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Ketchikan, Alaska Highlights and Information

10/27/2013

Are you cruising to Ketchikan, Alaska? Ketchikan is one of my favorite cruise ports and a cruise port that many cruise lines and ships dock at. This blog post is going to share information about ways to plan your day in Ketchikan, Alaska, give some information about attractions that you can visit or things you can do, and some general tips for this port of call.

Pre-Cruise: Things to Do Before Your Cruise To Plan Your Day in Ketchikan, Alaska
    1. Pack For Alaska -   In many of my previous posts about Alaska I emphasized that the weather can be warm in Alaska and also cold. Check the weather forecast every few days before you leave for your cruise to
see what the temperature is expected to be for the day. Use different weather websites because some websites are probably more accurate than others. If the temperature is going to be cold you will probably want clothes that will keep you warm. However, you will also want to have some clothes you would wear in warm weather in case the temperature changes in the opposite direction. Having the wrong type of clothes could result in
discomfort or you may have to buy a t-shirt or a jacket from one of the local shops.
    2. Order A Visitor's Guide From the Ketchikan Visitor's Bureau -    Before my Carnival Miracle 2013 cruise I ordered brochures from each Alaskan port of call that offers to mail brochures for free.   I ordered the Ketchikan Visitor's Guide and it was very informational.   This is the Ketchikan, Alaska, Visitor's Bureau's website:
Click Here To Visit The Website - opens in a new window
    3. Be Mindful of the Weather -   Check the weather multiple times before you cruise and have a plan for rain. Make sure you know if your excursions are rain or shine, and refundable if it rains.   Hopefully the weather remains nice and remember that the weather forecasts are subject to change.

Attractions: Things For You To Consider Doing While Docked in Ketchikan, Alaska

Creek Street
Creek Street is a free tourist attraction that you can walk to. Creek Street is sort of like a boardwalk that you can walk along and there are shops that you can browse. Depending on the time of year that you visit Alaska will determine what you see. During some times of the year you may see salmon moving in the water. There are many great photo opportunities at Creek Street so make sure you bring your camera and some extra batteries.

Married Man's Trial in Ketchikan, Alaska

Married Man's Trail
Married Man's Trail is a walkway that is located close to Creek Street. Basically Married Man's Trail is a walkway that goes up a slope through trees. During my visit to Ketchikan I learned some history of the trail, but I am not going to get into the history on my website. This trail is not for people who have difficulty walking because of the slope and an occasional tree root in the ground.

Totem Poles in Ketchikan
You will see many totem poles in different places in Ketchikan. Many of the totem poles are on street corners and they make a thing to take a picture with! There is also a Totem Heritage Museum, which charges an admission to enter. Ketchikan has many totem poles for you to enjoy!

Enjoy two more pictures of some totem poles below:

Tips:

1. Stop at one of the Visitor's Centers when you get off the cruise ship. There are some brochures and the staff is very helpful in giving suggestions on things to do.
2. Just like I mentioned in the Skagway tips section don't walk in the middle of a street. There are sidewalks in most places for people to use.
3. Use common sense while in port.
4. Keep track of the time and know when you have to be back onboard the cruise ship. Make sure you stay on ship's time!

The attractions on this page are not advertisements and are included because my family members or I have experienced these attractions. This information is subject to change any time. Please check out and do research yourself before making any decisions regarding excursions or attractions.

Skagway, Alaska Highlights and Information

10/27/2013

Are you cruising to Skagway, Alaska? Many cruise lines have ships that include Skagway as a part of their itinerary. Are you wondering what to do while your ship is docked in Skagway? This blog post will cover some things for you to consider doing during your day in Skagway, provide links for further research, and provide some general tips to remember while you are enjoying your day in Skagway, Alaska.

Pre-Cruise: Things to Do Before Your Cruise To Plan For Your Day in Skagway
    1. Pack For Alaska -   In many of my previous posts about Alaska I emphasized that the weather can be warm in Alaska and also cold. Check the weather forecast every few days before you leave for your cruise to see what the temperature is expected to be for the day. Use different weather websites because some websites are probably more accurate than others. If the temperature is going to be cold you will probably want clothes that will keep you warm. However, you will also want to have some clothes you would wear in warm weather in case the temperature changes in the opposite direction. Having the wrong type of clothes could result in discomfort or you may have to buy a t-shirt or a jacket from one of the local shops.
    2. Weather -   I just mentioned above that you should check the weather for temperatures. You also need to know the chance of rain for the day. If there is a chance of rain you might want to have a backup plan or purchase refundable excursions. Make sure you know the limitations on your excursions and what happens if there is rain. Check the weather constantly, use different websites to look up information, and be prepared for rain or shine! My port days during my Carnival Miracle cruise had a large chance of rain and it ended up not raining at all at any of my ports of call! Hopefully you will be lucky and have a nice port day in Skagway!
    3. Order A Skagway Brochure From The Visitor's Bureau - Before I cruised I ordered a brochure from the Skagway Visitor's Bureau. The brochure I received helped me better plan my day in Skagway. For information on ordering the brochure please visit this website:  Click Here   The link will open in a new window. The Visitor's Bureau website also has some other helpful information.
    4.   See What Shore Excursions Your Cruise Line Offers -   If you are thinking about taking an excursion look at your cruise line's website to see what Skagway excursions they offer.

Attractions: Things To Consider Doing During Your Day in Skagway, Alaska

Ride Aboard The White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad
A popular shore excursion in Skagway is taking a train ride aboard the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad. Many cruise lines offer shore excursions that include a ride one of this railroad's trains. For more information about this attraction/excursion please visit the railroad company's website: Click Here
I was not able to go on this excursion during my Carnival Miracle Alaska cruise in June 2013. I heard that many passengers enjoyed this excursion and the scenery that they saw from the train. Since my cruise I have used the railroad company's website to research their routes. The pictures that I have below are from some of my family members who have been on this train ride excursion during their Coral Princess Alaska cruise.
Here are some pictures:

Shop in the Local Shops
Skagway, Alaska, contains many shops that are only a short walk from your cruise ship. I am not going to mention any particular shops in the port because there are many. You will find a variety of t-shirt shops and shops that contain things that say "Skagway" or "Alaska".
Cautionary Tip Regarding Shopping: Some items are identical across multiple shops! Some stores will charge differently for the same item. Be careful to make sure you are not paying more!

Look At Rock Art AKA "Graffiti"
Besides walking around Skagway this is one of my favorite things to see in the town. If you dock on the Railroad Dock in Skagway you will docked right next to this. If you dock at the other dock you probably won't get to see this. There are many drawings on the rocks that represent many of the ships and cruise lines that have docked in Skagway, Alaska. All of the art on the rocks is different and it is neat to see how far back some of the years go . If your camera has a zoom you can try to get some good pictures of the art on the rocks.
Please note that when a train is in on the Railroad Dock your view of this will be limited. For good pictures you might want to time getting on or off the ship when a train is not in. Here are some more pictures:

Skagway, Alaska Tips: Keep These Things in Mind During Your Day in Skagway
1. Don't walk on the railroad tracks.
2. Don't walk in the middle of the street. There are some cars and buses that need to use the road.
3. As I mentioned earlier some shops will carry identical items. The prices may not be identical. Make sure you are not paying a higher price than another store. Maybe look in many shops before buying any items.
4. Have a tote bag to carry items in. You might buy multiple items and need to put them in something to carry them around.
5. Keep track of your ship's schedule and stay on ship's time. Make sure you are onboard the ship before the designated "Be Back Onboard By" time.

Enjoy Skagway, Alaska!
Click To Go To RyG's Guide to Alaska [Still on This Website]

The attractions on this page are not advertisements and are included because my family members or I have experienced these attractions. This information is subject to change any time. Please check out and do research yourself before making any decisions regarding excursions or attractions.

Seattle, Washington: Pre or Post Cruise Attractions & Information

10/27/2013

Seattle, Washington
Ideas For Pre & Post Cruise Attractions
This blog post covers attractions that you should consider trying before or after your cruise that starts or ends in Seattle, WA.

Space Needle
    If you are looking at the Seattle skyline you will most likely notice the Space Needle. Visitors can pay to go up to the top of the Space Needle and look around at Seattle and the general area. This is something that you should consider doing during your visit to Seattle and you will probably get some good pictures on a clear day!
    Bring a camera! You never know what kind of pictures you may get of the view!
    Tip: If the weather is predicted to be not clear don't do the Space Needle because your view will not be as nice. Save your visit to the Space Needle for a later time during your vacation when the weather is nicer.

    For more information about the attraction, ticket prices, and information please visit the Space Needle's Website:
http://www.spaceneedle.com/ - will open in new window

Underground Seattle Tour
    Underground Seattle Tour is a great way to see some of the historic part of Seattle, but underground. If you are looking for something interesting and historic at the same time this tour is for you.   For more information please visit the tour's website:
http://www.undergroundtour.com/

    For some more photos:

Underground Seattle Building and Windows

Flying Into Seattle?

If you are going to be landing at SEA-TAC you might get to see some mountains as you approach the airport on your trip. What you see will depend on the side of the plane that you sit on. Here are some pictures that I want to share that I took as the plane started to prepare for descent:

Last Updated: 10/27/2013

Go To Our Alaska Information Center

Please note that all attractions listed on this page are not advertisements and are included because either I have experienced that attraction or some family members have experienced the attraction. Information included about each attraction is subject to change at any time and may not be updated here quickly. Please alert me of any changes regarding any attractions. These attractions do not represent all attractions to do. Any links on this page may take you away from my website and I am not responsible for any content that you get from those links.
Please take some time and research the attractions on your own before making a decision.

Cruise Ship Themed Christmas Tree 2013

10/23/2013

Merry Christmas!
And Happy Holidays!

    You're probably looking at this right now and think that I am crazy.   This is the only Christmas decoration in my house that has come out of the attic and this Christmas tree is in an upstairs corner of my house that nobody will see.   Also this is NOT my main Christmas tree.
    Today I got an idea to try a cruise ship themed tree. I just wanted to test this idea out so I got out my secondary tree from the attic, put the tree together, and used some of my cruise pictures to make some ornaments. The will probably remain up for a while longer, but towards Thanksgiving will get changed into a "real" Christmas tree!

    This is not an official Christmas or Holiday greeting from RyG's Cruise Guide.

You can create a Christmas tree that relates to any cruise line or anything cruise related. With my tree I used pictures that I took of ships that I have been on or seen in ports. All of my decorations were made out of paper and string. You will see, based on the pictures, cut outs of cruise ships, funnels, and towel animals. We got the Christmas tree a few years ago at 90% off and the Christmas lights half price. Get creative and create your own cruise themed Christmas tree!

Feel free to share some Christmas & Holiday cheer early this year with your family and friends!
Simply use social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) or email to share this! Enjoy!

Alaska Scenic Cruise Days - Tips & Suggestions

10/20/2013

    If your Alaska cruise vacation has a scenic cruise day in the itinerary you are lucky! To me a scenic cruise day in a fjord or bay in Alaska is better than a regular sea day or port of call.
    Many cruise lines that sail Alaska have at least one scenic cruise day in the itinerary, but not all do.  Cruise lines have choices about what scenic cruise path they decide to take so not all cruise lines and ships use the same scenic route. Before booking your Alaska cruise research your itinerary's scenic cruise day, if your itinerary has a scenic cruise day.
    The goal of this blog post is to give you some tips and suggestions for your scenic cruise day.

1.  Do Some Research Before You Cruise
    Before you cruise you should take some time to research the cruise's itinerary. This includes researching your scenic cruise days. Look for reviews of the particular place that you will be cruising through and try to look for information about what you might see during your cruise through a scenic cruise spot. Doing your research can help you know what to look for and what to expect.

2.   Where do you plan on watching the scenery?
    If you have a balcony stateroom or a stateroom with a window view you might watch the view from your stateroom. If don't have a balcony or a stateroom that has a window you might want to consider going to the outside decks to watch the scenery.
    If you are going to watch from your stateroom or balcony keep in mind (depending on your stateroom's location) you may only get to see one side of the scenery. Some cruise ships will turn 360 degrees at glaciers and some other highpoints of the trip during the scenic cruise days. However, not all cruise ships will do this. If your cruise ship does not do this you may miss the other side's scenery. Some cruise ships will sail into the scenic area and will turn around at the end or a certain point to leave, which allows the other side to see what they missed earlier.
    Many people choose to watch the scenery and view go by from the outside decks of the cruise ship, even if they have a balcony. Choosing a place on the outside decks is important to many and some people will guard a spot hours before the ship arrives to the entrance of the scenic cruising spot. I recommend choosing a spot on the outside decks a day in advance and then arriving early to get the spot you want. I also recommend choosing a spot at the front because you will get a better view of both sides instead of one. Finally, keep in mind that if you leave your spot on the outside deck your spot may not be waiting for you when you come back. I noticed on my Carnival Miracle Alaska cruise in Tracy Arm Fjord that people would quickly take a spot the second a person moved. Use the restroom before going to the outside decks to view the scenery.

3. Dress Right For The Outdoors
    If you are planning on watching the scenery on the outside decks or from your balcony this is for you! Make sure you dress comfortably so you don't have to miss scenery to change in your stateroom. The temperature in Alaska is not always cold, so make sure you are also prepared for warm weather.

4.   Be On the Lookout For Wildlife
    You may be able to spot some wildlife from the ship.  On my Alaska cruise I saw many different birds from the ship in Tracy Arm Fjord.  Bring a pair of binoculars if you are interested in looking for wildlife from the ship.

5.   Be Quiet, Don't Talk Loud!
    Being quiet on your balcony or on the outside decks is appreciated by most. Some people on my Alaska cruise were annoyed when people were loud because they wanted to enjoy the scenery in its natural state. On your balcony keep in mind that the people on the balcony next to yours can hear your voice and what you are saying. Remember that some people have paid a large amount of money for the cruise and airfare to see Alaska and this may be their only time to enjoy Alaska. Please don't spoil the experience for them.

Check out more Alaska cruise tips and suggestions here.

Cruise Ship Mini-Golf

10/18/2013

    Many cruise ships have a mini-golf course that is located on an outside deck. The design of the mini-golf course will vary by cruise ship because there a variety of mini-golf courses to choose from. On sea days and some port days mini-golf is a popular activity for both kids and adults!
    In order to keep the game fun there are some tips that you should consider when you are going to play mini-golf.  Keep in mind that all mini golf courses are set up differently and may have different rules or guidelines that passengers are asked to follow.

1. Don't Knock The Ball Overboard
    Some people hit their golf ball too hard and the ball will fly off the ship and into the water. Unfortunately, the golf ball is gone and there is no way to get it back. If you had to check out the golf club and ball you will probably be told to pay for the lost golf ball. Make sure you only swing to get your ball into the golf hole, not across the ship.

2. Did you check out your club and ball? Make Sure You Return Them!
    Some cruise lines and ships require you to check out your golf club and ball. The attendant may give you a time of usage or tell you to have the club and ball back by a certain time. If you don't have your equipment returned by a certain time you may be charged a fee for the equipment. Make sure you know the guidelines for checking out golf equipment and don't forget to return the golf equipment.

3.   Golf Etiquette
    Start with Hole 1 and work your way from #2 thru the end. Do not skip around because you may lose track of the hole you are on and/or cut in front of others. Make sure you do not cut in front of others. Wait until a person is done using the hole before you start swinging and hitting your ball. Also, make sure you don't swing your golf club and hit another person.

4. Wind
    Often cruise ships have their mini golf course located on the top of the ship - outside. When the ship is moving sometimes wind is heavy on the top of the cruise ship. Your golf ball may roll because of the wind and not stay in its correct position. I have seen wind roll a golf ball up a small incline. The best time to play mini golf is when the ship is docked and when there is little to no wind.

Ketchikan, Alaska Highlights and Information

Skagway, Alaska Highlights and Information

Seattle, Washington: Pre or Post Cruise Attractions & Information

Flying Into Seattle?

Cruise Ship Themed Christmas Tree 2013

Merry Christmas!
And Happy Holidays!

Alaska Scenic Cruise Days - Tips & Suggestions

Cruise Ship Mini-Golf

RyG's Cruise Guide
Blog

Quick Links:

Archives:

Connect With Us!

Ketchikan, Alaska Highlights and Information

Skagway, Alaska Highlights and Information

Seattle, Washington: Pre or Post Cruise Attractions & Information

Flying Into Seattle?

Cruise Ship Themed Christmas Tree 2013

Merry Christmas!And Happy Holidays!

Alaska Scenic Cruise Days - Tips & Suggestions

Cruise Ship Mini-Golf

RyG's Cruise GuideBlog

Quick Links:

Archives:

Connect With Us!

Merry Christmas!
And Happy Holidays!

RyG's Cruise Guide
Blog