Comments on: Enjoying Seward (Part 2 of 3) http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2010/06/enjoying-seward-part-2-of-3/ The thoughts and photography of Susan L Stevenson Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:23:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Susan Stevenson http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2010/06/enjoying-seward-part-2-of-3/#comment-5099 Susan Stevenson Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:23:34 +0000 http://susanstevenson.com/blog/?p=213#comment-5099 I think you made a good choice. I would like to try the Fox Island tour again, as it IS shorter, and there is a nice break. My husband is not fond of the all day cruising out to Northwestern (too long for him) - which is why I usually do that tour alone. I hope you have wonderful weather and a lot of wildlife sightings! I think you made a good choice. I would like to try the Fox Island tour again, as it IS shorter, and there is a nice break. My husband is not fond of the all day cruising out to Northwestern (too long for him) - which is why I usually do that tour alone.

I hope you have wonderful weather and a lot of wildlife sightings!

]]> By: Erin http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2010/06/enjoying-seward-part-2-of-3/#comment-5097 Erin Mon, 28 Jun 2010 10:30:49 +0000 http://susanstevenson.com/blog/?p=213#comment-5097 Thanks for the detailed reply, Susan. After taking into consideration your comments and looking at images others have posted of Kenai Fjords, we've settled on the slightly shorter Fox Island trip. The opportunity to stretch our legs on land, if only for a short while, will be a nice change of pace. We're going to target August 24 as there doesn't seem to be any cruise ships in either Seward or Whittier that day. We were so lucky with the weather in June 2001 -- sunshine, sunshine, sunshine with nary a raindrop and only the occasional overcast for our two weeks in AK. If the weather is only half as good, this time, we'll count ourselves lucky again. But we're coming prepared either way :-) Thanks for the detailed reply, Susan. After taking into consideration your comments and looking at images others have posted of Kenai Fjords, we’ve settled on the slightly shorter Fox Island trip. The opportunity to stretch our legs on land, if only for a short while, will be a nice change of pace. We’re going to target August 24 as there doesn’t seem to be any cruise ships in either Seward or Whittier that day.

We were so lucky with the weather in June 2001 — sunshine, sunshine, sunshine with nary a raindrop and only the occasional overcast for our two weeks in AK. If the weather is only half as good, this time, we’ll count ourselves lucky again. But we’re coming prepared either way :-)

]]> By: Susan Stevenson http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2010/06/enjoying-seward-part-2-of-3/#comment-5087 Susan Stevenson Sun, 27 Jun 2010 19:34:39 +0000 http://susanstevenson.com/blog/?p=213#comment-5087 Hi Erin, I didn’t realize that the Captain’s Choice tour cuts off on August 22nd. That’s a bummer. As for the other tours: I’ve taken both. The Northwestern Fjord Tour is wonderful in that you go further out to sea and have more opportunities for seeing whales (my favorite). However, it’s about an hour or so too long, IMO. The trip back to Seward seems to take forever and you’ll find many folks napping on the way back. Also, if seas are rough, or it’s raining, 9 hours is a long cruise. The Fox Island itinerary is nice in that you break for a meal (the food was OK), and you can check out Fox Island during the short time you’re there. I can’t rave about this tour, as I’ve only taken it once - and in my opinion the captain should have never taken the boat out. The water was very rough, people were sick (even the Dramamine didn’t help me, as I got nauseous too). They cut the cruise short and brought us back to Seward after we ate. Because of this, we saw nothing. Basically we got a ride to Fox Island and back. The ‘partial’ refund amounted to about $30/pp, which I felt was insulting considering we paid $159+tax for the trip. With that being said, when conditions are right, all of the Kenai Fjord tours are wonderful. If I didn’t enjoy them so much, I wouldn’t continue booking them for me and my guests. :) In the future, I don’t think I’ll book any tour in advance (unless there is an online special which reduces the cost, or it’s the Captain’s Choice which books up fast). I don’t want to to run into the ‘partial refund’ fiasco again. The boats that go to Northwestern are large enough that the chances of it selling out are very low. If your schedule is flexible, you may want to wait until you get to Seward and see what the weather forecast is going to be. You can always walk up to the counter and buy a ticket. I met a guy who showed up the morning of the cruise when the doors opened, and he had no problems buying a seat on the Northwestern tour. Keep in mind that some of the tours can be full due to cruise ship passengers. They only have a small window to cruise while they’re in Seward, but I think they tend to stick with the Fox Island Cruise. I hope this was some help to you. Susan Hi Erin,

I didn’t realize that the Captain’s Choice tour cuts off on August 22nd. That’s a bummer.

As for the other tours: I’ve taken both. The Northwestern Fjord Tour is wonderful in that you go further out to sea and have more opportunities for seeing whales (my favorite). However, it’s about an hour or so too long, IMO. The trip back to Seward seems to take forever and you’ll find many folks napping on the way back. Also, if seas are rough, or it’s raining, 9 hours is a long cruise.

The Fox Island itinerary is nice in that you break for a meal (the food was OK), and you can check out Fox Island during the short time you’re there. I can’t rave about this tour, as I’ve only taken it once - and in my opinion the captain should have never taken the boat out. The water was very rough, people were sick (even the Dramamine didn’t help me, as I got nauseous too). They cut the cruise short and brought us back to Seward after we ate. Because of this, we saw nothing. Basically we got a ride to Fox Island and back. The ‘partial’ refund amounted to about $30/pp, which I felt was insulting considering we paid $159+tax for the trip.

With that being said, when conditions are right, all of the Kenai Fjord tours are wonderful. If I didn’t enjoy them so much, I wouldn’t continue booking them for me and my guests. :)

In the future, I don’t think I’ll book any tour in advance (unless there is an online special which reduces the cost, or it’s the Captain’s Choice which books up fast). I don’t want to to run into the ‘partial refund’ fiasco again.

The boats that go to Northwestern are large enough that the chances of it selling out are very low. If your schedule is flexible, you may want to wait until you get to Seward and see what the weather forecast is going to be. You can always walk up to the counter and buy a ticket. I met a guy who showed up the morning of the cruise when the doors opened, and he had no problems buying a seat on the Northwestern tour.

Keep in mind that some of the tours can be full due to cruise ship passengers. They only have a small window to cruise while they’re in Seward, but I think they tend to stick with the Fox Island Cruise.

I hope this was some help to you.

Susan

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