You're welcome. :)

But Jackal, what's up with that airport? :confused: That was one of the worst airports I have ever been in. Seems like half of it was closed off to pax. Are there any plans for remodeling?

That's why half of it was closed off to pax--it's in the middle of being remodeled!

I think it's going to be done spring of 2009.

Edit: It just dawned on me...perhaps you came in the North Terminal (CO, US, DL), in which case the part that appeared to be closed off is the international departures side.

Once the South Terminal is remodeled, I think all of the domestic airlines currently at the North Terminal will be moved back to the South Terminal, and the North Terminal will be exclusively for international traffic again (as it was, oh, seven or eight years ago before they started construction on the South Terminal). There are also plans for an enclosed hallway with moving walkways between the two terminals.

Thanks for that explanation. Yes, I did come in the North Terminal for my Delta flight.

OK, this is WAAAY off-topic, but I've got to ask. I've toured the interior several times (driving myself around) and have enjoyed it. Next year, I've got family that wants to cruise the inside passage. I've never seen this part of Alaska, and while I don't consider myself a "cruise guy" I figure it can't be THAT bad to see the sights with a few thousand of my closest friends. (besides it seems like the only alternative for that is the ferry, and I doubt that's so great)

Am I too optimistic? :)

I haven't ever done a cruise and don't have too much interest in it (although I'd like to try the ferry sometime--the ferry wouldn't be too bad in a stateroom, although I'd probably go budget and sleep on the deck). However, those who share my style of travel interests and who have done a cruise say that it's like "Alaska Light." It's not bad, but you don't really experience the real Alaska. It's kinda like being on a bus tour--you see a bit of the scenery and are sorta spoon-fed the experiences. I have been to Skagway and Juneau, though, and will say that part of the state does have its share of stunning scenery--it's more like the Cascades (very green, mountains forested all the way to the top, smaller, rounded mountains, rainy, etc.) than it is like the rest of Alaska.

However, if you've done the Interior, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to do a cruise, since you know what Alaska's really like. (Just try to talk your family into spending at least a few days on the ground and not to just fly straight home!)

I absolutely agree with jackal!
 

The people who cruise to Alaska don't see my Alaska and are fooled into thinking they have seen the real thing. I have taken a cruise boat to Alaska when it was cheaper than flying or got me to places that were otherwise too expensive or too hard to get to. That's it folks!

Most cruise passengers are satisfied with what they get, but most of the money for the cruises and the Made In China souvenirs goes out of Alaska and out of the USA. Some cruise lines are now bringing in non-Alaskans to work in their stores in the cruise ports.

Yes, cruise lines own some of the stores in the dock side towns.

I don't play the game when on a cruise ship in Alaska. We don't dress up in formal wear and don't spend our money on board.

One of my pet hates is the cruise lines who do round trips and never let the passengers off the board to see the interior or to spend money in Alaska! Might as well take those people to Disney World.

I have driven the interior and taken the inside passage cruise (twice). The cruise can be quite enjoyable, if you leave your prejudices about cruising at home. It is an easy way to see Southeastern Alaska. And you can have fun on the ship. You might as well enjoy the things the ship has to offer, you have already paid for them. And going ashore is only as good as you want to make it. Do you research. Plan your days. Don't take the cruise ship sponsered excursions. Their are plenty of local operators to book with, and they provide excellent experiences. Then go back to the ship and eat all of that food that you paid for.

For those interested in see Denali (aka Mt. McKinley), the webcam image has been amazing all morning. There is just a slight wisp of a cloud and mainly bright blue sky.

I have travelled to Alaska eight times over the past ten year and I have never had the "cruise ship" experience. We have flown to Anchorage and rented a car and driven within the interior; we have also taken day cruises on Prince William Sound and the Kenai Fjords (I have to chevk on the whales and glaciers). Thanks to great advice from Old Penny and Jackal, we took our trip this year in early May - no crowds, hotels available and inexpensive (we had a two-bedroom suite at the Anchorage Residence Inn for $130), beautiful weather, lots of snow (none on the roads), and excellent wildlife viewing.

When people ask me about my trips to Alaska, most have a hard time comprehending that you can have an amazing time touring on your own.

Indeed. Especially as someone who works in the travel industry, it bugs me that people are spending multiple thousands on their cruises and virtually ALL of that money leaves the state. A few of the baggage handlers and bus drivers are locals, but outside of their wages, the money spent doesn't do much to help the local economy. (It's especially bad because tourism feels slower this year--I hope all of the businesses survive the season!)

But not only that--it's such a shame that the people leave with the impression that the little cruise-company-owned salmon bake they went to in Ketchikan and the cruise-company-owned fake dogsled demo they saw in Sitka are real Alaska. Like oldpenny said, they might as well be visiting a display in Disney World.

Fast or slow :p, there's no substitute for getting out and up close and personal with Alaska on your own.

Bravo jackal!

You are so completely and totally right!

I've walked over a great deal of Alaska (and many other places). I am lucky to have family who yet live in Alaska so I have a couch to sleep on.

No I won't tell my secret place in Alaska.

Couldn't agree more! ^ I would love to go back to Alaska, but I don't think I want to take a cruise.

I've cruised to Alaska and look foward to doing it again in the future.Of course myself and others are not fooled into believing we are seeing the "real Alaska" but we are seeing scenery one would not see from a car,or train.2 Different experiences both great in their own way

I'm surprised how many people are cold on cruises to Alaska here. I'm not a "cruise guy" since I really prefer to spend a few days in each part of the area I'm staying in to explore it at my own pace. I'd probably like a few days in Fairbanks, a bunch in Denali, a few in Seward/Kodiak, and some in each of a fwe farther off areas likely broken into a few trips. That said, my Alaska cruise is booked for August -- my first visit to the state. I've got a week after that to explore the land part of my trip. And I fully expect ot be back in the future -- this is just my first taste.

I think the cruise has its place -- those coastal areas that are hard/impossible to see by land are nice to see from the water. It's also nice to make a bunch of port calls without having to pack, unpack, fly with all the TSA hoo ha, etc. Maybe it's better to visit in a smaller ship, or with local companies, but that's hard to do and gets expensive. I fully expect to visit coastal Alaska again, more locally. Since I'm a hiker, I know I need weeks to expore the interior. I don't see anything wrong with doing both.

I taken cruise ships for transportation. Sometimes they are about the same price as flying (if you don't mind an inside cabin). I walk off as soon as the ship docks in the South East towns and start walking. In a few minutes I've left behind the thousands of cruise ship folk and am off on my own in Alaska. It can be done!

People pay thousands to take tours to see bears. I've seen bears in Alaska when I was trying to unload my groceries from the Subaru!

There is plenty of Alaska to share.

the Mountain is out.
 

Reviving this thread.