I dream of Alaska regularly ! I would simply opt to go every summer !

I most definately dream of Alaska !  I dream to go there every year !  Actually, would like to go three times over the summer - May - July - Sept.

History - can't get enough !
Shopping - want to see what's new !
Mountain - specifically those with snow caps !
Wildlife - specifically whales and eagles and puffins !
Tours - Adventure - new experiences ! 

Love all the adventures during the day, and then come back onboard, and take part in the "cruise life" !  Lavish meals, Broadway shows.  I even love my cabin !

Personally, I can't get enough of Alaska !  I find it peaceful !  Tranquil !

Don't put off another year !  You too, deserve to experience one of lifes "gifts of nature" !

Alaska dogs

 

Seeing the dogs, makes me think of Alaska. Seeing this bond, makes me think of Iditarod and dog camps !  Beautiful !

Here's tour in Juneau:  http://www.yelp.com/biz/sled-dog-discovery-and-mushers-camp-juneau


Skagway:  https://www.alaskaexcursions.com/site/excursion/sleddog_sk

Offered from Junuea or Skagway
http://www.discoveryexcursions.com/juneau-tours/dog-sledding-tours.html?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.pbv.tabs.tpl&category_id=2&product_id=4

Seward
http://www.ididaride.com/tours/summer-dog-sled-ride-seward


 

Mistakes when planning an Alaska vacation

Just like any vacation, you could naturally make mistakes, in planning your Alaska vacation. 

Here’s 11 …. I’m sure I could have come up with more ! 

2.  Plan too much !  Get tired.

3.      Not plan enough.  Miss out on a lot you should have planned to see.

4.      Choosing Northbound over Southbound.  Most folks like to do the land first, if available.

5.      Choosing the wrong tour for you and then being disappointed.  Or not planning a tour that considers all folks that are going.  Ex.  Salmon bake over whale watching !

6.      Choosing the wrong tour operator.  Ex.  Choosing a non-name brand versus Princess and Holland America who are the Queen and King in Alaska.

7.      Choosing the wrong category.  Ex.  You didn’t choose balcony and many of the cruisers saw whales or other animals in the water.

8.      Not choosing a cruise with enough time in port.  Ex.  Ship leaves Ketchikan at 12noon, and you didn’t even get to see the town !  Oh well, there’s next time.

9.      You wanted to see one of the better glaciers, but choose a r/t Seattle cruise, because you didn’t know.

10.      You wanted to at least touch Anchorage, but you didn’t know a r/t Seattle or Vancouver cruise did not do this !

10.   You get to ship, to discover all the tours you wanted are sold out.

 

#1 .... Remember, help yourself avoid such errors ... Use a cruise-only specialist or a travel agent, if you do not know a cruise-only specialist.

 

Top Chef Show on Celebrity cruise in Alaska

Today, as I was working, I turned the station, and saw that the "Top Chef" would be venturing on a cruise.  So of course, I immediately wanted to stay with watching this.

Next, I soon discover, they are in Alaska !  Yippy !  Double want to see the show !  Right off, I recognized a Holland America ship and a local outside restaurant near by, in Juneau !

The chef's had to prepare a dish for a Salmon Bake.  Wouldn't I have loved to have been one of the participants, with an opportunity, to have been in Alaska, at that salmon bake, to have tried those dishes !  Would love to see, Salmon Bakes in Alaska, put a little more flare in their dishes ! 

Salmon bake is not at all, a choice of mine, when I go to Alaska. The reasons being:
1.  Salmon is served on the ship; I have even had it from an ouside grill on deck - Yum.  To me, that's the best way.
2.  Cause the whole tour is only about 2 hours long; by the time you ride out there and back; then eat; the show, if any, usually has to be done while you eat.  I would love them better, if they were about 5 hours long.  First, enjoy time around a fire, that maybe include some singing or a show; then later, watch the salmon being prepared, along with tips on cooking salmon; then the meal; and then another show or time on your own after.   That would be my ideal Salmon Bake; otherwise, I do not choose this option when in Alaska.
3.  There is so much to do in Alaska (Ex. Juneau - Mendenhall Glacier and Whale watching and go to the Red Dog Saloon), that if you take the time, to do a salmon bake, you are going to miss out on so many other choices.  Usually, the Salmon Bake is in the day; so it's not like it's an evening of entertainment and dining.  There is so much to do in Alaska.  Maybe if you have been as many times as I have (12), maybe it's time to take in a Salmon Bake, if there's nothing else left to try out !

But don't listen to me.  If you have always wanted to do a salmon bake, while in Alaska, you should not miss out on the opportunity, or you may come home disappointed, that you did not try !  And remember, a salmon bake is great for an activity that is less straining and stressful, so it may be, just the right tour for you !



 

I'm out this week - Know, that folks are getting ready to cruise in 2014 already

Sorry I am unable to write a post for Alaska this week.  Phones ringing off hook to get vacations done.

In meantime, think about this ... I have had several calls this week for Alaska 2014.  Folks are already getting ready, for when rates come out, so they can be the first booked !  Plan early is the name of the game, with Alaska !