ALASKAN INSIDE PASSAGE CRUISE
and LAND ADVENTURE
August 12-23, 2019
Alaska is a great trip for many reasons. One obviously is that we are actually in the U.S. for 95% of the trip with the exception of cruising time from port to port.. Another aspect of the trip is we spend the first 4 days together for the land portion of the trip, then transfer to our cruise ship. We then travel for 7 days on the Inside Passage. During these days you are free to do what interests you, experiencing your individuals preferences on the ship and on shore
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This is the view of Mt. McKinley, now Denali which is not often seen due to it having it's own weather system so is cloud covered about 70% of the time. We did see it in 2012 and 2015 but did not see it in 2019. If you see it you become a member of the 26% Club..
Denali is our final destination on the land portion of our trip before returning to Anchorage on the Great Alaskan RR.
For our Inside Passage portion of the trip, you will enjoy the beauty and comfort of Royal Caribbean's: RADIANCE OF THE SEAS
This blog will follow a usual trip itinerary for our travels to Alaska. We fly out of O'Hare in Chicago and land at Anchorage where we enjoy the comforts of a 4 or 5 star hotel and a welcome dinner for the group at a local restaurant.
Denali National Park offers optional excursions including flightours, dog sledding on glaciers, wild rapid rafting, and more...plus an 8 hour tour into the park itself to see wildlife to include Dall Sheet, Caribou, grizzly bears and moose.
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We arrive at Denali National Park and check into beautiful cabins nestled in nature.
Justin entering and in lobby of lodge we'll stay at.
We travel into the heart of Denali National Park on a more than comfortable "school bus". It is very comfortable and has cameras on top so if wildlife is sighted, the driver stops and sights in on whatever wildlife is seen and we have a photo opt...plus you can see it on screen inside bus
Female moose
Brown Bears (Grizzlies) mom and cubs
Bull Caribou
Dall Sheep - rare close up shots. Usually they are "those little white dots" up on a mountain.
One of several stops along the way in the park on our 60+ mile trek. We had fun playing with the antlers of caribou.
Beautiful photo opt stops along the way
Tom and Susan Schmitz
When you are tired, you just fall asleep, no matter what animals are outside to see
After 3 days and 2 nights in Denali, we board the Great Alaskan Railroad
for our nature filled ride back to Anchorage
We ask for top seating of course, if available
Boarding our ship in Seward with our Sea Pass, which you use in place of cash on board.
I believe Radiance holds 2500 passengers but isn't crowded at all
The ship has an outdoor pool and an indoor pool
Rock Climbing for all ages
You are likely to see a whale on an excursion, at least his tail.
On any excursion that include bear watching, there will be an armed guard somewhere nearby
A cabin with a balcony. You may also opt for no balcony or what they refer to as Junior Suites, which are larger and actually have a tub in the bathroom
Spacious deck areas are enclosed if cold or inclement weather
They even show movies outside on a jumbo screen...outside
Our first "stop", actually floating by, is the longest river of ice in North America, The Hubbard Glacier. Our ship is designed to provide you with the best viewing possible.
The mouth of the Hubbard Glacier is over 7 miles wide. Our ship is allowed to get within 1/4 mile from the ice but it seems much closer when you get there.
An optional excursion is taking a boat from the ship and get very close to the glacier
This is the excursion ship leaving our cruise ship.
Not often captured Calving of the glacier
As we head into and toward the glacier people or set for photos. Technically you can stay in your room with balcony and get pictures but not as many.
JUNEAU...CAPITAL OF ALASKA
ONLY WAY IN TO JUNEAU IS BY PLANE OR SHIP...NO ROADS
The Mendenhall Glacier is 13 miles long ending at the Mendenhall Lake
Black bears feeding on salmon just below our viewing point in Mendenhall
Camille Meyers under one of the famous Upside Down Trees with plants in the roots. Mendenhall Glacier Rainforest Gardens is a must for all gardeners and nature lovers or lovers of the unusual
Valerie Graczyk inside the arboretum
Or you can take the Mt Roberts Tramway to to top...restaurant at top. Our ship below us in center
Yes you can actually pan for gold in Juneau (on an excursion)...and you take it home.
You are likely to experience in Ketchikan. But it comes and goes.
Misty Fjords excursion
Mary Doyle, Valerie Graczyk and Susan Schmitz with Rocky in background
enjoying the hotel lobby in Anchorage.
enjoying the hotel lobby in Anchorage.
Children are welcome on the trip due to the many activities of interest offered on land and on the cruise ship. Leighton May Malac, Camille & Jim Meyers, Connor, Laura and Jeff Malec enjoying our welcome dinner upon arrival.
Silly or should I say upside down Connor Malec
Leighton May Malec
We enjoy a short tour of Anchorage and the many float plane at the liquid runway at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International airport.
We enjoy a short tour of Anchorage and the many float plane at the liquid runway at the Ted Stevens Anchorage International airport.
Justin Meyers next to a beautiful example of an Alaskan float plane
We stop on our way to Denali at The Iditarod Trail in Wasilla You'll have the option or taking a short ride an a stimulating 1/2 mile dog sled trip pulled by actual sled dogs but the sled is on wheels, visit the museum or just enjoy the stop for a stretch break.
Denali National Park offers optional excursions including flightours, dog sledding on glaciers, wild rapid rafting, and more...plus an 8 hour tour into the park itself to see wildlife to include Dall Sheet, Caribou, grizzly bears and moose.
PWe arrive at Denali National Park and check into beautiful cabins nestled in nature.
Justin entering and in lobby of lodge we'll stay at.
We travel into the heart of Denali National Park on a more than comfortable "school bus". It is very comfortable and has cameras on top so if wildlife is sighted, the driver stops and sights in on whatever wildlife is seen and we have a photo opt...plus you can see it on screen inside bus
Female moose
Brown Bears (Grizzlies) mom and cubs
Bull Caribou
Dall Sheep - rare close up shots. Usually they are "those little white dots" up on a mountain.
One of several stops along the way in the park on our 60+ mile trek. We had fun playing with the antlers of caribou.
Beautiful photo opt stops along the way
Tom and Susan Schmitz
When you are tired, you just fall asleep, no matter what animals are outside to see
After 3 days and 2 nights in Denali, we board the Great Alaskan Railroad
for our nature filled ride back to Anchorage
We ask for top seating of course, if available
Boarding our ship in Seward with our Sea Pass, which you use in place of cash on board.
The ship has an outdoor pool and an indoor pool
Rock Climbing for all ages
You are likely to see a whale on an excursion, at least his tail.
On any excursion that include bear watching, there will be an armed guard somewhere nearby
A cabin with a balcony. You may also opt for no balcony or what they refer to as Junior Suites, which are larger and actually have a tub in the bathroom
Spacious deck areas are enclosed if cold or inclement weather
They even show movies outside on a jumbo screen...outside
Our first "stop", actually floating by, is the longest river of ice in North America, The Hubbard Glacier. Our ship is designed to provide you with the best viewing possible.
The mouth of the Hubbard Glacier is over 7 miles wide. Our ship is allowed to get within 1/4 mile from the ice but it seems much closer when you get there.
An optional excursion is taking a boat from the ship and get very close to the glacier
Here it is upper right hand corner...very close to glacier
This is the excursion ship leaving our cruise ship.
Not often captured Calving of the glacier
As we head into and toward the glacier people or set for photos. Technically you can stay in your room with balcony and get pictures but not as many.
JUNEAU...CAPITAL OF ALASKA
ONLY WAY IN TO JUNEAU IS BY PLANE OR SHIP...NO ROADS
The Mendenhall Glacier is 13 miles long ending at the Mendenhall Lake
Black bears feeding on salmon just below our viewing point in Mendenhall
Camille Meyers under one of the famous Upside Down Trees with plants in the roots. Mendenhall Glacier Rainforest Gardens is a must for all gardeners and nature lovers or lovers of the unusual
Valerie Graczyk inside the arboretum
Or you can take the Mt Roberts Tramway to to top...restaurant at top. Our ship below us in center
Yes you can actually pan for gold in Juneau (on an excursion)...and you take it home.
You are likely to experience in Ketchikan. But it comes and goes.
Misty Fjords excursion
Looks great. Keep me on the list for next trip.
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