Hi Guys!!! I'm a friend of Colonel Wes & Ida - and he directed me to your website and I'm really enjoying your messages to each other. I'm also trying to go on your Alaskan cruise with all of you (altho I'm a single) - since Wes spoke so highly of your website - and I can see why (wish I was joining them in Tahiti!) Anyway, I'm compiling my "Intro" - and will get that out soon. I love to cruise - and just wanted to add a few things about Alaska - I've gone there on my own (no cruise), and have cruised there twice recently (am also going again this May - on a "Back-to-Back"). Whittier is a new port that just recently opened up - as Seward is becoming too popular (ie too many cruise ships) and have raised their port fees. It actually is much closer to Anchorage than Seward (only about an hour), and you can either catch a train or a shuttle/bus down (which also stops at a wildlife preserve that shelters animals that had been injured). When we went - there was a tunnel pass that is only one way - thus open to traffic at certain times only. That may have changed in the last year. Both drop you off near/at the port - when we were there last May, there wasn't a whole lot in Whittier, but they were building things up. Seward has a lot more going on - to include a glacier that you can walk up to, and wildlife cruises and/or fishing expeditions (my sister did the wildlife cruise and saw all sorts of great sea creatures - including a pod of orcas, and a sea otter that was hamming it up for the cameras. Whereas I did the halibut fishing - not too successful). Denali is great - but a bit of a drive to get there (easily managable in one day - if you don't make too many stops). There is also a train that goes to Denali that really has some fantastic views (ran @$100 each way). We LOVED Denali - and the park may be open to auto's in early May or late summer (*they close it to auto's at a certain point - only busses can continue on during the summer). My first trip to Alaska was in late Aug (no cruise) - and we could see the Northern Lights in Denali. Anchorage has a great craft fair every Saturday during the summer - not sure how long it runs till in Aug/Sep, but it has all sorts of great items. Anyway - just some thoughts - hope you don't mind!!

Ms Marie