Alaska Cruise

Bobalos

Bobalos

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we are going on an Alaska cruise in a couple of weeks. 

I was wondering if any of you have stopped @ any of these ports & if there was any "must do's" in any of these ports. 

Also if youve been on a NCL cruise, anything to do or see or eat on the boat?

this is the cruise:



7-day Cruise on Norwegian Bliss


Alaska: Glacier Bay, Skagway & Juneau


from Seattle, Washington



Set sail on one of our newest ships, Norwegian Bliss, and enjoy front-row seats to the spectacular in Alaska. From Juneau, hike through the Glacier Gardens Rainforest and soak in views of Mendenhall wetlands, Gastineau Channel and Admiralty Island as you travel to the base of Mendenhall Glacier. Then cruise Glacier Bay National Park and discover calving glaciers and icebergs and possibly see moose, bears, bald eagles, sea otters and other wildlife. In Ketchikan, explore the enchanting ancient Tongass National Forest, nicknamed the “Crown Jewel,” or savor fresh local seafood at a Dungeness crab feast.
 
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Wife and I did that cruise with Princess 15 years ago and it was AWESOME! Need to do it again. I highly recommend taking the White Pass and Yukon Railway excursion in Skagway. Our cruise also took us into Tracy Arm fjord and turned around at Sawyer Glacier. I need to find the pictures from that trip.

 
I heard that there is a day trip narrow gauge railroad ride at one of the ports. That would be of interest to me. I'd also do a fishing trip at any of the ports. Just don't let this be you at your port stops.



 
Been on a few of these Cruises.

Janeau, Eat at Tracy's Crab Shack, Its right off the Pier.  The line can get pretty long and some of the other little tents / food trucks in that area can be pretty good to so don't wait in a long line if you don't have to.  Mendenhall Glacier  I hear is pretty cool, I have not been up on it because we usually went a lot earlier in the season so we would go whale watching from Jeneau going as late as you are don't waste your time going whale watching, most are already heading to Mexico. The tops of all the glaciers are pretty much the same so that would be a good spot to see one. DO NOT waste your time going up the cable car.  If it is a five minute wait on the bottom to get into a car it's an hour coming down and if you spend 30 minutes up there walking around you have seen everything, don't go up there because it will take you an hour or two to come down.

Skagway, I will second the Railcar adventure but I was told that the mountain bike ride down was a lot of fun. It's not very strenuous or extreme so don't think of it as a mountain bike ride. The train does sell out so book early, like today.

Ketchikan is fun have done a zip line adventure there, was also there for the 4th of July one year and just hung out and watched a small town parade. Sean Dwyer for Deadliest Catch has a bar last time we got a few beers in it. It's not a bad town to walk around and shop. All the towns have the same shops and the same t-shirts. Ketchikan is just as good of a place to do that.

Victoria, If you are there near or after sunset the area turns into a Venice Beach/ Farmers Market type of atmosphere with a bunch of performers and artists and booths

Wherever you go a shore take rain gear, this late in the season your going to get some, a lot or none. You never know.

Whatever you do don't go back on the boat with items you may have picked up at a dispensary. While it is legal in Alaska it isn't the high seas, You can get disembarked right there in whatever city and have to find a way home. 

On the ship hit the Casino early in the cruise and avoid as time goes on, they are allowed to adjust the machines to get some of their money back.

Book the specialty restaurants as soon as you get on board, they book up and are well worth the cash upgrade to get a good steak.

They are serious about leaving you on the dock if your not back in time unless you are on one of their tours. I wasn't on the trip but the rest of my family were on a tour to Rome, A two hour bus ride from the dock and the bus for some reason had to take a detour and got stuck in a tunnel and they got back 3 hours late.  Ship was waiting for them.  At every port you will see the people who think the world revolves around them as they walk up the pier like they are taking a sunday stroll.  Then start to run as they see the gangway going up. 

 
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My buddy and his wife are on the right now...I think they come back tomorrow!

I'll see what they did and what they thought about it.

 
Thabks folks.  Im learning a bunch about these.  This is my second cruise, the first one I was on was a whole bunch different....  LOL 

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I lived in Ketchikan for 5 years, still have a division of my business unit there and I keep my boat there. I’m up there often. In fact, I’m heading up in the morning for a few days. 

NCL partnered with a local entity and built a dock for their ships but it is about 5 miles north of the downtown area in Ward Cove. So if you want to do the shops and town area you’ll be on a bus to/from town. Not a lot to do where they built the dock but you can do just about any type of activity you want. You just need to ensure transportation is provided.  There are duck boats, zip lines, Jeep tours, Totem parks, float planes, boat rides, shopping, etc. Just depends on what you like. You could also do a 4 hour fishing charter but pretty late in the season now and weather may be a factor. 

 
Did Vancouver to Seward back in 2011.

Skagway was probably my favorite stop. Hit up the Red Onion Saloon. The bar/restaurant is downstairs and museum-like brothel tour is upstairs. 

 
If you have a balcony room take binoculars and watch the shoreline pulling in to glacier bay.  We saw bears and sheep there.  We also saw whales and other wildlife other passengers couldn’t see or just got to see them more clearly. 

 
Robert L just got back from the Alaskan Cruise. Peace

 
The trip was great but. We had rain every day except one.  That day we went on the train ride which was pretty cool.  We ate a Tracy’s it was very good but expensive.  The tram was closed for weather.  To many people to even get a taxi to go exploring.  Our helicopter ride got canceled because of weather.  But all in all we had a great time. The next one we do will be earlier in the year.  On a side note we didn’t meet any   people from the area.  Everyone was from the lower 48.  Are you going on the ship that has the go carts on top?  

 
ROBERT L said:
The trip was great but. We had rain every day except one.  That day we went on the train ride which was pretty cool.  We ate a Tracy’s it was very good but expensive.  The tram was closed for weather.  To many people to even get a taxi to go exploring.  Our helicopter ride got canceled because of weather.  But all in all we had a great time. The next one we do will be earlier in the year.  On a side note we didn’t meet any   people from the area.  Everyone was from the lower 48.  Are you going on the ship that has the go carts on top?  
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II'm a bit concerned about the weather.  Maybe we get lucky...  we are not casino, movie, indoor kind of folks.  Out hiking around the area or outdoor thongs is where we like to be.  This while thing was a last minute,  "hey the prices are not too bad, let's try this"  kind of thing....

Thanks for the info.  

It looks like it.  Maybe fun for $15.

Price. Ten laps around the track on both Norwegian Joy and Norwegian Bliss costs $15. Or you can purchase an unlimited go-karting package for $199 per cruise.

 
Bobalos said:
II'm a bit concerned about the weather.  Maybe we get lucky...  we are not casino, movie, indoor kind of folks.  Out hiking around the area or outdoor thongs is where we like to be.  This while thing was a last minute,  "hey the prices are not too bad, let's try this"  kind of thing....
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If you want to be outdoors and hiking on your stops then get yourself some good rain gear and waterproof hiking boots. You’re going to a rain forest after all and fall weather is starting. Put on your rain gear and go out and have fun. Don’t let the weather dictate everything while you are there. 

 
ROBERT L said:
The trip was great but. We had rain every day except one.  That day we went on the train ride which was pretty cool.  We ate a Tracy’s it was very good but expensive.  The tram was closed for weather.  To many people to even get a taxi to go exploring.  Our helicopter ride got canceled because of weather.  But all in all we had a great time. The next one we do will be earlier in the year.  On a side note we didn’t meet any   people from the area.  Everyone was from the lower 48.  Are you going on the ship that has the go carts on top?  
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My mom and Step Dad did like 14 cruises to Alaska, they would go every summer for an anniversary trip. I have done four. All the trips were from late June thru early August and the weather is always a crap shoot. Week before no rain our trip rain every day but one or the reverse.  It's alaska and like Dockmaster said take rain gear with you everyplace and just deal with it. 

 
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