Alaska Inland Waterway Trip Photo Ops Suggestions
Apr 30, 2022 09:32:14 #
I will be cruising the Alaska inland waterway from Vancouver to Juneau and back in late May - 11 day trip. Major stops will be in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Juneau, Icy Straights and Prince Rupert. The ship is a small one so that we can get into some of the fjords and inlets that large cruise ships can't navigate. I will be taking my bridge camera only - a Sony RX10 iv. What suggestions do you have for sightseeing and photo ops that aren't strenuous? I am over 80 and have old man knees. Thanks in advance for all your suggestions.
Apr 30, 2022 09:45:54 #
61jhawk wrote:
I will be cruising the Alaska inland waterway from... (show quote)
I did that cruise 12+ years ago. The Sony RX10IV is a great choice for your camera. You will be able to take photos onboard the ship if you like; I took many photos of the architectural designs and/or bright colors while aboard. You also have the 600mm reach if you happen to spot wildlife on shore or an old cabin. We did not see whales but some did and the camera will do well in those circumstances too.
As for the stops, most are small towns that offer their own unique photo opportunities. Many photos can be taken of the town from the ship.
I wish you a great cruise and hope to see some of your photos when you return.
Dennis
Apr 30, 2022 10:10:50 #
bamfordr
Loc: Campbell CA
We did a similar trip - a month later than yours. There was a period of two days where we could doff our long underwear. So take gloves you can wear and still handle your camera. There were daily opportunities for hikes, kayaking, and Zodiac trips. I couldn’t handle the hikes anymore (knees, too) Took my 7D with a 100-400 zoom, 24-70 zoom, and a 50 fixed. Lots of pictures! Amazing landscapes with unbelievable depth. The boat cruised at night, with dawn at about 4:30 (as I recall). As a result there were very early morning landscape opportunities that few except the watch saw. They had coffee available! Enjoy yourself.
Apr 30, 2022 10:11:42 #
Thanks for the comments. I'm thinking of signing up for an excursion in a small boat that will refund $100 of the fee if we don't see whales. I will also be carrying small Nikon 8x25 binoculars to help with wildlife spotting.
Apr 30, 2022 10:28:21 #
larryepage
Loc: North Texas area
61jhawk wrote:
I will be cruising the Alaska inland waterway from... (show quote)
It's been about 18 years since we did a similar cruise. Ours was in September, near the end of the season. We were fortunate to have sunny weather, but remember that your entire route is through a rainforest. Be prepared for days whichay be cloudy, drizzly, or just rainy.
It sounds corny, but be sure to see a "lumberjack show" if you have the opportunity. We didn't, but had opportunity to see into the arena and hear what was going on, and it was a great show.
The glaciers at Juneau are receding and harder to see without some sort of excursion. It may be early to see a lot of whales and other marine mammals, but the boat ride is likely to be interesting. It will be cold and wet, so prepare accordingly.
For me, the main thing was the quiet and the "bigness." Very different from a tropical cruise.
Have fun.
Apr 30, 2022 10:44:41 #
bamfordr - Thanks for the comments. We had already been advised to "layer." I hadn't thought about gloves so will add my driving gloves to the packing list. The small ship we will be on welcomes early morning risers so I plan to take advantage of that also. I am not taking my "big rig kit" because I want to travel lighter. That's what you do when traveling long distances involving planes and boats and age is catching up with you.
Apr 30, 2022 10:52:12 #
larryepage - Thanks for the comments. We plan to sign up for glacier excursion in Juneau that involves a bus and a boat.
May 1, 2022 06:50:28 #
61jhawk wrote:
I will be cruising the Alaska inland waterway from... (show quote)
What cruise company??
May 1, 2022 09:30:20 #
May 1, 2022 10:27:39 #
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
I highly recommend Island Wings Air Service in Ketchikan. She took us to a small lake in the Misty Fjords. It was outstanding! A fellow passenger had had a total leg amputation, and did OK.
In Wrangell, we took a trip up the Stikine River, to the glacier, WOW trip! We used Alaska Charter and Adventures. Wish we had had more time in Wrangell, and we spent 5 days there (Leconte Glacier, Anan Bear Observatory).
Aboard ship, stay up till sunset, (before midnight) the sunsets are SPECTACULAR! (Alpine-glow on snow covered mts.)
Lol, if you can arrange it, have an earthquake the morning of a tour of Tracy Arm Fjord, the glacier will 'calve' like crazy!
You picked the 'driest' time frame for your boat tour!
In Wrangell, we took a trip up the Stikine River, to the glacier, WOW trip! We used Alaska Charter and Adventures. Wish we had had more time in Wrangell, and we spent 5 days there (Leconte Glacier, Anan Bear Observatory).
Aboard ship, stay up till sunset, (before midnight) the sunsets are SPECTACULAR! (Alpine-glow on snow covered mts.)
Lol, if you can arrange it, have an earthquake the morning of a tour of Tracy Arm Fjord, the glacier will 'calve' like crazy!
You picked the 'driest' time frame for your boat tour!
May 1, 2022 11:32:05 #
DougS
Loc: Central Arkansas
If you have not seen whales (you will probably will have), take a whale watching tour out of Auke Bay, just north of Juneau. They usually do not breach at that time of the year.
May 2, 2022 06:16:33 #
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