Oh no you dont I want him as my guide 1st lol... I agree Gary knows it all is so relaxing. He makes me feel like I've already cruised everywhere and I've never gone lol
I watch several cruise vloggers but I love how thorough you are and how calm and collected. You are always my go to info person when I’m interested in a particular cruise line, ship or itinerary. Thanks!
A great very cheap excursion is in Juneau. It is around $30 to take a bus to the Mendenhaul glacier right next to a beautiful waterfall. Is a short bus ride. Well worth it.
Richard2003 I’ve been a few times, we always rent a car for the day. Much cheaper and they pick you up and drop off right at the pier. Also, great to stop at Costco and pick up booze.
My son and I took an inside passage cruise of Alaska with Holland America. Everything Gary said is true. The weather is very changeable. Definitely pack layers and hope for sunny weather. It rained just a few days on our eight day cruise. I was reluctant to take a reserved float plane excursion because the rain but we were assured by our very experienced pilot that by the time we got to the other side of the mountain (which would be in a matter of seconds) the weather would be completely the opposite. The pilot was right! We immediately experienced sunny, beautiful weather on the opposite side of the mountain in Juneau. Our float plane excursion viewing the ice fields was an astounding experience and made us very proud to be Americans.
After being asked for many years, I am coming around to the idea that yes I do want to take an Alaskan cruise.I have been watching many different cruise videos and I have to say that this is one of the very best. Very informative! Thank you!
We liked it so much that we're planning a 3rd trip next summer. If you haven't been there, you need to make the trip because it is going to change you. Such Beauty.......
When we took this cruise, we found a sled dog camp in Juneau that was very interesting. It didn't go onto the glaciers but was very informative regarding sled dogs, there was a chance to interact with the dogs and there was a ride aound the camp in carts pulled by the dogs. Transport was provided to and from the ship and it was much more affordable than the on-glacier excursions. Very much worth considering especially as the day we were in Juneau the weather shutdown the helicopter tours and closed in the view from the top of the tramway.
I've done this cruise 3 times, once on the Washington State Ferries leaving from Bellingham - that's a blast! Some other comments: 1. I think this is one of the best 'cruising' cruises. In that, unlike say the Caribbean, the days that you're cruising there is lots of spectacular scenery to see; not just open ocean. 2. Unfortunately, IMO, the most dramatic parts of the Inside Passage, (northern half of the coast off of Vancouver Island) are navigated in the night. This is where it gets very narrow and very dramatic. Most ships leave in the late afternoon and head north, so they get to this area in the early morning hours. 3. Don't think about using the pool, the weather isn't that warm... 4. My favorite time to go is as close to the summer solstice as possible. You get to experience super long days. Twilight at 11 pm... that's cool. 5. Excursions: a) You have to see a tide water glacier. They won't be around in 50 years (or less) so see them now. b) flying over a glacier is fantastic - you just can't do that in too many other places and all from the comfort of a cruise ship. c) logging show is hilarious and fun and worth seeing - and yes, they are showing skills people used d) a super cheap excursion is to hike up Mt. Roberts (Juneau) and then take the tram down; good rewarding fun e) White pass railway has some spectacular views, especially as the train snakes along its tracks...but expensive...is it worth it? - How much did you spend on the cruise? 6. Likely need not mention, but it wasn't in the video, Seattle and Vancouver are wonderful cities to spend a couple days exploring. Especially Vancouver, the dramatic setting of a city overshadowed by mountains.
I have a tip for people who plan to do some landscape photography on their cruise: Book the first cruise in May. This is because there is still a significant amount of snow on the mountains and hillsides (above 1000'), and (in my opinion), the snow makes the scenery more dramatic and vivid, as it provides more color contrast to the landscapes. Later in summer, the only colors are green forest, grey rock, and whatever color the sky is that day (blue if clear, grey if cloudy/raining). Those first cruises in May are less expensive, and less crowded. If you take the White Pass and Yukon train excursion out of Skagway, the snow in White Pass can be 10 feet deep in mid-May, and it is a much more dramatic scenic train ride than it will be later in summer when the snow is gone.
Another option is a land and sea cruise. You cruise to Alaska. Then go inland and spend time. And then fly home. One I was looking at is 14 days. 7 day cruise to Alaska then 7 days in Alaska. Spending time in Denali. Fairbanks. And out Anchorage.
Just watched your video. We just returned from our land & cruise 10 day trip to Akaska. Left on May 19th. We got lucky and didn't have any rainy days. 2 were overcast but the rest beautiful! 70 degrees average daytime and mid 40's at night. Very true that we didn't see whales but loved the glaciers and saw lots of seals floating on the icebergs. While on land, we saw lots if moose, caribou, grizzly bear, eagles, etc at Denali National Park. Because we went early in the season, there were next to no mosquitoes anywhere. It is Heaven on earth and I would recommend anyone to get there at least once!
Thank for being so honest. I starred watching you a few months ago & had learned so much from your vedios. I will be going on a cruise in the future for the first time & feel prepared & confident! I hope you remain healthy & I thikj that it's great that you decided to take time to cruise around the world after being diagnosed with cancer. I pray that you remain healthy & strong.
It is important to be more precise on the season............May 15 to September 15 is the travel season in Alaska. When all the shops and businesses are open.
In Skagway we took the excursion offered to go by ferry to Haines and the Chilcoot River boat rides (we took the river raft float which we enjoyed one year and the jet boat ride two years). All were safe and fun (my 84 year old mother went on the raft float as it was calmer than it sounded but do ask first if in doubt). Also if looking for Bald Eagles, look at the tree tops for something that may resemble a golf ball - will be an eagle.
Excellent video Gary. On point, relatively short and crisp, no waffling and just what I wanted to know. You should offer training to the millions of out there who have no idea how to produce a great online video. Thanks.
One thing to keep in mind with helicopter tours: If they do cancel for weather, they will wait until the last minute to actually cancel. You will be tied to the port until you can confirm cancellation. We had a glacier tour scheduled in the afternoon, but because of fog it was very unlikely it would fly. Unfortunately, if it had and we did something else, the money paid would have been lost. Instead of risking it, we stayed around Juneau all day waiting. A really disappointing day in Alaska.
If you are an independent traveler, you can do virtually all,of these must- see things much more cheaply, using Alaska Marine Highway ships as point-to-point water taxis. My wife and I spent two weeks in 2012 for less than a one week cruise cost.
As an alternative to the big cruise ships and escape the crowds, we used the Alaskan Marine ferries to go between ports in the inside passage. This gave us the opportunity to call into and stay in Haines and Wagnell, however you may have to stay a few days until the next ferry comes. The side trips from these towns were wonderful. For example from Wagnell we went to AnAn Bear observatory and also Le Conte glacier. The ferries are pretty basic, have seen better days and come into a bit of abuse by people sleeping on the lounges rather than paying for a cabin.
It's laughable that so many people absolutely can not do anything unless there's a huge crowd around them or there's a 2 hour line to stand in or a 5 hour traffic jam to sit in! I'll take the smaller ships anytime!
We’re booked on Celebrity in September and are Texans. Pray for us-my husband and I hate the cold. But we will bundle up and enjoy the marvelous scenery then retire to an inside cabin.
Thank you for this! It was extremely helpful. I'm glad I watched because I've been concerned about the high cost of the excursions. But you're absolutely right about the importance of once in a lifetime experiences. Our trip is in September. I'll keep saving my pennies until then!
Inside passage is terrific. Don't need a balcony room because of the cold in Spring and Fall. Pools useless at those times as well. Glacier Bay and Juneau glacier with helo ride and dogs sleds were high points.
I’ve done Alaska 3 times now and my favourite excursion was taking the White Pass train up then riding a bike back down, It was safe and I only had to pedal for about 600 yards (it was hell) and there were better photo opportunities.
I just booked a cruise for August. We will be spending some extra time in Anchorage and will take the Alaska Railroad north to see Denali. If the weather cooperates, the scenery is spectacular. I did that excursion when I spent two summers in Alaska as a college student.
Took the inside passage an yes it was grand. Your suggestions are once again right on the money. It’s a trip of a lifetime an worth the money. Went with the Princess line but believe most lines are just as good. Great video an review as all yours are, even the correct cloths to bring.
Princess are the line that’s been operating the second longest in Alaska and many like you were very happy with them. Thanks as always for watching and great to hear you found the tips spot on !
And don’t forget to bring a thermal coffee mug so you can sit on deck wrapped in a cozy blanket sipping delicious hot beverages as the magnificent scenery floats by.
Excellent video Gary, as always. You have mastered the art of giving detailed information and tips in a concise manner. Much appreciated. Looking forward to our Inside passage Cruise on Silver Nova in June 2024. Fortunately for us we have been able to make good choices from the included excursions. Have booked the lowest level suite with a balcony. Planning to take a paid for excursion in Seward which includes dog sledding. A 6 hour tour with lunch for about £150 per person. Keep up the great work Gary.
The locals told us over and over again that we got lucky with the weather during our July trip. If you can take a last-minute cruise to Alaska, I suggest watching the weather forecast and jump at the last minute. If not, then a little research shows that weather is usually best in June and July.
Thank you so much! One of my favorite travel tip channels- actually planning Holland America Whitter to Vancouver 1st trip to Alaska this June, going to take all of your advice from the dog sledding to the balcony! Much appreciated!
been on the Alaska cruise 3 times and already have the 4th scheduled in Sept.2021...aft facing balcony in the Haven is amazing (NCL Bliss)..helo to glacier was our most expensive excursion...there are a lot of excursions with reasonable costs, if you have unlimited budget, go for the big ones, you wont be disappointed...almost all excursions are fun...the white pass rail is fun going up and a sleeper car, lol, going back, in Skagway...zipline, even for old folks like us, was really fun in Ketchikan...the best most relaxing cruise ever....we always go in September and the weather has cooperated almost every time, only 1 cancelled port in 3 cruises...so pretty good...September also means fewer kiddies running around, which is good
We found going to Hubbard Glacier just as rewarding as going into Glacier Bay, certainly in terms of calving and getting up close. As far as Holland America goes, you can get stick on a really old ship. Be careful you don’t end up with this problem.
yeah the rains a pain in the BUTT my family did a belated birthday cruise for my dad but this is more about my mom and I. We were going to do a helicopter thing but well like you said Gary it poured so much that it rained that excursion out.
To the people of Canada and the United States when you come up here to Alaska make sure that you have a Lotta beaver pelts, they are better than cash. Also since we don’t have motor vehicles you make sure that you get a dogsled team that has 10 or more dogs to get you around! Make real sure that during the summer months you drink lots of hard alcohol, to prevent the mosquito infestation from biting you to pieces! There was a baby from the lower 48 who came up with its parent and was just about sucked dry from the damn flying attorneys.
Lmfao thats too damn funny. Yes people, listen to Ronald. He forgot to tell you that most of us still live in igloos and global warming is melting our homes. Oh and don't forget to exchange your foreign currency for Alaskan dollars.
Yikes you aren't kidding when it comes to shore excursions!! I am going on my first Alaska cruise in September and all four excursions I'm looking to do will cost me well over $1000 combined!!!
I would think twice about doing ANY helicopter tour in Juneau. Or at the least doing a lot of research about individual safety history. There are several that go down every year, with not very good endings.
@@pattyb5711 Hi Patty. Of course, air travel (especially in southeast Alaska) has the unfortunate potential to be dangerous. I encourage anyone looking to head out on an air tour to do lots of research on the company they book with to figure out what is best for them. Northstar, and all other entities under its parent company, operate under the TOPS program and have safety regulations above and beyond those put in place by the FAA! As someone who grew up in Juneau and worked on the ground enforcing and maintaining that high standard of safety, as well as ensuring guest satisfaction, I can assure you that it is very possible to have an enjoyable and safe air travel-based tour experience in Juneau.
That being said, travelers should always be prepared for potential cancellations due to weather. Safety is always the top priority, and unfortunately because of Juneau’s fickle weather patterns and micro-climates, that sometimes means that tours can’t go up.
@@brisievenpiper_ BS whoever you are. It is not "perfectly safe" to go on a helicopter tour of the glacier or anywhere else in Southeast. Sure, it usually turns out OK but not always, and if you truly were "raised in Juneau" as I was you would know that. You sound like someone with a vested interest in promoting tours. DM me and tell me what class you were in at JDHS. Juneau is a small town and I would probably know you. I call fraud and fake.
Hello friend good morning Thanks for this information Very important guide before go to Alaska beautiful place Thanks for great sharing Full watched and enjoyed watching❤️💕💕💕
Very grateful to have found this channel. New subscriber here. My husband and I have started following you and your videos. We are very interested in this one so far ❤ Would definitely be on our bucket list for the near future (hopefully)
Took the Grand Princes out of SF 10 days a couple of years ago. Balcony, Mid ship, port side. Wanted a Balcony suite but none available for 3 people. We geocached at each port and took the White pass rail in Skagway as the only excursion. Loved the shows and movies but wish they had captions, especially on the Promenade deck outdoors. Did all the dance classes. Ate in the buffet too often and should have used the dining rooms more. Met people who were on their 8-10th cruise 2-3 to Alaska. Once is enough as the scenery is pretty much the same where ever you go. Don't let them have you buy a print of a painting or Tanzanite.
These are great tips. I had no idea what to expect. I have booked a cruise for 2020. I'm very excited and this will help me to plan. Made sure to go with a line that sees Glacier Bay so I am going with Norwegian. Never sailed with them so everything will be new to me.
Great video with some great information. I have gone on 2 Alaska cruises. Both on Holland America. First one was on the Ryndam. It was a 7 day southbound cruise. The second was on the Veendam and was a 7 day northbound with a Denali train tour added at the end. I love Holland America and would recommend them to anyone cruising Alaska for the same reasons mentioned in the video. I can't wait for my next cruise. See ya on board!
I just booked customers on the Nieuw Amsterdam for August 2019. My 3 Alaska cruises were 2 on Princess ( 1997 on the old Regal Princess, July 2018 on the Ruby Princess ) and on the old Celebrity Century in 2011. We loved them all!
Gary, I took HAL to Alaska for mine and my husband's 25th anniversary in 2003 and again in 2007. You're right, they were fantastic! However, we have gone 2 more times but on Princess, and they were fantastic too! Even going again next year and using our favorite San Francisco port so no need to fly. Excellent video, BTW, thank you! :-)
An excellent and informative video - thank you. We have just added another tick to our bucket list and booked an Alaska Cruise with Cunard on Queen Elizabeth in August, 2021.
princess runs alaska cruises out of san francisco as a northern californian that makes it soo much easier for me. (watching older videos cause well we all know why)
Thanks so much for this video. My lovely lady and I will be on the Seven Seas Mariner next year to Alaska, southbound. I’ll check to be sure we are on left side of ship
My husband and I will be going on our first cruise in May 2023 going Norwegian Bliss Club balcony. Curious about dress code and suggestions on activities that we should do. Thank you
The White Pass & Yukon Route RR also has 2 steam locomotives that they run seasonally, the Fraser Meadows excursion is about $170 for an adult if you love steam locomotives like me, I've ridden the railroad, but not behind a steam locomotive unfortunately, but still a great ride. I think it runs during the summer if I'm correct.
Just back from an Alaska inside passage cruise and pretty well selected it and some of the various options along the way after watching this video. Had a totally wonderful time so thank you for the spot-on advice.
Being an Alaskan resident and having worked Neptune security at both Whittier and Seward ports, I suggest to keep rain gear with you at all times, try hitting up walmart for ulus, AK shirts and plushies to save money. Please don't stand in the middle of the road to get a picture of wildlife or a bus that says alaska on it (yes, I've seen this happen). Keep an eye on your belongings at all times especially in Anchorage. Do not feed the wildlife including the inebrients (homeless) they make more money panhandling than most make from honest work and they laugh at the tourist for being so naive. If you want to buy cannabis while you're here, most have websites that show the prices and their popular products (enjoy responsibly). Finally, Make sure you know what you can bring back with you when getting back on the boat. If you ever have a chance, rent an RV or car to see the interior of Alaska. Most of all, have fun and be safe
Hi Gary looking at this now in 2022 for a possible Alaskan cruise in May 2023. Your videos are so incredibly helpful! Thank you so much! It seems like the gulf is the way to go according to your video, but flying in or out of Anchorage through Whittier seems like a hassle.
Thanks! I’ll be able to tell you in a month as I’ve booked to do that down to Vancouver on Princess! Means flying into Anchorage and then getting to Whittier to board
@@tipsfortravellers Perfect! Look forward to hearing about it. You would think flying from Los Angeles where I live would be easier, and after doing a little research it is not. There is only one direct flight per day from Los Angeles to Anchorage which is surprising.
We love Holland America and would recommend without any doubt. If you can afford it, do the Neptune Class, it's really fabulously well done. Smaller ships, less crowded getting on and off, and there are few children on Holland America, so you'll meet adults, interesting people 99% of the time. On the Inland Passage, we've done it 3 times, be SURE to get a balcony,: Their private train from Denali south is wonderful. Do start in Fairbanks, then on to Denali - it's a bit glamping/wilderness lodge- and finish with the luxury of the train rides and the cruise. We don't recommend the reverse trip! In Juneau, the Salmon bake at Taku lodge was a don't miss for sure, as was the helicopter trip to the top of Mendenhall Glacier. Both highlights!
Hi Wendi. Can you tell me a little more about why you recommend starting with Alaska portion of your trip (Denali, etc) and then ending with the cruise? I am planning a June cruise for 2021 and I am still debating flying into Alaska and taking the cruise back to Seattle/Vancouver or the reverse. Would love your insight.
@@helenareid5084 I'm planning a similar trip in Sept 2020. We'll start in Fairbanks, travel to Denali, then Anchorage where we'll pick up the cruise; and end up in Vancouver. Still doing the research. Plan on arranging the land portion myself. Have heard that there are some great suggestions for same on Trip Advisor.
For an Alaska one time only bucket-list trip on a strict budget, if I can choose one splurge: a balcony cabin and no big excursions, or inside cabin and one or two dream excursions. Which would you choose?
Our last cruise before Covid was HAL in Alaska. We had a balcony and it was amazing! We did the train tour and well worth it. The salmon!!!! I crave it! We left from Vancouver to avoid the MAGA crowd. We did the last cruise of the season and highly recommend it. Not as crowded and prices in some cases were reduced by up to 75%. Too much emphasis on jewelry, seems that was a very large part of it. You can’t beat the scenery.
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This man is very calm and soothing. I want him to be my personal tour guide.
he is,,I'm nervous as a bed bug,,30days to Alaska..
The Bob Ross of cruising.
Oh no you dont I want him as my guide 1st lol... I agree Gary knows it all is so relaxing. He makes me feel like I've already cruised everywhere and I've never gone lol
All it takes is $$$
I watch several cruise vloggers but I love how thorough you are and how calm and collected. You are always my go to info person when I’m interested in a particular cruise line, ship or itinerary. Thanks!
A great very cheap excursion is in Juneau. It is around $30 to take a bus to the Mendenhaul glacier right next to a beautiful waterfall. Is a short bus ride. Well worth it.
Good tip! Thanks!
What company was did the excursion with
Richard2003
I’ve been a few times, we always rent a car for the day. Much cheaper and they pick you up and drop off right at the pier. Also, great to stop at Costco and pick up booze.
The public bus is even cheaper
Can you touch the glacier from going this way?
My son and I took an inside passage cruise of Alaska with Holland America. Everything Gary said is true. The weather is very changeable. Definitely pack layers and hope for sunny weather. It rained just a few days on our eight day cruise. I was reluctant to take a reserved float plane excursion because the rain but we were assured by our very experienced pilot that by the time we got to the other side of the mountain (which would be in a matter of seconds) the weather would be completely the opposite. The pilot was right! We immediately experienced sunny, beautiful weather on the opposite side of the mountain in Juneau. Our float plane excursion viewing the ice fields was an astounding experience and made us very proud to be Americans.
After being asked for many years, I am coming around to the idea that yes I do want to take an Alaskan cruise.I have been watching many different cruise videos and I have to say that this is one of the very best. Very informative! Thank you!
We liked it so much that we're planning a 3rd trip next summer. If you haven't been there, you need to make the trip because it is going to change you. Such Beauty.......
When we took this cruise, we found a sled dog camp in Juneau that was very interesting. It didn't go onto the glaciers but was very informative regarding sled dogs, there was a chance to interact with the dogs and there was a ride aound the camp in carts pulled by the dogs. Transport was provided to and from the ship and it was much more affordable than the on-glacier excursions. Very much worth considering especially as the day we were in Juneau the weather shutdown the helicopter tours and closed in the view from the top of the tramway.
What was the name of the camp please?
@@leoniedrew5643 sorry this was over 10 years ago. Google?
@@leoniedrew5643 on our NCL cruise is was called sled dog summer camp.it was great.
Sounds like something my son would love to do! Thank you, I’ll add it to my excursion check list.
I've done this cruise 3 times, once on the Washington State Ferries leaving from Bellingham - that's a blast! Some other comments:
1. I think this is one of the best 'cruising' cruises. In that, unlike say the Caribbean, the days that you're cruising there is lots of spectacular scenery to see; not just open ocean.
2. Unfortunately, IMO, the most dramatic parts of the Inside Passage, (northern half of the coast off of Vancouver Island) are navigated in the night. This is where it gets very narrow and very dramatic. Most ships leave in the late afternoon and head north, so they get to this area in the early morning hours.
3. Don't think about using the pool, the weather isn't that warm...
4. My favorite time to go is as close to the summer solstice as possible. You get to experience super long days. Twilight at 11 pm... that's cool.
5. Excursions: a) You have to see a tide water glacier. They won't be around in 50 years (or less) so see them now. b) flying over a glacier is fantastic - you just can't do that in too many other places and all from the comfort of a cruise ship. c) logging show is hilarious and fun and worth seeing - and yes, they are showing skills people used d) a super cheap excursion is to hike up Mt. Roberts (Juneau) and then take the tram down; good rewarding fun e) White pass railway has some spectacular views, especially as the train snakes along its tracks...but expensive...is it worth it? - How much did you spend on the cruise?
6. Likely need not mention, but it wasn't in the video, Seattle and Vancouver are wonderful cities to spend a couple days exploring. Especially Vancouver, the dramatic setting of a city overshadowed by mountains.
Great tips! We are going on late July so we will take these into account. Thanks!!
I have a tip for people who plan to do some landscape photography on their cruise: Book the first cruise in May. This is because there is still a significant amount of snow on the mountains and hillsides (above 1000'), and (in my opinion), the snow makes the scenery more dramatic and vivid, as it provides more color contrast to the landscapes. Later in summer, the only colors are green forest, grey rock, and whatever color the sky is that day (blue if clear, grey if cloudy/raining). Those first cruises in May are less expensive, and less crowded. If you take the White Pass and Yukon train excursion out of Skagway, the snow in White Pass can be 10 feet deep in mid-May, and it is a much more dramatic scenic train ride than it will be later in summer when the snow is gone.
Great tips. Thanks for posting
Another option is a land and sea cruise. You cruise to Alaska. Then go inland and spend time. And then fly home. One I was looking at is 14 days. 7 day cruise to Alaska then 7 days in Alaska. Spending time in Denali. Fairbanks. And out Anchorage.
Just watched your video. We just returned from our land & cruise 10 day trip to Akaska. Left on May 19th. We got lucky and didn't have any rainy days. 2 were overcast but the rest beautiful! 70 degrees average daytime and mid 40's at night. Very true that we didn't see whales but loved the glaciers and saw lots of seals floating on the icebergs. While on land, we saw lots if moose, caribou, grizzly bear, eagles, etc at Denali National Park. Because we went early in the season, there were next to no mosquitoes anywhere. It is Heaven on earth and I would recommend anyone to get there at least once!
Alaska is my dream vacation but I know I will never be able to afford it. But I love watching videos about Alaska so I enjoyed watching this video.
Thank for being so honest. I starred watching you a few months ago & had learned so much from your vedios. I will be going on a cruise in the future for the first time & feel prepared & confident! I hope you remain healthy & I thikj that it's great that you decided to take time to cruise around the world after being diagnosed with cancer. I pray that you remain healthy & strong.
It is important to be more precise on the season............May 15 to September 15 is the travel season in Alaska. When all the shops and businesses are open.
In Skagway we took the excursion offered to go by ferry to Haines and the Chilcoot River boat rides (we took the river raft float which we enjoyed one year and the jet boat ride two years). All were safe and fun (my 84 year old mother went on the raft float as it was calmer than it sounded but do ask first if in doubt). Also if looking for Bald Eagles, look at the tree tops for something that may resemble a golf ball - will be an eagle.
Excellent video Gary. On point, relatively short and crisp, no waffling and just what I wanted to know. You should offer training to the millions of out there who have no idea how to produce a great online video. Thanks.
I agree about the people who have no idea how to do a video.
One thing to keep in mind with helicopter tours: If they do cancel for weather, they will wait until the last minute to actually cancel. You will be tied to the port until you can confirm cancellation. We had a glacier tour scheduled in the afternoon, but because of fog it was very unlikely it would fly. Unfortunately, if it had and we did something else, the money paid would have been lost. Instead of risking it, we stayed around Juneau all day waiting. A really disappointing day in Alaska.
If you are an independent traveler, you can do virtually all,of these must- see things much more cheaply, using Alaska Marine Highway ships as point-to-point water taxis. My wife and I spent two weeks in 2012 for less than a one week cruise cost.
As an alternative to the big cruise ships and escape the crowds, we used the Alaskan Marine ferries to go between ports in the inside passage. This gave us the opportunity to call into and stay in Haines and Wagnell, however you may have to stay a few days until the next ferry comes. The side trips from these towns were wonderful. For example from Wagnell we went to AnAn Bear observatory and also Le Conte glacier. The ferries are pretty basic, have seen better days and come into a bit of abuse by people sleeping on the lounges rather than paying for a cabin.
Wrangell?
@@garysampson6161 look up Windstar cruises. Their ships stop in Wrangell. It is too small for the big cruise ships.
It's laughable that so many people absolutely can not do anything unless there's a huge crowd around them or there's a 2 hour line to stand in or a 5 hour traffic jam to sit in! I'll take the smaller ships anytime!
im so glad i found this video randomly.....im leaving for alaska next week and this video surely helped get an insight into many things.
Happinessity Hope you enjoy our beautiful state!
We’re booked on Celebrity in September and are Texans. Pray for us-my husband and I hate the cold. But we will bundle up and enjoy the marvelous scenery then retire to an inside cabin.
Repetitive! Cruising the inside passage through British Columbia you will see the most beautiful scenery in the world! Never get tired of that.
Thank you for this! It was extremely helpful. I'm glad I watched because I've been concerned about the high cost of the excursions. But you're absolutely right about the importance of once in a lifetime experiences. Our trip is in September. I'll keep saving my pennies until then!
Inside passage is terrific. Don't need a balcony room because of the cold in Spring and Fall. Pools useless at those times as well. Glacier Bay and Juneau glacier with helo ride and dogs sleds were high points.
I’ve done Alaska 3 times now and my favourite excursion was taking the White Pass train up then riding a bike back down, It was safe and I only had to pedal for about 600 yards (it was hell) and there were better photo opportunities.
I just booked a cruise for August. We will be spending some extra time in Anchorage and will take the Alaska Railroad north to see Denali. If the weather cooperates, the scenery is spectacular. I did that excursion when I spent two summers in Alaska as a college student.
Took the inside passage an yes it was grand. Your suggestions are once again right on the money. It’s a trip of a lifetime an worth the money. Went with the Princess line but believe most lines are just as good. Great video an review as all yours are, even the correct cloths to bring.
Princess are the line that’s been operating the second longest in Alaska and many like you were very happy with them. Thanks as always for watching and great to hear you found the tips spot on !
Didn't really hear anything to sell me on it. Maybe a Caribbean would be better for us. Thanks for sharing.
And don’t forget to bring a thermal coffee mug so you can sit on deck wrapped in a cozy blanket sipping delicious hot beverages as the magnificent scenery floats by.
Nice tip! The lines usually sell them on the deck and take advantage of the captive market .... so bringing one a great idea
Excellent video Gary, as always. You have mastered the art of giving detailed information and tips in a concise manner. Much appreciated. Looking forward to our Inside passage Cruise on Silver Nova in June 2024. Fortunately for us we have been able to make good choices from the included excursions. Have booked the lowest level suite with a balcony. Planning to take a paid for excursion in Seward which includes dog sledding. A 6 hour tour with lunch for about £150 per person. Keep up the great work Gary.
Thanks Gary. Enjoyed listening to your tips. Simple and precise, no waffling on. Exactly what I needed to know. Great job. 👋
The crab boat tour in Ketchikan was a great tour.
Thanks ! Good to know for next time
The locals told us over and over again that we got lucky with the weather during our July trip. If you can take a last-minute cruise to Alaska, I suggest watching the weather forecast and jump at the last minute. If not, then a little research shows that weather is usually best in June and July.
Good tip! July can be very wet !
Thanks Gary! One of the best videos regarding cruising to Alaska. To the point and no filler. Great job!
Gary , this Vid. maybe 3 years but its tips
never grow old and are very true..
Holland and Princess seem to be Our
go to Cruises...
We just got back from visiting Vancouver and Vancouver Island. Superb scenery as well. An Alaskan cruise is on our wihs list.
Vancouver and Vancouver Island are gorgeous, I agree. Great to hear the Alaska cruise is on your wish list. It is awesome.
Thank you so much! One of my favorite travel tip channels- actually planning Holland America Whitter to Vancouver 1st trip to Alaska this June, going to take all of your advice from the dog sledding to the balcony! Much appreciated!
When we went on this cruise, we went to a salmon bake. I highly recommend this excursion.
been on the Alaska cruise 3 times and already have the 4th scheduled in Sept.2021...aft facing balcony in the Haven is amazing (NCL Bliss)..helo to glacier was our most expensive excursion...there are a lot of excursions with reasonable costs, if you have unlimited budget, go for the big ones, you wont be disappointed...almost all excursions are fun...the white pass rail is fun going up and a sleeper car, lol, going back, in Skagway...zipline, even for old folks like us, was really fun in Ketchikan...the best most relaxing cruise ever....we always go in September and the weather has cooperated almost every time, only 1 cancelled port in 3 cruises...so pretty good...September also means fewer kiddies running around, which is good
We found going to Hubbard Glacier just as rewarding as going into Glacier Bay, certainly in terms of calving and getting up close. As far as Holland America goes, you can get stick on a really old ship. Be careful you don’t end up with this problem.
We are going to Alaska on the Westerdam wii keep you posted in due course B&S Melbourne Australia
Thank you so much for the estimated costs of some of the shore excursions. This information is good to get.
yeah the rains a pain in the BUTT my family did a belated birthday cruise for my dad but this is more about my mom and I. We were going to do a helicopter thing but well like you said Gary it poured so much that it rained that excursion out.
To the people of Canada and the United States when you come up here to Alaska make sure that you have a Lotta beaver pelts, they are better than cash. Also since we don’t have motor vehicles you make sure that you get a dogsled team that has 10 or more dogs to get you around! Make real sure that during the summer months you drink lots of hard alcohol, to prevent the mosquito infestation from biting you to pieces! There was a baby from the lower 48 who came up with its parent and was just about sucked dry from the damn flying attorneys.
Lmfao thats too damn funny. Yes people, listen to Ronald. He forgot to tell you that most of us still live in igloos and global warming is melting our homes. Oh and don't forget to exchange your foreign currency for Alaskan dollars.
Cruised to Alaska on Uncle Sam's Big Gray Cruise Line in Jan 87. Went to Aleutians.
San Francisco is a huge cruise port you can definitely take Alaska cruises out of SF
Thank you so much for all of your videos. I feel like you are a friend by now!
Yikes you aren't kidding when it comes to shore excursions!! I am going on my first Alaska cruise in September and all four excursions I'm looking to do will cost me well over $1000 combined!!!
If you're looking for a helicopter tour excursion in Juneau book with Northstar Hellicopters!
Briana Sievenpiper what’s special about that chopper line?
I would think twice about doing ANY helicopter tour in Juneau. Or at the least doing a lot of research about individual safety history. There are several that go down every year, with not very good endings.
@@pattyb5711 Hi Patty. Of course, air travel (especially in southeast Alaska) has the unfortunate potential to be dangerous. I encourage anyone looking to head out on an air tour to do lots of research on the company they book with to figure out what is best for them. Northstar, and all other entities under its parent company, operate under the TOPS program and have safety regulations above and beyond those put in place by the FAA! As someone who grew up in Juneau and worked on the ground enforcing and maintaining that high standard of safety, as well as ensuring guest satisfaction, I can assure you that it is very possible to have an enjoyable and safe air travel-based tour experience in Juneau.
That being said, travelers should always be prepared for potential cancellations due to weather. Safety is always the top priority, and unfortunately because of Juneau’s fickle weather patterns and micro-climates, that sometimes means that tours can’t go up.
@@brisievenpiper_ BS whoever you are. It is not "perfectly safe" to go on a helicopter tour of the glacier or anywhere else in Southeast. Sure, it usually turns out OK but not always, and if you truly were "raised in Juneau" as I was you would know that. You sound like someone with a vested interest in promoting tours. DM me and tell me what class you were in at JDHS. Juneau is a small town and I would probably know you. I call fraud and fake.
Hello friend good morning
Thanks for this information
Very important guide before go to Alaska beautiful place
Thanks for great sharing
Full watched and enjoyed watching❤️💕💕💕
Valdez pronounced Valdeez. I love your work Gary. Thanks
Highly recommend Holland American as the cruise line for alaska
Thanks for the tips. Planning to go in mid 2022.
found your channel while looking for cruise tips. what a pleasure to watch with really helpful info. thank you so much and keep up the great work!!!
Thanks !! Great to hear. Hope you subscribe and keep watching 😀
@@tipsfortravellers yes! I've subscribed and also watched many of your videos already. Looking forward to more content. Thanks so much!!
Probably the only cruise I'd ever go on. Thanks for the tips
Thank you for these tips, Gary, especially the Glacier Bay one. We booked an HAL Gulf trip for late August, guided by this video. I'll report back.
Very grateful to have found this channel. New subscriber here. My husband and I have started following you and your videos. We are very interested in this one so far ❤ Would definitely be on our bucket list for the near future (hopefully)
It showed the wood chopping show!! I went to that in fourth grade! We see like five ships a day it's crazy!!
Took the Grand Princes out of SF 10 days a couple of years ago. Balcony, Mid ship, port side. Wanted a Balcony suite but none available for 3 people. We geocached at each port and took the White pass rail in Skagway as the only excursion. Loved the shows and movies but wish they had captions, especially on the Promenade deck outdoors. Did all the dance classes.
Ate in the buffet too often and should have used the dining rooms more. Met people who were on their 8-10th cruise 2-3 to Alaska. Once is enough as the scenery is pretty much the same where ever you go. Don't let them have you buy a print of a painting or Tanzanite.
These are great tips. I had no idea what to expect. I have booked a cruise for 2020. I'm very excited and this will help me to plan. Made sure to go with a line that sees Glacier Bay so I am going with Norwegian. Never sailed with them so everything will be new to me.
Thanks. Great to hear you found it interesting. Really appreciate you watching. Hope you love and have a great cruise as much as I did!
Great video with some great information. I have gone on 2 Alaska cruises. Both on Holland America. First one was on the Ryndam. It was a 7 day southbound cruise. The second was on the Veendam and was a 7 day northbound with a Denali train tour added at the end. I love Holland America and would recommend them to anyone cruising Alaska for the same reasons mentioned in the video. I can't wait for my next cruise. See ya on board!
Agree! I want to go again and HAL would be high on the choice
I just booked customers on the Nieuw Amsterdam for August 2019. My 3 Alaska cruises were 2 on Princess ( 1997 on the old Regal Princess, July 2018 on the Ruby Princess ) and on the old Celebrity Century in 2011. We loved them all!
Vancouver is a Beautiful place definitely recommend going there such an amazing place
And if the stopped tour cruises that would be PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm so excited. Me and my mom are going to Alaska Sept 20. It's almost time.
Gary, I took HAL to Alaska for mine and my husband's 25th anniversary in 2003 and again in 2007. You're right, they were fantastic! However, we have gone 2 more times but on Princess, and they were fantastic too! Even going again next year and using our favorite San Francisco port so no need to fly. Excellent video, BTW, thank you! :-)
An excellent and informative video - thank you. We have just added another tick to our bucket list and booked an Alaska Cruise with Cunard on Queen Elizabeth in August, 2021.
One of the most informative and to the point tips. I believe he covered it all and very well done
Glad it was helpful!
princess runs alaska cruises out of san francisco as a northern californian that makes it soo much easier for me. (watching older videos cause well we all know why)
What an interesting and informative video . It will come in handy on our trip to Alaska next year ~ 2019. Thank you!
Great to hear! Have. Great trip next year !
Good of travellers who have been on trip to give us tips. Thank you and do let us have more videos n comments
Thanks so much for this video. My lovely lady and I will be on the Seven Seas Mariner next year to Alaska, southbound. I’ll check to be sure we are on left side of ship
May 4th alaska here we come
Hope to see you onboard! Cheers.
@@shinde0 Absolutely you as well.
Excellent video. Concise and well-produced.
Thanks. Great to hear !!
Alaska is our next destination to visit! Great video, thank you!
My husband and I will be going on our first cruise in May 2023 going Norwegian Bliss Club balcony. Curious about dress code and suggestions on activities that we should do. Thank you
I’m going in May 2023 and I cannot wait!
Very good information will cruise to Alaska July 2020, thanks
The White Pass & Yukon Route RR also has 2 steam locomotives that they run seasonally, the Fraser Meadows excursion is about $170 for an adult if you love steam locomotives like me, I've ridden the railroad, but not behind a steam locomotive unfortunately, but still a great ride. I think it runs during the summer if I'm correct.
Great tips. I hope to go on cruise there someday...
Just back from an Alaska inside passage cruise and pretty well selected it and some of the various options along the way after watching this video. Had a totally wonderful time so thank you for the spot-on advice.
Princess sea and stay is the best way to go by far
Thank for saying what side of the ship to be on-
Being an Alaskan resident and having worked Neptune security at both Whittier and Seward ports, I suggest to keep rain gear with you at all times, try hitting up walmart for ulus, AK shirts and plushies to save money. Please don't stand in the middle of the road to get a picture of wildlife or a bus that says alaska on it (yes, I've seen this happen). Keep an eye on your belongings at all times especially in Anchorage. Do not feed the wildlife including the inebrients (homeless) they make more money panhandling than most make from honest work and they laugh at the tourist for being so naive. If you want to buy cannabis while you're here, most have websites that show the prices and their popular products (enjoy responsibly). Finally, Make sure you know what you can bring back with you when getting back on the boat. If you ever have a chance, rent an RV or car to see the interior of Alaska. Most of all, have fun and be safe
Going to Alaska next summer! Thanks for the tips!
Nice! Great to hear these helped. Hope you have a fabulous trip
Thank you for sharing! Going North to AK May/'22!
Hi Gary looking at this now in 2022 for a possible Alaskan cruise in May 2023. Your videos are so incredibly helpful! Thank you so much!
It seems like the gulf is the way to go according to your video, but flying in or out of Anchorage through Whittier seems like a hassle.
Thanks! I’ll be able to tell you in a month as I’ve booked to do that down to Vancouver on Princess! Means flying into Anchorage and then getting to Whittier to board
@@tipsfortravellers Perfect! Look forward to hearing about it. You would think flying from Los Angeles where I live would be easier, and after doing a little research it is not. There is only one direct flight per day from Los Angeles to Anchorage which is surprising.
We love Holland America and would recommend without any doubt. If you can afford it, do the Neptune Class, it's really fabulously well done. Smaller ships, less crowded getting on and off, and there are few children on Holland America, so you'll meet adults, interesting people 99% of the time.
On the Inland Passage, we've done it 3 times, be SURE to get a balcony,: Their private train from Denali south is wonderful. Do start in Fairbanks, then on to Denali - it's a bit glamping/wilderness lodge- and finish with the luxury of the train rides and the cruise. We don't recommend the reverse trip!
In Juneau, the Salmon bake at Taku lodge was a don't miss for sure, as was the helicopter trip to the top of Mendenhall Glacier. Both highlights!
Hi Wendi. Can you tell me a little more about why you recommend starting with Alaska portion of your trip (Denali, etc) and then ending with the cruise? I am planning a June cruise for 2021 and I am still debating flying into Alaska and taking the cruise back to Seattle/Vancouver or the reverse. Would love your insight.
@@helenareid5084 I'm planning a similar trip in Sept 2020. We'll start in Fairbanks, travel to Denali, then Anchorage where we'll pick up the cruise; and end up in Vancouver. Still doing the research. Plan on arranging the land portion myself. Have heard that there are some great suggestions for same on Trip Advisor.
Alaska here I come
Thanks
Thanks for the tips and I very much enjoyed the entire video
For an Alaska one time only bucket-list trip on a strict budget, if I can choose one splurge: a balcony cabin and no big excursions, or inside cabin and one or two dream excursions. Which would you choose?
thanks Gary! So complete this video! Hope to go to Alaska by cruise one day! It seems gorgeous (specially the panoramic navigation)
Thanks ! Great to hear! Alaska is awesome. You must have it on your list to do one day !
HermyTP It is gorgeous. I lived there for three years and it was always beautiful. And plus it has some of the most freshest air !
Incredibly good tips. Thanks for sharing
I'm going on norwegian bliss Sept 1st 2022,looking forward to it
Im going this year cant wait
Gary, great job! Just got back from a week on the silver shadow and you just about nailed it. Will look forward to watching more from you. Thanks
Our last cruise before Covid was HAL in Alaska. We had a balcony and it was amazing! We did the train tour and well worth it. The salmon!!!! I crave it! We left from Vancouver to avoid the MAGA crowd. We did the last cruise of the season and highly recommend it. Not as crowded and prices in some cases were reduced by up to 75%. Too much emphasis on jewelry, seems that was a very large part of it. You can’t beat the scenery.
this is on my bucket list
WOW! Went on a cruise to Alaska in 2004, 7 days, fly back to Seattle. $2200, now who knows.
I think i'm hooked. Just wanted the 6th video. Hoping to see some EU cruises come up in the playlist (fingers crossed).
Awesome to hear. I have some videos about Med Cruises but more to come this year for sure!
Great review, I'd love to do a Alaskan cruise one day.