Category: Alaska CruiseTour 2023

One last view of Denali before leaving for Anchorage via bus. We had a late lunch, and one last Alaska beer, Sockeye Red India Pale Ale, followed by a trolley ride through important parts of the city. View all the Alaska Beers in one place here. July 20: We had a morning flight back to… Continue reading July 19-20: Anchorage Cook Hotel

The main lodge has a very broad view of the Alaska Mountain Range, of which Mt. Denali is the tallest. Upon arrival, Denali was covered except for its base. Then a slice 2/3 up the mountain opened up showing the ribbed sides of it. Eventually the clouds moved out leaving only the topmost part of… Continue reading July 17-18: McKinley Princess Lodge and Talkeetna

Denali Princess Lodge is pretty touristy, with a lot of gift shops on the property as well as along the main road George Parks Highway, in front of it. It is directly on the route between Anchorage and Fairbanks. There was a nice large patio with view of the Nenana River and beyond out the… Continue reading July 16: Denali Princess Lodge and Denali from the North

A rainy day greeted us when we awoke in Whittier. A covered path led us to the train, which would take us in 9 1/2 hours to the Denali Princess Lodge, just outside the eastern entrance to Denali National Park and Preserve. To get there, we first passed through the Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel. Trains… Continue reading July 15: Land Tour begins: Whittier to Denali Princess Lodge

Today was mostly a sea day, but by late afternoon we went into College Fjord (6-8:30, right after dinner). In College Fjord, glaciers are named by colleges (think East Coast US major colleges). Those names include Amherst, Barnard, Bryn Mawr, Harvard, Smith, Vassar, and Yale. Photos below, click to see large versions. I went to… Continue reading July 14: Sea and College Fjord

Scenic Cruising in Glacier Bay was the order of the day. After an early breakfast, I had to go to services for a new medallion to get back into my room (did not want to pound frantically on the door and wake my roomie). In my haste to get upstairs, I had forgotten it. National… Continue reading July 13: Glacier Bay National Park and Reserve

Here is our ship docked near the landslide. They sent us ashore on the tenders to a separate dock for smaller boats and to bring in cruisers. We actually went on tenders from another ship. There were 4 ships that day. They did allow a few special vehicles to take people on the dock, which… Continue reading July 12: Skagway

From the beginning. I had planned a self-guided tour for Juneau. I was not disappointed. First, I took the Goldbelt Tram (link) and saw great views of Juneau. Constructed in 1996, they used funds from a Native claims settlement to construct the tram. Tlingit theatre at the top gave a real informative video and talk.… Continue reading July 11: Juneau

Views of Ketchikan from the Majestic: Look at this Tlingit woman singing about the loggers, miners, fishermen and pilots and Chief (other images) who all created opportunities in Ketchikan. This is a welcome statue near the pier called “The Rock” representing Alaska’s first City: Ketchikan. Click on photos for full size versions. Our excursion was… Continue reading July 10: Ketchikan

July 8 there was an hours long snaky line to board the Majestic in Vancouver. Here are scenes in port from Canada Place Ship Terminal, including an accidental capture of what appears to be a homeless camp. This was my first trip on the Majestic Princess. Finding an acceptable dinner table for the 7 of… Continue reading July 8, 9: Vancouver and at Sea on the Majestic Princess