Trip Report: cruise + land tour August 10-22, 2025

Question

My husband and I (age 50s) just returned from a 13-day trip to Alaska. We did a pre-cruise land tour and a 7-day southbound cruise with Royal Caribbean on the Radiance of the Seas.

Day 1-2: Anchorage We flew in a day early just in case there was a delay, and fortunately everything was fine. We stayed at The Lakefront, and we had dinner and breakfast the next morning in their restaurant. My husband really wanted to fly in a floatplane, so we did a 30-minute flight with Rust's Flying Service, and we really enjoyed it! The weather was absolutely perfect, and we got to see Denali from the air. After the flight, we transferred to the Anchorage Marriott to meet our tour group. We walked around downtown and ate lunch at 49th State Brewing. That evening, we met our tour guide and others from our tour group. Hubby was tired, so I walked to Glacier Brewhouse and had a delicious dinner.

Day 3: Wilderness Express Rail. We were up early to get on the train to Denali. I found a Kaladi Brothers coffee bar in a nearby office building, so we had breakfast there. We got on the bus with our group, and then boarded the train. The train was really neat! Our host gave a lot of commentary about things we were passing along the way, and we also saw some moose and swans. The weather was perfect again, and we had a clear view of Denali! We pulled in to the Denali station, and had a short bus ride to the Denali Park Village hotel. Our room was one of the king cabins, and it was comfortable although a little small. That evening, we did a UTV drive with Denali ATV Adventures. It was a very high adrenaline experience! We took turns driving the UTV, and we saw a moose and her calf along the way. We were pretty tired after that, so we skipped dinner and went to bed.

Day 4: Denali tour. Our package included the Natural History Tour. I asked to switch to the Tundra Wilderness Tour, and unfortunately our tour guide couldn't get a spot that would work with our group's times. The tour was a bit disappointing in how short it was, but we did get to see more moose, a family of foxes, and ptarmigans. We again had perfect weather and got great views of Denali! I got a "30% Club" sticker in the gift shop because we certainly earned it! After the tour, we drove to Talkeetna and stayed at the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge for the night. We really liked this hotel! We booked a guided river float trip through Talkeetna River Guides, so we took the hotel's shuttle into town, then walked to their location. It had started lightly raining, so we needed our rain gear for the first time. Our guide was great! We saw several eagles, and a beaver in its pond. Our guide also told us about the plants along the river bank, and I was surprised how many of them were poisonous! After the trip, we went to the Denali Brewpub for dinner. And as we walked back to the shuttle point, we stopped in Nagley's Store and got to meet the Mayor of Talkeetna! It was a really fun day!

Day 5: Girdwood. We took advantage of the guest laundry and ran a load of wash before we left the hotel. Our bus stopped in Anchorage for a 2 hour lunch break, so we went to the Glacier Brewhouse, and it was excellent. We also stopped in a liquor store and got wine and sodas for the cruise. We then drove to Girdwood for a night's stay at the Alyeska Resort. Our tour included tram passes, so we did that first. The views from the top of Mount Alyeska were incredible! Afterwards, I had booked the Nordic Spa Twilight Soak. We enjoyed relaxing in the pools, although it was a bit disappointing that there was a large, noisy bachelorette group that kind of ruined the tranquil atmosphere. We shared a charcuterie board at the spa bistro before calling it a night.

Day 6: Seward and embarkation. We had breakfast at the Kaladi Brothers in the resort and boarded the bus for the short ride to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center. We were happy to get to see all of the native animals, especially the grizzly bears, although the weather was very windy and cold that day. Next, we drove to Seward and the Alaska Sealife Center. We enjoyed visiting here, too. We ate lunch in the Gold Rush Bistro, then took one last bus ride to the cruise port. Embarkation was very quick, and our tour guide had already brought our luggage to the ship. Since our room was already available, we went straight there to drop off the sodas and wine, and our luggage was waiting for us! We ate dinner in the Main Dining Room (and got an assigned table next to the window!), and we watched sail away from inside one of the venues due to the cold wind. I filled a laundry bag and gave it to the room steward.

Day 7: Hubbard Glacier. We took our time this morning and slept a little late. I had bought the coffee punch card, so we enjoyed our fancy coffees! In the morning, I attended a lecture by a retired RCMP officer who shared the history of the Mounties. It was very interesting! Our ship picked up the local pilot, and arrived at the glacier around 2 PM. We creeped into the bay, and kept getting closer and closer to the glacier’s huge face. The ship’s naturalist lecturer gave commentary on the loudspeaker about the glacier, the harbor seals on the ice, and the sea lions on the nearby island. We stopped about 200 yards away from the glacier, and the captain gently rotated the ship so everyone got a great view of the glacier. We spent part of the time on deck, and we also went down to our balcony to observe, too. We could definitely hear the “white thunder” and we saw several small pieces of ice calve off! After 2 hours, we headed out of the bay. It was an excellent experience!

Day 8: Juneau. We docked in Juneau. Fortunately the “glacial lake flood” had already taken place, so we had the whole day to explore the area. It was raining today so the rain gear was helpful again. We rented an SUV from Juneau Car Rental, and picked it up at the port. We were a little concerned because the check engine light was on, and one of the tires was pretty low, but it all worked out OK. First stop was Eagle Beach, and we had the place to ourselves. We did see several eagles. After that, we headed back in, and stopped at the Shrine of St. Therese. The parking for the main trail was crowded, so we went over to the “Mary’s View” trail and again had it to ourselves. There was even a little covered viewing area where we got out of the rain. Next stop was Mendenhall Glacier. We walked along the trail from the parking lot and saw a lot of salmon spawning in the streams, but no bears. The visitor center had great views of the glacier and Nugget Falls, and my husband got his National Parks Pass. We decided not to hike out to the glacier due to the rain. For lunch, we went to the Alaskan Brewery. We bought a pizza from the food truck, and enjoyed a beer and a seltzer with the pizza. Afterwards, we went to the downtown grocery store to get some supplies, and then parked the SUV and shopped in downtown. Our dinner that evening was the Gold Creek Salmon Bake, which I booked through the cruise line since it included transportation and the return to ship guarantee. We really enjoyed this! The atmosphere and food were both very nice. We really enjoyed the fresh salmon! We walked back to the waterfall after dinner and got some great pictures. We rode the bus back to the ship, and we were literally one of the last people to get back aboard before All Aboard time.

Day 9: Skagway and the White Pass Rail. We booked the full 8-hour trip to Carcross Yukon Territory through Chilkoot Charters. (Our ship never offered this one!) We were off the ship at 7 AM, and on the train at 7:45. It was a foggy morning, so some of the views on the ride up were not clear, but it was clear enough to see the train trestles and tunnels ahead. Fortunately the fog dissipated by the time we reached Lake Bennett. After a quick Canadian customs check at the border, we did a whistle stop at the old Fraser depot and walked around the old ghost town. It was a good opportunity to stretch our legs. We got back on the train and ate lunch, then got off at Carcross. We had an hour to walk around, so we got a coffee, and then boarded the bus for the trip back to Skagway. We stopped at the “Welcome to Alaska” sign, and then the driver dropped us in town so we could walk around. We stopped in a store that had a “museum” of scrimshaw art, and in the train depot store. We found a local bar for a couple of drinks, then walked back to the ship.

Day 10: Icy Strait Point/Hoonah. The morning was pretty foggy, but the cruise director said that it should dissipate by noon. Our plans for the day were a whale watching tour with Hoonah Travel Adventures. I booked this tour because it was a local company and had a boat that only held 10 people. Before the tour, we walked around the huge gift shop and cannery museum, and we even saw a whale right from the shore! At 10:30, our guide met us at the Excursion Hub and told us he was cancelling the tour due to the fog, and everyone would be given a refund. We were absolutely heartbroken! My husband remembered seeing a “last minute tours” desk, so we hurried over and bought two seats on the 11:00 tour. It was the big, crowded boat that I had really wanted to avoid, but that was the only way we were going to get to go! The boat went out into the fog, and by the time we got to the point where the guide said there were usually whales, the fog had lifted! And yes, there was a pod of humpback whales! We watched them for quite a while, and we could hear the male singing under our boat. We also saw an otter and some sea lions nearby. By the time we headed back into the port, the fog was totally gone and it was a beautiful day. We ate dinner in the Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse specialty restaurant, which was good and a nice experience.

Day 11: Ketchikan. I was really looking forward to today’s excursion: the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour on the Aleutian Ballad fishing boat from Deadliest Catch. Before the tour, we walked down to Creek Street and saw the fish ladder. We met the tour at noon, and got great seats right in front. The guides had really interesting stories about their career as commercial fisherman, and about the history of the Aleutian Ballad. Our first stop was an island where a pair of eagles had a nest. The guides tossed some bait fish to the eagles, and it was just amazing to see them swoop down and get it. One of them even caught the fish in mid-air! After that we went to some lines and crab pots they had put out earlier. The catch included box crabs, starfish, sea urchins, a small shark, king crabs, and an octopus! We got to hold the box crabs, touch the starfish and urchins, and the guides walked around with the others. It was really neat! We also bought a snack of ½ lb king crab which was delicious! They dropped us off at the dock, so we shopped in the Tongass Trading Company store and walked around downtown before getting back on the ship. Dinner

Day 12: Day at Sea/Inside Passage. Today was the only true “sea day” on this cruise. In the morning, we did the Galley Tour and got to go inside the ship’s culinary area. Afterwards, we had a nice champagne brunch. I attended another lecture from the RCMP officer, and also went to the “meet the captain,” and a lecture from the naturalist about orcas. My husband and I played Classic Rock “name that tune” and we only missed one! (The winning team had a perfect score.) We spent some time on our balcony and saw an orca! That evening was our final dinner in the Main Dining Room. We packed up our big suitcases to have them outside by 10 PM.

Day 13: Disembark. We had booked the airport transfer through Royal Caribbean, and it was a very easy process. We got off the ship, claimed our bags, and went to the bus. There was really no Canadian customs or immigration check other than handing the card to the officer. We went through the LONG lines at our airline’s baggage check and YVR Security, and got to our gate in time to eat lunch and board the flight home.

Overall, we were very happy with the cruise and land tour. We were definitely the youngest people on our land tour, but we did meet up with other people our age who were on a parallel tour group. The only dissatisfier was the Denali Natural History Tour, which we wished had been the Tundra Wilderness Tour instead. (We are already talking about going back once the landslide bridge is finished!) We were very happy to be on Radiance of the Seas for of the last cruises to Alaska. RC is now putting much bigger ships on that route, and that was not the experience we wanted! It was a great experience!

Answer

It sounds like you had an incredible 13-day Alaska adventure combining both land and sea experiences! Here’s a detailed recap and some thoughts on your trip based on your report:

Anchorage (Day 1-2): Arriving a day early was a smart move, especially for international travel. Staying at The Lakefront gave you convenient access to floatplane tours, which provided stunning aerial views of Denali. Moving to Anchorage Marriott to meet the tour group made sense, and your dining experiences at 49th State Brewing and Glacier Brewhouse were solid choices for local cuisine.

Wilderness Express Rail to Denali (Day 3): The train ride was a highlight, offering scenic commentary and wildlife sightings. Staying at Denali Park Village with a king cabin was comfortable. The UTV drive with Denali ATV Adventures sounds like an exhilarating way to experience the wilderness up close.

Denali Tour & Talkeetna (Day 4): Although the Natural History Tour was shorter than desired, you still enjoyed wildlife sightings, including moose and foxes. Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge provided a charming stay, and the guided river float with Talkeetna River Guides allowed a close encounter with eagles and beavers. Dining at Denali Brewpub and visiting Nagley's Store added to the local experience.

Girdwood & Alyeska Resort (Day 5): The tram ride at Alyeska Resort offered spectacular mountain views, and the Nordic Spa Twilight Soak was a relaxing experience, even with the noisy bachelorette group. Sharing a charcuterie board at the spa bistro was a nice touch.

Seward & Embarkation (Day 6): Visiting the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and Alaska Sealife Center added great pre-cruise activities. Embarkation on the Radiance of the Seas was smooth, with your luggage conveniently handled and an assigned window seat for dining.

Hubbard Glacier (Day 7): Approaching Hubbard Glacier was a breathtaking experience, with “white thunder” and calving ice. Being able to watch from both deck and balcony enhanced the experience. Attending the lecture by the retired RCMP officer added educational value to the day.

Juneau (Day 8): Renting a car allowed you flexibility to explore Eagle Beach, the Shrine of St. Therese, and Mendenhall Glacier. Despite rainy conditions, you enjoyed salmon spawning sightings, the visitor center, and a relaxed lunch at Alaskan Brewery. The Gold Creek Salmon Bake dinner was a memorable highlight.

Skagway & White Pass Rail (Day 9): The 8-hour Carcross Yukon Territory excursion was extensive but rewarding. You experienced foggy morning conditions that cleared for better views, visited a ghost town, and explored local shops and bars, making it an immersive day.

Icy Strait Point / Hoonah (Day 10): Despite initial tour cancellations due to fog, you managed to join a last-minute whale watching tour. Observing humpback whales, otters, and sea lions created unforgettable wildlife memories. Dining at Samba Grill Brazilian Steakhouse added variety to your culinary experiences.

Ketchikan & Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour (Day 11): The hands-on experience on the Aleutian Ballad boat was extraordinary. Holding crabs, touching sea urchins, and learning about commercial fishing was both educational and exciting. Exploring Creek Street and Tongass Trading Company completed the day with local flavor.

Day at Sea / Inside Passage (Day 12): The sea day allowed for relaxation, attending lectures, and enjoying ship activities like the Galley Tour and Classic Rock game. Spotting orcas from the balcony was a highlight.

Disembarkation (Day 13): The airport transfer process through Royal Caribbean was smooth, and you navigated customs efficiently before boarding your flight home.

Highlights: Floatplane over Denali, UTV drive in Denali, Talkeetna river float, Hubbard Glacier, whale watching in Hoonah, and the crab fisherman’s tour in Ketchikan.
Food & Drink: Glacier Brewhouse, Denali Brewpub, Alaskan Brewery, Gold Creek Salmon Bake, Samba Grill, and hands-on crab tasting provided diverse culinary experiences.
Accommodations: The Lakefront, Denali Park Village, Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, Alyeska Resort, and Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas were all highly rated and suitable for your preferences.

Overall, your itinerary balanced adventure, wildlife encounters, and local culture beautifully. The only minor drawback was the Denali Natural History Tour, which you wished had been the Tundra Wilderness Tour, but otherwise, the trip was well-planned and memorable.

Recommendations for future trips:

Consider booking the Tundra Wilderness Tour in Denali for a more immersive experience.
Try to plan excursions with smaller groups when possible for wildlife viewing and personalized attention.
Continue to factor in weather contingencies and flexible planning, as Alaskan weather can affect outdoor activities.

It seems like you’ve created a comprehensive Alaska experience that blends scenic vistas, wildlife, and cultural highlights. A return trip after the landslide bridge is repaired will likely add even more options and adventures!

Trip Report: cruise + land tour August 10-22, 2025

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