For those of you with a bucket list, you should add visiting Alaska if that isn't already on the list. I just returned from my third trip, and wouldn't mind going back again. This trip was a cruise and land excursion lasting 11 days. During that time, we saw Vancouver, BC, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Talkeetna, Denali, Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle. Driving to and through Alaska is great - my wife and I did it back in 2007, but is time consuming and just not possible for someone without a lot of time available. Since my son's family and his mother-in-law were also on the trip, we chose the cruise instead. Below are just a few of the many sights we saw:
Typical coast line view:
A gold mine in Juneau. When in operation, it typically took 16 tons of ore to yield one ounce of gold!
Mendenhall Glacier:
For comparison, here is a scan of a film shot I took in 1999 to show how much the glacier has shrunk between then and now:
Run off falls from the glacier:
Mendenhall seen from several miles away:
One view headed up the White Pass in Skagway:
Glacier National Park:
One of the many glaciers in the park:
One of the many glaciers located in College Glacier Park. IIRC, this was the Yale Glacier:
Up close and personal with a friendly reindeer looking for a treat:
Scenery in Denali National Park:
My son and I visiting the Arctic Circle:
This photo was taken at 1:30 am in the Arctic Circle to show how light it was, even though we were well past the longest day of their year:
As stated, we took a land and sea excursion. It was on Princess cruise and we experienced both good and bad things. The good: the staff were excellent - friendly and for the most part, helpful. The food was plentiful and good. Shipboard activities were numerous and fun, and there were plenty of on shore excursions offered. Sailing was very calm, and getting on/off the ship went very smoothly. The price was reasonable, all things considered. Baggage handling was good but somewhat confusing at times.
The not so good? Princess offers a package that includes drinks and WiFi. Drinks include soda and mixed drinks up to $15 in value (IIRC) which unless you are ordering some pricey whiskey/wine, will cover nearly all your needs. The WiFi however sucked, plain and simple. Neither me nor my son's family are technologically impaired, but we couldn't get the WiFi to work most of the time, and internet was even worse. Although I always try to perform my mod duties when traveling, it proved impossible from the ship. Other issues included the ship being long in the tooth and in need of some care. And while food was plentiful and good, I've seen better selection/variety offered on other cruises, including other Princess ships.
All in all, a great time was had by all and if you have yet to see Alaska's immense and fantastic landscape, you really should add it to your bucket list, even if you don't have said list!
Typical coast line view:
A gold mine in Juneau. When in operation, it typically took 16 tons of ore to yield one ounce of gold!
Mendenhall Glacier:
For comparison, here is a scan of a film shot I took in 1999 to show how much the glacier has shrunk between then and now:
Run off falls from the glacier:
Mendenhall seen from several miles away:
One view headed up the White Pass in Skagway:
Glacier National Park:
One of the many glaciers in the park:
One of the many glaciers located in College Glacier Park. IIRC, this was the Yale Glacier:
Up close and personal with a friendly reindeer looking for a treat:
Scenery in Denali National Park:
My son and I visiting the Arctic Circle:
This photo was taken at 1:30 am in the Arctic Circle to show how light it was, even though we were well past the longest day of their year:
As stated, we took a land and sea excursion. It was on Princess cruise and we experienced both good and bad things. The good: the staff were excellent - friendly and for the most part, helpful. The food was plentiful and good. Shipboard activities were numerous and fun, and there were plenty of on shore excursions offered. Sailing was very calm, and getting on/off the ship went very smoothly. The price was reasonable, all things considered. Baggage handling was good but somewhat confusing at times.
The not so good? Princess offers a package that includes drinks and WiFi. Drinks include soda and mixed drinks up to $15 in value (IIRC) which unless you are ordering some pricey whiskey/wine, will cover nearly all your needs. The WiFi however sucked, plain and simple. Neither me nor my son's family are technologically impaired, but we couldn't get the WiFi to work most of the time, and internet was even worse. Although I always try to perform my mod duties when traveling, it proved impossible from the ship. Other issues included the ship being long in the tooth and in need of some care. And while food was plentiful and good, I've seen better selection/variety offered on other cruises, including other Princess ships.
All in all, a great time was had by all and if you have yet to see Alaska's immense and fantastic landscape, you really should add it to your bucket list, even if you don't have said list!
