DIY "Cruisetour" Success Report!

Question

Thanks to TA and a few other resources, had an amazing 2 week trip to Alaska (Aug/Sept). Fashioned it after one of the Holland Cruisetours, but built the tour part on our own!

Day 1: Landed in Fairbanks mid day; lunch, groceries at the commissary then drove to Northern Sky Lodge for overnight. (slept through any hopes of seeing the northern lights)

Day 2: Casual drive to Denali (rental car) with stops for pics and some roadside stands. Arrived at McKinley Creekside Cabins, dropped off luggage and headed to Denali ATV's for excursion (amazing views!).

Day 3: 7am booking time w/ East Fork Shuttle to enjoy the park. Didn't see as many wildlife as I would have hoped. The limited narration on the shuttle was plenty and they did assist in looking for wildlife (no need for the TWT). Got off at the turn around point and hiked, but was ready to leave after that. Missed the sled dog viewing (too tired). Would have liked to have hiked along one of the trails at the beginning of the park (not enough time/too tired). Some shopping in town.

Day 4: Headed out to Glacier View. Stopped at both Denali Viewpoints plus a veteran's memorial. (Alaska Milepost book). Quick stop over in Talkeetna (was further off the path than I expected). Nagley's General Store was a disappointment. Large array of food trucks. Got a delicious sandwich from Salmon Spot to go (wonderful). Got to Glacier View just in time to check in with Mica Guides for Ice Trekking (AMAZING) on Matanuska Glacier. Overnight at Alpenglow Luxury Camping (top 10 experiences of the trip).

Day 5: Off to Anchorage. Spent time at the Alaska Native Heritage Center and the mall until check in at the Airbnb. Marathon clothes washing, dinner and returned rental car to airport.

Day 6: Morning trip on the Alaskan Railroad to Whittier for cruise checkin.

Day 7-13: Amazing cruise. One highlight was an excursion booked separately: Black Bear Express in Ketchikan with Kawanti Adventures!

Day 13: Morning de-boarding in Vancouver, BC. Walked to the hotel: Fairmount Waterfront (wonderful; TREMENDOUS military discount; would have been out of our price range w/o it). Did the Vancouver hop on/off bus and spent a lovely time on Granville Island (food, souvenirs)

Day 14: Flew home

Overall: So glad we did our own road trip portion (freedom/stops)! Not clear if we saved money as did SO much more than we could have done w/ the cruise line, but that was on us. If I did it again, not clear of the value in flying into Fairbanks. We didn't do much there (tired; little interest). We missed northern lights, but those aren't limited to Fairbanks. The rental car was more expensive one way (+$400). However, that drive up to Denali from Anchorage and back would have been longer overall and more redundant....BUT there is technically a lot to see south of Denali, so it would be worth a try.

Answer

Thank you for sharing such a detailed report! It sounds like your DIY “Cruisetour” approach to Alaska in August/September was both ambitious and rewarding. Doing the land portion on your own clearly gave you flexibility and the ability to stop at points of personal interest, which is often more limited on a standard cruise tour.

Here are some key takeaways from your itinerary that others might find useful:

Fairbanks: Landing in Fairbanks and spending only a night seems optional, especially if northern lights viewing is not a priority. Many travelers opt to start in Anchorage to reduce one-way car rental costs and travel time.
Denali area: Taking the East Fork Shuttle allowed for a good balance between seeing wildlife and having time to hike. Your note about skipping TWT and sled dog demos suggests that prioritizing main park experiences may be sufficient for first-time visitors.
Matanuska Glacier experience: The Ice Trekking with Mica Guides at Glacier View was highlighted as a top experience. This shows that including smaller, guided excursions outside the main park can be extremely rewarding.
Talkeetna: Quick stops in small towns are hit or miss; your experience at Nagley’s General Store versus Salmon Spot shows that a bit of local research or planning for meals can enhance the visit.
Anchorage and Alaska Native Heritage Center: Good for a relaxed day with cultural exposure and practical tasks (laundry, car return) before the cruise.
Railroad to Whittier: Efficient way to reach the cruise port while adding a scenic element to the trip.
Cruise highlights: Booking select excursions independently, like Black Bear Express in Ketchikan, allowed for a more personalized experience rather than following the ship’s set itinerary.
Vancouver post-cruise: Staying near the waterfront and using hop-on/hop-off buses, plus visiting Granville Island, is a convenient way to explore with minimal stress at the end of the trip.

Other considerations and lessons learned:

Driving the land portion yourself provides freedom and the ability to explore at your own pace, though one-way rental fees can be significant.
Flying into Fairbanks vs. Anchorage: If northern lights are not a priority, Anchorage might offer more practical routing and sightseeing options south of Denali.
Planning rest days or shorter travel segments can help with energy levels, especially when doing multiple activities like glacier hiking, shuttles, and town stops.
Independent research on small excursions, local eateries, and viewpoints can add unique experiences not typically included in cruise line packages.

Overall, your report emphasizes that a DIY Alaska Cruisetour is feasible and extremely rewarding if you value flexibility and personalization. While it may not save money compared to a cruise tour, the ability to see more, stop at smaller towns, and choose your own excursions seems to have made it a highly satisfying adventure.

DIY "Cruisetour" Success Report!

More Alaska (AK) Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions