I just booked a trip for July 2012 for my husband, myself and our 10 year old son. We are leaving from Vancouver and going to Anchorage (Whittier) on the Princess Saphire. Being able to cruise Glacier Bay was the big draw to Princess for us-- we have never cruised before and I found all of the choices to be quite overwhelming. This 7 day cruise seemed to pack a lot in and we have heard that they "do" Alaska quite well.
We would love to see Denali, but the price of adding it on is too much after the cruise and I still need to book the airline tickets. I am thinking that there must be a more affordable way to go north for 2 days to experience Denali without going through Princess. Has anyone done this before? Which rail/bus line did you use and where did you stay?
Any help is appreciated. Thank you.
Gwendolyn
Advice on getting 2 Denali after cruise from Vancouver-Whittier
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I guess I would check the net for private tours from Anchorage. But remember this is not a short hope. It is much of the day on the train. Access to Denali itself is very limited for the individual. If you have a car, you can only go a short distance on paved road. To see anything you really need to take a park tour. We took the HAL tour and it was good. Maybe you should find a good, local personal travel agent.
Have done Princess in the past best Denali Lodgebut $$$$.
www.greatalaskanholidays.com an awesome cheaper way to do it
from personal experience. Might just do land to save or
moght consider some sort of combo mpraete@cruiseone.com
I hope you are budgeting for excursions from the ship - either privately or thru cruiseline. Without these you miss much of the experience as there is little to see in the port towns other than t-shirt shops, etc. The excusrions will be expensive, since they all involve an additional form of transportation - train, bus, air - to see or do something.
You might consider spending your post-cruise time at Kenai Peninsula/Seward instead of Denali - 2 days is not really enough time, regardless of cost. It is going to take the better part of a day to get to/from regardless of whether you drive, bus or train. And then you need a day in the Park - since transportation in is by private or Park Service vehicles only.