Can someone tell me when and if Trafalgar will give me the optional tours for the cruise? I know they get booked out in advance so I'd really like to book ahead so I don't miss out, our cruise departs 3rd September.

The Holland America site doesn't give you an exact amount of how much the optionals are so it makes it hard to budget. I've seen the optionals on their site and have thought that I might like the Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier and the Alaskan Bear Adventure although they look pretty pricey.

Has anyone taken these optionals and if so are they worth it?

quote:

Originally posted by Winnie Pooh:
Can someone tell me when and if Trafalgar will give me the optional tours for the cruise? I know they get booked out in advance so I'd really like to book ahead so I don't miss out, our cruise departs 3rd September.

The Holland America site doesn't give you an exact amount of how much the optionals are so it makes it hard to budget. I've seen the optionals on their site and have thought that I might like the Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier and the Alaskan Bear Adventure although they look pretty pricey.

Has anyone taken these optionals and if so are they worth it?

Hi Winnie,

I doubt that Trafalgar would have that information, send an email to Holland America and ask for prices, you do need to book well ahead of the cruise for some optionals, I have an old optional list (two years old) for Princess Cruises listing the optionals you are talking about, and yes they are pricey. I presume the optionals would be around the same price, I will be happy to give you those if you would like them, plus any others.

Bear with me on this one Winnie, but ... is this a TT Tour ?

Or, ... is this Missie's point ?

Mike ~ This is part of a Trafalgar tour, I believe Winnie is taking the Rockies Panorama with Alaskan Cruise, the optionals on the cruise portion are run by Holland America, Winnie would receive the list of these optionals along with the rest of her tour doc's.

Holland America also have these listed online but obviously without the prices, as I said previously some of these optionals sell out well ahead of time, therfore they really need to be booked a couple of months in advance, Winnie needs to ask Trafalgar if she needs to book these optionals through them or direct with the cruise line.

Unfortunately we here in Australia only seem to get our tour documents about two weeks prior to the tour, in most cases this would be too late to book the particular optionals that Winnie is talking about.

quote:

Originally posted by Winnie Pooh:
Can someone tell me when and if Trafalgar will give me the optional tours for the cruise? I know they get booked out in advance so I'd really like to book ahead so I don't miss out, our cruise departs 3rd September.

The Holland America site doesn't give you an exact amount of how much the optionals are so it makes it hard to budget. I've seen the optionals on their site and have thought that I might like the Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier and the Alaskan Bear Adventure although they look pretty pricey.

Has anyone taken these optionals and if so are they worth it?

Winnie Pooh,
I am booked on an Alaskan cruise with HAL and the price I have found for the option "Dog Sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier' is $534 USD. I did not find the price of the 'Bear Adventure' but it appears to be about the same.
Gene

The year I went on a Holland American Cruise Tour to Alaska, the shore excursion manager told us at the explanation meeting, that not once all that year was the dog sledding on the glacier available after the cruise left port. So if you have your heart set at that, sign up quickly.

Winnie Pooh - Sorry to bust in on your thread but I have just gone thru this situatin for a cruise starting on June 1. If you go into the Holland America website and click on the item for Booked Guests you will find an item marked Shore Excursions. Click on that and put in your booking number. It should be on your documents from your TA. It will also ask for your last name. The shore excursions will come up and you will be able to look at the ones listed for each town you will be in. It also lists the cost in US$ and you will be able to sign up for what you want if they are still available. You will need your credit card number. They will send you a confirmation. If what you want is not available you can be put on a wait list in case someone cancels. I hope this answers your question. RubyS - Texas.

Thank you everyone and Ruby I'll have to ask my TA for the booking number as this is what I'll do once I have the number. I have been on Holland America's site and saw that you had to have a booking number but didn't think that my TA would already have this as I did book this tour and cruise in August last year. So thanks for the info, I'll let you know what I choose.

I emailed Trafalgar the same day I posted this thread and asked about the shore excursions. I'm still waiting for a reply!!!!! Does anyone know how long it takes for them to reply to emails?

Winnie ~ Did you contact Trafalgar using the "Contact us" button at the bottom of this page????

Try posting a message to TTWeb here and see how you go.

Yes, Missie I used the contact us button. Why wouldn't that work?

Winnie ~ Click on the link below and ask TTWeb to follow it up for you, they will get answers for you. Just remember it is the weekend in Australia so you may not hear back before next week.

TTWeb

Hi Missie
Thanks for your help but I had already asked my TA for the booking number and Trafalgar had given her a number that didn't work. When I went on Holland America site and entered the number it told me that the booking was cancelled so I emailed my TA who then rang Trafalgar and they sorted it out and gave her a new number which works. So with all that sorted out I'm able to access the shore excursions, see the prices and will be able to choose and book online. Problem solved and by the way my TA was very impressed with Trafalgar getting back to her so quickly, unlike another company who is booking our Japan hotels and she is still waiting after many weeks for written confirmation.

Winnie ~ I am pleased it has worked out for you, enjoy planning your optionals.

I've just booked the Dog Sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier, had no trouble booking it but Iam getting in early - nearly 4 months. I'll decide on the others later as there is no person limit on the ones I'm thinking of doing. Bit disappointed that the Alaskan Bear Adventure is not offered on my trip but I thought that I might do the Rain Forest Sanctuary and Eagle Centre instead. The other one I thought I'd do is Salmon Bake and Gold Panning Camp.