Since GRMers know all...
Not generally a cruise fan - a lot like sitting in an office building with moving scenery, but for Alaska I'll make an exception - anyone been recently - what line? How was it? We did the inside passage about 12 years ago on Holland America - MIL bought suites for the family - it rocked, went 4 wheeling, helicopter tours, hiking - now that Carnival bought Holland - looks like the quality has slipped. Any other experiences/recommendations?
I've never been on a cruise (honestly, the very idea gives me a claustrophobic, full-on body shiver) but I've driven across Alaska twice. I love that place. Travelled through the "cruise ship village" near the Denali Range and thought it stuck out like a commercial sore thumb. But the landscape is majestic and gets under your skin forever.
MIL did a cruise last year, she just went today on a fly-and-drive. She was tired of the commercialized cruise ports. They flew in and got a rental and just went exploring, having a blast so far.
My folks went on one. I emailed the OP message to dad to see what his response would be
Never did the cruise thing either. In '98 we flew in then rental car w/ stops in B&Bs or inns. Nothing commercial, just plan well ahead of time. Part of the experience was meeting the unique people out in the land... Anchorage and cruise resorts don't count. Hiked in w/ an outfitter and camped on lower ridges. Flight tour outta Talkeetna. Never made it too far north of Denali tho, we were there for different reasons.
Always dreamt of returning, a cruise would be fine w/ me these days but I always thought the best way to experience Alaska would be to rent an RV and tour for a month... or two.
Did the Carnival cruise from Whittier, down the inside passage, to Vancouver. Flew into Fairbanks and spent two days there before taking the train down to Denali and spending two days there. I would go back in an instant, and I would seriously consider moving to a little town called Haines. We docked in Skagway and had to take a boat to over to Haines (much quicker than driving there).
Here's the Haines website... http://www.haines.ak.us
I didn't go on cruise but having big dream for it. I hope it will happen soon.
And the first car I saw when I was walking down the dock was a Volvo 122.
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