I was a ranger at the Mendenhall Glacier, and I am so happy you mentioned that people don't have enough time at the glacier when they take the excursions, and thst folks should get there themselves...we aren't allowed to tell people that because federal employees aren't allowed to show bias with businesses, but it's so true! Public transportation for the win!
@jonathanbott87
Жыл бұрын
I've got an excursion booked w/ 2hrs free time at Mendenhall - is that enough time to get a "good" visit?
@savannah115
Жыл бұрын
@jonathanbott87 Usually, excursions are only an hour, and it's just not enough time, so I'm glad to hear they are giving you two! You can do a decent amount with a full 2 hours, unless you are trying to do both the visitor center/movie and the Nugget Falls trail-its a crowded trail and longer than people realize, so it takes a good chunk of time. But you could easily do the movie and the Trail of Time (shorter but still great), likely with some time to spare. I would recommend taking care of any bathroom needs before leaving the ship...the restrooms are, without a doubt, the biggest time suck at the glacier. There just aren't enough of them, and it can take 20 minutes or more to make it through the lines. Of course, all your plans will be thrown if you get caught in a bear jam (crowds of people bottlenecking trails in order to see bears). Those occur pretty much daily, so be prepared to have your plans change. If that happens, try to appreciate the experience you get with the bear, and not be upset you miss out on something else--and please don't blame the rangers. (We get that a lot, but we can't control the bears lol) No matter what, you'll have a great time!!
@paulgerrard9227
Жыл бұрын
Its a big place!!!
@FactsMatter
Жыл бұрын
This is an absolute winner of a video if only for the first point Gary makes. It's not enough to go to a port, but you must go with enough time to explore and experience it. Read the details, folks! We just got off of Crown Princess and had an extraordinary time. 11 nights is the way to go!
@ShelleyFick
Жыл бұрын
Glad to hear you had a great time on the Crown Princess. We are sailing on the Crown Princess Nov. 26th on a, RT from San Francisco, 16 day Transpacific Hawaii cruise. We were also looking for an Alaska cruise on Princess in 2024; however, the only option for our time frame was the Crown Princess and, since we had not sailed on this ship and did not know how the experience would be for us, we chose the Celebrity Edge. This is our second Alaskan cruise, with our first being a 14 day land and sea on the Coral Princess, which,like you, was extraordinary.
@richardcoben4283
Жыл бұрын
Gary your KZitem cruise videos are the very best for providing detailed information and advice for everyone. My wife and I truly appreciate all you do. Thank you
@tomsunday
Жыл бұрын
Great point about buying things that are made locally and not mass produced. This happened to me a few times in the Caribbean. I purchased a beautiful sculpture of a parrot in Curacao and when i got home I noticed "made in china" sticker. Then whe i googled it, I saw a 100 of these with every Island name you can think off. 😅
@tipsfortravellers
Жыл бұрын
Yes! That is annoying :-) :-)
@KurtVW
4 ай бұрын
Exceptional advice, and it applies to cruises to all destinations, not just Alaska. I've done lots of cruises, and this is exactly the kind of information everyone should know. Great video. Cruising is a great vacation, but its a lot better if you know how to avoid the pitfalls.
@T_WC123
Жыл бұрын
Just booked my first cruise ever and it’s to Alaska in 2024. Very much enjoying your videos!!! So helpful and well made.
@TheodoreCross-d7b
Ай бұрын
Took my first and LAST cruise 2 years ago w/Princess lines. Never again. Rush, rush, bus, bus, bus. Always last to destination. Ship from Alaska back to Seattle was filthy. Toilets hadn't been serviced from start out. Most backed up and stinking. A really bad experience.
@alaskachick7315
Жыл бұрын
I'm Alaskan but I did the Inside Passage cruise about ten years ago. I didn't pre-purchase any excursions offered by the cruise line. In Ketchikan, I walked about two miles along the main road and got a good feel of the town. In Juneau, I took the tram up the mountain. Back at the bottom, I took the State Capitol building tour, walked around the residential area (very cool wooden bridges going over the streets for school kids to get to school and back) and went to their museum. In Skagway, I took a walking tour to learn about ghosts and ladies of the night from the Gold Rush days. Then, I went one block off the main thoroughfare and found their local grocery store. Between the three ports, I spent about $100 and was never bored.
@ddraigmafon4725
Жыл бұрын
@alaskachick7315 We did exactly the same, booked on the Holland America New Amsterdam, just used the cruise ship to get from port to port then explored on our own and had a fantastic time. Met some locals, learned some history, explored the towns. We saw bears and ditched the big whale watching tours out of Juneau, went out on a tiny boat with a knowledgeable captain and just 4 other passengers - had a humpback surface right next to our boat (best experience of my life, hands down), saw a bubble-net feeding and got buzzed by a small pod of orcas.
@lulubee1000
11 ай бұрын
Could I have the name of the business that brought to see the whale? Thank you!
@katrynnmelville1490
8 ай бұрын
@@ddraigmafon4725 I would love to know who you did the small whale watching with please?
@ddraigmafon4725
8 ай бұрын
@@katrynnmelville1490 I’m sorry but it was 8 years ago now and I can’t remember the guy’s name! But my friend used a small boat tour from Jayleen’s Alaska in Juneau a couple of years ago and had a fantastic trip. Hope that helps.
@pm1104
8 ай бұрын
All these shops are overrated and Vastly Overpriced……..it’s common sense ….! 😮
@Lily-vq3vx
Ай бұрын
I’ve been on a Holland America cruise only once and a land tour and cruise, which is excellent, we did land tour first and it was so nice to just relax for a few days on the ship. We booked all excursions thru Holland before the trips and don’t regret that at all, any additional cost is worth it to ease anxiety of trying to book something at port or wait in a long line, love having everything taken care of for me. Holland allows plenty of time at port the majority of the time, we had plenty of time at the Mendenhall Glacier and I shopped in Juneau after. I loved the land tour with Holland, tour guide was excellent, great bus drivers, the only stop that we didn’t enjoy was White Horse.
@stevec9231
3 ай бұрын
I completely agree; however, we were in Skagway years ago and went directly to the station to buy train tickets. I don't recall exactly, but the price wasn't a whole lot cheaper. Problem was, the incoming train was late returning and would put us dangerously close to missing the ship. Many of us went back to the ship and got our tickets there. A guarantee that they would have to wait for us, and in our case worth the few extra $$.
@cdewey5115
2 ай бұрын
I shop at local art galleries and always have the gallery ship the print I select to my home. The last one I purchased was in Sitka! It was a Sitka nautical map of the fishing boat harbor with a painting of the harbor boats on this map! It was a wonderful souvenir.
@timwoody3835
Жыл бұрын
Our favorite excursions in Alaska were when we were in port at Skagway. It wasn’t in Skagway, but in Haines. We took the catamaran across the fjord to Haines, seeing plenty of seals, eagles and other wildlife on the way. Once in Haines we boarded a bus that took us into the Chilkat bald eagle preserve. Our first time there we took a float trip down the river. The float trip was very peaceful and we also saw many bald eagles, both mature and juvenile. At the end of the float trip we were served cookies and hot cocoa before boarding the bus back to Haines. Our second trip was similar, but we instead took a jet boat that went further into the preserve. We saw lots of wildlife there also including trumpeter swans, albeit from a distance. At the end of the trip we had hot dogs to roast, making a nice rustic lunch.
@larry4111
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for this! I just finally booked my first Alaska cruise, 9 days in October on Norwegian Sun. Looks like I got a much better itinerary than Graham and Pete: Seattle, Ketchikan (9 hours), Glacier Bay (Cruising), Juneau (11 hours), Skagway (11 hours), Icy Strait Point (9 hours), Victoria (10 hours), back to Seattle. I compared the NCL prices for all the excursions you mentioned and it saved me so much research time. Fortunately, with a $50 per port credit and 10% off for my level, the cruise line prices are all actually less than the online prices for those same excursions.
@jonathanbott87
Жыл бұрын
9 days roundtrip or 7 days one-way (VancouverSeward) seem to be the best ways to get value on an Alaskan cruise.
@larry4111
Жыл бұрын
@@jonathanbott87 Definitely. First I looked at VancouverSeward cruises on NCL/Royal (which is almost all itineraries). When I factored flying in/out of Anchorage & Vancouver, plus shuttles, plus a hotel night on the front end (& Vancouver is a very expensive hotel city), the price more than doubled in most cases. The Seattle RT was about half the price since it's much easier for me to fly RT Seattle & stay one night there, even though it's a longer cruise.
@kathryncashner3294
Жыл бұрын
Another quick (or as long as you wish it to be) excursion that will be over-priced by the cruise line is Totem Bite State Park. We did this several years ago when the local bus was $1 each way; it has since increased to $2. The bus stop is literally across the street from the cruise terminal; the ride is about 15 minutes. Park admission is free. There are maps for you to do your own tour and volunteer guides who will take groups of about 10. This is MUCH better than a cruiseline bus with 40 people! When we did it, the cost thru the cruise line was $50 and the only thing they got that we didn't was a cup of hot chocolate in the gift shop (which we could have purchased).
@jwillar6173
Жыл бұрын
Your first mistake regarding an Alaskan cruise would be to book on the Norwegian Bliss with the racetrack, water slides, lasertag etc.
@AvaT42
6 ай бұрын
We are going on Alaskan cruise this August from Vancouver. We cannot afford many of the excursions, so decided go on the cable car up Hooney mountain. Hopefully not far to walk to it. Also thought of the walking tour of Ketchikan and creek street. All is in US money though, so will see. There are good tips on this video.
@cherifurr3935
Жыл бұрын
Great tips, especially about short times in ports. Three hours is NOT enough time to see Butchart Gardens in Victoria, for example. And the tramway at Juneau is RIGHT there at the dock with their ticket booth! I went to Alaska on Regent, where all excursions but private and helicopter are included, and we had a long time in each port and cruised right into Glacier Bay. And of course, specific local stores are better for things they specify are made by local artisans (yes, easy to find if you look, especially in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan) instead of things actually made in China. We didn’t depart from Juneau until 10 PM, for an example. My cruise had no shopping talks or coupons for stores in the ports.
@tipsfortravellers
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching! Greta to hear Regent included those "premium" excursions there too! that is a big plus!!!
@owensmith7530
Жыл бұрын
I wish I'd checked the Regent and Seaborne offerings when I booked our Viking cruise in Alaska next year. Never mind I'm sure Viking will be OK and we get plenty of time in port with one free included excursion (a basic one) in most ports.
@jopiaspieder1184
Жыл бұрын
I have an Alaskan cruise 🛳 with Royal Caribbean with stops in Juneau from 1:00pm - 11:00pm, Skagway from 7:00am - 7:30pm, Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier from 7:00am - 12:00pm anf Victoria British Columbia from 8:00am - 6:00pm which to me is plenty of time to explore each port.
@brantthompson199
Жыл бұрын
Great tips Gary! We are going to Alaska for the first time next month and sailing on Princess. We have a mix of excursions booked, some through the cruise line and some with a third-party. The reasoning behind our Juneau excursion for example is we are doing a whale watching and Mendenhall glacier tour with a third-party because they go to Mendenhall second where you can spend as much time as you want. I chose this because we want to get out to Nugget Falls. The one offered by the cruise line goes to Mendenhall first and for less than an hour so we wouldn’t have time to get out to the falls and back. We did book the Mt Robert’s tramway through the cruise line however because if we do not use our tickets, for whatever reason, we can bring them to guest services and they will refund our money which I thought was a nice perk. We will definitely try to look out for only local goods while we are there looking out for the “made in Alaska” labels (didn’t see the silver hand you mentioned) in the video. We are in Juneau and Skagway for quite a long time which is great and we’re visiting Glacier Bay which I’ve been told is a must for the first timers to Alaska. Thanks again for all of your videos, they are very helpful.
@melcatley3437
6 ай бұрын
I booked through the cruise line and I knew it was expensive but didn't want to run the risk. Lucky because there were delays and bus issues on every tour I was on! Nothing major but at least we didn't stress about it.
@mhaskard6517
Жыл бұрын
I am very thorough researching trips and found your video's very informative. I haven't been on a cruise since I was 11 and that was last century. We upgraded to Orange Class in our Holland America cruise with separate dining room and other benefits which we found very handy. The train in Skagway was excellent, the helicopter trip in Jeanu was a waste of money , billed as a 2 hour excursion... time travelled to airport included so it was basically was a 6 minute helicopter flight up and 6 minute flight back, and 12 minutes on Glacier between helicopter shuttle service. On the first day/afternoon I also won one of the spa raffle prices $75 voucher sort of but then you have to spend another $130 plus for a massage, next time I will not bother. Staff were excellent, food was very good. Jeanu and Skagway I did not like and nothing really there besides endless tourist shops, Ketchikan was very good. And boarding in Vancouver and going through customs took over 2 hours... what a nightmare. There were 3 ships leaving that day.
@MervynPartin
Жыл бұрын
Wise words indeed. My wife and I have done a fair bit of travelling around the World (not on cruise ships, but we did a rail tour), and in nearly every case the activities we arranged ourselves were far more satisfying and cheaper than the added on activities. Case in point- We went on the Rocky Mountaineer rail tour across the Rockies- quite good apart from the crack of dawn starts. One excursion that we declined was a visit to Lake Louise. We spent a wonderful day walking around Banff instead. The following day, our coach to Jasper (where we were joining the train) stopped at Lake Louise anyway. An addition that we prebooked was a visit to Victoria, including the famous Butchart Gardens which was so rushed, that all we could see were the Japanese tourists taking selfies in front of everything. A tour of Vancouver was similarly rushed. Luckily, we had made arrangements to spend a few more days in Vancouver on our own after everyone else went home and that was so much more enjoyable, actually seeing the city (Loved it). We have been lucky with a couple of tours with TUI in Lanzarote and Tenerife which were very good indeed, but we also arranged our own visits to places not pushed by the tour operators- Loro Park in Tenerife is so overrated, but we were absolutely enthralled by the Jungle Park which was only a cheap taxi ride away, yet seems to be ignored by the tour operators.. As regards souvenirs, we ignore anything with "made in china" on the label- we like the genuine goods.
@floydwolfe9331
Жыл бұрын
You gave lot of good advice on shopping but may I add take note of time of season on Alaska cuise, I stumble on one of my cruise to Alaska at end of season in Skagway the ship I was on was second to last to visit , with this said gift shops was sailing everything from 20 to 50 percent off and to sweat up the deal those Keychain and trinkets on display rack at cash counter , we were given chance to pick for free one for every $10. spent . I am thinking to recheck if this was a one time thing many years back by booking my next Alaska cruise on ship that be among last in Skagway before returning south. Actually if plan it right . To book Princess I can stay aboard and take reposition cruise to San Fran. Where it an $8.50 train ticket home , thus skip the air fare and terminal hassle.
@gstevens6948
Жыл бұрын
I simply ❤ the way he says “Glay she ah”….
@travelswithatwist307
9 ай бұрын
Time in port can change by the Port Authority. Read the Contract and you'll see disclaimers for all Cruise Lines re schedules and ports of call. This is not a train trip going on a specific defined route. Weather and other challenges (remember the landslide) necessitate changes as do possible weather alerts or even challenges with a ship that hasn't vacated the dock for whatever reasons. Travel with an open mind and consideration for conditions beyond the supplier's control.
@tuvia4082
Жыл бұрын
As always, great info Gary, thanks!
@lisas44
Ай бұрын
Great vid tks!
@gwenmarshall587
Жыл бұрын
Several of the cruise lines have dropped diamond international according to according to the effy sales person that was on my most recent n c l cruise.
@aquarius1359
5 ай бұрын
My heart is set on the helicopter and dog sledding experience. Exactly how much does it really cost?
@cassandrafine6373
Жыл бұрын
Absolutely!! I have a cousin who is a travel agent, and she has provided us with a website to look at and book excursions separate from Holland America's website, where the excursions are quite expensive. Our Alaska trip is occuring from July 29 - Aug 5, and on our return back, the Victoria, BC stop is at 8 pm - 12 am, so were not sure what we can do for 4 hours in those evening hours. Looking forward to the trip, so thank you for the information regarding where to shop.
@markwestaway7207
Жыл бұрын
Fisherman's Wharf might still be going till about 9pm but check your times. Definitely worth a look at Parliament House all lit up too.
@paulhendershott667
Жыл бұрын
TLDR: I got my Private Pilot License back in 1990 and took a cruise with Holland America in May of 1992. A pilot friend of a friend referred me to guy who had a Beaver on floats in Ketchikan and another in Seattle. I got in 8 hours of float-plane training in Seattle for only $120/hr - a steal!), then went up to Vancouver to catch the ship with a gal I was traveling with. When the cruise ship docked at Ketchikan I ran down to his sea plane base, and I was able to fly the Beaver out to Misty Fjords National Park and land on some glacier lakes with him. Great experience! Lots of fun! The airplane was very basic with minimal navigation instruments. You basically tuned the ADF (automatic Direction FInder) to the AM radio tower on the mountain west of Ketchikan and follow the needle heading for 20 minutes to the park. 😀😀
@PaulandCaroleLovetoTravel
Жыл бұрын
Great tips! 8 weeks and we will be there!
@tipsfortravellers
Жыл бұрын
Nice! Who you cruising there with? I feel I should know 😂
@kristinevazquez7840
Жыл бұрын
Gary, great video! Loved it! ❤
@tipsfortravellers
Жыл бұрын
Thanks!!! Great to hear. Appreciate you watching!
@dianastacey919
Жыл бұрын
Also pay attention to holidays and weekends when things are closed, not just the hours. This happened to me in Europe and we saw nothing but empty streets as we walked. Might as well stay on the ship. In the US we expect everything to be open these days, but that isn't always true. Some countries have tons of holidays so do your homework. We all think about the weather but little things like volcanoes/earthquakes in Alaska can mess up your plans so you need trip insurance.
@paulgerrard9227
Жыл бұрын
Not alaska. Its a short season
@mamasaid12
Жыл бұрын
Sadly, I am up s*** Creek without a paddle! I have only discovered this by saying it updated itinerary. I'm heartbroken. I wanted to go on the Tracy arm fjord excursion as this is once in a lifetime trip for me. Oh well, I guess I'll make the best of it. NCL cruising
@carolbradley4845
Жыл бұрын
I would caution people on all cruise lines (I’ve been on many). Most of the jewelry bought in the shops RECOMMENDED by the cruise lines never really held up for me. Broken clasps, safety clasps that didn’t work and worst of all, expensive precious stones falling out ( and lost forever) of their setting. I’ve spent close to $1,000 on jewelry repairs. Now I just use a trusted jeweler close to what I live. Prices are better too.
@Katy32344
Жыл бұрын
I went to Alaska on Celebrity. I loved the lumberjack show and the white pass RR. I wanted to ride the tram but my friends didn't want to.
@MichaelKilby
Жыл бұрын
I been to Alaska (Silversea) completely agree
@ironpig701
Жыл бұрын
But if you book non thru cruise line then they dont wait if issue thats the trade off. And alaska is like all ports. Close to ship is for tourist
@timkellyD2R
Жыл бұрын
I wonder to what greater degree a smaller ship is better in Alaska because of the larger number of options for access to the nooks and crannies of the coast?
@tipsfortravellers
Жыл бұрын
If one wants to skip many of those ports then lines like Hurtigruten and UnCruise do a more expedition and wildlife options yes!
@owensmith7530
Жыл бұрын
Viking stop at all the same ports despite having much smaller ships. Unless you want to go expedition style there really aren't any other ports. Even Scenic Eclipse (smaller still) stops at the same ports.
@terriz7791
2 ай бұрын
On my last cruise I collected free charms for a bracelet. Every day I got one from the ship’s diamond international store. Then stop at each store in the ports. I made 4 decent bracelets to give as gifts. I am very good at saying no. I just don’t understand why people would spend so much money on jewelry or purses or art. I’ve been accused of being stingy, but it’s ridiculous. Tell me why I’m wrong
@dianashelton1371
Жыл бұрын
I would love to watch the referred video but can not find it. 😢
@jimhudson1737
2 ай бұрын
Best Alaskan excursion that we have done (twice) is a whale watching excursion out of Juneau. They were both fabulous!
@jamess5154
Жыл бұрын
We were in one Alaska port where we took the free shuttle to Wal-Mart. It is really designed for crew members but it was a nice 20-30 minute drive through town and along the port with a local driver that told stories about the port and her husband who worked the fishing boats. And of course the Alaska t-shirts and such were MUCH cheaper as where the various sundries that we either forgot or did not bother to take on the plane.
@reestyfarts
Жыл бұрын
@@Cupid_Stunt Actually we love the West Coast Mexico holiday cruises from California. It is simple with delicious food and beverage in the ports. You can observe the holiday as little or as much as you like.
@chriswilliams6568
7 ай бұрын
@@Cupid_Stuntyou are so wrong. I am afraid that one particulate cruise line may give you that idea, one that I avoid, but have been on many Princess and Celebrity cruises and we had wonderful times. My way of relaxing. Love the lazy sea days where I read a lot. I love the Trivia contests, the food is good, folk are in a good mood. Sadly now our funds are running out (pension time), and after our 16 day Norway cruise, right up to the top, this June, we will not be able to go on any more. But I have lovely memories.
@TeeLeo-e7h
Жыл бұрын
I just got off my first ever cruise, first time to Alaska, on NCL BLISS 3days ago. When I tell you I wished I followed the advice given on this video before booking my cruise I would have had a better experience. I booked this cruise with a group of relatives and we were set on booking NCL BLISS because of the amenities on the ship (racetrack, slide,lasertag,etc). First time cruisers we assumed the port stops were all day. We booked several excursions at exorbitant prices for fear we would be left behind if we booked with private vendors. We wanted the added protection. All the advice that was given in this video we did the exact opposite. We still had a good time but paid a pretty penny for it. The pro's of NCL BLISS - the crew is top notch. You will never find better service than the crew on this ship- extremely polite, attentive, prompt, and cheerful employees. The ship was immaculate. There was always something to do on the ship for my husband and I. If you want to feel rushed, go to the ports at a NON-leisure pace and hurry back on the ship. We did not enjoy this at all. If you would like to explore the small towns of Alaska and enjoy the activities at each port...this is NOT the cruise for you. If you would like to spend hundreds of dollars more for no reason, book all your excursions through the ship. You will find when you get off the ship, the same exact excursion available for $100 less! If you're worried about missing the ship, choose a short excursion and be one of the first to get off the ship. You won't have any issues if you get up early and be the first off the ship. Sitka we had about 3 hours (1excursion) with no time to eat crab, Juneau 3hours (1excursion to glacier only), Icy Strait 3hours (1excursion), Ketchikan 3hours -no restaurants open because it was so early only got to shop, Victoria was the biggest disappointment of all. You arrive at 8pm, when you disembark you will be flocked by taxi drivers who will charge you $20 to drive you 3miles to Victoria which you have one hour to walk around and see stores, harbor, empress hotel, and parliament building. Although beautiful thats all you will do- look and leave, paid $20 to get back to ship. Most people don't get off the ship because it's 2 hours of your life of rushing. Again, the common theme here is RUSHED. Would I book this cruise again? No. Would I cruise on NCL again? Yes for the ship itself but for the same type of rushed itinerary, NO. Listen to the advice given in these videos.
@peterwilson5692
7 ай бұрын
😅
@maryestes9584
6 күн бұрын
I agree. I just got back from the 7 day Alaskan cruise on the Norwegian Bliss. Never again. Not enough time in the Ports at all. My family of 9 spent all our time waiting in lines to get off and on the ship, get on and off the shuttles, walking around each town in a hurry, rushing through shops, rushing to sight see, then rushing back to the shuttle to get back to the ship on time! 4 to 6 hours in each port is not enough! Shame on you NCL… what a rip off.
@andreagriffiths3512
Жыл бұрын
Best souvenir? It comes from your phone/camera. I now pick my best photo - the one that truly encapsulates my holiday - and then get it printed on a Perspex block or on glass. These pictures look absolutely stunning and they are 100% unique. They do cost quite a bit though. I also get other photos made into a hardback photobook. Alaska would provide many wonderful photos to pick from.
@tipsfortravellers
Жыл бұрын
Nice idea!
@rogerbird380
Жыл бұрын
I feel very invested in Graham and Pete's holiday. We'll need an update on their return 😂
@howardcosta3013
Жыл бұрын
Yes please! I agree - Would love to see how Graham and Pete’s holiday trip in Alaska went!!!!
@sushi1660
Жыл бұрын
Ditto!!!
@FactsMatter
Жыл бұрын
One more thing: the Seattle-to-Seattle itineraries MUST stop in a foreign port on the sailing, in order to not break American law. The Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 forbids non-US-flagged ships from transporting passengers between US ports only. That explains the seemingly-ridiculous 3-hour call to Victoria, late at night when nothing is open in the area.
@chriswilliams6568
7 ай бұрын
The worst Alaska cruises to take are from Seattle as most do not do the inside passage but keep to the west of Vancouver Island. Go from Vancouver instead.
@Shewhoknitsandspins
Жыл бұрын
My cousin owns a store in Skagway. I haven’t been there but two of my friends have. One bought souvenir fabric. It’s called Rushin’ Tailor Quilr Store. If you visit, let her know how you heard about her it.
@hettytravels
Жыл бұрын
Wow, spot on with great info and all true in my opinion. I’ve stopped buying souvenirs that collect dust but do get a Christmas tree ornament specific to the region.
@tipsfortravellers
Жыл бұрын
They did have some great Christmas decorations, you are right on that
@owensmith7530
Жыл бұрын
We also get a Christmas tree ornament on every holiday. It's great when we decorate the tree, we get to remember each holiday. The tree is so eclectic as a result too, which Viking longships next to a Japanese Tori Gate etc.
@TheAnadromist
Жыл бұрын
Pro-tip: Holland America and sometimes Princess have stops in Haines Alaska, instead of Skagway. Do that! Haines is the real thing. It's actually an Alaskan town without the gauntlet of dockside stores etc. They have their own brewery (try the spruce tip ale , or their root beer), distillery (absinthe!) local pizza places (the Fireweed is my favorite) and lots of truly local creative products. And they have stunning tours of the bald eagle preserve, the local mountain environment, and in late summer bear viewing. And the locals are quite friendly. And they have much better grocery stores etc. than other towns and within walking distance of the boats. Plus the area is spectacular. Best small town in Alaska. And if you are stuck going to Skagway there is a ferry taking people to those tours or you can just go visit Haines. Follow the Tips For Travelers advice about booking tours there. Do some research! And enjoy!
@chriswilliams6568
7 ай бұрын
We have driven there, took ferry from Skagway, but found Haines really boring and did not stay long.
@kubacks
Жыл бұрын
Gary, my wife, and I just returned from a 7-day Holland America cruise on the Eurodam. I can confirm that everything you mention in this video is spot on. And thanks to much of your advice we had a great time. So special thanks for helping us to make our trip so fantastic.
@TheOtherSideoftheHill
Жыл бұрын
Thank you. I pay attention on flight layovers with arrivals and departures but on a cruise you are correct I haven’t researched port times. Very helpful
@stevemattson4988
Жыл бұрын
If you are going to buy anything from a store,look for a brown sign that states it is owned by a native or tribal family.
@deeannlett-neal3325
5 ай бұрын
Will do.
@redriverraider
Жыл бұрын
Top tip do not go on a Alaskan cruise on a 6,000+ passenger ship!
@kategrayson2082
Жыл бұрын
Please, please please listen to Gary's advice about Alaska excursions. My brother was one of the Holland America passengers who were killed in the 2021 float plane crash. When the NTSB investigated the float plane company, they found problems with said company, including the fact that the same pilot they were flying with having been in another accident the month before that was still being investigated. In the end, both accidents stated pilot error. Please stay safe on your cruise.
@beachblythe
Жыл бұрын
I am so sorry. That is terrible
@suerobinson844
Жыл бұрын
@@beachblythe My sympathies to you for your loss. God bless 🙏
@bradcolby3624
Жыл бұрын
What a tragedy. I am so very sorry to hear that. I guess we took for granted that nothing would go wrong on our tour. My condolences 💐
@joannbanks9963
Жыл бұрын
So sorry for your loss.
@bethelng8955
Жыл бұрын
Did you take down the video of how to make the most of an Alaskan cruise without breaking the budget video you mentioned ?
@eddecook9252
Жыл бұрын
From someone who has done several Alaska cruises (and been caught by many of the traps mentioned here) I can say that this is solid advice throughout. One thing I could add is that for the exotic flight-seeing trips the unpredictable Alaskan weather can be a huge factor. Often the trip will be cancelled due to weather or much of what you paid big bucks to see will be obscured. As an example, we have taken two float plane trips out of Anchorage to see Mt. Denali/McKinley (it is stunningly spectacular!) and, luckily, both times we had clear weather in the mountains. It is my understanding that often much or all of the mountain will be obscured by clouds. This is a hugely expensive trip and would be quite a let down if we had paid many hundreds of dollars just to fly around for a couple of hours in a sea plane. We were warned up front that no refunds would be issued if the mountain was not visible. Keep it in mind if you are contemplating a trip like this.
@benjaminmatheny6683
Жыл бұрын
You are right about Denali and it's clouds. I took a tour there around 2006, got on the second bus of the day at 5:30am for the drive out. Early morning was great for seeing wildlife, and the mountain was visible at the start. But by the time we got close, it was completely covered. After we drove back and left the park, we stopped at a small memorial for bush pilots and the mountain had cleared back up. That's when I got my shots, as I had missed taking photos of it in the morning thinking I could wait to get close.
@randy120
Жыл бұрын
Great advice. I would book White Pass excursion in advance direct with White Pass as this excursion is very popular and tickets may not be available on day you are in port.
@karenvonbargen4472
Жыл бұрын
Be wary of Juneau. If your ship comes in later in the day you will be stuck at a small dock about 3/4 of mile south of town and your ship will only have a single point of disembarkation. The lines to get off and on the ship were 1 to 3 hours.
@m4ttyb1z
Жыл бұрын
This just happened to us on Celebrity Solstice. I happily spent $11 on a Lyft into town and got local knowledge on where to eat: Deckhand Dave's.
@6violet6
Жыл бұрын
Also just now (May 2023), Iʼm seeing ships anchored out, so everybody needs to lighter to shore - thatʼs got to be slower than at the main docks
@SteveKxyz
Жыл бұрын
.......but if you use the cruiseline excursions you will not miss the departure of the ship.
@paulgerrard9227
Жыл бұрын
Thats rubbish. Almost every ship tour is also on dock and the gullible passengers get sent to the bus and wait...and wait...for others who pay less to fill the bus.
@donnabremerman1423
Жыл бұрын
As always, wise and practical advice, Gary. When we went on our Alaskan cruise, we wanted an authentic Ulu knife and shopped around for one made by a local. It was worth the effort. As a general rule, we don't go to the big polished looking shops near the terminals or docks and keep on walking further into town. We've made mistakes, too, and lived and learned and will never (and I mean NEVER) buy anything from Diamonds International!
@ninakane2661
Жыл бұрын
Where did you end up getting your Ulu knife? We go in a couple of weeks & I really want to get one.
@maryjames8854
8 ай бұрын
@@ninakane2661 Same!! We are going in May and would love the name of the store please!
@deeannlett-neal3325
5 ай бұрын
@@maryjames8854- Have them ship the knife home. Some cruise lines confiscate them or hold onto them until cruise end. Check rules.
@ck2d
Жыл бұрын
About the excursions - keep in mind perks from the cruise line. If you have a large ship board credit, or excursion discounts, it might be cheaper to book with the cruise.
@SC-lu6gx
8 ай бұрын
What do you think of Disney Wonder Alaska cruise
@kathyhedges5064
Жыл бұрын
Shopping..ugh!!! Thank you for highlighting these stores Dimond International, etc)...they are not local nor selling Alaskan goods, nor do locals shop there. The only reason those shops you listed are there is because visitors off the ship shop there. Please, I beg of you visitors stop shopping at those stores. Makes the ports look like an amusement park. Red Dog Saloon has had many locations..but yes the old charm is gone.
@Sushi2735
Жыл бұрын
You provide an absolutely wonderful service and education for those of us who cruise infrequently. You are so enjoyable to listen to. Being under the weather today, I have spent the day getting Masters Degree in Cruising and ships. Thank you so much!
@gojl5567
Жыл бұрын
Juneau tram, wait to make sure that it’s not a completely foggy day. Also the Alaska Wildberry chocolate jelly candy is based in Anchorage and amazing.
@markjohnson7400
Жыл бұрын
U made some really good suggestions! I have done this cruise a few time. Liked that u suggest buy ‘Made in Alaska’ merchandise. 👍
@tunnelrat6809
Жыл бұрын
The short time in ports is EXACTLY what happened to me on my trip (on the same ship). :(
@tekperson
5 ай бұрын
We took our kids on an Alaskan cruise a few years ago. I knew they wouldn't tolerate long lines and boring stuff. We managed to find the absolute best adventure in Ketchikan. We went up to Creek Street, rented some fishing poles, and had the kids fish off the bridge. They did catch and release during the salmon run, and the kids had a blast. It was cheap, and the kids still talk about it.
@mikehoffman3690
2 ай бұрын
I have been binge watching your videos in preparation for our first cruise (likely Alaska). Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
@hollybirge4087
Жыл бұрын
A good friend of mine is Native Alaskan and says you need to watch out for fake native art. Look for stores run by natives.
@6violet6
Жыл бұрын
the Silver Hand tag " indicates that the artwork on which it appears is created by hand in Alaska by an individual Alaska Native artist." In Juneau, there is also an advantage to shopping at the Sealaska Heritage store (no local sales tax because SHI is a nonprofit)
@flowerpower8722
6 ай бұрын
The shopping con occurs in other places too. Vanuatu is particularly prevelant with placing locals to man tent shops right off the ship, which you have to pass through to return. Like the obligatory exit through the gift shop at specialty parks. The goods are obviously mass produced elsewhere and I doubt the locals benefit beyond slave wages. For that reason I will not return to Vanuatu, as it is obvious the locals get next to no benefit from the daily invasion of thousands of tourisits. My parents went on a cruise there in the 70s, (when it was still the New Hebrides, and came back with local crafts of basket weaving and I remember loads of chook feathers. I remember marvelling at how they managed to get them through customs. There would be no chance of that now.
@madchatteress
Жыл бұрын
Having been to these three ports (Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway), I agree with you for the most part but I feel that the White Mountain & Yukon pass might be better booked with the cruise line. I did a combo excursion which had to be booked with the cruise line but made it back to the ship with some extra time to explore Skagway. After safely getting back on the ship, I rested up in my cabin. When 4:30 arrived (sail away time), I noticed the ship was not moving. I went out and noticed the gangway was still open (they were using my deck that day). I started talking to a fellow passenger who advised me that members of his family were delayed on the White Mountain & Yukon rail so RCL was waiting for them since they booked it with them as there were delays getting back to port. Had they booked this on their own, they would have missed the ship! This train takes you to the Canadian border town of Frazier and it's a lengthy journey.
@Reed-2big
Жыл бұрын
I was thinking the same thing about the white pass train. Although we were not late we waited quite a while for the return trip.
@jonathanbott87
Жыл бұрын
Agreed, on my upcoming cruise I've booked a full day Yukon Adventure including the Railway. And definitely happy I don't need to worry about getting back on time.
@paulgerrard9227
Жыл бұрын
Disagree 200%. Same train and you pay more. Simple. Oh you dont get a cheap glass of cheap wine.
@madchatteress
Жыл бұрын
@@paulgerrard9227 Well ... If the family who was late getting back to the ship booked it independently, they would have been left behind by RCL. My ship literally waited for them to return. This train goes all the way to the Canadian border in Fraser. Everyone's risk tolerance is different but I personally don't recommend traveling that distance with an independently-booked excursion. The money you save means nothing compared to the expense of trying to catch the ship at the next port.
@jadedelarge8929
Жыл бұрын
I, for one, don't mind paying extra for some of the ship's excursions. I want piece of mind when I am abroad. I think of it as paying more for insurance, to make sure sure the ship doesn't leave me behind. I remember taking a bus in St.Marteen to see the planes land close to the beach, and all the time I was terrified about the time to come back. That bus ride through town back to the ship gave me a few extra white hairs.
@marilynbeebe8249
Жыл бұрын
I went to Alaska using regent seven seas we where at each port for a long time. All the excursions we went on where included with our cruise fare. I do a lot my shopping online. In Ketchikan there is a store on the creek that sell only Alaskan made items I went to the web site order the things that I wanted and had them shipped to my house. In Skagway I was not allowed out of my room due to illness I went on line and ordered my suvineers on line.
@ddraigmafon4725
Жыл бұрын
We went on the Holland America New Amsterdam a few years ago, our first time on a cruise. I went along to a presentation billed as an overview of the ports we’d be visiting, thinking I’d find out something interesting about what we could see. But no, it was pretty much all a presentation on shopping for jewellery at each port and the audience were there for it. I bailed after 10 minutes and we did our own thing at each port, had some fantastic experiences …… and didn’t buy any jewellery!
@HeatherTravels
Жыл бұрын
We've got the same issues with the itinerary on our upcoming Alaska cruise - no stop in Skagway (I expect because of the rock slides & issues with the dock) and very short port stops. Unfortunately, we were quite limited by our budget.
@tipsfortravellers
Жыл бұрын
But hopefully with good planning I know you’re doing you’ll get a lot from the ports !!! Excited to follow your trip coming up very soon
@michaelperkinson2414
Жыл бұрын
I'm sorry to say we got caught up in almost all the traps last August on the Norwegian Bliss and to make it worse we were diverted from Skagway to Icy Straights with plenty of time and nothing to do after exploring the few building that are there. Have to say that was our worst cruise ever. Thanks for sharing this so others won't get burned.
@Reed-2big
Жыл бұрын
There are some wilderness trips there, usually by water. And the local heritage show that isn’t bad.
@thomaslgrice
Жыл бұрын
Icy Straights is straight up tourist, but I'll never forget the gondola rides, the views from the top of the mountain, and the zipline. That part of the park was underdeveloped and I kind of enjoyed that.
@michaelperkinson2414
Жыл бұрын
Oh ya thanks for reminding me. It was so exciting I forgot we took it. The hike to the lookout was ok
@paulgerrard9227
Жыл бұрын
Icy point strait is a sjiphole. We met the Brown family and saw a eagle nest. The eagles were impressive. We met a young guy carving a totem. Impressive. Not the browns
@visaman
Жыл бұрын
I was on the Royal Princess at the same time. We weren't able to dock at Skagway too.
@AshleeAnnGolden
Жыл бұрын
After two trips to Alaska myself, your advice is completely spot on. I do disagree slightly with your advice to skip Tracy’s in Juneau. Although it is admittedly marketed to tourists and pretty busy, we enjoyed the atmosphere and variety of crab based dishes to try. Your videos on Alaskan cruising are top notch, and I often send them to people who ask for advice on booking a trip. Thanks for the work you put into them!
@cynthiajohnson6747
Жыл бұрын
I’m a local and I eat at Tracy’s. Most local’s do although we can’t afford to eat there often. Unfortunately finding real Alaska king crab these days is nearly impossible because the fishery is having problems
@6violet6
Жыл бұрын
There is a second place that Tracyʼs runs ... along the seawalk (guess itʼs 10 minutes further than the one at the ships). And the local brew pubs and distilleries are great too
@randolphh8005
Жыл бұрын
Just got off a Princess Cruise from Vancouver to Whittier. Great trip! Only did one cruise excursion to use up credits, otherwise booked locally or did our own thing. Mendenhall Glacier is easy on your own with the “Blue Bus” spent 2 hours there hiking and seeing the waterfall and glacier. Well worth it! Also did the 26 Glacier Cruise out of Whittier which was amazing and cheaper if booked on own.
@sharonm.2453
9 ай бұрын
The waterfall is the melting glacier 😱😱😱😱😱 that was the single most disturbing thing I have seen in a LONG TIME 😱😱😱😱😱
@randolphh8005
9 ай бұрын
@@sharonm.2453 glaciers up there have been receding since recorded history. I grew up in the Great Lakes where we had multiple glacial grooves from prehistoric glaciers. All that preceded “man made” global warming which could only have started in the 1800’s. All glaciers melt some in the Summer. Pollution is a problem that we can control, the Earth’s temperature not so much.
@stevenelson3515
Жыл бұрын
We always found that cruising to or from Vancouver or r/t Vancouver was far better than cruising from Seattle.
@Dedaskitchen
Жыл бұрын
Totally agree with this! Though it is more expensive to fly to Vancouver and customs are horrible there! This is why we aren’t doing it next year with friends, opting for Seattle instead. But we warned them of the difference.
@BloodyHeck
Жыл бұрын
Please keep in mind that most people have never been to Alaska or other destinations. Until I've been there and am familiar with the area, I would rather book excursions through the cruise line because it will be organized in a way that I'm taken to it and they are responsible for getting me back in time. I've heard many times the advice of not booking through the line but I just feel more comfortable in doing that because I've also heard many horror stories, like someone on the pier offering to take you to a secluded beach for a low price. But when it comes time to go back to the ship, they demand extra money to get you back in time.
@IINK9
Жыл бұрын
I thought the same thing and decided to book my excursions through the cruise and it turned out to be 100% not worth it. Not only was the cost almost triple what it would’ve been if we had just gone ourselves but our tour bus ran late and we some of the last on the ship and didn’t have time to do any shopping.
@paulgerrard9227
Жыл бұрын
I disagree. Using the cruise choices is just twice the cost. They have you thinking its difficult. Its not. All tours are same. The ones who use ship are on same bus as others. They wait. Its nothing different. Maybe a free bottle of water
@chriswilliams6568
7 ай бұрын
You are wise, we always book the cruise line tours, and if we had not we would have been stuck in Tahiti, as the bus broke down and it took 2 hours to get another which made us late back. They are not that much more than booking elsewhere anyway.
@genericalaskanexplorer4470
Жыл бұрын
So I lived in Juneau Alaska for a few years before moving to the interior. Tracy's crab shack is only open for the summer It closes down For the season as soon as the ship stopped and the red dogs Saloon the gimmick and show is only for summer rest of The time is just a normal restaurant.
@rooftile883
Жыл бұрын
Souvenirs you get rid of over time - photos you keep forever.
@josaczyn
Жыл бұрын
We did Norwegian on the Joy to Alaska and it was amazing. Our port time was excellent and gave us plenty of time in the ports.
@kevinstarr3292
Жыл бұрын
Gary, Your cruise videos are great and very helpful. Watched this video shortly after returning from our first-ever cruise on the Koningsdam to Alaska. We had been to Alaska once before so I was not surprised by all the shops in the ports but I was surprised at all they tried to sell you on the ship. Overall, our cruise was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend Holland America. Thanks for all you tips!
@Richard2003
Жыл бұрын
I took the bus in Juneau to Mendenhall glacier . Minimal cost and I stayed a long time.
@timothyanderson976
Жыл бұрын
One on carnival to Alaska. Called ahead to Haines,next to Skagway. Found a company a guy and his wife. He took my wife and I on an hour and 15 min ride thru the glaciers on a 1956 Dehavalen Beaver for 300 bucks. Best excursion ever.
@estervider7295
Жыл бұрын
Thank you for all your great tips and advise/ One thing to keep in mind though - booking trip on one's own will save money. That said, if for some reason the trip is delayed the ship will sale without you. However, if you book the trip via the cruise line/aget you pay mote but the ship will not leave the port without you. I rather pay a little more and not port chase my ship.
@chriswilliams6568
7 ай бұрын
Indeed, same for me and they are not that much more.
@geeemm8028
Жыл бұрын
I am off to Vancouver today to catch NCL Jewel to Seward, my first Alaska cruise. For me, Glacier Bay had to be on the itinerary. I booked my few excursions through the cruise line because of $50 credit off each, double checking to make sure booking direct wasn't cheaper.
@clamsoup
2 ай бұрын
Taxi cab in Juneau. Roughly $45.00 from the dock to Mendenhall for the ride. Not per person. You can also hire cabs at $70.00 per hour for customized tours.
@LindySellsHomes
Жыл бұрын
Alaskan Knifeworks, by The Hanger, for locally made items
@ruthmackson6615
5 ай бұрын
I wish I would have seen this a few months ago. We made our full payment for NCL in March For an Alaska cruise late July. 🙁
@SarahDorn-ir7bp
6 ай бұрын
I waited too long to get White Pass Railway tickets on my own; there were only tickets available through the cruise. Should I skip it or suck it up and pay the extra $70 a ticket?
@kellytrawick897
12 күн бұрын
Just returned from an Alaska Cruise. Wish I had seen the video beforehand ! Excellent advice.
@marilynbeebe8249
7 ай бұрын
I Google my alaska trip made in alaska free shippin. Do my shopping on line for authentic alaska goodies. Instead of buying on ports. For example I found a alska made gluten free bakery that I plan on getting shipped to my niece who is gluten free.
@Jhoto
Жыл бұрын
So a couple things here. First and foremost, NCL does several itineraries inside of Alaska. Some are round trip Seattle which do Juneau,Skagway,Ketchikan and Victoria BC. Then NCL has their open jaw sailings which start in either Vancouver or in Seward, which does Juneau, Sitka, Icy Strait Point, Ketchikan(not sure about this stop) As for WHY ncl stops at Victoria for only a couple of hours, well that stop is literally only so NCL does not violate the Jones Act, which requires ANY cruise ship to touch a foreign country BEFORE returning back to original soil (summed up in a nutshell), it’s the reason why many ships CANNOT do Hawaii proper in the island. NCL has the ONLY us flagged ship and it allows for guests to experience 7 day inter island without having to leave Hawaii. The Hawaii convo sidetracked me up a bit BUT going back to the points, you mentioned limited time on the other ports. You must be sure of the seasons you go, anything outside of peak season in Alaska means the locals fly out to enjoy warm weather and close up shop, basically outside of peak season Alaska operates at 75% capacity. Your best bet when cruising, NEVER BOOK ONLINE. You want an actual human that knows what they are saying and even if that agent messes up, hey it’s on a recorded line so it’s a Win Win Great video!!! If y’all ever wanna cruise NCL, I’m your guy ❤
@cvn6555
Жыл бұрын
Never did a cruise but would probably book most excursions through the line. Too worried about missing the boat or itinerary changes.
@markwestaway7207
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Gary, my wife did some great planning for our trip, and you give great tips! We ended up in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan for 8-13 hours each. We were also there at the start of the cruise season (earlyish May 2023) so we were the only ship in Skagway, and overlapped with only one other ship in the other two ports. That was great in terms of not being crowded out. White Pass Railway and Yukon excursion to Carcross with Chilkoot Tours was awesome. Unfortunately we were a little early in the season to get close to Dawes Glacier up the Endicott Arm - just too much ice in the water. We were also blessed with fantastic weather (but that's more good luck than good management).
@markwestaway7207
Жыл бұрын
In Juneau, we were only there for the afternoon, so our helicopter flight meant we didn't have time to then get to Mendenhall Glacier visitor centre - buses finish at 5pm, but we did enjoy the Mt Roberts Tramway instead. Tracey's King Crab Shack also do a very tasty crab bisque for about $18 if you're not feeling like paying $70/lb for crab legs.
@OurDee
Жыл бұрын
If it is snowing in Skagway, get a hand dipped ice cream cone and eat it outside in the snow. Wonderful experience. Alaska consumes more ice cream per capita than any other State.
@caromitchell1125
11 күн бұрын
Most excursions are too strenuous for us husband had trouble walking. Are there shuttle buses to take us into towns? Going on Noordam next week
@JohnSmith-cd8ch
Жыл бұрын
Why would you take an Alaskan cruise to spend time in ports? Check out small cruise lines like Uncruise Adventures
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