alaskan cruise

[snap infraction]

any one have any suggestions on excursions?  going in a few weeks through norwegian.  

going to:  


Juneau, Alaska 
Skagway, Alaska 
Cruise Glacier Bay
Ketchikan, Alaska 
Victoria, British Columbia

[Buckeye Dale]

Jul 16, 2018 14:46:20 GMT -5 snap infraction said:

any one have any suggestions on excursions?  going in a few weeks through norwegian.  

going to:  


Juneau, Alaska 
Skagway, Alaska 
Cruise Glacier Bay
Ketchikan, Alaska 
Victoria, British Columbia

I've never been that far south...but depending on how much time you have ashore, you might inquire about doing some panning for gold, depending on the weather.  My Mother in Law found a pretty good size nugget up there when our daughter graduated from UA-Fairbanks.  My grandson is back up there right now, NW of Anchorage, working at a Bible Camp way into the interior.  I'll also warn you that this time of year, you'll see a twilight, but not a real dark night.  Be prepared to put something over your windows.

[Deleted]

Jul 16, 2018 14:46:20 GMT -5 snap infraction said:

any one have any suggestions on excursions?  going in a few weeks through norwegian.  

going to:  


Juneau, Alaska 
Skagway, Alaska 
Cruise Glacier Bay
Ketchikan, Alaska 
Victoria, British Columbia

The Buchart Gardens (north of Victoria) are worth a visit, if you are interested in scenic gardening.  Beautiful gardens in an old limestone quarry.

Juneau is just a few miles from the (rapidly vanishing) Mendenhall Glacier.  (You can catch a city bus out there, or take a tour.)

Ketchican's sites can be seen on a leisurely stroll from the docks.

Skagway is a small gold rush era town with a highway (and train) leading up to the Klondike.  (I took a bus tour up the valley.)

Glacier Bay is quite scenic from the ship (as is Juneau's harbor.)  It's enjoyable to simply hang out on the decks.

Check out the Disney film White Fang (with Klaus Maria Bandauer) for some great footage of Skagway and the Klondike gold rush.

My favorite port of call up there is Sitka-- on Baronoff Island, the former capital of Russian Alaska.

P.S.  When I took a Norwegian cruise up there about 10 years ago, they still allowed smoking in the ship...

       I spent most of my free time playing basketball on the top deck, just to get away from the cigs.

[oujour76]

Jul 16, 2018 14:46:20 GMT -5 snap infraction said:

any one have any suggestions on excursions?  going in a few weeks through norwegian.  

going to:  


Juneau, Alaska 
Skagway, Alaska 
Cruise Glacier Bay
Ketchikan, Alaska 
Victoria, British Columbia

Never been on a cruise...sorry, can't help. Have fun, sounds like a good trip.

[lz2112]

Jul 16, 2018 14:46:20 GMT -5 snap infraction said:

any one have any suggestions on excursions?  going in a few weeks through norwegian.  

going to:  


Juneau, Alaska 
Skagway, Alaska 
Cruise Glacier Bay
Ketchikan, Alaska 
Victoria, British Columbia

If you were going a little farther North, you could take the sightseeing train from Anchorage to Denali.

[Deleted]

So you're going to Alaskia?

[snap infraction]

Jul 16, 2018 15:07:22 GMT -5 Buckeye Dale said:

Jul 16, 2018 14:46:20 GMT -5 snap infraction said:

any one have any suggestions on excursions?  going in a few weeks through norwegian.  

going to:  


Juneau, Alaska 
Skagway, Alaska 
Cruise Glacier Bay
Ketchikan, Alaska 
Victoria, British Columbia

I've never been that far south...but depending on how much time you have ashore, you might inquire about doing some panning for gold, depending on the weather.  My Mother in Law found a pretty good size nugget up there when our daughter graduated from UA-Fairbanks.  My grandson is back up there right now, NW of Anchorage, working at a Bible Camp way into the interior.  I'll also warn you that this time of year, you'll see a twilight, but not a real dark night.  Be prepared to put something over your windows.

thanks.  don't think we have time ashore past too much past the ports.   it's a cruise so they let us off at the port for the morning/afternoon and we sail away again.  not worried about night.  our room doesn't have windows!  we got the cheapest room on the boat.  

[snap infraction]

Jul 16, 2018 22:29:56 GMT -5 @kelliers said:

So you're going to Alaskia?

haha fixed it

[Buckeye Dale]

Jul 17, 2018 9:27:27 GMT -5 snap infraction said:

Jul 16, 2018 15:07:22 GMT -5 Buckeye Dale said:

I've never been that far south...but depending on how much time you have ashore, you might inquire about doing some panning for gold, depending on the weather.  My Mother in Law found a pretty good size nugget up there when our daughter graduated from UA-Fairbanks.  My grandson is back up there right now, NW of Anchorage, working at a Bible Camp way into the interior.  I'll also warn you that this time of year, you'll see a twilight, but not a real dark night.  Be prepared to put something over your windows.

thanks.  don't think we have time ashore past too much past the ports.   it's a cruise so they let us off at the port for the morning/afternoon and we sail away again.  not worried about night.  our room doesn't have windows!  we got the cheapest room on the boat.  

I'd guess that the Norwegian site and google would be your best bets then.  I'd start with the tour's site, get their recommendations (& a time line) and then hit google to see if anything else around, say Skagway tickles your fancy.  Don't be too afraid of venturing out...the traffic is not horrible, like you're accustomed to in Philly, and the views are just beautiful.  They're very conscious of being the last frontier, and the historical significance of everything, so you'll probably see all kinds of well-preserved old buildings and those kinds of tours.  The four hour time change won't be too hard to adjust to, so you'll probably sleep well...but be careful in regards to that last line...similar to what the McMurphys said prior to boarding the Titanic...  <g>

[daleko]

Jul 16, 2018 14:46:20 GMT -5 snap infraction said:

any one have any suggestions on excursions?  going in a few weeks through norwegian.  

going to:  


Juneau, Alaska 
Skagway, Alaska 
Cruise Glacier Bay
Ketchikan, Alaska 
Victoria, British Columbia

If you already haven't selected your dining agenda, choose open seating. More flexible AND ask to be seated at a large table that seats 10. You'll meet a lot of interesting folks. You may get a stone or two but it's well worth the risk.

[snap infraction]

Jul 17, 2018 19:00:52 GMT -5 daleko said:

Jul 16, 2018 14:46:20 GMT -5 snap infraction said:

any one have any suggestions on excursions?  going in a few weeks through norwegian.  

going to:  


Juneau, Alaska 
Skagway, Alaska 
Cruise Glacier Bay
Ketchikan, Alaska 
Victoria, British Columbia

If you already haven't selected your dining agenda, choose open seating. More flexible AND ask to be seated at a large table that seats 10. You'll meet a lot of interesting folks. You may get a stone or two but it's well worth the risk.

just got back.  dining was open style so you really didn't have an option to be seated with others.  trip was positive overall.  loved introducing myself as being from philly and everyone's initial reaction was to congratulate me on the super bowl.  i hope this upcoming season never begins.