoy!! If you want to ask me any questions, please feel free to email me
fllady13 at yahoo dot com put CLF Alaska question in the subject. BTW we went on Celebrity, but have heard very good things about HAL and freinds went on Princess.

Wow, what a trip
If DH wants to spoil you, go for it. For sure at least to get a balcony, the suite will give you more room if you really want it.
We also went in early June and had lovely weather. But don't count on it.
You never know up there. Whatever month you choose, it will be a great trip.
If you get some rain, so be it. Mother nature will do as she pleases.

We did a 13-night cruisetour with Holland America last year that covered most of the places you'll be going. We started with the cruise from Vancouver to Skagway, then we boarded a narrow-gauge train, motorcoaches, river cruise, and regular train while visiting Whitehorse, Dawson, Tok, Fairbanks, Denali, and Anchorage. It was wonderful! You can also do this same itinerary in reverse.

Most of the hotels you'll be staying in (Westmark Hotels) are owned by Holland America, which has the biggest presence in Alaska, with Princess second, then RCCL/Celebrity third.

Might want to take a look at some of Holland America's itineraries as they have alot to choose from with varying lengths of cruises and tours. They definitely know how to treat their guests and their prices are very good.

And you're doing it right - do the tour first and then the cruise! You'll spend alot of time on the move doing the tour and then the cruise gives you a chance to relax.

As for the balcony versus a suite, personally I would go for the balcony, but I would save some money and not do the suite - you're not going to spend alot of time in your cabin. I'd much rather use that money for some of the many unbelievable excursions that are available. For example; Nancy and I did the helicopter/dog sled excursion out of Juneau - it was truly amazing! It's expensive, but you can save money by doing it as an independent excursion and not book it through the cruise line. HAL wanted $425 per person, but we did it through Shore Trips and got it for $325 per person.

Let me know if you have any questions about any of the towns you'll be visiting.

Pete