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Need Hogs expert info on Alaska trip
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May 15, 2019 09:48:14   #
Zooman 1
 
What are you interested in photographing? Wildlife, landscapes, or everything? Some years ago I took a Jo Van OS trip to Denali NP, flew into Anchorage and went by van/bus from there. It was in late august, weather was great, only had rain on last day in Denali, saw a lynx on the way out of the park, but too dark for photo.
Spent a couple days on my own including a day cruise to Kenai Fjords NP. Was in my late 50's.

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May 15, 2019 10:10:35   #
Gampa
 
Princess Cruises ... 7 day cruise initiating in Vancouver and ending in Whittier (where you’ll be bused to Anchorage for departure). It includes stops and available excursions in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. It also cruises thru Glacier Bay & College Fiords. You’ll love it.

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May 15, 2019 10:58:37   #
TGanner Loc: Haines, Alaska
 
If you find yourself in Haines I do offer private, personal tours that will get you to the best spots, including maximized wildlife opportunities. Drop me a line if you are interested. https://timenspace.net/photography-workshop/

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May 15, 2019 11:11:01   #
Fredrick Loc: Former NYC, now San Francisco Bay Area
 
larrycain wrote:
This is Larry. I would like to plan a trip to Alaska. Lots of questions: I am a 77 young person! Would like to know best time to go, is there a certain cruise line better than others? I would be leaving from Phx. One suggestion was to fly to Vancover and depart from there. All suggestions welcome! An email is Arizonacain@q.com. Thanks!!!


We took a seven day roundtrip from Seattle on Holland America, in July. Ship was the Oosterdam, very nice. It rained in Juno and Ketchikan. Other friends of ours have gone the same time of year and it was sunny the whole cruise. So, you never know. We booked a balcony stateroom which was kind of a waste, as it’s not very practical to sit outside. Took most of our pictures on deck while at sea. Wear layers.

FYI, we cruise a lot and book all of our cruises through VacationsToGo.com. Great rates all the time and excellent service. Never been disappointed with them.

Have fun!

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May 15, 2019 11:51:36   #
Architect1776 Loc: In my mind
 
larrycain wrote:
This is Larry. I would like to plan a trip to Alaska. Lots of questions: I am a 77 young person! Would like to know best time to go, is there a certain cruise line better than others? I would be leaving from Phx. One suggestion was to fly to Vancover and depart from there. All suggestions welcome! An email is Arizonacain@q.com. Thanks!!!


Don't take the cruise offered flights.
They seem to crashing into each other killing the passengers.

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May 15, 2019 12:43:54   #
genocolo Loc: Vail and Gasparilla Island
 
Don’t miss Denali! If you can, stay at one of the small lodges deep in the park. Like Kantishna Roadhouse, I think it is called. You will never experience anything like being 90 miles into the park and seeing the magnificent mountain and wildlife.

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May 15, 2019 12:51:33   #
Al K
 
I agree with Dr. Dan. I lived in Fairbanks for 2 1/2 years. The cruise route covers the southern pan handle. The state is so big that most of it is viewed only by dog sled or small aircraft. My suggestion is take the cruise route then fly north to Fairbanks, the take take the train to Denali N.P. Then continue by train, south to Anchorage. Then fly home.

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May 15, 2019 13:05:03   #
PH CIB
 
Booked on Costco, took Holland America Cruise from Vancouver to Seward then Land Tour, Bus and Train to Fairbanks, then land tour Bus and Train from Fairbanks to Seward, and Royal Caribbean Cruise from Seward to Vancouver....Highly recommend the Neets Black Bear Boat Tour of the Salmon Hatchery out of Ketchikan, saw scores of Adult Black Bears and Sows with Cubs, lots of Eagles and other Birds and Seals, also recommend Misty Fjords boat tour out of Ketchikan for Scenery, Whale Watching Tours out of Juneau, and definitely take the longest School Bus Tour of Denali for Grizzley Bears, Moose, Caribou, Dall Sheep and maybe even a Wolf, we took two tours of Denali and saw almost 20 Grizzlies...saw Brown Bears up close at Icy Point Straight, Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay and Kenai Fjords are spectacular and Beautiful Scenery is Everywhere...Dress in layers, have a rain suit and camera protection, wide lens for scenics and long telephoto some Wildlife are close others far away...Have Fun!!!

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May 15, 2019 14:12:49   #
n46130
 
Just came back from a cruise on the Star Princess. Left LA and returned to LA. Weather in Alaska was cold, windy, and rain in Juneau. Glacier Bay was interesting, other stops were nice but I didn't find much to photograph because of gray skies. We were told that starting this week as many as 5 cruise boats could be in port at the same time with 14,000 passengers crowding into a town of 600. Traveling in season to major ports probably would be disappointing unless you are interested in shopping for jewelry or trinkets.

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May 15, 2019 14:36:28   #
limeybiker
 
We have done Alaska Cruising six times we prefer May and June, because there is still lots of snow on the mountains the scenery is spectacular.
We are doing a 20 day cruise on the NCL from Port Canaveral to Seattle leaving Port Canaveral 1st May,
We have just booked another for my Alaskan cruise for 80th birthday next year, eleven days out of Seattle with NCL Sun.
We have done Seattle to Port Canaveral, it is a super cruise especially if you are into photographing ships.
We did the overland rail and bus tour, once, not again, cost more than the cruise.
The Denali Park tour is a basic school bus, 3hrs in 3hrs out, looking at a TV screen, the driver has a super dooper Video camera, that he projects to the screen, stay at home and watch the BBC on a 55" screen.
We saw 5 reindeer, one fox, 6 Dahl Sheep and two Brown bears from 3 miles away, a mother Brown bear with cub walked through the car park and we could not see it because of the crowd at the front of the bus.
We did see Mount Denali at 0100 hrs. clear as a bell from the hotel window.
Whale watching in Icy Strait point is fabulous we have done it three times with a private small boat maximum 8 or 16 persons, the last time we were there, everyone on the ship had a better view than we did, the whales were almost touching the side of the ship.
We usually fly into Seattle and take the Amtrak to Vancouver, it is a super scenic journey.
at White Point Canada if it is low tide, the beach is covered with Bald Eagles, the train slows down so everyone can see, the conductor told me he counted 108 on occasion.

https://www.ncl.com/booking-quote?guestCount=2&itineraryCode=SUN11SEASITICYSGYJNUKTNVICSEA&shipCode=SUN&sailMonths=4294941891%204294941895%204294941894&selectedStateroomMeta=BALCONY&voyageId=15101662&activeStep=1&activePanel=3&sailDate=2020-05-21


https://www.ncl.com/cruises/20-day-panama-canal-from-orlando-SUN20PCVWILORJSMRCTGPCGPASCIOPRQPVRCSLSANSEA?cruiseTour=1&autoPopulate=f&cruiseHotel=1&numberOfGuests=4294953449&pageSize=20&ships=4294960761&cruise=1&sortBy=Featured&from=resultPage&state=undefined&sailmonths=4294941891%204294941895%204294941894&currentPage=1&cruiseHotelAir=1&itineraryCode=SUN20PCVWILORJSMRCTGPCGPASCIOPRQPVRCSLSANSEA


(Download)

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May 15, 2019 14:46:15   #
eagle76sct Loc: 10930
 
We went in August of 2017 with friends. We met them there as they were on a longer trip then us. We flew into Anchorage and spent the night and the next day we took the railroad up to Seward. This was absolutely one of the most beautiful parts of the trip. We spent the extra money for the dome car and are glad we did. We could see everything and I got to take great pictures. The cruise was great. Bring warm clothes since the weather can change. We had rainy and damp weather but it never spoiled out trip. Our friends were sick but my wife and I just kept going. Dress for the weather and enjoy. Alaska is beyond beautiful.. We plan to go back. I am lucky in that my brother use to live there and his wife's family lives in anchorage now. Just go and enjoy... Oh I used a 200mm and got nice shots

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May 15, 2019 16:03:05   #
David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA
 
I have done 2 Alaska tours with this company: https://www.kissalaska.com/. They do a great job! They have a wide variety of tours available, including tours with cruises on either large or small ships (I've done both). My photos of both 2007 and 2014 tours with them are here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/8712554@N02/collections/72157702714958041/. Both tours were in August and September, near the end of the season, and weather was nice. (John Hall's Alaska provides a light windbreaker jacket as part of the package.)

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May 15, 2019 16:13:36   #
David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA
 
(Sorry, duplicate eliminated)

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May 15, 2019 16:28:13   #
IDguy Loc: Idaho
 
Have taken cruise twice and drove camper twice. Driving is far superior. Second time driving took the ferry up from Prince Rupert. It was best as we stayed a few days each at Wrangell and Petersburg on the way up. You don’t get to them on cruises.

But the best part of driving is the Yukon and northern BC, and the Canadian parks in Alberta. Cruises don’t do that either.

If you do Cruise I recommend separate arrangement with Harv and Marv in Juneau for whale watch. Reserve on their six pak boat. FAR to superior to the crowded large boats the cruise lines contract with. They pick you up and return you to ship, with a stop at the glacier.

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May 15, 2019 16:56:02   #
19corvette78
 
Hi Lary i went to Alaska 4yrs ago in August The weather is not great. I hired a guide to take me were the wild life were. I stayed in Matkai national Park. This was were his cabins were. Sunny day on arrival Saturday. Sunday Rain Monday,Tuesday, Wedenesday, Thur, FRi, Saturday, returnday sunshine. What a mess Take bug salve no spray they will remove that from you Luggage. and you will not have any.I also brought full rain coat and pants and you will need gloves. MY cameras were 2 Nikon D3 lens 2.8 are all my lens, 12x24, 40x70,70x200. also a NIkon 2x extender. I captured 988. total pics and they came out great. I had made 3 calendars of Griz z and Eagles. Fantastic i went in August the guide gave a line of crap August is Prim time bears out feeding, The salmon are running. July is ok also. August we had had to travel up and down the Alagnak river for bears. fishing is great. Do that while you are their. I flew into Ancorage from their to at airport in KIng salmom. and a float plane up the river to meet the Outfiters boats waiting. To go the rest of the way into the Katmai National Park $all food included and guide service $4500. ED Lindsey l_f@sbcglobal.net

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