I’m interested in one of the Canada tours that offer an Alaska cruise as an add-on, but there seems to be precious few details available regarding the cruise either in the brochure or online. 

To that end, I contacted one of your holiday advisors yesterday to ask several questions, in particular about included meals and the cruise itinerary itself - of which only a very basic outline is available.

After much umm-ing and ahh-ing I was told that the price (from £2399) included full board on ship, and that there were 3 ports of call (Juneau, Skagway & Ketchikan) during the 7 day cruise.

Other than that, the holiday advisor was not able to give me any further details, so can you confirm the following for me please:

1. That the meal plan is full board.

2. Will the ship itself be offering any shore excursions? The add-on is not accompanied by a TM so I have to assume that JY won’t be offering any.

3. How long is the ship docked at each port of call?

4. What type of cabin do we get allocated for the headline price? For example, will it be a small inside cabin on a lower deck?

5. If so, are there cabin upgrades available and at what price?

I’m really surprised that so little information is available for this add-on, which hardly encourages people to book it - in fact I was told that of those who had booked the particular main tour I was looking at (Best of Canada’s West p147), no one had booked the cruise add-on.

Many thanks

Mike

Apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

We are working on getting more information online for customers - we know it is a big purchase and are looking at the best way to include the information.

The meal plan is full board.

There are several optional activities offered by Holland America at each port of call. These will not be sold in advance by Just You but customers will have the opportunity to book with Holland America prior to departure.

In Juneau the stop is for 9 hours and optional shore excursions should include a tour of Juneau, visiting the Medenhall Glacier, Rainforest Garden & Museum, Seaplane excursions, and various combinations of these.

In Skagway the stop is for 14 hours and shore excursions should include the White Pass Scenic Railroad, gold panning, dog sledding, walking tours, helicopter tours and various combinations of these.

The ship is in port at Ketchikan for 8 hours with shore excursions likely to be Totem Bight State Park, salmon fishing, and floatplane trips over Misty Fjords.

The price is based on an inside cabin (L grade). There are upgrades available, some cabins grades would be on request. Ocean View supplement from £495.

On the main tour the itinerary ends on day 11 with a flight back to the UK. Those on the add-on will stay one extra night in Vancouver and board the cruise on day 12. Here is a summary of the itinerary.

DAY 11 VANCOUVER

There's more much-appreciated time to explore Vancouver today, with it's culinary scene on the rise, you may choose to enjoy cocktails and a local dish at one of the many promising new restaurants or bars. Experience the local culture and history by visiting a museum or art gallery, such as the Vancouver Art Gallery - housed in one of the city's most notable landmarks and containing over 9000 works of art.

DAYS 12 CRUISE

You'll join your cruise ship today at Vancouver harbour.

DAY 13 THE INSIDE PASSAGE

As your cruise through North America's most scenic coastal landscape begins, you'll want to spend time on deck gazing at the scenery and watching out for wildlife. You never know, you could be lucky enough to spot breaching whales, soaring eagles, inquisitive seals and grizzly bears.

DAY 14 JANEAU

Early this afternoon we'll dock in the Alaskan capital Janeau, where you can step ashore and make your own discoveries of Alaska's number one tourist destination.

DAY 15 SKAGWAY

Today we arrive in Skagway, a lively relic of the 1898 turn-of-the-century buildings, you'll feel like you have stepped back in time.

DAY 16 GLACIER BAY

Get ready for one of the scenic highlights of your cruise as we head to Glacier Bay. You'll see enormous icebergs floating in the blue-green water, and if we're lucky, we might watch as a glacier 'calves', sending thousands of tons of ice into the bay.

DAY 17 KETCHIKAN

This afternoon our journey takes us to Ketchikan, a quaint town clinging to the mountainside. It's a lovely place to explore at your own pace, and maybe sample some fresh Alaskan salmon. Or, you could explore Totem Poles Park, the choice is entirely yours.

DAY 18 CRUISING AT SEA

It's your final day on board, so take every opportunity to appreciate the scenery as it unfurls before your very eyes. We'll cruise the Inside Passage back towards Vancouver and you'll have plenty of time to relax with new-found friends, reliving the wonderful moments you've shared.

DAY 19 VANCOUVER/UK

You will disembark today, after your ship arrives back in Vancouver. We are collected by a guide and will enjoy a short tour, before we transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

DAY 20 UK

You'll arrive in the UK today.

Many thanks,

Vickie

I am really frustrated by this.  I had planned to do the JY Canada tour with Alaska cruise add-on around four years ago, but JY dropped the cruise as they told me they couldn't secure the single cabins.  So I waited for several years to see if that would change.  There was no sign of an Alaska cruise add-on being reintroduced, so earlier this year I booked a Travelsphere Canada tour for 2019, which again didn't offer a cruise add-on.  I chose Travelsphere, because at that point the only JY Canada tour was the Rocky Mountaineer one and I didn't want to do the train.  If only JY had launched their tours earlier (in line with other tour companies and indeed, with Travelsphere) for 2019, I could have re-jigged by holiday plans and booked this new JY Canada tour with the Alaska cruise.  It's hard to win!!

All the best,

Bob

I’d suggest you have a look at the Holland America website for more information on the cruise.

Thank you very much for all the information - that really is a very great help. I’ll phone one of your holiday advisors to get more detail about the price of the different cabin upgrades. I’m guessing that the ‘from £495’ could be for an outside cabin, albeit with a restricted view?

Hi Bob - there are only 5 places available on each of the 3 dates shown for the Alaska cruise add-on. So it would seem that getting cruise ships to allocate cabins for single occupancy is still an issue. 25 places are available in total on the main tour.

Cheers

Mike

Agree this is frustrating.  I would like to do an Alaska cruise, but have never booked because didn't want to go as solo traveller - would have felt too awkward.  So, booked the TS trip - with Bob and others.  I'm sure it will be good - but a real pain that JY are so slow to promote trips.

Katy

Thanks for your comments - unfortunately I can't ask to transfer the tour from Travelsphere to JY, as I now have other holidays booked and have used up all my holiday entitlement!  Also, my holiday budget would prevent me from doing so.  It's already stretched to breaking point (and beyond)!

Hi Katy,

Looking forward to seeing you and Julie in Canada next year (as well as a little sooner than that!).  I'm sure it will be a great trip.  Great company will help!!

All the best,

Bob

Yes, I believe that's correct, although our holiday advisors will be able to confirm exact prices and cabin type.

Many thanks,

Vickie

I did the Alaska cruise add-on in 2010.

The ship docks early morning and stays all day, leaving in the evening. There was one day at sea at the beginning and end to get to/from Vancouver. There was also a whole day spent cruising in Glacier Bay and when I went we stopped at the head of the bay (engine off so very quiet) for about 30 minutes listening to the creaks, groans and splashes as the glacier moved.

I did the White Pass Scenic railway trip and would recommend it - the scenery is tremendous. I also did a walk at Juneau and one of the pictures I took of the Medenhall Glacier is the screen saver on my computer.

Peter

Yes, I’d already visited the Holland America website and looked at the virtual tour of the Niew Amsterdam ship, as well as seeing their itinerary. Vickie’s extra information however, has been most useful.

And thank you for the recommendations regarding the miners railroad from Skagway and the Wyatt Earp bar in Juneau. If I book, I’ll be sure to pay Wyatt Earp a visit!

Cheers

Mike

Thank you for the information on the cruise, it is very helpful. I have booked the cruise following my Canada and the Rocky Mountaineer holiday in May 2019. I have been told that others have also booked the add on so my worry about being on my own on the ship has been averted.

I know that we will not have a TM to accompany us on the cruise but will JY be arranging for a local guide to provide transport to the ship  and to the airport at the start and end of the cruise?

Also I notice that the Best of Canada's West holiday offers the same cruise on the same date as my holiday, will JY  be arranging a get together for people from both holidays to get to know each other before the cruise?

Many thanks

Eddie S

Thanks for the info - I don't think I'd like to be in a group of just five singles on a big cruise ship! Also the price for the add-on is astronomical!  I think it used to be around £1200 for the Alaska cruise...

All the best,

Bob

Many thanks for the information, and for the recommendation of the White Pass Scenic Railway. I really need to make my mind up about this tour before it gets booked up.

Cheers

Mike

I would like to share my experiences of the Alaska cruise when we did it as an add-on to our JY Rockies Tour in September 2007.

We were on the Norwegian Cruise Line's "Norwegian Star". From what I can remember Margaret and I had to share a cabin. I have a feeling that it was because if we wanted a single cabin we would have paid a hefty supplement (like the Kenyan Safari).

Because of low numbers on the whole tour, Rockies bit as well, our JY group was integrated with a Page and Moy Group and a TS group. We had  a very young lady as our TM working for all of us, she certainly had her work cut out. The JY group were the only ones to have a meal included,breakfast, on the Rockies bit of the holiday. 

I remember Charlotte, the very young and inexperienced TM frequently pushing an elderly gent, on the tour, in a wheel chair and who was accompanied by his wife, around.

There were plenty of shore excursions to book once we were onboard our ship.

The railway at Skagway is great as has been mentioned previously. We chose to do the "Ultimate White Pass and Yukon Experience" The railway is 20 miles long and terminates at Fraser. On this tour when we arrived at Fraser we did a coach journey into the Yukon, after showing our passports as it was the border of America and Canada. We travelled along the Klondike Highway with a break and photo stop at Carcross. Lunch was at Caribou Crossing which was followed by a highlight.- Fifteen minutes of dog sledding (sleds on wheels as no snow). Unfortunately when we arrived at Caribou Crossing we were the only ones at the restaurant who hadn't seen a grizzly bear- or a black one, come to that.

In Ketchikan we hadn't booked any excursions so we ambled around town under our own steam, walked along the creek, watched salmon leaping, visited the Deer Mountain Tribal Hatchery and Eagle Centre and ended up at the Totem Historical Museum.

In Juneau we did a "Whale watching and wildlife quest" excursion. Seeing humpback whales and sealions was good but the scenery spectacular!

Just looking at my invoice for the Norwegian Star, we paid 175$ for the White Pass Railway and 124$  for the whale watching (2007 prices).

Unfortunately Mike if you are inspired to do this tour (know you enjoyed your winter Rockies  trip), you still won't get to Katmai.

I really enjoyed this holiday but only after having an injection for seasickness from the ship's doctor after travel pills had failed, even in a fairly calm sea. It can only be me.

Kind Regards

Di

At that time it was accompanied by a TM who was useless - we never saw her! However this was not a problem as the ship offered a wide range of excursions which were easily booked through their excursion desk. At the end of the tour, again the ship arranged all the disembarkation procedures.

A really good add-on which I can thoroughly recommend and don't worry about not being accompanied by a TM, the ship will look after you.

The add-on is very expensive, I agree, but I’ve looked at this exact cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam on the Holland America website, and the price for double occupancy of an inside cabin is £1289 pp. If you change your request for the same cabin to single occupancy, the price rockets to £2395.70; a single supplement of just over £1100! So it would seem that it’s the cruise line who are responsible for the high pricing of this add-on. JY’s price includes an extra night in the hotel in Vancouver.

I’m guessing that Holland America really DON’T want single people on board their vessels!

Cheers

Mike

All the best,

Bob

Regards

Jaya

I have been looking at/researching the Canada East to West Tour ever since I received the new brochure. I was also disappointed by the lack of information re the cruise ‘add on’.

However, looking at the cruise line’s website the details are pretty comprehensive. Clearly the cabin price is doubled for ‘singles’, which is disappointing. There appears to be some very exciting excursions, albeit with a hefty price tag.

I was intending phoning the JY advisors, but having read this thread I think all my questions have been answered bar one. On the final day what’s the procedure from docking at 7:00 am. until the 8:00 pm. flight ? A long time to kill especially if laden down with a suitcase ! And do JY lay on transfers from ship to plane ?

Having costed the 4 week trip (!) my guesstimate is ...

with Rocky Mountaineer + cruise. 9298

RM upgrade. 459

Flight return upgrade (the long, overnight one) 450

At least 10 JY optional excursions. 640

At least 4 cruise excursions. (I like the planes/helicopters !) 700

Tour meals. 300

Cruise meals (when off ship). 40

Tips. 213

Spending money. 400

GRAND TOTAL. 12,500

A hefty overall cost, but it will be the holiday of a lifetime. And ‘takes care’ of Canada !

Also, much better value, for me, than the Maharajas’ Express ...

Hot off the Press ... ALL BOOKED !!

(only 3 cruise spots now left in case you’re considering)

Now, let’s get this Winter nonsense over and done with ...

Roger