Alaska Cruise Sale

Author Message   Kenneth E Cantrell Member Username: Kcantrell Post Number: 10 Registered: 06-2007 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 12:57 pm:    Anton is a travel agent there, just call the 1-800 # and his extension is 613. Not sure about why the AF is the only one there, that was my service, but have had others who were not AF book thru him.   Dakota Ray Intermediate Member Username: Rhammer Post Number: 18 Registered: 05-2007 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 01:38 am:    Hello Gene and Kenneth, I do think that the Dargal site works but it may have to be worked a little more. My older emails from Dargal indicate that it depends on the cruise line. I don't want to be at the ship and find out that I don't qualify for the rate. My friend has a daughter that worked for a cruise line and he had an "out" as well as the military background. I will reseach it further in the next few months-I am traveling to South Dakota within a week. If anyone gets further information/guidance, please post it.   Gene Williams Senior Member Username: Gene_w Post Number: 114 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Saturday, July 28, 2007 - 01:09 am:    Kenneth, Is "Anton Prins" a travel agent, a personal friend, or what? If he's commercial - do you have a contact number or address for him? The dargal.com website is interesting in that on the pul ldown-list USAF is the only military service listed on their registration form Wonder what's up with that? Gene W.   Kenneth E Cantrell Member Username: Kcantrell Post Number: 9 Registered: 06-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 05:31 am:    I work with Anton Prins up there, I just sent him a copy of my DD 214 and he got all the info and qualified me for the discounts. This was about 4 yrs ago, but have had great service from him. I know RCCL now has a separate price for military, and interliners. If it helps tell him I recommended him. (you will probably be charged double 8-) ) He has done some cruises for other friend of mine. They were AGR tho. I know Carnival gives discounts to veterans, you don't have to be retired.   Dakota Ray Intermediate Member Username: Rhammer Post Number: 17 Registered: 05-2007 Posted on Thursday, July 26, 2007 - 02:48 am:    Hi Group, Thanks for all the contributions to this string. Kenneth, I was told about Dargal before and it was indicated that retired Military personal were qualified by a friends info but when I tried to make a reservation, they would not complete it-mainly wanted an ID number, employee number with a now existing airline, cruise line, etc. Do you have any hints? Maybe it was just that cruise or maybe the person that I was talking to. You seem to have some experience--can you share it?   Kenneth E Cantrell Junior Member Username: Kcantrell Post Number: 6 Registered: 06-2007 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 08:08 pm:    I have cruised on Carnival, RCCL, Princess & Celebrity. Have gotten Military(Interliner) discounts on all. I use www.Dargal.com out of Canada. Thier website shows all the cruises and prices. Just takes a copy of DD214 to them to qualify as interliner.   Edwin B McConville Senior Member Username: Perkyva1 Post Number: 805 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Monday, July 23, 2007 - 02:52 pm:    Dakota & all: Am on the emailing list for Princess cruises; rec'd a recent email describing Sep 7 day south bound cruises from Whittier, Alaska to Vancouver for $399 to $499. We did an 11 day land/ship cruise on a Princess ship from Fairbanks to Whittier to Vancouver which was just outstanding a couple of yrs ago. One of our guides said the best time to see Alaska is in the early fall-Sep- as the colors are just brilliant; it is a good time to see the Aurora Borealis-northern lights also.   Doris Noblet Senior Member Username: Dorknob Post Number: 863 Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 04:12 pm:    Dakota, check out VacationstoGo.com. They list the cruise lines that give military discounts, with links to the cruises offered. Also, check the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry website. I believe they have a Senior discount in the fall. We did the Inside Passage trip one year with Elderhostel and the ferries can wend their way through narrow passages that the cruise ships can't get into. Puts you into closer contact with the shore. The meals on board are fabulous - made-to-order breakfasts and lots of fresh seafood. Of course, it's not inexpensive, but when we went Elderhostel was paying the bill!   Dakota Ray Intermediate Member Username: Rhammer Post Number: 16 Registered: 05-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 03:04 pm:    Thanks for the info. I had heard that the southbound trip was also better but I don't remember why. A quick search of Kayak.com indicates very reasonable prices on all cruise lines. At one time I had a website or list of cruise lines that gave discounts to military retirees. I did Carnival to the Mexican Rivera in May and I know that they did. Does anyone have a website that indicates which have military rates? You have got me excited but it may have to wait as I have a trip planned to S.D. the first part of August.   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 1502 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 02:43 pm:    Dakota, we have done the cruise twice. First was Vancouver to Stewart. It was mid to late May, and when we were leving port the snow flakes were coming down. That was my favorite of the two, we went to a town called Haines, and the cruise up to it was the best. Next time we did Seatle to Seatle.This one stopped for the last port of call in Victoria. We had been there befor so, again just did our own thing. If you have not been them you might want to go to Buschart Gardens, a lovely place. This was not as good a cruise, both were on Holland American. We did not take any of the ships tours, but did our own thing. In Juneau, there are all kinds of tours on the pier when you get off. Our second cruise was the end of August. Both times we had good wheather, cool, but nice.   Doris Noblet Senior Member Username: Dorknob Post Number: 862 Registered: 09-2003 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 12:52 pm:    "When would be the latest cruise to do and still have good weather?" Dakota Ray, to answer your question, fall and winter come early to Alaska. The leaves start to turn in mid-August and they've been known to have ice storms in mid-September. So, I would say June, July, and the first two weeks of August would be the best time to go. The first glacier I ever saw was Mindenhall near Juneau and it is beautiful. Fairbanks has lots of nice attractions, such as panning for gold at a gold mine, the riverboat cruise, good seafood restaurants, the museum at the Univ. of Alaska Fairbanks, good birding, but it resembles a frontier town. Anchorage, on the other hand, is a "big city" like any city you'd find in the Lower 48, although the surrounding scenery is great. Seward is my favorite town, beautiful setting, the Sealife Center, good fishing, a glacier nearby, reminds me of a New England town on the ocean. The trip from Anchorage to Seward is one of the most scenic in Alaska.   Cherry C. Senior Member Username: Cherry Post Number: 2492 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 11:03 am:    Years ago I was advised by a travel agent to try to cruise from North to South in Alaska, because the air connections are so much better (especially if traveling from home in the East or Midwest) on that itinerary. We took Royal Caribbean because it was part of an excellent land-sea tour (run by Grand Circle Travel) that included several days each in Fairbanks, Denali National Park and Anchorage before going to Seward to board the ship. However, we agree that Holland America is our favorite cruise line and they have terrific tour packages for Alaska and the Inside Passage. In many ports you can very happily just wander around on your own (perhaps with the aid of a guide book) because they're small, but the train ride in Skagway is a must-do.   Dakota Ray Intermediate Member Username: Rhammer Post Number: 15 Registered: 05-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 03:09 am:    John, Thanks for the info. It all sounds good to me. It sounds like a very enjoyable trip!! Any information (good or bad) from other readers on this site is encouraged. When would be the latest cruise to do and still have good weather?   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 248 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 02:35 am:    Dakota: I sailed with Holland America (ms Zuiderdam). This was our second trip to Alaska. Last time we sailed on the Staatendam (another one of those ...dam ships). Last time we hit Ketchikan, Juneau, Glacier Bay, Sitka and terminated in Seward. The r/t to/from Vancouver really decreases the logistics ie don't have to return from a different port, air etc. Border crossings took over an hour....may look for ships in/out of Seattle v Vancouver. Both cruises were "nature" cruises...cameras and binoculars are essential! Lot's of wildlife on shore and in the water. Highlight was the narrow gauge train ride in Skaguay. A must do. Also highly recommend the float plane/boat trp at Ketchikan (last time). And trip to Mindenhall Glacier at Juneau. There are no bad decisions! Happy Travels, John   Dakota Ray Intermediate Member Username: Rhammer Post Number: 14 Registered: 05-2007 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 02:11 am:    Hi John, What cruise line?? Can you give me some more info--maybe on the trip reports or on this string. I am in the Sacramento area and would love to do a cruise like this. What are the things you liked, disliked, would do differently, etc.   John R Garrison Senior Member Username: Majorg Post Number: 247 Registered: 02-2006 Posted on Sunday, July 22, 2007 - 12:14 am:    Phyllis: Just returned from a 7 day Alaska cruise r/t from Vancouver. Drove from Spokane area. Stayed one night at the Navy Lodge at Oak Harbor. Drove next day to docks at Vancouver. Parked at Cruisepark. Free shuttle to/from Canada Place docks. Itinery included Juneau, Skagway (loved the train ride!), Glacier Bay and Ketchikan. Fantastic! Staying at Q in NAS Whidbey for tonight and will return to Spokane area via northern route (WA 20). Happy Travels, John   Phyllis DeLancey Senior Member Username: Phyllis Post Number: 1427 Registered: 06-2003 Posted on Wednesday, June 06, 2007 - 07:57 pm:    I just got a card in the mail from MOAA Vacations and they have so great prices for Alaska. From now to July 1st, they have rates from $399 to $799. for both inside and outside rooms. If interested call 8000211-5107 or visit the website a www.MOAAvacations.com happy sailing, Phyllis