EXPLORING ALASKA – THE GREAT LAND

Jun 29, 2023

EXPLORING ALASKA – THE GREAT LAND

If exploring Alaska – The Great Land is on your bucket list, and it definitely should be, here a few examples of how you can plan a trip that fits your schedule and how you like to travel. The season is short and runs from May through September, so you will need to do your research and planning to get the most out of your trip. Alaska is so vast that no matter how, when or where you choose to go, you will find extraordinary sights beyond anything you have imagined.

CRUISING

ADVANTAGES

The major cruise lines send some of their ships to Alaska for the summer. Two of the most well-known are Holland America and Princess. They have been cruising Alaska for many years and have a variety of itineraries.

Depending on your time frame, they have cruises for 7 days, 10 days and even longer. The obvious answer to why take a cruise is the fact you pack once and stop at many of the favorite stops in Alaska. You take your hotel with you. You can choose a basic cabin or one with a balcony. There are different levels to fit all lifestyles.

There are multiple venues for meals and snacks, so you can find something at almost any time of day. If you choose not to ashore, there are options for things to do on the ship also. There are pools, both for everyone or adults only. Some ships have climbing walls, basketball courts and skating rinks.

DISADVANTAGES

Your time in every port depends on the ship’s schedule. If you don’t want to take their shore excursions, you must be disciplined enough to be back on the ship when you are told to do so. The ship will not wait for anyone who doesn’t conform to this and will leave at the appointed time.

While it is mostly like an all-inclusive resort, you will still have to pay for your individual drinks (unless you sign up for one of their drinks packages).

There is a charge for wi-fi and depending on the package, you will have to pay for each device.

In making phone calls from the ship, I learned this lesson personally. When you are in international waters, the cost for a phone call is extremely high.

Did You Know – Juneau is the only state capitol in the United States you can’t drive to. Taking a cruise that includes this stop enables you to visit this isolated state capitol. It’s also your opportunity to see Mendenhall Glacier. While you are there you can see a real result of climate change as it is pointed out how far the glacier has retreated. It gives you pause as to how we have altered nature.

Visit the Mendenhall Glacier and explore the Visitor Center

View from the Visitor Center to the Mendenhall Glacier

Even on a rainy day as it was the day I visited; you can’t help but be in awe of something as magnificent as what nature has created.

SMALL SHIP CRUISING

ADVANTAGES

There are also cruise companies who specialize in more educational cruising. They don’t feature all the activities of the larger cruise ships, but specialize in getting up and personal with wildlife. They go ashore in zodiacs and explore areas the larger ships can’t access. An example of this type of experience is https://www.nationalgeographic.com/expeditions/destinations/north-america/ocean/alaska-cruise/

DISADVANTAGES

They don’t have the facilities of the larger ships with activities for all ages. This is a cruise more suited to older children and adults who won’t miss the multiple food venues, pools, etc.

CRUISING AND LAND PACKAGES

These are the longer cruises which incorporate some type of 7-day cruise with land packages including Denali, The Yukon and other places in Alaska. These cruises are not round trip as the shorter cruises. You will depart from say Vancouver and return from Anchorage. These itineraries enable you to see more highlights since you will not have to return to your embarkation point.

They are, by definition, longer. If you have the time, these cruises are excellent options to see more of The Great Land, both from your ship and from travelling on land.

Did you know – Denali is the highest peak in North America at 20,310 feet and the northern most mountain over 19,685 feet in the world.

Alaska - The Great Land home of wonderful sled dogs

Sled Dogs of Alaska

LAND-BASED PACKAGES

If setting sail doesn’t float your boat, there are land packages out there to give you a great Alaska experience. Two of the best suppliers who have been doing this for years are Tauck and Collette.

Making memories with family

Tauck has many different programs in Alaska, but one of the most popular is a program geared for families called Bridges. On their Alaska tour, they guarantee:

“Alaskan family fun sunrise to sunset… meet champion Iditarod sled dogs… take a flightseeing tour over Denali National Park… go jet boating, wilderness hiking, kayaking… take a rail trip… spot Alaska’s magnificent wildlife…. learn about native Alaskans and their rich cultural heritage…”

This adventure can be shared by multi-generations and the memories will last a lifetime, especially for your children sharing this experience with their family.

Collete, while they don’t have tours geared toward families, they have their exclusive Small Group Explorations. These tours are limited to around 16 passengers, so you can Access places you’ll never forget – like destinations that larger groups can’t always reach. You will stay in culturally reflective accommodations. There is also the promise built-in free time.

I have done the cruising and land options. Every port or stop held numerous opportunities to explore and learn about our largest state. On my next journey, I will be able to choose different options and get to know Alaska that much better. I guarantee when you go once, you will want to return. I DID!

Contact me at https://unique-journeys.com/ and together we can start you on a path to your next great adventure.

CUBA – THE EXOTIC DESTINATION CLOSE TO HOME

May 24, 2018

RAISE YOUR HAND if you have been thinking about visiting CUBA – THE EXOTIC DESTINATION CLOSE TO HOME. In February of this year, I was lucky enough to join the ranks of Americans visiting Cuba for the first time. Until recently Cuba was this exotic and mysterious neighbor we weren’t allowed to see in person. Oh, the really adventurous could go there by flying to Mexico or Canada and flying to Cuba from there. I was not among that contingent.

So this past February I walked onto the Holland America Veendam to see for myself what the real Cuba is like. We sailed into Havana early the next morning to start our 18 hour odyssey. As we stood on the deck waiting to disembark, one of the first things you think is “It looks like a normal morning in any tropical city.” Going through customs to enter the city is quite strict. Not only do they take your picture and do x-rays, but they take your temperature. If you have any fever at all, you are not allowed entrance. Once through all the entrance lines and getting your Cuban money, you go downstairs to board your designated bus for your day out.

Trip down memory lane

I chose to ride in one of the “classic” cars of my past. These cars are being maintained and used as taxis in the city. I scored a hot pink convertible and a driver who spoke some English. The first thing you notice is there are no seat belts. After they start the car, the second thing you notice is they use leaded gas, so the fumes bring back memories.

Make no mistake this is a Communist country and all around you there buildings in various states of disrepair because there simply are no resources to fix them up. That is really a sad sight. However, all the Cuban people we met, were extremely friendly and outgoing. Our guide for the day in Havana invited us to ask her any questions about the government, the country or even their religion Santaria. We took her up on that as we rode around to various sites and learned a great deal about the culture and lives of the people of Cuba.

What would a trip to Cuba be without Cigars!

After lunch we went back to the heart of Havana and walked through the three major squares and an indoor flea market. In one of the squares we went into a shop for a little retail therapy. Since all pricing is government controlled, it doesn’t matter which shop you buy from. I got the requisite cigars and rum and also picked up some Cuban coffee.

Happily toting my purchases I climbed the gangway to the ship so that I could take a shower, eat a little dinner and get ready to head out again for my night at one of the nightclubs that were available for shore excursions. I picked the show at the Hotel Nationale de Cuba since I was interested in seeing the hotel. It was the hotel of choice for lots of American gangsters and mobsters. There is an entire room with pictures dedicated the various personalities who have stayed there.

The show itself was very colorful with lots of music and dancing and costume changes. It was very interesting and I’m glad I went, even though it started at 10pm and ended just shy of midnight. We had to hurry back to the ship since it was departing at 1:30am. For me, beginning my day at 6:00am to view our arrival into Havana and getting to bed around 12:30am after a full day of touring, was exhausting, but exhilarating just the same.

AT-SEA DAY – BUT KEEPING BUSY

The next day at sea, I attended two Microsoft workshops, an America’s Test Kitchen demonstration, a BBC show and had afternoon tea. I got my exercise jogging between the different venues as they were on different decks and in the front and back of the ship. While I was taking advantage of the activities onboard, we were steaming toward Cienfuegos, our next and last stop in Cuba.

Next stop – Cienfuegos

We arrived there early on Saturday morning, which was a market day. My pick for the shore excursion here was to a graphic arts studio and a concert of all flautists. (I’ve always wanted to use that word). They are an example of the emphasis on art and creativity of all kinds in this society. All of the graphic artists at the studio and the musicians are young people with great enthusiasm for their medium of choice.

After lunch at a very modern hotel, we went back to downtown Cienfuegos for a walk through the market and a visit to a lovely theater. Once again, you could see signs of deterioration in this beautiful building and you wish you could do something to bring it back to its glory days.

Now that the door has been opened, I hope to go back and be able to see more of this exotic neighbor of ours. The more Americans that take advantage of this opportunity, the better both cultures will be. Why don’t you join me in considering a vacation to CUBA. Contact me to schedule your next adventure.