mgraham4fx

Just my two cents: We traveled with Holland American on one of their smaller ships. The experience was fantastic, and the excursions were brilliant. One of the most exciting photo opportunities was the helicopter trip from Juneau up to the Mendenhall Glacier. This is where they train the dogs during the summer for dog sled teams racing the Iditarod and other race competitions. It's a little pricy but we felt it was a once in a lifetime experience. They also take you out for a dog sled run on a sled with about 10 dogs. Great shots in camp and on the ride for sure. It was the highlight of the trip. All the advice to book excursions through your ship is essential. We too had people left behind that didn't book though our ship. Their excursion was cheaper, but catching up with the ship was very expensive.

azi Loc: Columbia, Marylamd

If you want to see wildlife you really need to do a land tour along with your cruise and spend a couple of days in Denali park. We did a land tour as part of our cruise on Celebrity. Rangers there told us that we should see lots of moose and caribou and if we're lucky we might see a Doll sheep and if we're really lucky we might see a grizzly . We were really lucky. Make sure you see the Hubbard glacier and maybe stop at Skagway and ride the North Point and Yukon railway

george19

Give a look at Bluewater Adventures. Doubt you will be able to leave from Seattle, but figure a 60 to 100 foot boat with maybe 16 passengers. I did a trip to islands off BC a while back and it was amazing.

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

Connie, see the word up at the top of the page called "search"? Click it, type in Alaskan Cruise (not Alaskian) and you will find this question has been asked dozens of times. Plenty of reading for you.

DougS Loc: Central Arkansas

After taking the Alaskan Marine Highway, getting to plan what I wanted to see/photograph, knowing what I would miss if I ever took a cruise ship... I just can't consider a cruise ship! Wrangell Island: Anan, Stikine River, and more. Juneau: Tracy Arm is a must(!), can see Mendenhall without the crowds! Glacier Bay, stay at the lodge, take the small boat to see the glaciers. Haines: Chilkat and Chilkoot Parks, more. You can take a 'Fast Ferry' between Haines and Skagway. Taking the road north out of Haines thru Canada, WOW. The road going out of Valdez is... SPECTACULAR! Whale watching/wildlife, go to Kenai Fjords NP, WOW photography! Then there is Katmai NP, WOW,WOW,WOW (My favorite, but it takes planning and allow days)!!! Denali, yea it is pretty, and has wildlife. Homer has moose, on the loose. The road between Girdwood and Anchorage proper is quite scenic. On 'excursions' you will miss these and sooo much more, plus you will see places you want to photograph, but the bus just keeps on going. You will wish for a minimum of two months there. Warning, you may/will take thousands of photos, it is that scenic in Alaska. The ferry cost me, wife and personal car: approx. $2800 total, 5 different ships, 3 nights aboard ships. Warning, the ships can, and do change schedules abruptly. Happened to me once. I took thousands of photos over 31 days in Alaska. Good Luck, and have lots of fun, don't forget to put down the camera every once in a while, and just soak in the scenery.

David in Dallas Loc: Dallas, Texas, USA

In Haines, my best experience was the Takshanuk Mountain Trail by 4x4 (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g31005-d1093466-Reviews-Takshanuk_Mountain_Trail_by_4x4-Haines_Alaska.html). If at all possible, book this excursion! When I took it, there was a ride along the shore to see bears (we did) before beginning the 4x4 experience; the halibut lunch was great, too!

DSC_0145 by David Casteel, on Flickr

Rick-ws Loc: Seattle or North Idaho

Hi Connie,
The long days and very, very good deals are early in the season mid-late May (my co-worker's wife makes a business of booking Alaskan cruises). The weather can be pretty dreary. IF you make the trip, Private Message me and I'd be happy to give your group a tour of Seattle before you depart.

Rick

bel air bill Loc: Bel Air Maryland

If you are doing the Cruise and Land Tour, do the Land first. That way you will be well rested for the Land Tour. Have Fun.

hpucker99 Loc: Anchorage, Alaska

For something different, try the state owned Alaska Marine Highway system. It has cabins and food service and if you are adventurous, you can bring a sleeping bag and sleep on the back deck in a lounge chair and watch the northern lights (weather permitting). It leaves from Bellingham north of Seattle and hits the major ports others have listed and also some of the smaller towns. Check the schedule, you could get off in one town for a few days and then get on another ferry for a different part of Southeast Alaska.

sergiohm

Another vote for Holland America

iosa Loc: Fairbanks, AK

I’m going to echo nikonbug: check out the Alaska Marine Highway. This is a ferry system that we use, mostly operating between Bellingham, WA and up all the way through the Inside Passage. In the summer, they bring naturalists on board. You can bring a tent to camp out on the aft deck, if that sort of adventure appeals to you. They also have staterooms, if that’s more your style. You can bring your own food, or eat in the ship restaurants. You can change your sailing plans, if something catches your eye in Sitka, or wherever.

Don’t bring your car: that’s a very expensive addition, and it will be impractical to use it anywhere along the Inside Passage.

GregWCIL Loc: Illinois

Personally, I wouldn't plan an extensive trip around the Alaskan Ferry. Their boats are aging and not very reliable. I have a friend who has used the Alaska Ferry. Year before last he had an entire trip organized around taking the ferry and stopping at various places such as Wrangle to go to see the bears at Anan, then on to Haines where he had several tours lined up. Literally the night before they were to fly to Seattle to catch the boat, they had a call that the ferry broke down and would be out of commission for some time. It ruined their trip and created a major hassle even getting their money back on pre-booked tours.

lennywin Loc: Where ever I park my Truck

Decide what you want to do and where you want to go and then......take the Ferry out of Bellingham, Wa. Go at your own pace, Sleep out on the Deck at night. I used it in 2000 and stopped for two weeks in Ketchican, 10 days in Juneau, including a 5 day Kayak trip to Glacier Bay NP, then up to Skagway and took the Yukon Hwy up to Alaska and spent 1.5 months there. All on a Motorcycle pulling a Cargo Trailer.

This was my Campsite in Ketchican...
Photo taken with a Nikon Coolpix 950. 2.1 meg!

(Download)

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

my wife and I did Holland 2017 came back down the inside passage, I want to do it again

jtang2

BTW, which small cruise line did you take? Thank you.