BobsYourUncle
Surrey, BC Canada
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Joined: 12/12/2003
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Hi all you fine Alaska folks!!
Wife and I have booked an Alaska cruise from Sept. 14th to Sept. 22nd and I have a few questions. We have never been to Alaska so we know nothing!!
First of all, what kind of weather and temperature should I expect in mid-September. We want to travel light, but bring the proper clothing. Also, how is the insect population and should we prepare for that?
For those that don't know how the cruise ships work, they sail all night and arrive at various ports before breakfast, spend most of the day there and set sail in the early evening.
We are leaving from Vancouver BC and will be visiting Ketchikan, the Hubbard Glacier, Juneau and Sitka before we sail to Seattle where the trip ends.
We have the option of doing shore excursions in the various ports of call. I was wondering what you resident experts or other travelers could recommend at the locations listed. Being unfamiliar with the area, we don't know what would be a good excursion to experience there. Or just something interesting to walk ashore and do ourselves.
Any information you could throw my way would be vastly appreciated!!
Thanks,
Bob 
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alaskasafari
Fairbanks, Alaska
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I can't help you too much with sites as it's been eons since we've been to Juneau but I can tell you it's going to be chilly in September. Dress in layers with something to break the wind. It's likely to be in the mid 40's so think warm.
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kknowlton
Wisconsin Border Country, IL
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Bring rain gear as well, and insect repellent. Weather & bugs will vary somewhat from year to year.
Bob, if you booked thru a travel agent, you can ask them for info & advice as well.
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BobsYourUncle
Surrey, BC Canada
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Thanks for the info!
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bee_46
Jarrettsville, Md
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Pack warm clothes and layers. Also take rain gear. We did an Inside Passage cruise the first week of September and I am sure at one point in Glacier Bay it was sleeting. There was fresh snow on the mountains. That being said we have been in Alaska all summer this year, and had frest snow on the mountains in several locations in July and have had to wear coats and/or jackets. The big tourist spot in Juneau is Mendenhall Glacier. In Ketchikan, Totem Bight Park is nice. Both ports are very tourist oriented at dockside. I have never been to Sitka.
Bobbie
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AK Old Timer
Juneau, AK
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Joined: 12/02/2007
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Mendenhall Glacier is a must see stop in Juneau. Many of the tours offered on board the cruise ships are also available on the docks at a reduced rate. Also visit the Alaskan Brewery....short tour but a free tasting of all their products. The way this summer is going bring layers topped off with rain gear. If you have rain gear and don't need it...great. If you need it and don't have it you're going to get wet, very wet! In September you may also get some "snain". That's a mix of rain and snow.
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SideHillSoup
South Eastern British Columbia
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I just hope your not traveling with Holland America...........LOL
Unless the shore tours are something that the Cruise Lines has set up for their customers don't take them. most pots there are lots of Taxi's around that are more then happy to have a customer for the day. I have been on a few cruises and we only book the tours that you wouldn't get if you just walked off the street.
Yes they travel at night dock at day, unless you have a couple of days sail between ports which would mean you would be at sea during the day. do some research on the areas where you will be and you will find lots of interesting things to see and do, and not have to pay the Cruise Line to do them.
We are planning our next Cruise as we speak, so enjoy the trip, and don't eat to much!
Check out these sites
http://www.cruisecritic.com/
http://www.cruisereviews.com/
Need anymore help just send me a note,
Soup
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Whistlin' Dixie
Southern NH
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We just did the Mendenhall Glacier tour by helicopter in Juneau and it was fantastic! The views were just incredible and worth the money to see.
Karen
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BobsYourUncle
Surrey, BC Canada
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Thanks for the updates. This info really helps.
This time we are on the Celebrity Mercury. We cruised on that ship a year ago and my wife really liked the Thessolonian Pool (sp?)
This will be our 7th cruise.
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explorenorth
Whitehorse, Yukon
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Joined: 02/21/2004
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I have lengthy reviews and photo albums of 4 of our Alaska cruises and lots of excursions posted at http://www.youralaskacruise.com/reviews/ (I work on the ships occasionally as a Destination Speaker).
Murray
(I lived in Surrey for 30 years or so, Bob)
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