In one word: Disappointed - Alaska "Ports" Review by ramidon1

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Home > Member Reviews > ramidon1's Port Reviews of Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Seward

ramidon1's Port Reviews of Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Seward
Statendam cruise in June 2010

Member Name:	ramidon1
Cruise Date:	June 2010
Embarkation:	Vancouver
Destination:	Alaska
Member Review:	ramidon1's Statendam Review

	Ketchikan Port Rating: Ketchikan: Lumberjack Show & Misty Fjords Flightseeing w/Taquan. It was really cold, raw, damp & rainy. Lumberjack show was "ok". Flightseeing was truly an experience & wonderful! Really found the town itself depressing & the shops soooo touristy. So glad we got out to see the Fjords & the real natural beauty.
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	Juneau Port Rating: Juneau: Cold, raw, damp & rainy again. Town looked "depressed"--shops were again, touristy & all sold the same thing--(who goes to Juneau, Alaska to buy diamonds?). Walked up & down the streets a bit. Took a bus to Mendenhall--walked around as best we could in the rain--it was a beautiful site. I bet kayaking would be awesome in better weather. Went back to the Red Dog Saloon--had fun there. STopped at an awesome "trailer" near the ship selling incredible crab legs..found out that the locals eat there too & it was not just a tourist trap! It was the highlight of the day.
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	Skagway Port Rating: We rented a car from Sourdough & drove to Emerald Lake via Murray's Guide. The car was old, dirty & sounded like it would die but we made it. Stopped at Carcross with all the other tour buses. Decided to keep going rather than eat at the limited options there. Enjoyed a nice lunch at Spirit Lake Lodge. Walked down to the lake there & it was gorgeous! Continued the rest of the way to Emerald Lake & turned around. Saw bear, mountain goats & tons of gorgeous scenery--even a little glimpse of the sun! BTW, the highway traveled along the train route on & off & that scenery from the train must be awesome--that would be a good option for those not wanting to drive I think. Town was depressing (again with the diamond stores...). Stopped at the Red Onion Saloon--didn't like it as much as the Red Dog in Juneau. But it was ok. Tried to find another crab place like the one in Juneau but no luck...
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	Seward Port Rating: Seward: Disembarked the ship--8:45am--walked off w/our own luggage--easy. Took free shuttle to town--we were staying at Hotel Seward for 1 night. It was 4th of July & huge Mt. Marathon road race was going on--the entire town was out & about. Hotel was dated & overpriced but it was ok. Searched again in vain for those elusive crab legs like we had in Juneau...Next morning (raining..again) did Kenai Fjords cruise--really was disappointed in the experience..over $600 for 4 of us...seas were 15+ feet & had to turn back after we went out of Resurrection Bay--Husband was violently seasick & he is used to fishing on the Atlantic nearly every weekend. We all took Bonine thankfully-but it didn't help him enough....lots of folks on the boat were sick too. They gave us a $50/pp refund--but it was still lots of $$ to see puffins, otters, whales--all of which we had seen tons of on the cruise. It was really a white knuckle trip & I know the Captain did his best to try to get us the full cruise but it was just too rough & I was really scared that we would capsize...waves were going OVER the top of two story boat. This was a highly recommended excursion by people & I am sure it would have been good but I'm still not convinced it would have been worth that much $$....possibly we were just spoiled because we had been so fortunate to see so much wildlife earlier in our trip. After cruise, we took train to Anchorage (Goldstar for a splurge--not sure it was really worth it tho). Saw more moose & wildlife--scenery was good.
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