By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3892) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 3:24 pm: |
Since I'm apparently on this communal kick today, let me ask another question...
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By Carole Baker (Extraordinary BonaireTalker - Post #2062) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 3:41 pm: |
Sounds very tempting, Jake...any idea of the cost of the cruise? I realize there are different rates for different classes of accommodations, but is there a "ballpark" figure? We would be responsible for the airfare, but any idea as to the cruise cost? How many people would the ship hold? (hate those huge puppies!). Thanks. Carole
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3893) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 4:14 pm: |
Hi Carole,
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By Yana girl (BonaireTalker - Post #62) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 4:20 pm: |
Jake,
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3894) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 4:29 pm: |
Cool (literally :-) )!
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By Kitty @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #186) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 4:31 pm: |
Hi Jake,
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3895) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 4:34 pm: |
Oops, here's the URL for the Cruise Line:
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3896) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 4:35 pm: |
The river cruise options look interesting as well...
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By Cynde Lee (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5589) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 4:42 pm: |
jake, are you set on Holland Cruise line? The cruise my mom and i went on in November was Royal Carribean, Vision of the Seas ship, and it cruises the summer months in alaska, and is a new ship. i know they have kids programs, but it is a tipping ship (not tipping over)...michael and i have talked about doing the alaska thing...we are supposed to go to st. marteen with my mom in march of 2004...guess 2 vacations close together wouldn't be bad though
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By Carol Eddy (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #337) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 4:50 pm: |
Bruno and I have always wanted to do the Alaska "thing". I like the idea of a "no tipping" ship. Is it one of those huge ships or a smaller one?
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3897) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 4:51 pm: |
The "voluntary" (mandatory) tipping thing we experienced on the one cruise we've done (Carnival) bugged the &^#@$ out of me. I prefer the no-tipping Club Med approach. However, we'd be willing to bow to group momentum on this, providing there's a kids program and either affordable suites large enough to comfortably fit a family of four (us) or two smaller rooms with connecting doors (Holland America doesn't have those, at least not as far as I can tell).
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By Faith M. Senie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #334) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 6:56 pm: |
Jake, do you still own enough warm things to fit under the dry suit and still keep you warm enough? You're gonna look like the Michelin man...
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By Cynde Lee (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5592) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 7:19 pm: |
jake, here is the link to the rc's vision of the seas alaska tour. it looks like they have quite a few interesting shore excursions along the way (i looked at the 7 day trip). prices seem pretty reasonable as well...they also have programs for kids...i remember seeing the adventure ocean program facilities, but as i didn't have kids with me i didn't explore much...oh, tell linda they have a great spa on board...us ladies could go for a facial and massage gee, maybe i can get my mom to go along again and we can get the deluxe wheelchair accessable suite!
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By Cynde Lee (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5593) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 7:23 pm: |
jake, on our trip, the tipping that we did was at the end of the trip, and it was one for the cabin steward, one for our head waiter. when we went to lunch or breakfast we just tipped as we saw fit. i don't remember what they "suggested" though...
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3899) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 7:36 pm: |
Faith, still got my polartec/thinsulate dry suit undies that I got with my Viking - combine that with a couple of layers of silk longies for extra warmth I and should be set to go :-)
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By Cynde Lee (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5594) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 7:42 pm: |
jake, didn't hear anything like that on ours, in fact they had a very discresionary information packet about the "tipping" process. and, you didn't tip the head waiter or steward until you debarked.
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3900) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 7:45 pm: |
What if you simply didn't tip them at all?
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By Cynde Lee (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5600) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 8:50 pm: |
I guess you could do that if you wanted to. You just had to put the money in an envelope with their name marked on it and leave it on your bed! The only one i really didn't feel i had to tip (but of course mom did anyway) was the head waiter. we never saw him. we tipped our dinner waiter whom we had every evening, (Lubo) and he was from Hungary, and he was great, and our cabin steward did a great job, so we didn't mind tipping him as well.
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By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #416) on Thursday, February 20, 2003 - 9:36 pm: |
I've always wanted to do one of those "adventure" cruises in Alaska, but the thought of one of those floating cities turns me off. 50-100 people max is my comfort zone, I can stay home and go the yuppie malls and restaurants if I want crowds.
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By Kitty @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #189) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 9:33 am: |
I've added all these cruise-URL's to My Favorites. Will be checking them out soon, when I got the time.
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By Cynde Lee (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5602) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 11:04 am: |
Well i talked to michael about it last night, and he is game. i vote for the vision of the seas, she is fairly new, and beautiful...everyone we met on our cruise said that she was the nicest boat they had been on...i know some folks don't like the crowds, but we didn't experience "crowds" except for when we debarked...
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3901) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 11:34 am: |
Cynde,
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By Kitty @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #190) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 11:50 am: |
I still have to check out all those websites, but one thing Jake just said caught my eye...
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By Cynde Lee (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5606) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 11:57 am: |
jake, i'm all over it!
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By Ann Phelan (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #993) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 12:05 pm: |
man, too funny..not me but I have sent clients on HA many times to Alaska..they either loved it or hated it.
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By Linda Richter - NetTech (Moderator - Post #1345) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 12:20 pm: |
Jake may not have pointed this out but since we plan on taking our two monsters we need something with a children's program that is more enjoyable than babysitting. Although I like the idea of a smaller ship too, I haven't found one that offers a kid's program. Some don't even allow kids at all. So Cynde while you are at it, could you check on the kid issue. They will be 7 and 9 in summer 2004.
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By Cynde Lee (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5607) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 1:26 pm: |
Hi linda, absolutely! not to keep going back to the vision, but their ocean adventure program had a lot of activities and stuff to keep their minds and bodies busy...i was thinking how i wish i were a kid so i could go in and have some fun! i will certainly check out all the options for bas and yana when i do my search of what ships/packages are available!
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By Linnea Wijkhof-Wimberly (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #418) on Friday, February 21, 2003 - 3:11 pm: |
What does our new BT'r from Juneau have to say? He probably sees more cruise ships than anyone, even if it is from the shore.
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #119) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 12:34 am: |
Hi, everybody. Jake sent me an e-mail about this Alaska cruise you'al are a-planning and asked if I would weigh in on it.
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3936) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 8:25 am: |
Thanks, Dan.
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By Cynde Lee (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5651) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 11:44 am: |
hi dan, i will check it out! i talked to my mom to see if she wanted to go, and she is game! only thing is that the ship would have to have wheelchair accessiblility
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By Josie (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #775) on Wednesday, February 26, 2003 - 11:12 pm: |
Linnea:
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By Linda Stoltzfus (BonaireTalker - Post #60) on Friday, February 28, 2003 - 12:56 am: |
We've always thought about an Alaskan cruise. It's probably the only cruise we'd go on since we're not into crowds. We've only been on one cruise....the Fantome....yes, Ann, when did you work for Windjammer? We did the Antiqua loop back in '94. A beautiful ship now lost at sea!
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #142) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 1:25 am: |
Okay. Here's some info on touring Alaska. Its split into several posts, so finish one and continue onward:
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #144) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 1:28 am: |
Alaska is encompasses 586,412 square miles (1,518,807 sq. km). It is 1,400 miles wide by 2,700 miles long (2253 km by 4345 km). The main portion of the state is about 1,000 miles square (1,609 km square). This is one big state, and there is no way that you will be able to see all of it in a couple of weeks.
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #149) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 1:35 am: |
Ideally, you should spend a couple of months in each of the regions to really get a handle on what this state is. However, I understand that’s not really practical, so let’s get down to the practical stuff.
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #150) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 1:36 am: |
From SE, you will sail across the Gulf of Alaska to Seward, where you will board a bus and travel to Anchorage, touring along the way. In Anchorage, you will also have the option of land tours.
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #151) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 1:37 am: |
There are variations of the trip, of course. You can fly to Fairbanks and run the tour the other direction. You can add on various optional excursions and land, sea, or air tours. When you get to the point of doing some serious planning, I can give you some ideas of what is available out of Juneau, and some of what is available out of Anchorage, Fairbanks, and any other stops you may be making. Juneau will be fairly complete. The other communities will be only what I know about, and you can find lots of info on them, as well as Juneau, on the Internet. I’ve added a few web sites of interest. They will lead you to others.
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #152) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 1:37 am: |
Now, as to other options. I had mentioned the Alaska Marine Highway. As I said, it is an ocean-going ferry system. It is for the independent traveler.
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #153) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 1:38 am: |
Now, as to larger or smaller vessels. There are a couple smaller vessels that will sail across the Gulf. For my money, I would prefer the smaller ones because I like intimacy and they go into smaller—less touristy—places that the larger ones do. They do not, however, have the programs that the larger ones do, and they are generally much more expensive. Whether you take a large ship, a small ship, or the ferry, I can assure you that you are in for a trip that will boggle your mind. Be sure to bring at least (I’m not kidding) 20 rolls of film, or be prepared to buy that many along the way.
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #154) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 1:39 am: |
I think that is all the information I can give you for now. If there are any questions, feel free. As I think of other things I’ll post it. Here are some relevant web sites I found:
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #155) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 1:50 am: |
I knew I should have read it over before I cut and pasted.
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3963) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 5:56 pm: |
Dan,
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #156) on Monday, March 3, 2003 - 6:27 pm: |
Thanks for consolidating, Jake.
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #159) on Thursday, March 6, 2003 - 2:03 pm: |
for those of you thinking of taking the BT cruise to Alaska, here's a little preview. Depending on the specific ship you will be on, you would dock right here. (The crane is working on an upgrade to that whole area.)
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #160) on Thursday, March 6, 2003 - 2:04 pm: |
Try the pic again:
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #872) on Friday, March 7, 2003 - 12:17 pm: |
Kit, why haven't you told me about this thread before? It sounds like a great idea and a fantastic voyage. I'm sure we'd be able to get our hands on some fleece sweaters in the next year and a half And the photographic possibilities... [DROOL]
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #3982) on Friday, March 7, 2003 - 12:31 pm: |
Maybe Kitty wanted to go without you, Marc?
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By Kitty @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #200) on Friday, March 7, 2003 - 2:49 pm: |
ROFL!!! [angelic smile]
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By cindy nolen (BonaireTalker - Post #24) on Thursday, March 13, 2003 - 10:18 am: |
We did the Alaska Holland Am. Cruise--Statendamm
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5929) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 7:47 pm: |
jake, i am just now getting to this task! I have a travel agency I have worked with in the past, I am going to give them a call and see what they can come up with.
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #5930) on Saturday, March 22, 2003 - 8:06 pm: |
ok, ordered some brochures and videos from the websites dan posted, and dan, the pictures of juneau www.juneauphotos.com are fabulous...although it does look cold! thanks again for the links...i plan on putting a "spreadsheet" of sorts together with all the information i gather, then i can post it (it will take me some time to gather the info) then we can all share our thoughts...gee, maybe i better try to get a job as a travel agent
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By Marc @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #908) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 3:38 pm: |
Kitty suggested (from her experience with a cruise through the fjords of Norway) that maybe a cruise on a not-so-huge ship would be more fun because it would be able to get closer to the shores? It might be a bit less luxurious, but it's a consideration...
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4102) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 3:51 pm: |
It's certainly worth consideration as long as there's a kids' program for our kids and wheel chair access for Cynde's mom.
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By Kitty @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #217) on Sunday, March 23, 2003 - 7:22 pm: |
Actually in the short moment I checked out "small ship cruises" on http://www.alaska-cruise-discounts.com I realized that it's only with the smaller ships that you can cover the whole coastal area. The bigger ships tend to turn around at or pass by some places because they cannot pass.
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #272) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 4:21 am: |
Glad to see you're still working on this. I haven't been here, as you can see, for quite a bit of time, and hadn't realized there had been some new posts.
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6003) on Sunday, March 30, 2003 - 1:48 pm: |
yep dan, waiting for some videos and other print information to come from several placed i ordered (that didn't sound right, i'm going back to bed).
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #273) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 1:45 pm: |
I got the drift of what you were trying to say. Anything I can do to help out?
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6016) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 8:13 pm: |
dan, i am sure once i start putting together all the info so that we can all make a "choice" your input will be NEEDED BADLY again! There is sooo much to see, and i think that in any case, we will need to make a stop in Juneau So keep checking back
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By Kitty @ CrystalVisions (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #223) on Tuesday, April 1, 2003 - 9:37 am: |
The small ship cruises are via www.cruisewest.com. They carry a 100 passengers and no, no kid's program
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #281) on Tuesday, April 1, 2003 - 2:19 pm: |
Cynde, if you all come to Alaska via cruise ship, you will stop in Juneau. They all do, which can create quite a traffic jamb during the height of the tourist season. (See my March 3, 6:23pm post)
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6021) on Tuesday, April 1, 2003 - 3:46 pm: |
jake, how firm are you on the July date?
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4150) on Tuesday, April 1, 2003 - 4:10 pm: |
I believe our kids have vacation from July 1st until approx. August 8th. We would like to spend a week prior to the cruise touring Alaska, a week on the cruise (from Seward to Vancouver) - we will want that week to relax a bit from the stress of the previous week's touring with the kids, hence the need for a kids program with lots of activities to distract our cute terrors, and then at least a few days in Vancouver - so that leaves us with a pretty small window of opportunity. The kids only have 5-6 weeks of summer vacation, unlike U.S. kids.
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6023) on Tuesday, April 1, 2003 - 5:17 pm: |
jake, i forgot about the summer vacation deal..duh! i haven't received any of the videos with information yet, but will make sure that programs that will keep yana and especially bas busy busy busy so they will be purley exahusted and sleep like angels every night
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #290) on Thursday, April 3, 2003 - 1:35 pm: |
Jake, since the plan, as I understand it, is for the group to cruise through SE Alaska and across the gulf, and then take the train to Fairbanks, have you though of anywhere particular that you would want to travel on your solo week tour?
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By Jake Richter (Moderator - Post #4157) on Thursday, April 3, 2003 - 2:04 pm: |
Not yet - we're waiting to survive our family expedition to Orlando in two weeks before delving deeply into exactly what we want to see/do in Alaska (although Salmon fishing and eating is on my personal list ;-) )
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #295) on Friday, April 4, 2003 - 1:44 pm: |
Yup. I agree, the cruisetours do get a bit touristy, but you get a lot of history along with it. And, have no fear, along with the touristy, at no extra charge you also get glorious views and vistas, wild animals, good nature photo ops, etc. Just comes with the package.]
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6087) on Wednesday, April 9, 2003 - 9:16 pm: |
i received 2 packages in the mail today from the travel agent, and a brochure for "cruise america" so i can begin my spreadsheet listing each cruise, and the options they provide
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #334) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 12:49 pm: |
Cynde, if you haven't already, you might also order the "official" travel guide at http://www.travelalaska.com/
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6147) on Monday, April 14, 2003 - 1:27 pm: |
dan, thanks. This will be very helpful as well!
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #386) on Friday, April 25, 2003 - 8:44 pm: |
Cynde:
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6333) on Saturday, April 26, 2003 - 1:39 pm: |
Dan, thanks! at this point, i need ALL the help I can get! This is fantastic, as i can just to to each ship on the schedule and gather the information! thanks again!
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #395) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 12:47 pm: |
Cynde, was listening to the radio this morning while trying to wake up. The announcer was giving a little climate history. By far and away, May has historically been both the warmest and driest month of the summer season since records started being kept way back when.
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By Cynde (Supreme BonaireTalker - Post #6356) on Monday, April 28, 2003 - 1:43 pm: |
dan, i was watching a program over the weekend about the white pass train express. it was done very well, and very interesting. beautiful country!
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By Dan A. Kassner (Experienced BonaireTalker - Post #416) on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 - 3:14 am: |
An excursion I would definitely recommend. Have been on it a couple of times, myself. Never tire of it, because there always seems to be more to see that I had not seen before. And the chance to walk around the old Lake Bennett camp, where the miners would gear themselves up for the trip down the Yukon River to the gold fields is worth it. Still a lot of history there.
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