Re: 3rd Annual Summer Getogether - ALASKA CRUISE
I could spend days talking about Alaska. My first cruise there was in 1990 ( just me and the wife), and more recently in 2000 with all 25 members of the family (aka family reunion /dad's 80th). We had mix of a dozen cabins, some inside, some outside, and even the captain's suite. My two brothers, my sister and I paid for my folks. The cost was just under $30,000 for cuise and round triip airfare from California.
Cruising is a completely different way of vacationing. There is never a problem of what to do, or where to eat. Not only are there the onboard activities, there's the ports of call.
Typical Alaska cruise would include Vancouver, Juneau, Skagway. Haines, Ketichan, plus the beautiful glaciers of the inside passage.
In port, there is just all kinds of excursions. Anything from a 2 hour shopping tour, to salmon fishing, kayaking, river rafting, wildlife eco tours, dog sled tours, helicopters to the top of glaciers. Here's a sampling…. This is where the $$$ can really get out of hand…. $300 for 2 ½ hour helicopter ride
mendenhall glacier and hatchery tour
deluxe mendenhall and city tour
rainforest garden adventure
authentic alaskan salmon bake
pan for gold and gold history
flight to taku glacier lodge
mount roberts tramway
mount roberts tramway and guided alpine walk
glacier expedition and dog sled
glacier flightseeing adventure
glacier flightseeing adventure
mendenhall glacier helicopter tour
glacier explorer; the pilots choice
glacier expedition via helicopter
mendenhall river float trip
juneau wildlife cruise
juneau sport fishing adventure
glacier view sea kayaking
channel islands kayak min 12year old
mendenhall lake canoe adenture
rain forrest nature walk
guides choice adventure hike
glacier treking by helicopter min 12 years
As a family group, we did some pretty nifty things. As an example, the normal cost of transportation from the airport to the ship was like $80 pp round trip (time 25 people) $2000. Instead, I chartered my own motor coach, had a private deluxe city tour of Vancouver, stopped at the one of the famous restaurant in Chinatown, saw the parks , the monuements etc etc Instead of just going just going from the airport to the ship (or the ship to the airport) we spent an additional 12 hours sight seeing Vancouver. Oh , almost forgot the banquet diner on our return. Total for transportation and two great meals was less than half.
Pictures…. If you have ever been on a cruise, you know about the ship's photographer, They are everywhere !! !!!!! When your board, when you eat, in the casinos, every port, every activity, every excursion, everywhere 24/7. They take nice pictures of you and try to sell them (15 each , 2 for 25) that type of thing. So imagine my family, 25 members strong, and at least a 2 dozen pictures of each member at various activities. So figure 600 pictures at $10 would be $6,000. I got them all for $300 at the end of the curise. How you ask? Can't tell …. it's a trade secret
Booking the cruise is a art. Buy low and upgrade is the key. If you know how, it is possible to get quad upgrade. That's not one, but 4 cabin catagories upgrade. Meaning, book the engine room, and receive promenade deck or better. I'm not a travel agent , but I have learned a thing or two (or three) during the years of shooting underwater video
for the cable networks.
Anyways, this is just my starting piece, Frankly, I don't know how many people are up for Alaska. Likely it's too much time and money for most. I really like the idea of a cruise for our next gathering. Perhaps a four day Mexico cruise inst