Alaska Tip: Pre & post nights before cruise.

Consider flying into your cruise destination a day or two prior.  This way, you may, not only have a little time to rest after your flight, but maybe you can see a few sights in the area you flew into.  If not two days, a minimum of one, so you are there in plenty of time for your cruise or your land package.

 

Who wouldn’t want to see a little of Seattle, Anchorage, and others !

Also the same on the return.  It can help you better prepare for that flight home, especially if you have cruised “North Bound”.

Optional cruise/tours packages to consider, “outside of the cruise line realm” for your Alaska/Canadian cruise tours venture. Globus Tours/Cosmos

Unbeknown to many, Alaska/Canadian cruise tour packages can be purchased through Land Tour Operators.  To name just two, there’s Globus, and one of it’s family of brands, Cosmos.

 

Globus to Alaska.  Best of both worlds—the relaxation of a cruise combined with the excitement and cultural discovery of a guided land tour. Marvel at the spectacular glaciers and stunning scenery as you cruise to Alaska’s small towns. Keep your eyes out for whales, soaring eagles, seals, bears, and more wildlife. Watch for glaciers calving into the sea and hear the thunderous sound that accompanies it!   You’ll also enjoy time staying overnight on land—in such exciting places as Anchorage and Denali National Park. Plus, Globus Cruise & Tour vacations include special features such as a visit to an Iditarod champion’s home and kennels, where you can play with the sled dogs.

Four Ways Globus Eliminates the Hassles

VIP Access
Skip the lines and get special treatment at the must-see attractions.
Perfect Hotels
We’ve done the work to find just the right hotels in just the right locations.
Tour Directors
Take your heads out of the guidebook and let expert guides make every destination fascinating.
Transportation
Leave the navigating to us – and just sit back and enjoy the ride. Learn how Globus is reducing transportation-related energy use and greenhouse gas emissions

Go here, Globus Tours:  http://www.globusjourneys.com/Vacation-Packages/Cruise-Tour/North-America/

Cosmos to Alaska.  When considering more budget in your Alaska adventure, consider one of Globus family of brands, Cosmos.  Imagine the thrill of hearing the thunderous roar as glaciers plunge into the sea, seeing a bald eagle soar overhead, and spotting captivating wildlife in their natural environment. On a value-packed, Cosmos escorted tour through Alaska and the Yukon, sit back and enjoy the spectacular scenery while Cosmos handles the details—all at an affordable price. Ride the legendary Alaska Railroad, enjoy an exhilarating glacier cruise, explore the largest cities, and learn about the history and native cultures of the region—there is no other place like Alaska and the Yukon!

Go here, Cosmos: http://www.cosmos.com/Vacations/North-America/Alaska-Yukon/

 

Whether you choose one of the packages offered by the cruise line or an adventure through a “name brand” Land Tour operator … SEEK FIRST >>> A cruise/travel agent !  You want this adventure to run smoothly and you want to work with an agent who has a rapport with your brand of choice !

Alaska Buying Tip – Is cheapest good enough ?

Fortunately most folks seek out an Alaska cruise specialist or works with an agent, in deciding on a their Alaska cruise vacation.  And most cruisers deciding to venture to Alaska, are looking for “best value” instead of just cheapest price.

Where can cheapest price get you ? Just to name a few, one could possibly be subjected to …

*Minimum hours in port
*Glacier choice
*Cruise Line experience
*Port lacking in literary
*Missing Denali, while there
*Tour on the land portion missing

Can cheapest be enough ?  As long as you understand what you may be missing from it’s package.

So is the alternative, to choose the more expensive ?

Not necessarily.
It’s about value.  Getting the most bang while you’re already there.

So what “value” do you want to be sure not to miss ? 

Call you agent today !  Better yet, consider working with someone who knows/understands the alternatives … Who has experienced many ventures Alaska !

Alaska, nor any travel adventure, is meant for you to read everything and then venture on your own !  There's a lot of experienced agents just awaiting your call !

 

 

Alaska … Cruise or Cruise and Land. Which sell out first ?

Which to choose, is a BIG question !

If you have the time off from work or retired, and the available funds, you’ll want to consider cruise and land.  Who knows the next time you will adventure to Alaska, especially if you have a long “travel bucket” list.

Even if you don’t have the time or money to include time in Denali, you’ll still want to consider making a little time in your embarkation or disembarkation port. 

Just to name a few sites … There’s the Coastal train from Anchorage to Whittier/Seward or the Alaska Wildlife Center who opt to travel by Motorcoach.  And who would want to miss Pike’s Market or the space needle in Seattle.

The BIGGER QUESTION … Does the cruise or the land sell out first ?

The land !

Want to know what type cabins sell out 1st ?  Balconies, suites, family suites !

Not only because it is popular, but because there is not as much space as you think !

Such as Princess … Though there could be 50 tours to choose from, there may only be 20 seats available per tour.  That is a LOW NUMBER !

Already, folks are calling for 2016, and their tour of choice is already sold out.  If not sold out, maybe there’s only 2 seats left but they have 6 folks who want to travel.

September is “one of the peak seasons“ for booking next year’s Alaska !  The first peak was this past July.  So lots of space has already been chosen. 

Please don’t wait longer.  Call & get your 2016 Alaska space reserved.

And remember … Even if you are only opting for the cruise … As all these land tours are booked, these folks are taking up the cruise space too !
And with all the sales … Space for 2016 is moving quickly !

 

 

2016 ALASKA TIP: September is one of the biggest months for booking next years Alaska vacations. How can you get ready ?

Alaska is not like buying the Caribbean.   First I would call your agent, to find out, what are the basics of an Alaska vacation.  Just remember, not all agents have cruised to Alaska, which is a true asset in helping you.

You can’t just call an agent and say, how much are your Alaska packages ?  I did this once, when I first got in the business.  I called Princess and they laughed !  There’s so many options !  Especially if you plan to venture to Denali.

Will your vacation be for 7 nights or do you have enough vacation time to be gone 2 weeks ?

Do you want to cruise roundtrip from one port ? Or do you want to at least touch Anchorage ?
Which glacier(s) to you want to see on your cruise ?
Do all cruises include the basic ports ?
If you’re including land, which portion will you want to include the Alaska Railroad ?
What personality do you want your cruise to have ?  Free style or elegant ?  Shore Excursions included ?

Though these are a few of the basic type questions you’ll want to ask folks who are traveling with you, these answers are not all you need to know, in choosing the Alaska package for you !