Hey Ray!

[Joe/GA]

Cruise master, tell me about cruises! I know you are the guru, so I thought I would seek your wisdom. We want to do an Alaskan cruise when all this Covid garbage goes away. Best cruise lines? Best time to go? Has anybody here taken an Alaskan cruise? Best ports? How many IRA's per cruise? LOL! Thanks!

[Jack Hexter]

Pam & I took an Holland America Alaskan Cruise several years ago. (closer to 10 years ago). We flew to Seattle and took buss to cruise terminal in Vancouver BC (It's a lot cheaper than flying direct to Vancouver) Ship northbound from Vancouver to Skagway, then plane to Fairbanks, and train back South stopping overnight in Danali. Best part of the trip was the AM wait for train to arrive for pick up in Denali. Had all morning to wait so went to the consigliere and asked what was available for the morning. She came up with a fixed wing flight around the mountain. Day was abnormally crystal clear and the flight was OUTSTANDING. Glacier Bay was also nice as the ship took on a Park Ranger to explain the glaciers, etc. Saw an iceberg being calved. At one port, we got on a crab boat that used to be on Deadliest Catch but now converted to tourist attraction and watched them launch and recover crab pots. Lots of Eagles

[Joe/GA]

Pam  & I took an Holland America Alaskan Cruise several years ago.  (closer to 10 years ago). We flew to Seattle and took buss to cruise terminal in Vancouver BC (It's a lot cheaper than flying direct to Vancouver)  Ship northbound from Vancouver to Skagway, then plane to Fairbanks, and train back South stopping overnight in Danali.  Best part of the trip was the AM wait for train to arrive for pick up in Denali.  Had all morning to wait so went to the consigliere and asked what was available for the morning.  She came up with  a fixed wing flight around the mountain.  Day was abnormally crystal clear and the flight was OUTSTANDING.  Glacier Bay was also nice as the ship took on a Park Ranger to explain the glaciers, etc.  Saw an iceberg being calved. At one port, we got on a crab boat that used to be on Deadliest Catch but now converted to tourist attraction and watched them launch and recover crab pots.  Lots of Eagles

Thanks for the reply, Jack. GG didn't send me an email to let me know you had replied. Sounds like a good trip. 

I noticed that the better cruises seem to all leave from Vancouver. How long was the buss ride? Were you happy with Holland America? I know Ray is partial to a certain cruise line, for the life of me, I can't remember which one.

[Jack Hexter]

I think I recall that Ray prefers HA too. Pam & I were very happy with the cruise, accommodations and meals. The bus ride was not too long, maybe less than 2 hours including customs at the border which was no big hassle, BUT the border is currently closed, at least to private traffic, maybe the buses are running, I know airlines are, but hopefully by the time you take the cruise, everything will again be open. The bus dropped us off in the cruise terminal.
GG did not send me an email that you responded either, maybe something is down or broklen

[Joe/GA]

I think I recall that Ray prefers HA too.  Pam & I were very happy with the cruise, accommodations and meals.     The bus ride was not too long, maybe less than 2 hours including customs at the border which was no big hassle, BUT the border is currently closed, at least to private traffic, maybe the buses are running, I know airlines are, but hopefully by the time you take the cruise, everything will again be open.  The bus dropped us off in the cruise terminal.
GG did not send me an email that you responded either, maybe something is down or broklen

Thanks Jack. With all this COVID crap going on, we'll be waiting. I'll get all of the research out of the way, hopefully!