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From: wm@tekchips.UUCP (Wm Leler)
Newsgroups: net.travel
Subject: Re: info wanted on alaska cruises.
Message-ID: <347@tekchips.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Nov-85 14:43:46 EST
Article-I.D.: tekchips.347
Posted: Thu Nov  7 14:43:46 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Nov-85 05:33:31 EST
References: <782@bgsuvax.UUCP>
Reply-To: wm@tekchips.UUCP (Wm Leler)
Organization: Tektronix, Beaverton OR
Lines: 54

> Would appreciate any info or accounts of experiences on cruises to
> Alaska. Any recommended or non-recommended lines? What not to miss.

I recently returned from a cruise to Southeast Alaska.  We decided
to only go to the southeast section (sometimes called the panhandle)
because several other friends who did the whole thing (i.e., Anchorage
and Denali) said that SE was the best part.  We sailed on the North
Star, run by Exploration Cruise lines.  Since this was our first
cruise, I'm hard pressed to compare it to other lines.  We choose
them because they had a smaller ship and went to more places.

The cruise was ok, my main complaint was that the food was mediocre.
There was not much opportunity to meet people.  With few exceptions,
most of the people on the cruise were retired.  Activities were planned.
Trying to do things on our own was met with amusement from the cruise
people.  They carted us around on buses, I prefered to walk or hitch.
The cruise, naturally, had a fixed schedule, and if you wanted to
stay longer somewhere, too bad.

On the other hand, we did get to see an awful lot of SE Alaska
in a reasonable period of time.  I guess I am actually glad we took
the cruise.  But now that I know which places I like, I think next
time I would take the state ferry system.  The cruise did go to
quite a few places that you would have to hire someone to take
you do if you were on the ferry, so an equivalent tour taking
the ferry and staying in hotels along the way would certainly be
more expensive.  But if you know where you want to go, then the
ferry would be cheaper and more fun.

> What not to miss:
GLACIER BAY, GLACIER BAY, GLACIER BAY.  Expensive, but worth it.
We also rented a car and drove up into the Yukon from Skagway.
This trip was well worth it.  I cannot describe the otherworldly
beauty of fall in the Yukon.  The third highlight of our trip
was a small plane flight over LeConte glacier and icefield,
near Petersburg.  LeConte is the southernmost tidewater glacier.
It moves 23 feet a day, and is dropping off (calving) icebergs
constantly.  Because of its speed, the glacier itself is broken
up into amazing ice castles.

Keyword for SE Alaska -- EXPENSIVE.  Expect to pay and pay and pay.
Food is expensive.  Travel is expensive.  If a tourist needs or
wants it, it is expensive.  This was by far the most expensive
vacation I have ever taken.  It was very strange to cross the
border into Carcross (Yukon) or Prince Rupert (BC) and have the
prices drop so dramatically.  We spent the night in a room in Prince
Rupert for CDN$20; an equivalent place in Ketchikan would be US$50.
Personally, I think you are better off spending time in the Canadian
Rockies and the Yukon than in Alaska.

> [May hit expo 86 now: thanks wm]
You are certainly welcome.  See you there.

wm