Re: Alaska Cruise

ScrapHappy · ‎03-28-2010

@bargainsgirl wrote:
What cruise line would you recommend for this kind of trip? So many choices....I hear Colette does a nice job with their services but not sure if they go to Alaska.

Also wanted to add that I go to YouTube a lot. Just put in Alaska cruise or ship and so much comes up.

dawg lover · ‎03-15-2010

I went on Celebrity some years ago and we had a great time! Alaska is beautiful! Be sure to bring warm clothes, as Alaska is cool, even in the summertime.

Wobin · ‎03-18-2010

We are booked on Viking Ocean to Alaska this summer. We had river cruises in Europe cancelled due to Covid and decided to move our booking to Alaska to remain in the US this year. We have done one other Viking Ocean cruise in Scandinavia and it was wonderful. Because Viking entered the Alaska cruise market decades after some companies such as Holland America, the cruise will not go to Glacier Bay. Unfortunately we also learned from our booking documents that we will have to tender in all the ports. I suspect for the same reason or because the smaller ship will require fewer tenders than a mega ship.

Viking has no casino, no children, no photographers and limited shopping We like the relaxed atmosphere, beautiful interiors and no formal dinners. Specialty restaurants require reservations but we actually prefer The Restaurant (main dining) and the World Cafe (buffet).

I hope tendering in each port will go smoothly and not wear on us during the cruise.

bargainsgirl · ‎01-13-2012

@Wobin wrote:
We are booked on Viking Ocean to Alaska this summer. We had river cruises in Europe cancelled due to Covid and decided to move our booking to Alaska to remain in the US this year. We have done one other Viking Ocean cruise in Scandinavia and it was wonderful. Because Viking entered the Alaska cruise market decades after some companies such as Holland America, the cruise will not go to Glacier Bay. Unfortunately we also learned from our booking documents that we will have to tender in all the ports. I suspect for the same reason or because the smaller ship will require fewer tenders than a mega ship.

Viking has no casino, no children, no photographers and limited shopping We like the relaxed atmosphere, beautiful interiors and no formal dinners. Specialty restaurants require reservations but we actually prefer The Restaurant (main dining) and the World Cafe (buffet).

I hope tendering in each port will go smoothly and not wear on us during the cruise.

Have a wonderful trip. What does tendering mean? Viking cruises sound really nice to me. I like relaxing and casual. Do you need to get "dressed up" for meals? That is not to our liking.

GenXmuse · ‎05-15-2016

@bargainsgirl Tendering is when they have a smaller boat take you to land from the ship instead of docking it. I watch too much Below Deck it seems!

Wobin · ‎03-18-2010

@bargainsgirl wrote:
Have a wonderful trip. What does tendering mean? Viking cruises sound really nice to me. I like relaxing and casual. Do you need to get "dressed up" for meals? That is not to our liking.

As another explained tendering is when the ship must dock at anchor and they use the lifeboats to transfer you from the ship to the port. Just not as appealing as walking off the ship into the port or to the bus for an excursion.

Our one and only ocean cruise was with Viking 4 years ago. You do not need to get dressed up for dinner and I wouldn't have got Mr. Wonderful on board if it were required. I think Viking says no jeans at dinner. We changed clothes after the day's excursion and dressed as we would to go to a nice restaurant at home. I took a pair of black slacks and a couple of pretty blouses.

Wobin · ‎03-18-2010

To update my previous comment, Viking now tells me the ship will dock at all ports. I hope that is the case, we'll find out for sure while on board.

Wobin · ‎03-18-2010

We did dock at all ports on our Viking Alaska Cruise, no tendering required. In some we needed transport into town including Ketchikan but I really liked where we were docked there. It was a pretty setting and there were several other ships docked in town which was quite crowded. We drove through on our way to our excursion to a Totem Pole park which I enjoyed. I was happy not to deal with those crowds.

The place where we docked had a large gift shop which I was happy to find. It was our last port and I had not purchased anything since Icy Straight Point (best local shopping).

Twins Mom · ‎04-03-2016

@Wobin

How did you like your ports and excursion chouces? Did you spend much time on deck of the ship?

Wobin · ‎03-18-2010

@Twins Mom wrote:
@Wobin

How did you like your ports and excursion chouces? Did you spend much time on deck of the ship?

We enjoyed most of the ports although there wasn't much to Valdez and we probably should have taken an optional tour there. It was our 3rd cruise with Viking and we often do the included tour and then explore on our own but Alaska seems more about the nature experience than sightseeing. In Seward we did an optional tour to the Seavey Family's sled dog operation. Our musher was great and we recommend that highly. The scenery around Icy Straight Point is beautiful and we had spectacular weather. We took both cable cars for the views and enjoyed walking along the beach and shopping at the former cannery. Was happy to find locally made goods there. We had lunch on deck and watched eagles fishing, flyiing from their treetops on shore. In Juneau we went up the Mount Roberts tram for views over the city and the mountains then walked through the forest finding totem poles. After lunch we took the shuttle back to town to shop but it was a commercialized hard-sell disappointment. In Skagway we only had time for the White Pass & Yukon rail excursion which we enjoyed. Visited a Totem Park in Ketchikan and had a drive through the town. I have an interest in Totem Poles from my father so won't pass up a chance to see them.

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