On Mon, 09 Mar 2015 11:54:21 -0400, John H.
wrote:

It was recommended to us that we do the reverse route where you fly
into Fairbanks, work your way south on the bus and train tour, and
then board the cruise ship in Whittier for the ride south to
Vancouver. It worked out very well and the weather was great even
though there was still snow on the ground in Fairbanks.

That's what I'd do next time. Did you set that up with a travel agency, cruise line,
or do it yourself?

===

If I recall correctly Princess Cruises did all the heavy lifting. They
were very well organized and all of our excursions and connections
came off without a hitch.

https://book.princess.com/html/global/destinations/alaska/

Thanks. Do you remember which ship? I see some things are 'exceptions' on some of
their ships.
--


===

Don't remember but I might have it someplace. I'll let you know if I
find it.

On Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 10:32:31 AM UTC-4, Keyser Söze wrote:

There are some interesting trails we hike in the Shenandoah/Skyline
area.

You don't hike at all, you decaying sack of ****.

On Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 1:00:37 PM UTC-4, wrote:

Why do you think you need a gun on such a well used hiking trail?

Cause he's a paranoid old scragbag. He shouldn't worry, cause no one will WANT to look at him. All those pustules on his face....

On Sunday, March 8, 2015 at 2:45:43 PM UTC-4, Keyser Söze wrote:

When's the last time you saw me, Herring. Oh, wait, at least 12 years
ago. I've shaped up nicely since then, what with my treadmill,
eliptical, and mountain bike and, unlike you, I haven't had to undergo a
series of surgeries for a disintegrating body.


BULL ****

wrote:
On Mon, 09 Mar 2015 16:22:56 -0500, Califbill
wrote:

wrote:
On Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:29:18 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:



It was recommended to us that we do the reverse route where you fly
into Fairbanks, work your way south on the bus and train tour, and
then board the cruise ship in Whittier for the ride south to
Vancouver. It worked out very well and the weather was great even
though there was still snow on the ground in Fairbanks.

We flew into Fairbanks, rented a van and drove around for 3 weeks,
flying out of Anchorage.

After driving to Alaska. I would fly in and rent a 4x4 camper. As there
were places where lodging was very scarce. That way you have sleeping
accommodations when no hotel or motel is available. Do not have to sleep
in the camper if near a nice hotel.

We didn't find that many "nice" (as in ritzy) hotels but they were
better than a camper. They were pretty much mom and pop operations and
"nice" in the other way.
We stayed at one chain that really surprised us. It was the Best
Western in Homer. It had "lower 48" pricing, great food and it was
pretty much like any other BW.

Since we were driving to AK we ran through a lot of places with no
availability of lodging. Talked to a couple different couples on the trip
who were in cars. Said was hard to get a room at times. None there, or
full. We stayed in our truck camper most of the time, but hotel in
Telketna. And Roseburg, OR on way home. Being you like back country, even
better for those hikes. And some of the campers are really nice.

John H. wrote:
On Mon, 09 Mar 2015 16:22:56 -0500, Califbill wrote:

wrote:
On Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:29:18 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:



It was recommended to us that we do the reverse route where you fly
into Fairbanks, work your way south on the bus and train tour, and
then board the cruise ship in Whittier for the ride south to
Vancouver. It worked out very well and the weather was great even
though there was still snow on the ground in Fairbanks.

We flew into Fairbanks, rented a van and drove around for 3 weeks,
flying out of Anchorage.

After driving to Alaska. I would fly in and rent a 4x4 camper. As there
were places where lodging was very scarce. That way you have sleeping
accommodations when no hotel or motel is available. Do not have to sleep
in the camper if near a nice hotel.

Or drag a 5th wheeler up there and hang out for a while. Some friends here did that.
Spent about ten weeks traveling and seeing sights across the US, into Canada, and on
into Alaska. It's one of those things we think about occasionally.

Lot of the Alcan and Cassier are boring. Bypass the crud and rent in
Alaska.

On Tue, 10 Mar 2015 19:15:39 -0400, wrote:

On Tue, 10 Mar 2015 15:25:44 -0500, Califbill
wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 09 Mar 2015 16:22:56 -0500, Califbill
wrote:

wrote:
On Sun, 08 Mar 2015 18:29:18 -0400, Wayne.B
wrote:



It was recommended to us that we do the reverse route where you fly
into Fairbanks, work your way south on the bus and train tour, and
then board the cruise ship in Whittier for the ride south to
Vancouver. It worked out very well and the weather was great even
though there was still snow on the ground in Fairbanks.

We flew into Fairbanks, rented a van and drove around for 3 weeks,
flying out of Anchorage.

After driving to Alaska. I would fly in and rent a 4x4 camper. As there
were places where lodging was very scarce. That way you have sleeping
accommodations when no hotel or motel is available. Do not have to sleep
in the camper if near a nice hotel.

We didn't find that many "nice" (as in ritzy) hotels but they were
better than a camper. They were pretty much mom and pop operations and
"nice" in the other way.
We stayed at one chain that really surprised us. It was the Best
Western in Homer. It had "lower 48" pricing, great food and it was
pretty much like any other BW.

Since we were driving to AK we ran through a lot of places with no
availability of lodging. Talked to a couple different couples on the trip
who were in cars. Said was hard to get a room at times. None there, or
full. We stayed in our truck camper most of the time, but hotel in
Telketna. And Roseburg, OR on way home. Being you like back country, even
better for those hikes. And some of the campers are really nice.

My camper's nice.

You just have to plan your day and where you are staying. I agree you
don't start looking for a room at 1600.
My wife likes to complain about "lost" reservations but they were all
at Carnival resorts and they are just standby rooms, even if they
don't tell you.
The ship sells more excursions than they plan on, you get bumped.
We were OK with the rooms they sent us to. The one at Denali was just
a huge tourist motel with what you would expect but we went to Lovie
and Willy's B&B in Cooper Landing. We liked it so much we stayed there
again on our way out of Seward. We even got married there ... again
(native American ceremony)

You are reinforcing my negative feelings about Carnival.
--

Guns don't cause problems. Gun owner
*behavior* causes problems.

On Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 12:56:05 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Wed, 11 Mar 2015 06:24:33 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Tue, 10 Mar 2015 19:15:39 -0400, wrote:


You just have to plan your day and where you are staying. I agree you
don't start looking for a room at 1600.
My wife likes to complain about "lost" reservations but they were all
at Carnival resorts and they are just standby rooms, even if they
don't tell you.
The ship sells more excursions than they plan on, you get bumped.
We were OK with the rooms they sent us to. The one at Denali was just
a huge tourist motel with what you would expect but we went to Lovie
and Willy's B&B in Cooper Landing. We liked it so much we stayed there
again on our way out of Seward. We even got married there ... again
(native American ceremony)

You are reinforcing my negative feelings about Carnival.

I have been on a number of Carnival cruises, most as sales prizes when
my wife was selling HVAC systems (first woman to be on the Trane "top
10" list).

The name sums it up. The ships are crewed by "carny" workers, the
ships are lit up like a carnival and the food is what you would expect
at a carnival.
Spend the extra money and go with Holland America or some other up
scale line. Personally I am done with "cruising" but my wife has her
heart set on a European Viking cruise.
If I am spending that kind of money I think I would rather take a
Bright Horizons cruise.

I'll never set foot on a regular cruise ship again, but I do want to go on a Lindblad "cruise".

http://www.expeditions.com/

On Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 10:57:21 AM UTC-7, wrote:
On Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at 12:56:05 PM UTC-4, wrote:
On Wed, 11 Mar 2015 06:24:33 -0400, John H.
wrote:

On Tue, 10 Mar 2015 19:15:39 -0400, wrote:


You just have to plan your day and where you are staying. I agree you
don't start looking for a room at 1600.
My wife likes to complain about "lost" reservations but they were all
at Carnival resorts and they are just standby rooms, even if they
don't tell you.
The ship sells more excursions than they plan on, you get bumped.
We were OK with the rooms they sent us to. The one at Denali was just
a huge tourist motel with what you would expect but we went to Lovie
and Willy's B&B in Cooper Landing. We liked it so much we stayed there
again on our way out of Seward. We even got married there ... again
(native American ceremony)

You are reinforcing my negative feelings about Carnival.

I have been on a number of Carnival cruises, most as sales prizes when
my wife was selling HVAC systems (first woman to be on the Trane "top
10" list).

The name sums it up. The ships are crewed by "carny" workers, the
ships are lit up like a carnival and the food is what you would expect
at a carnival.
Spend the extra money and go with Holland America or some other up
scale line. Personally I am done with "cruising" but my wife has her
heart set on a European Viking cruise.
If I am spending that kind of money I think I would rather take a
Bright Horizons cruise.

I'll never set foot on a regular cruise ship again, but I do want to go on a Lindblad "cruise".

http://www.expeditions.com/

I'd be happy just to finish my boat and cruise the Ohio, Cumberland, and Tennessee rivers this year.