Alaska?

Kathleen · 08-21-2003, 10:57 AM

Kristie -- looks like from your picture that you and Doug recently went to Alaska, which is on our short list of dream trips. Did you do a cruise? I'd love to hear all about your trip! One of the things I do when things get crazy, busy, hectic is dream about our next vacation. . . .

TIA

Kathleen

p.s. You guys are adorable!

Kristie · 08-21-2003, 02:00 PM

Thanks Kathleen, i think we are too!! hehe...

but yea - put Alaska on your next plan for vacation because it's so much more worth it to get up there when your young, have the energy to hike/do excursions, stay up partying all nite and the money to splurge just a little...the excursions are totally worth it, but will cost a pretty penny!

our trip was a BLAST!!! we used it as our 1st anniversary/honeymoon excuse (May of this year) since we hadn't been able to take a honeymoon since getting married and it just happened that the interline rates fell and were were able to grab the cruise on the week before our 1st anniversary.... we took holland america which by far was superb to say the least! they include tips in the cruise, so you don't have to carry money everywhere...and their staff totally caters to you hand over fist!!

we did the vancover to seward trip, stopping at ketchikan, juneau, sitka, haines and hubbard glacier...our wait staff was just excellent, the food scrumptious (i gained a good 10 lbs), the cabins were pretty roomy and we met up with some pretty fun austrailians who liked (like us) to party all night long!

i have to say that sitka, haines and the hubbard glacier were my favorite spots... when we got into sitka, the tide was down so we went out to the tidal pool where all the kids (in class) were examining cucumbers, star fish etc... that was just the bomb!! haines i liked a lot because it was such a quiet, remote area... you could walk for miles (hardly any cars), see the snow on the mountains, yet there were flowers popping up next to the streets - they have a nice coffee place too! the hubbard glacier was incredible because as the calving went down, it sounded like thunder... we got about a mile away from the edge of the glacier and that's how we got those excellent photos... and as you came into the bay, you could just feel it getting colder and colder.. by the time we got next to the glacier, it was windy as all get out and just freezing (had to be about 15 degrees i think?!)...

we got lucky in may and had sun the entire way up - with a hail storm just as we left vancover.. the holland staff had never seen hail before, so they were all outside gasping as we were leaving port... the lifeboat drill was fun - just fun to make fun of i think! haha the sleeping was awesome cuz the rolls of the sea put you to sleep...

it was definately an older cruise, there were about 10 kids... but i really enjoyed it because it was an older cruise - a little more laid back, less screaming munchkins running around and things were planned in a timely manner. if/when we cruise again - we'll probably do the same thing and book with an older crowd... oh and we will probably be going back up to alaska again next year!!

the interline rates for cruising are just incredible.. we got such a great rate that the amount we spent on excrusions, wine, champagne and the cruise itself costed us the same amount that a regular passenger (1 person) would have paid for the cruise cost alone!!

definately a very worthwhile place to go see as much as you can because those glaciers are melting and it is getting warmer and warmer up there every year (it was in the 70's while we were there)... the wildlife is just incredible (there's also a naturalist on board to help do whale searching)... and the people are very friendly!

we're looking at going on a cruise next month for doug's "other" vacation time - this time, we're going to try and get overseas again!! we'll see what happens!

thanks so much for asking about my cruise (when we came back, none of our friends asked us - guess they were jealous??)... if you have any questions pertaining, let me know - i'd be happy to tell!!

Kathleen · 08-21-2003, 04:28 PM

Oh, that sounds just awesome! What are "interline" rates? I'm assuming it's a special discount you get b/c you're in the industry?

DH and I are big hikers. We live in the mountains of Colorado, and I take our golden retriever on about a 2-hour hike pretty much every weekend. (She's 11 now, and 2 hours is about all she can do [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] ) A few people have told us that it wouldn't be as exciting to us, since we live in the mountains, but I think we'd love it just as much as anyone else. After all, it's not like we see whales and such here in Colorado!

Holland America isn't actually one of the cruise lines I've looked into. (I'm a big researcher, I have folders full of information on every trip I think we might someday want to take!) I'll have to get a brochure from them. And, if we can actually swing this trip for next summer I'm sure I'll have loads of questions.

The last trip we took was last November. We went on a Windjammer cruise of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao). It was awesome, particularly if you like diving or snorkeling. The water was sooooo warm.

I'm sorry your friends didn't ask you about your trip. I think that's half the fun -- sharing with everyone the stories and funny things that always happen! Well, I think it's their loss; jealosy is a terrible thing.

Kathleen

aalmiss · 11-18-2003, 03:49 PM

Kristie,
This is an older post but since I'm new here I just found it. DH and I went on an Alaska cruise last year (2002) on Norwegian Cruise Lines. The cruise left Seattle on April 28, the first cruise to Alaska that season so we were the first (and only) ship in every port. It was GREAT. The local people were so happy to see us... and our money. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] We were also able to spend extra time in Glacier Bay because, again, we were the only ship there. The weather was [i:05d688a10c]perfect[/i:05d688a10c] the entire cruise.

[quote:05d688a10c="Kristie"] oh and we will probably be going back up to alaska again next year!![/quote:05d688a10c]

We're going back next year too... May 5. This time we're leaving from San Francisco on Celebrity Cruise Lines. When are you two planning on going?

This is going to be a special cruise. We'll be going with DH's 82 year old father and his 75 year old fiancÈe, though they'll probably be married by then. They are so cute together... always holding hands. So sweet. We're trying to talk another couple we know into booking the same cruise. I think we almost have them talked into it.

This time we'll see Hubbard Glacier and we'll also go to Icy Strait Point. This will be the first time any cruise ships will be stopping there and they are only going to allow one cruise ship per day.

One thing that we liked about the Norwegian Line is that they have "Freestyle Dining". You can go to the restaurants any time you want and they ask if you would like to have a table for two or be seated with others.

Well, I guess that's all. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

Dianne

Kristie · 11-26-2003, 01:24 AM

[quote:3ebd1db049]Oh, that sounds just awesome! What are "interline" rates? I'm assuming it's a special discount you get b/c you're in the industry?
[/quote:3ebd1db049] yep.. that is correct! you can get anywhere from 25% to 75% off of the regular cruise line rates. they only keep a few rooms open for interliner's, but if you can snag a room - your set! for the price of a $2000 7 day/night cruise.. we paid $350 each... pretty good deal if you ask me and from what i've been noticing - you really get the best deals when you cruise...

I've heard celebrity is a fun cruise - quite a bit younger and more fun to take in the carribean area...but i'm holding out for royal carribean for a western carribean cruise one of these days...

Well, hubby and I don't know yet when we're gonna hop on the next alaska cruise - i'm thinking maybe june/july this time to see what summer & maybe summer solstice is like up there...we really enjoyed holland america for alaska - just because you don't have to tip (already included), their service is beyond expectations and it's a bit of an older crowd (when on vaca, I like to stay away from the younger generation (baby-teens)).

but also because we will need to save up after Feb's trip.. I'm hoping to make it for a day to carnivale in Venice, Italy... that's their BIG masquerade party where they go all decked out in thousand dollar masquarade masks/costumes... you should see the photos on the net.. it's so popular that rooms were booked (when i looked) in july.. so now i know we can't stay there - but at least, if i can get down there for even the day - then that takes care of another "to do" item on my long to-do list!

ya know - i've had people also tell me that i wouldn't like it since i'm used to the desert, cactus, warm weather and younger folks (cuz holland america is "known" for the older generation on their boats - granted, we thought it was a really good mix)... but we just loved it.. you see whales, seals, sea lions, tons and tons of eagles... but if you go hiking, your supposed to be extra careful because if you come up on a bear - you are in trouble no matter what type it is... nature guy was telling us that brown looking bears can be black bears and black bears can be brown bears so you really never know what your stumbling upon.. ech!! it's just a beautiful area though, no matter what age!

flyby0408 · 10-27-2008, 02:27 PM

i would love to go back to alaska again..sounds like you all had a good time..okay i know this was a couple years back..lol..

i went w/ my folks before i met dh..we flew into anchorage...and drove to fairbanks, denali, seward, valdez, it was very nice..loved valdez...

Amanda · 10-27-2008, 06:07 PM

Kristie and I actually took a trip to Anchorage in 2006 and had a blast! I think there are pictures somewhere on the board!

Kristie · 10-28-2008, 01:01 AM

I'm actually thinking about going back up there fairly soon....

Amanda · 10-28-2008, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kristie

I'm actually thinking about going back up there fairly soon....

I would LOVE to go back too- what a cool state! Too bad we couldn't find any moose roaming free.

Alaska is so far now that I'm living in PA...

08-21-2003, 10:57 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kathleen Jetgirls Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Evergreen, Colorado Posts: 54 Recipes: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Alaska? Kristie -- looks like from your picture that you and Doug recently went to Alaska, which is on our short list of dream trips. Did you do a cruise? I'd love to hear all about your trip! One of the things I do when things get crazy, busy, hectic is dream about our next vacation. . . . TIA Kathleen p.s. You guys are adorable!

08-21-2003, 02:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kristie Admin/Owner Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 6,648 Recipes: Thanks: 7 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Alaska? Thanks Kathleen, i think we are too!! hehe... but yea - put Alaska on your next plan for vacation because it's so much more worth it to get up there when your young, have the energy to hike/do excursions, stay up partying all nite and the money to splurge just a little...the excursions are totally worth it, but will cost a pretty penny! our trip was a BLAST!!! we used it as our 1st anniversary/honeymoon excuse (May of this year) since we hadn't been able to take a honeymoon since getting married and it just happened that the interline rates fell and were were able to grab the cruise on the week before our 1st anniversary.... we took holland america which by far was superb to say the least! they include tips in the cruise, so you don't have to carry money everywhere...and their staff totally caters to you hand over fist!! we did the vancover to seward trip, stopping at ketchikan, juneau, sitka, haines and hubbard glacier...our wait staff was just excellent, the food scrumptious (i gained a good 10 lbs), the cabins were pretty roomy and we met up with some pretty fun austrailians who liked (like us) to party all night long! i have to say that sitka, haines and the hubbard glacier were my favorite spots... when we got into sitka, the tide was down so we went out to the tidal pool where all the kids (in class) were examining cucumbers, star fish etc... that was just the bomb!! haines i liked a lot because it was such a quiet, remote area... you could walk for miles (hardly any cars), see the snow on the mountains, yet there were flowers popping up next to the streets - they have a nice coffee place too! the hubbard glacier was incredible because as the calving went down, it sounded like thunder... we got about a mile away from the edge of the glacier and that's how we got those excellent photos... and as you came into the bay, you could just feel it getting colder and colder.. by the time we got next to the glacier, it was windy as all get out and just freezing (had to be about 15 degrees i think?!)... we got lucky in may and had sun the entire way up - with a hail storm just as we left vancover.. the holland staff had never seen hail before, so they were all outside gasping as we were leaving port... the lifeboat drill was fun - just fun to make fun of i think! haha the sleeping was awesome cuz the rolls of the sea put you to sleep... it was definately an older cruise, there were about 10 kids... but i really enjoyed it because it was an older cruise - a little more laid back, less screaming munchkins running around and things were planned in a timely manner. if/when we cruise again - we'll probably do the same thing and book with an older crowd... oh and we will probably be going back up to alaska again next year!! the interline rates for cruising are just incredible.. we got such a great rate that the amount we spent on excrusions, wine, champagne and the cruise itself costed us the same amount that a regular passenger (1 person) would have paid for the cruise cost alone!! definately a very worthwhile place to go see as much as you can because those glaciers are melting and it is getting warmer and warmer up there every year (it was in the 70's while we were there)... the wildlife is just incredible (there's also a naturalist on board to help do whale searching)... and the people are very friendly! we're looking at going on a cruise next month for doug's "other" vacation time - this time, we're going to try and get overseas again!! we'll see what happens! thanks so much for asking about my cruise (when we came back, none of our friends asked us - guess they were jealous??)... if you have any questions pertaining, let me know - i'd be happy to tell!!

08-21-2003, 04:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kathleen Jetgirls Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Evergreen, Colorado Posts: 54 Recipes: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Alaska? Oh, that sounds just awesome! What are "interline" rates? I'm assuming it's a special discount you get b/c you're in the industry? DH and I are big hikers. We live in the mountains of Colorado, and I take our golden retriever on about a 2-hour hike pretty much every weekend. (She's 11 now, and 2 hours is about all she can do [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] ) A few people have told us that it wouldn't be as exciting to us, since we live in the mountains, but I think we'd love it just as much as anyone else. After all, it's not like we see whales and such here in Colorado! Holland America isn't actually one of the cruise lines I've looked into. (I'm a big researcher, I have folders full of information on every trip I think we might someday want to take!) I'll have to get a brochure from them. And, if we can actually swing this trip for next summer I'm sure I'll have loads of questions. The last trip we took was last November. We went on a Windjammer cruise of the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao). It was awesome, particularly if you like diving or snorkeling. The water was sooooo warm. I'm sorry your friends didn't ask you about your trip. I think that's half the fun -- sharing with everyone the stories and funny things that always happen! Well, I think it's their loss; jealosy is a terrible thing. Kathleen

11-18-2003, 03:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
aalmiss Jetgirls Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dallas/Ft Worth area Posts: 68 Recipes: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Alaska? Kristie, This is an older post but since I'm new here I just found it. DH and I went on an Alaska cruise last year (2002) on Norwegian Cruise Lines. The cruise left Seattle on April 28, the first cruise to Alaska that season so we were the first (and only) ship in every port. It was GREAT. The local people were so happy to see us... and our money. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] We were also able to spend extra time in Glacier Bay because, again, we were the only ship there. The weather was [i:05d688a10c]perfect[/i:05d688a10c] the entire cruise. [quote:05d688a10c="Kristie"] oh and we will probably be going back up to alaska again next year!![/quote:05d688a10c] We're going back next year too... May 5. This time we're leaving from San Francisco on Celebrity Cruise Lines. When are you two planning on going? This is going to be a special cruise. We'll be going with DH's 82 year old father and his 75 year old fiancÈe, though they'll probably be married by then. They are so cute together... always holding hands. So sweet. We're trying to talk another couple we know into booking the same cruise. I think we almost have them talked into it. This time we'll see Hubbard Glacier and we'll also go to Icy Strait Point. This will be the first time any cruise ships will be stopping there and they are only going to allow one cruise ship per day. One thing that we liked about the Norwegian Line is that they have "Freestyle Dining". You can go to the restaurants any time you want and they ask if you would like to have a table for two or be seated with others. Well, I guess that's all. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] Dianne

11-26-2003, 01:24 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kristie Admin/Owner Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 6,648 Recipes: Thanks: 7 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Alaska? [quote:3ebd1db049]Oh, that sounds just awesome! What are "interline" rates? I'm assuming it's a special discount you get b/c you're in the industry? [/quote:3ebd1db049] yep.. that is correct! you can get anywhere from 25% to 75% off of the regular cruise line rates. they only keep a few rooms open for interliner's, but if you can snag a room - your set! for the price of a $2000 7 day/night cruise.. we paid $350 each... pretty good deal if you ask me and from what i've been noticing - you really get the best deals when you cruise... I've heard celebrity is a fun cruise - quite a bit younger and more fun to take in the carribean area...but i'm holding out for royal carribean for a western carribean cruise one of these days... Well, hubby and I don't know yet when we're gonna hop on the next alaska cruise - i'm thinking maybe june/july this time to see what summer & maybe summer solstice is like up there...we really enjoyed holland america for alaska - just because you don't have to tip (already included), their service is beyond expectations and it's a bit of an older crowd (when on vaca, I like to stay away from the younger generation (baby-teens)). but also because we will need to save up after Feb's trip.. I'm hoping to make it for a day to carnivale in Venice, Italy... that's their BIG masquerade party where they go all decked out in thousand dollar masquarade masks/costumes... you should see the photos on the net.. it's so popular that rooms were booked (when i looked) in july.. so now i know we can't stay there - but at least, if i can get down there for even the day - then that takes care of another "to do" item on my long to-do list! ya know - i've had people also tell me that i wouldn't like it since i'm used to the desert, cactus, warm weather and younger folks (cuz holland america is "known" for the older generation on their boats - granted, we thought it was a really good mix)... but we just loved it.. you see whales, seals, sea lions, tons and tons of eagles... but if you go hiking, your supposed to be extra careful because if you come up on a bear - you are in trouble no matter what type it is... nature guy was telling us that brown looking bears can be black bears and black bears can be brown bears so you really never know what your stumbling upon.. ech!! it's just a beautiful area though, no matter what age!

10-27-2008, 02:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
flyby0408 Jetgirls Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Merritt Island, FL Posts: 104 Recipes: Thanks: 11 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Alaska? i would love to go back to alaska again..sounds like you all had a good time..okay i know this was a couple years back..lol.. i went w/ my folks before i met dh..we flew into anchorage...and drove to fairbanks, denali, seward, valdez, it was very nice..loved valdez... __________________ "When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

10-27-2008, 06:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
Amanda Jetgirls Plus Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PHL suburbs Posts: 2,153 Recipes: Thanks: 12 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	Re: Alaska? Kristie and I actually took a trip to Anchorage in 2006 and had a blast! I think there are pictures somewhere on the board! __________________ Amanda Loving wife of Nick, an Int'l FO for Continental flying the 757/767 based in EWR!

10-28-2008, 01:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
Kristie Admin/Owner Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 6,648 Recipes: Thanks: 7 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts	Re: Alaska? I'm actually thinking about going back up there fairly soon.... __________________ www.jetcareers.com

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