Like the idea of learning cribbage if you have the patience for a fast learning newcomer. I'm into mahjong and Mexican trains but am always looking for something new - last cruise we went on the only game on offer was scrabble and everyone was sooo serious.

We've been looking at tours but are tending to plan on doing our own thing and deciding what to do when we get there or going with a small group rather than pre-booking tours. There are some good suggestions on the various cruise talk forums I've checked.

Not long to go now - just hoping the flu that's just hit Tasmania stays away from us.

Kim & Michael

Chris & Dale, what excursions are you thinking of?  If you need extras for some we are definitely down with it.  Since we live in Vancouver we are not too interested in the rainforest walks (we live in a rainforest and walk on trails by rivers etc. all the time!) but everything else has interest.  We definitely want to do some sort of glacier walk or similar though!

Also teaching cribbage is super easy and SCRABBLE sounds like tons of fun.  Our method is to have a couple of bevvies and not take it at all seriously so it sounds like we'll play well together :p.

In Ketchekan, take the Train ride to White Pass.  It is great to see the Scenery.  From Green to Snow.  Keep a watch out for the Bears.  Great Picture from the back Deck on the cars.  Get on the front or rear cars.  Both will be at the back of the train, going or comming.  Great place to take Pictures.  Go to Mendenhal!!  If Sitka is still on this tour,  you get a really good shot of a Volcano going in and out.  I am already planning a return trip, next year.  Unfortunetly not with Carnival, as they are cutting back on the cities visited and the time in each.  Sitka is small but Beautiful.  Visit the Church in town.  ENJOY!!! IT'S GREAT

Clarence

We are thinking of going to Mendenhall Glacier and checking out the tram in Juneau, I've talked to Dave about a trip on the train and to Emerald Lake in Skagway and we're not sure in Ketchikan.  Looking at a walking tour there if nothing else come up,   I'd love to do something, but am not real high on spending hundreds each on a float plane trip or anything like that...  Nothing is realy in stone yet, but I think we're counting on the train (weather permiting) and tour in Skagway.   What is everyone else looking at doing? 

I understand about the rainforest walks.  We live on a ranch and on our last cruise I could not understand why the people we sat with spent so much money to ride 4 wheelers.  I told them they could come here and drag our pastures for free.  We use the Grizzly 660 4wd to drag where the tractor cannot go and it's as challenging a course as you would ever want to make it!  Paying someone to ride horses or look at puppies is kinda backwards too.  I'm usually the one who GETS PAID to ride the horse or evaluate the puppies!   Which tour is right for you really depends on where you're coming from...

Dale had to teach me how to play Cribbage and it's real easy to play as you're learning.   Sometimes the points can be a little difficult to add up, but your teacher can help you even if he's playing against you because by then the hand is over (that doesn't make much sense does it?). 

We definitely are doing the train in Skagway as that's been recommended to us by several people.  Supposed to be amazing!  We'll book that one this weekend -- just unsure which version of the train excursion to book.  The only tragedy is that we will miss opening day of the NFL season :) as we're both football mad.

No idea what's up in Juneau or Ketchikan yet and I suppose we're sort of hoping we stumble upon someone with a great idea!

And yeah some crib hands can be interesting to add but nobody's going to complain about waiting a few seconds after a hand to count.

If you like Timbersports check out the Lumberjack show in Ketchekan and go to Dollys Whorehouse.  The old Town is really nice.  A beautiful stream down the middle and plenty of shops.  Take a bus trip out to the Totem Heritage Center.  Your Eyes will be tired arter taking in all of the WONDERS. 

Clarence

I'm just afraid to book the train in Skagway this early in case it is pouring when we get there -   It's kinda expensive if we don't get the view...  Dale is looking forward to it, he really likes trains, but we've got reservations after the cruise on Amtrak to Seattle, Portland and on to Minneapolis.  I might just cure him of liking trains after this trip is over.  :-)

Updated profile with an avatar pic so anyone who wants to say hi knows what we look like... from like 100 yards away :)

 Hi Wanderlust

We are also  on the B2B trip for Sept 9th and Sept 16th cruises.  This is our first cruise (for me at least). We fly in from Melbourne on the 5th Sept for sight seeing around Vancouer and Victoria. After the cruise we have 5 days in Hawaii before flying back home. We are on deck 8 for the Alaskan cruise and  Deck  7 for the Hawaii cruise. we only booked 4 weeks ago  (and were lucky to get cabins) ...last minute thing...but really looking forward to the cruise. The information everyone is sharing is great.

We think its a great idea for B2Bs to meet up on board as you suggested..

 Regards

Charles and Catherine

Hi Charles & Catherine:

Wow, were you lucky to be able to book both cruises just 4 weeks ago...I thought the Hawaii leg was sold out.  Great to have other B2B cruisers with us. 

I would HIGHLY recommend that you join up with the Hawaii group at www.cruisecritic.com. (aka: cc site).   Once on the site, go to "boards" then "carnival" then "Hawaii 9-16-09".  Mention that wanderlust sent you from the Carnival site.  My name on the cc site is hitdaroad.  We've got tons of active, fun, informative people on the site and lots of activities planned to meet up, decorate doors, poker crawl, gift exchange, etc...  The lady facilitating it is so organized and has it all described in her posting on that site.   The Alaska 9-9-09 also has a group on the board but much smaller and not as many postings.  I think they may be meeting up but I've been so busy with the Hawaii group that I haven't checked the Alaska group for a while. 

We are just getting into Vancouver 1 day prior and not staying in Hawaii after the cruise ends....would love to but time is limited for us to holiday. 

Hope to see you over on CC site....it's easier/more secure to communicate there so we can chat more in depth. 

L&P

Charles & Catherine: 

Oops, I forgot a couple of steps for getting you to us at cruise critic.  So here is the corrected way to reach us.  www.cruisecritic.com  then click "Boards" (top left side of website), you scroll down to "Roll Calls....Members Only" and click "Carnival" It then pulls up all the ships, then you click on "Carnival Spirit".  Then it takes you to page of all sailings that have chat boards.  Find the "Hawaii 9-16-09" and click on it....that is all of us...one big happy cruising family.  

L&P

 I signed up at Cruise Critic for their boards -- their thread about this cruise has a bunch more people too!

Charles and Catherine:

Wanted to update you that the Alaska 9-9-09 cruise critic chat group is doing a meet and greet also. It's going to be on 9-10-09...if you go the cruise critic site and use the directions I have before but click on the 9-9-09 Alaska link and all the info is on there.  Folks are also organizing for games and maybe some excursions.   There is another couple that just re-connected who are also doing the B2B....they are from Tasmania. 

Hope you get a chance to connect with all of us at Alaska and Hawaii chats over on cruise critic....the info there is very detailed and folks are giving lots of great tips about excursions, Vancouver,etc....

L&P

Hi Kim -

Hubby and I just got back from Alaska couple days ago.  In Ketchikan, we went to Rainforest - Raptor Center.  Saw bears and eagles - very cool.  In Skagway, we went Dogsledding.  That was awesome.  Bus ride to camp was informative and fun. Actual sledding was short, but very cool.  Talk with Mike King afterwards was the best.  He's informative, fun, smart, and obviously loves the dogs.  Juneau was sea kayaking and did tram up Mount Roberts.  Both were really good.  Make sure to do the hike at top of Mt. Roberts. 

If I could pick one trip to really brag about, it's the Dog sledding.  All excursions were enjoyable, but the mushing was the one we talk about to everyone.

Hope this helps - If you have any questions, e-mail me at lamphere5@frontiernet.net. 

Randie