On Mon, 4 Jan 2010 18:33:03 -0800, "Bill McKee"
wrote:


"Steve B" wrote in message
...

"John H" wrote

Hope you have a great time, Steve. I'm thinking of surprising my wife
with a Disney Cruise this fall. I'm hoping Disney will have an Alaska
cruise soon.

I have heard so much about Alaskan cruises that I want to take one. Know
people who are jaded world travelers, and to a person they rave about the
Alaska trip. I think that only the hard core cruisers would go,
therefore, the company (people) would be of a better class. I am not a
fan of cold, but I think I could tough it out. I had a chance to go on a
gold mining project in 1974 in Alaska, to the Alaska pipeline, or to
diving school, and I chose commercial diving school. Sometimes I rue my
decision to go South. My brother was a crab fisherman like on TV in the
early 90's when no one knew they existed. I think I'd like everything but
the potentially rough water. BTDT. May check it out after this little
experimental puddle jumper cruise to Meheeeeeco.

Steve


Not that cold in the summer when they cruise. Look at Cruise West. Small
boats, wifes anut and uncle have taken a couple. Rave about them.


My wife's a Disney nut. I enjoy their cruises also, so that's what
we'd do. Until now they haven't had a run to Alaska, but they're
starting next year.

On Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:05:58 -0500, wrote:

Taking a cruise to Alaska and expecting to actually see Alaska is
like going to Epcot and seeing Germany.
It is an OK way to watch whales and Princess will load you up on a
bus to go see Denali but you pretty much see what you can from the
window of the bus.

We signed up for all of the side trips including a flight around the
Denali summit in a small turboprop, a helicopter trip to the top of
the Mendenhall Glacier, a jet boat excursion through the eagle
preserve on the Chilkat River and a float plane ride back into Misty
Fjords. I'd like to drive up there in my 4WD truck sometime and
tour the back country but it would take all summer and I'd never get
my wife to go along.

"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:05:58 -0500, wrote:

Taking a cruise to Alaska and expecting to actually see Alaska is
like going to Epcot and seeing Germany.
It is an OK way to watch whales and Princess will load you up on a
bus to go see Denali but you pretty much see what you can from the
window of the bus.

We signed up for all of the side trips including a flight around the
Denali summit in a small turboprop, a helicopter trip to the top of
the Mendenhall Glacier, a jet boat excursion through the eagle
preserve on the Chilkat River and a float plane ride back into Misty
Fjords. I'd like to drive up there in my 4WD truck sometime and
tour the back country but it would take all summer and I'd never get
my wife to go along.


We did that a few years ago. 7 weeks and 8800 miles. Would not do it
again. Lots of boring driving in Canada. Rolling hills, and dead trees,
and millions of dead trees. Denali is ok for a day or two at most. We had
reservations at the campground for 3 nights and left after 2. Lots of rain
that year. And unless you are hiking miles, you will see everything from
tour bus. We were among the 15% of the people who actually see Denali.
Clouds cleared for about 15 minutes. Buddy and wife took the sightseeing
plane. Fantastic. We were suffering from some crud we caught in the Yukon
and had ear problems, so passed on the trip. Buy a Special Olymipics
discount book at Safeway in Anchorage and you get 1/2 off the airplane, etc.
Well worth the $99.

On Mon, 4 Jan 2010 20:45:37 -0800, "Bill McKee"
wrote:


"Wayne.B" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:05:58 -0500, wrote:

Taking a cruise to Alaska and expecting to actually see Alaska is
like going to Epcot and seeing Germany.
It is an OK way to watch whales and Princess will load you up on a
bus to go see Denali but you pretty much see what you can from the
window of the bus.

We signed up for all of the side trips including a flight around the
Denali summit in a small turboprop, a helicopter trip to the top of
the Mendenhall Glacier, a jet boat excursion through the eagle
preserve on the Chilkat River and a float plane ride back into Misty
Fjords. I'd like to drive up there in my 4WD truck sometime and
tour the back country but it would take all summer and I'd never get
my wife to go along.


We did that a few years ago. 7 weeks and 8800 miles. Would not do it
again. Lots of boring driving in Canada. Rolling hills, and dead trees,
and millions of dead trees. Denali is ok for a day or two at most. We had
reservations at the campground for 3 nights and left after 2. Lots of rain
that year. And unless you are hiking miles, you will see everything from
tour bus. We were among the 15% of the people who actually see Denali.
Clouds cleared for about 15 minutes. Buddy and wife took the sightseeing
plane. Fantastic. We were suffering from some crud we caught in the Yukon
and had ear problems, so passed on the trip. Buy a Special Olymipics
discount book at Safeway in Anchorage and you get 1/2 off the airplane, etc.
Well worth the $99.


thanks for the tip.

On Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:21:57 -0500, wrote:

This is a glacier in that park you can call your own for a while.
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/alaska/Glacier%20lake.jpg

Nice. How far did you have to hike back in? Were you able to rent a
4WD in Alaska or did you drive your own?

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4...hallglacie.jpg

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:31:50 -0500, Wayne.B
wrote:

On Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:21:57 -0500, wrote:

This is a glacier in that park you can call your own for a while.
http://gfretwell.com/ftp/alaska/Glacier%20lake.jpg

Nice. How far did you have to hike back in? Were you able to rent a
4WD in Alaska or did you drive your own?

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/4...hallglacie.jpg


I think that lake was about 3 miles in but it is over a pretty good
sized hill (1000' or so I guess) I was dead reckoning with a compass
and we finally found the trail.
It was a good 6 hour hike with sight seeing along the way. We walked
around that lake for at least an hour and got lost coming back, pretty
scary actually. There really isn't much of a trail and my GPS was
virtually useless up there for some reason.

We ended up in a Hertz Windstar van, not 4wd but we still got around
OK. Flew into Fair banks, out of Anchorage.
About 99% of the "roads" in Alaska are dirt paths. There are a few
main roads but vast areas without any vehicle access at all except
snow machines and dog sleds.

My truck is 4x4. And I only used the 4x4 a couple times. More for safety,
than anything else. Top of the World Highway in a rainstorm. We did not
see that big of a percentage of dirt roads. A few gravel but mostly paved.
You can rent 4x4 truck campers.

On Mon, 04 Jan 2010 22:05:58 -0500, wrote:

On Mon, 4 Jan 2010 16:03:21 -0800, "Steve B"
wrote:


"John H" wrote

Hope you have a great time, Steve. I'm thinking of surprising my wife
with a Disney Cruise this fall. I'm hoping Disney will have an Alaska
cruise soon.

I have heard so much about Alaskan cruises that I want to take one. Know
people who are jaded world travelers, and to a person they rave about the
Alaska trip. I think that only the hard core cruisers would go, therefore,
the company (people) would be of a better class. I am not a fan of cold,
but I think I could tough it out. I had a chance to go on a gold mining
project in 1974 in Alaska, to the Alaska pipeline, or to diving school, and
I chose commercial diving school. Sometimes I rue my decision to go South.
My brother was a crab fisherman like on TV in the early 90's when no one
knew they existed. I think I'd like everything but the potentially rough
water. BTDT. May check it out after this little experimental puddle jumper
cruise to Meheeeeeco.

Steve


Taking a cruise to Alaska and expecting to actually see Alaska is
like going to Epcot and seeing Germany.
It is an OK way to watch whales and Princess will load you up on a
bus to go see Denali but you pretty much see what you can from the
window of the bus.
If you really want to see Alaska take several weeks and rent a 4WD.
You might even want to get in a float plane and really get back in the
boonies.
If you just want a nice "cruise" Alaska isn't a bad destination but it
will just be a cruise,

Yeah, I know you're right about that. Personally, I'd like to go by
motorcycle, but SWMBO doesn't think much of that idea.

It might be a good way to put some serious miles on the 4Runner with a
trailer though. I'll have to think about that.

"John H" wrote:
Hope you have a great time, Steve. I'm thinking of surprising my wife
with a Disney Cruise this fall. I'm hoping Disney will have an Alaska
cruise soon.
I have heard so much about Alaskan cruises that I want to take one. Know
people who are jaded world travelers, and to a person they rave about
the Alaska trip. I think that only the hard core cruisers would go,
therefore, the company (people) would be of a better class. I am not a
fan of cold, but I think I could tough it out. I had a chance to go on a
gold mining project in 1974 in Alaska, to the Alaska pipeline, or to
diving school, and I chose commercial diving school. Sometimes I rue my
decision to go South. My brother was a crab fisherman like on TV in the
early 90's when no one knew they existed. I think I'd like everything
but the potentially rough water. BTDT. May check it out after this
little experimental puddle jumper cruise to Meheeeeeco.
Steve
Taking a cruise to Alaska and expecting to actually see Alaska is like
going to Epcot and seeing Germany.
It is an OK way to watch whales and Princess will load you up on a bus
to go see Denali but you pretty much see what you can from the window of
the bus.
If you really want to see Alaska take several weeks and rent a 4WD. You
might even want to get in a float plane and really get back in the
boonies.
If you just want a nice "cruise" Alaska isn't a bad destination but it
will just be a cruise,

Yeah, I know you're right about that. Personally, I'd like to go by
motorcycle, but SWMBO doesn't think much of that idea.
It might be a good way to put some serious miles on the 4Runner with a
trailer though. I'll have to think about that.

Take the 4runner and trailer, You won't regret it, Make reservations on
the Alaska ferry, catch it down in Haines on the way back, drive the rig
on, and get a cabin, You then have a 4 day cruise down the inside
passage back to Bellingham, and you can drive from there to Seattle to
visit your brothers, If you do the trip in September you get a hefty
discount on the ferry.
Or... Take the bike and ride with me back up this July, I'm doing the
Dempster first then over to the haul road and up to Prudhoe Bay.
BTW I've really got the riding bug bad now, I have another stablemate
for my BMW, a new (to me 03) Kawi Super Sherpa and am heading down to SD
with it in the back of my truck, Parking the truck in La Jolla at the
Aunt and Uncle's and riding down the Baja peninsula to La Paz on as much
dirt/sand as possible. UD

On Wed, 6 Jan 2010 10:10:53 -0800, (UglyDan®©™)
wrote:


"John H" wrote:
Hope you have a great time, Steve. I'm thinking of surprising my wife
with a Disney Cruise this fall. I'm hoping Disney will have an Alaska
cruise soon.
I have heard so much about Alaskan cruises that I want to take one. Know
people who are jaded world travelers, and to a person they rave about
the Alaska trip. I think that only the hard core cruisers would go,
therefore, the company (people) would be of a better class. I am not a
fan of cold, but I think I could tough it out. I had a chance to go on a
gold mining project in 1974 in Alaska, to the Alaska pipeline, or to
diving school, and I chose commercial diving school. Sometimes I rue my
decision to go South. My brother was a crab fisherman like on TV in the
early 90's when no one knew they existed. I think I'd like everything
but the potentially rough water. BTDT. May check it out after this
little experimental puddle jumper cruise to Meheeeeeco.
Steve
Taking a cruise to Alaska and expecting to actually see Alaska is like
going to Epcot and seeing Germany.
It is an OK way to watch whales and Princess will load you up on a bus
to go see Denali but you pretty much see what you can from the window of
the bus.
If you really want to see Alaska take several weeks and rent a 4WD. You
might even want to get in a float plane and really get back in the
boonies.
If you just want a nice "cruise" Alaska isn't a bad destination but it
will just be a cruise,

Yeah, I know you're right about that. Personally, I'd like to go by
motorcycle, but SWMBO doesn't think much of that idea.
It might be a good way to put some serious miles on the 4Runner with a
trailer though. I'll have to think about that.

Take the 4runner and trailer, You won't regret it, Make reservations on
the Alaska ferry, catch it down in Haines on the way back, drive the rig
on, and get a cabin, You then have a 4 day cruise down the inside
passage back to Bellingham, and you can drive from there to Seattle to
visit your brothers, If you do the trip in September you get a hefty
discount on the ferry.
Or... Take the bike and ride with me back up this July, I'm doing the
Dempster first then over to the haul road and up to Prudhoe Bay.
BTW I've really got the riding bug bad now, I have another stablemate
for my BMW, a new (to me 03) Kawi Super Sherpa and am heading down to SD
with it in the back of my truck, Parking the truck in La Jolla at the
Aunt and Uncle's and riding down the Baja peninsula to La Paz on as much
dirt/sand as possible. UD



Where's Dempster and 'haul road'? Alaska?

Baja ride sounds like fun.

I'll save your post for when the time comes. Thanks for the tips.

Steve B wrote:
Jan 9 - 16, Sapphire Princess. San Diego, points south in Mexico, then back
to San Diego.

I haven't been to sea since 1980. Should be interesting. Hope there will
be enough to keep me busy during the times at sea. Hope my mal de mer
follows previous trips and settles down after 24 hours. Hope for calm seas.
My trips for work were pretty boring during after work hours. I am
particularly interested in leaving and coming into dock, and will find a
good spot to watch that. One that I can see the pool from at the same time,
too.

Or is that ship? Anyway, a BIG boat.


Steve



Like this?...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7yfISlGLNU

Bruce (SNL Fan)