Comments on: Seward http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/07/seward/ The thoughts and photography of Susan L Stevenson Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:29:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: susanstevenson http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/07/seward/#comment-4277 susanstevenson Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:53:50 +0000 http://susanstevenson.com/blog/?p=124#comment-4277 Hi Barbara and thank you for commenting. In defense of Kenai Fjords tours, they did refund me my full fare after I emailed (and telephoned) them about my dissatisfaction with their cruise. However, this experience did teach me a lesson. In the future, I will not book any cruise tours too far in advance. Instead, I will wait until we actually get to Seward and gauge the weather first. I've never taken the kayak/cruise tour from Valdez, but we've talked about doing it. It looks like an exciting trip to make, although I've never been in a kayak and I'm a bit fearful. I think that Steve and I are going to rent a kayak a few times this summer and practice on the Chena River before embarking on a trip out of Valdez in open water. I've never seen Beluga whales, unfortunately. Plenty of humpbacks though. The Belugas like to hang out in Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage, but I've never been fortunate enough to see them myself. Our friends Chris and Ken Day with Emerald Air have closed down their bear viewing business. We are so disappointed! We'd love to go back to Katmai to see the bears, and it's just not going to be the same without them. Nevertheless, it is an experience you will remember forever. Enjoy your visit to AK! Warm regards, Susan Hi Barbara and thank you for commenting. In defense of Kenai Fjords tours, they did refund me my full fare after I emailed (and telephoned) them about my dissatisfaction with their cruise. However, this experience did teach me a lesson. In the future, I will not book any cruise tours too far in advance. Instead, I will wait until we actually get to Seward and gauge the weather first.

I’ve never taken the kayak/cruise tour from Valdez, but we’ve talked about doing it. It looks like an exciting trip to make, although I’ve never been in a kayak and I’m a bit fearful. I think that Steve and I are going to rent a kayak a few times this summer and practice on the Chena River before embarking on a trip out of Valdez in open water.

I’ve never seen Beluga whales, unfortunately. Plenty of humpbacks though. The Belugas like to hang out in Turnagain Arm south of Anchorage, but I’ve never been fortunate enough to see them myself.

Our friends Chris and Ken Day with Emerald Air have closed down their bear viewing business. We are so disappointed! We’d love to go back to Katmai to see the bears, and it’s just not going to be the same without them. Nevertheless, it is an experience you will remember forever.

Enjoy your visit to AK!

Warm regards,
Susan

]]> By: Barbara Kay http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/07/seward/#comment-4251 Barbara Kay Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:37:03 +0000 http://susanstevenson.com/blog/?p=124#comment-4251 It has been wonderful to read your posts on discovering and enjoying Alaska -- real world recounting of weather, tours, and troubles. I am planning a trip to Alaska for June 2010, and you have helped cement a plan NOT to take a tour out of Seward. We are planning on some sort of kayak/cruise trip from Valdez, and I think we will spend our Kenai time on the Homer side (with a bear flightseeing tour). I have noticed no pictures of beluga whales. That would be one experience that would make a Homer-side trip much more appealing than a Kenai Park cruise. Thanks for your tales. It has been wonderful to read your posts on discovering and enjoying Alaska — real world recounting of weather, tours, and troubles. I am planning a trip to Alaska for June 2010, and you have helped cement a plan NOT to take a tour out of Seward. We are planning on some sort of kayak/cruise trip from Valdez, and I think we will spend our Kenai time on the Homer side (with a bear flightseeing tour).

I have noticed no pictures of beluga whales. That would be one experience that would make a Homer-side trip much more appealing than a Kenai Park cruise.

Thanks for your tales.

]]> By: susanstevenson http://susanstevenson.com/blog/2009/07/seward/#comment-3576 susanstevenson Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:43:08 +0000 http://susanstevenson.com/blog/?p=124#comment-3576 It was horrible, Abby. I never get seasick - and I took Dramamine too - and I almost lost it. What a wasted trip - just a way to steal our money. That's how I feel anyway. :( It was horrible, Abby. I never get seasick - and I took Dramamine too - and I almost lost it. What a wasted trip - just a way to steal our money. That’s how I feel anyway. :(

]]>