I took two and half months. I spent extra time in Anchorage, Alyeska, a fishing camp in the middle of nowhere, a Harley rally in Fairbanks and another in Kenai. I wasn't in any hurry.

I am in total awwww. we went in July and it was kind of cold. 55f
I have heard it can be a scary drive though. Did you find that ?
I forget the name of the highway I heard if you break down you could be left there unnoticed for a long long time.Miles and miles of nothing.

I don't deal in fear much. I took extra tires (and used them all), extra gas, bought a gun for the bears (they took my guns away in Canada!), and was pretty much self contained anyway. There was anything to fear.

The gravel road to the North Slope is 1,000 miles round trip with huge pot holes and the oil service trucks DO NOT STOP. I saw Dall Sheep (magnificent!), whales, lots of bears, scores of eagles, prairie dogs at the Arctic (that was just weird!) and tons of other stuff.

Anyone who likes nature should get a thrill from what I got to see. It was my summer trip. I have made two winter trips up there too!

The whales were a sight I will never forget. I have never seen them in their natural habitat and it took my breath away. I saw a bear too and lots of eagles but that was about it.
I wish I could do a trip like you did someday. Sounds like something out of this world. I still dream of going back there.

I've been to both.. and prefer a cruise..

having your hotel, dining and limo combined.. gets you to places you'd not get to on an otherwise restricted budget.. by paying one price.. you get everything included (unless you jump on a bunch of ship offered excursions)..

when I went to Europe with my girls.. they had the option prior to, to either do 10 days at Disney OR 3 weeks in Europe.. they made the right choice and we saw 6 countries in that amount of time.. plus they got to see New York City so.. I'd rather cruise than be stuck in one place too long.. another up side to cruises is.. if you like one place in particular.. you can always go back and stay awhile.. if you don't.. that's just another destination checked off the old bucket list as been there 'n done that

I have been on three cruises myself and absolutely loved them.
You feel the same way I do about getting to go to a few different places rather than just one. I always got a cabin with an ocean view balcony, so when I got 'peopled out' I could just sit there and relax. Fantastic!!
Are you planning another one?

Resort ... I don't trust those big ships

yup.. planning another 3 actually (more if I have MY way LOL) .. WHEN I go is another story altogether though.. need a new roof and a 60' retaining wall for part of one side of my property.. so travel's on hold for a bit.. I have girlfriends though that I turned onto cruising and they've booked an Hawaiian one for next spring (2015).. and like you.. I always take a room with a balcony..

I'm very picky about WHO I cruise with though.. which actually offers lots of bonuses.. including personalized (snail mail) christmas cards and plenty of discounts mind you.. I had to ask them to stop calling.. which really sucks when ya can't go anywhere

and you?

Its not the ships its the big water underneath them lol

I would go in a heartbeat if I could. Right now though I have two palliative Dogs that need full time care.
The one has Diabetes, and needs insulin injections twice a day , along with that he is on a very stick feeding schedule 4 times a day.
The other one has Cancer ,
But that Hawaiian one sounds wonderful.
I have only ever used NCL cruise ships. Who do you like?

I'm very sorry to hear about your ailing friends and empathize completely.. mine has an immunity disorder that doesn't allow her to mingle with any other dogs.. her last bout went on for about 1 year and with blood transfusions, meds and testing.. gets pretty darned costly..

as for who?? NCL alll the wayyyyy!!!
I've been on other lines but NO one that I feel AS safe with, then them.. they know how to build their ships AND how to navigate with 'em too.. not to forget they really know how to entertain, feed and take care of you!!! Did you know they encourage seniors too for those that want to retire and cruise (instead of ending up in an old folks home) it's actually cheaper.. and the foods WAY healthier AND tastier.. that's pretty freakin awesome if ya ask me!!

the ones I PLAN to do are.. Alaska, Hawaii and Northern Europe(28 days and 18 countries )
where's your next one going??

awww sorry about your dog. I know how expensive an ailing pet can be. The insulin and syringes for my dog is a lot every month. But what can I do, he needs it.


Yes I think NCL is a great cruise Line. Probably not as well known as Carnival though.

Honestly if I had my choice I would go back to Alaska, but I would be happy to go anywhere lol
There is a pic on my profile right now ,that I took from the Balcony of the ship in Alaska. The black blob you see is a bear. How cool is that?

thanks Betty.. we do what we can for our loved ones huh

Carnival has TONS of problems.. they were in the news several times and just last year with that one being stranded at sea.. the ships are built too big and aren't designed for proper 'big water' travel.. as it's being discovered with recent events.. however NCL has a better designed fleet (akin to a large Navy Cutter) where they are more 'sea worthy' than other lines I've looked at (or tried).. besides.. I like the more intimate approach NCL has.. they treat everyone with such respect and are soo courteous.. they're my kinda of 'vacation'

just checked out your pic.. NICE!! NCL has a new cruise supposedly starting from BC to BC so now we won't have to go to the Seattle just to end up back in BC.. making airline travel that much simpler!!

I have pics on my profile from my Euro cruise.. aMAZing trip!! I'll never return to Egypt though too freakin scary!!!

My Daughter is going on a cruise with Carnival On the 22nd. To Florida , Jamaica , and somewhere else .
The last time she was went with Carnival her ship hit another one docking. She was ok ,thank God.

I looks at your pics. they are beautiful. What is the one that looks like its on right near water. ?

My niece and her husband went to Egypt for their Honeymoon. They were there right before all the trouble started. There were parts of it they liked and parts they were disappointed in.

I like the idea of BC to BC. Does sound easier.

the only part I didn't like about Egypt was.. the 2 a-holes that tried kidnapping my kids by tossing them on camels and walking away with'em.. yeah.. they didn't figure I'd be so quick OR soo loud.. you should have HEARD the mouth on me.. mind you.. there was another part I didn't much care for (but appreciated in the moment).. the slews of army guys toting AK's who had my back.. for some reason after that.. they all called me Canada Dry

it's beautiful, isn't it? that one is of Valletta in Malta.. what a GORGEOUS place.. I'd do a time share there if I could.. you'd love it too I'm SURE.. friendly people, quiet'n peaceful.. the water is an amazing color (as you saw in the pic) I really love history.. another reason why I enjoyed this place soo much.. if you've ever been to St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and thought WOW.. you'd be FLOORED by St. John's Cathedral in Valletta.. words can't describe what they have going on there.. the historical artifacts.. the ONLY signed work of Caravaggio (Michelangelo).. but I digress.. although it IS the home of the Knights of Malta and also was a haven for Napoleon for a brief moment.. just a fantastic place.. and as you saw in the pic.. the city is formed out of the rock! definitely a place I'd return.. there and Athens..

great now I wanna go back

wow I would have freaked out too if somebody did that to my girls.
Were they actually trying to kidnap them or just trying to get money?
Were your kids ok?

When we were docked in Antiqua It was swarming with Locals trying to make money. I was literally shoved in a seat and a woman started to braid my hair. I was yelling at her to stop, I didn't want it and she wouldn't stop. Then another Native woman came over started yelling at the other one and told me for 12 dollars she would take out the 3 braids the other one put in . Ask me if I was impressed lol

Anyhow that place in Malta does look very beautiful. For some reason I though it was in Italy.
I myself have never to Italy but my Husband was born and raised in Rome, the pics he had were beautiful and he had many stories of Italy...many many stories lol

Were you allowed enough time in each port? That sometimes is a problem with taking a cruise. not enough time in port,especially if you need a tendor boat to get to them.

their original plan, as it seems, was to try to kidnap them.. they ONLY stopped walking in the opposite direction once our armed escort yelled at them in their native tongue.. then they made it SEEM like they were just taking them for a camel ride.. and after a long and heated argument between them and our tour guide, she came to me and said she negotiated a 'settlement' for 10 US dollars EACH.. I grabbed my girls, loudly stated "extortionists", tossed a 5 at them and walked away holding tightly onto my kids.. the tour guide was going to say something until she looked at my face, then just turned and walked away.. I understand they may have a hard life.. but if they were to come visit HERE.. we'd NEVER treat them with that kind of disrespect and disdain.. however I'm told it helped that I was a Canadian.. WOW

kids are fine.. they didn't want to leave the ship after that but I DID manage to get them on land again at our next port of call.. which thankfully, was Malta

man.. what you described happening in Antigua was very similar to the reception we got when we first arrived at the Giza Pyramids in Cairo.. oh yeah.. in Jamaica too it happened.. pushy doesn't cut it for me either.. and they don't seem to realize the impact they have on their own travel industry shame really.. someone should teach them how to increase touristy..

You'd love Rome I'm sure.. it has beautiful countrysides (coming in from the ship was an hours car ride) I had connected with a friends "cousin" who happened to be an Historian AND professor of history at a Roman University to be our 'tour guide'.. what an aMAZING day.. he was supposed to have only 6 hrs for us but considering I was "his star pupil" (seems he loved that I loved history soo much AND pretty much hung on his every word LOL) that he spent 11 hrs with us.. fascinating is an understatement.. we weren't supposed to but he ended up taking us to the Colosseum.. took us to a special entrance where we skipped the HUGE line-up and passed right in.. (assume he has connections ) his only remark was.. "I've a sense you'll get this".. and when we walked out the other side at the end, where he was waiting.. he ran up to me, smiled and hugged me, after seeing the tears streaming down my face.. he knew I got it.. then he dropped us at an out of the way "authentic Mom 'n Pop" restaurant and we dined like royalty.. it was pricey(Rome itself is very pricey).. but SOOO worth it.. amazing adventure.. and lots more stories LOL but I'm sure you've heard enough from your husband

I wouldn't buy jewelry in Rome.. but I DID get some in Athens.. however that may have had something to do with the man that walked up to us, while we were exploring on our own.. that's a whole other story though.. albeit a good one

totally had enough time in every port.. NCL times it right.. I think their crew scopes out how long it would take to see all the things people would normally want to visit then adds a few extra hours for leisure and plans around that.. I've not been disappointed YET in their schedules.. not in the least!! but HAVE seen (every time) people RUNNING to Jump onboard AFTER our scheduled departure LOL) oh and.. all the cruises I've been on, have docked at a pier.. where were you anchored that needed a shuttle?

That was an awful ordeal you and your girls went through. I can't even imagine the terror you must have felt at the time.
I am so happy it had a happy ending.

The tendor boats we needed were in the Caribbean, to get us to the Bahamas . Mostly we never got to go because of bad weather. Also we took one to go on a submarine ride. That was really cool. I forget how far down it went in the ocean, but it went down pretty deep. We saw coral reefs, all kinds of fish and even a shark went by. I was scared a first , but I really loved it and would do it again.

I see on your profile you are from Quebec. That is another beautiful place. I went there some time back , to old Quebec.
I love the old world charm there.
We went to Chateau Frontenac. Very nice and quaint.
The restaurants had such good food too.

I would love to spend a few weeks at the Breakers in Palm Beach....wiht enuff cash to have fun :)

ditto