Well, I've been back and forth with the Alaska Tours too many times. They can't guarantee the Grande Denali. They want to guarantee another property that might be brand new, because I can't find it in Trip Advisor and I can find any photos either. Right now I only have a list of 9, which isn't enough for them to take us.

We want to go to Denali, which is the biggest reason for going back to Alaska aside from our friends.

If anyone else is interested in post cruise Denali, please let me know within the next two weeks, otherwise, I am going to cancel with this tour operator and find another package.

Kathy, I can't imagine why you would rather go to majestic Denali rather than to come bar hopping with us! ;)

Kathy - what's the property?

Masaki

Karen, my sweet, we will be bar hopping with you - for the 7 days before. Actually, why do I think that deck 7 will remind me of the UCLA Dorms during the middle of the semester when everyone was supposedly studying but their doors were open and people were wandering in and out of the various rooms unintelligible with bottles of in room liquor in their hands? I just don't think we'll have the music of the Grateful Dead blaring out of the rooms or the smell of cannibis wafting through the halls either.

Masaki: McKinley Chalet, but, we still need 4 more to confirm. We have:

Kathy and Frank
Amanda and Masaki
Carol E
Andrea
David Marge and Dad
Mary Ibbetson & Julia Collins

Kathy - you mean this one?
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...i_National_Park_and_Preserve_Alaska.html

Looks OK but the Grande Denali looked better ... :)

Masaki

I think the reason we can't get the Grande Denali from them is because HAL and RSSC have the rooms on reserve. Right now, we don't have the minimum to run the trip as it is, so I don't feel we can protest anything.

Editing to add: I called and spoke to them. We only have a minimum to have our own bus. We might be able to tag along with a Princess or HAL group and we can get what they call a guaranteed departure. They are going to send me more info.

Kathy, I may have 4 more for you. How much...we and our friends are interested. Please send me itinerary.

Andi - most of the info is here. We need 20 min for a private bus. We'd be really close.

Click here for the thread with most of the details

I've stayed at the McKinley Chalet. (5-day post-cruise on a chartered HAL ship.) The "resort" is OK. The property reminded me of being at camp. The furnishings are moderate at best. We weren't in our room much. The main building, however, was nice. Enjoyed the bar. Cabin Night dinner is a hokey "sing-a-long". Kind of fun if your group is in the mood for it.

Glad I didn't live in the dorms when I was at UCLA!

Great description Kim -

Kim - thanks for your impressions! The Grande Denali is sounding better and better by the minute ... :D Just need more people!

Masaki

Okay - I am repricing and re-researching the Denali deal Room and transport. Checking on pricing without the tour operator. We can book around them.

Poor Kathy!

Masaki

Kathy - thank you for doing all the research. I know it's getting to be your busy time, but all your work is much appreciated!

Well, so far, I have found a few ways to do two nights at Grande Denali!!! If we do a RT with the Goldstar Train it's $800 - then it's $500 / 550 to stay at the Captain Cook in Anchorange for two nights. The timing on the train is not good for going home on Saturday unless you red eye home. We would arrive in Anchorage at 8 pm on the train return. Waiting to hear from the van service. One way van and one way train. It's 350 miles approximate from Denali to Anchorage. We can train to Anchorage (RSSC Transfer is included with the "free air"), spend the night at Capt Cook, train to Denali and Van back to Anchorage for late flights on Saturday. I think if we spend one night at Capt Cook and then the return night there too we could store luggage and go light to Denali.

ChatKat, thanks for your work, if you need help just let me know.
This last Post-Mush Tour your looking into now, won't work for the 5 of us. We are using milage and have already made air arrangements to depart Anchorage at 7 AM Saturday.

David

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Kathy did you check Denali Bluffs?
RSSC now stays there instead of Grande Denali.

Okay - so what we want to try to do is: .

Wed Direct to Denali from Ship - Wed Night Denali
Thurs Denali tour/Overnight Denali

Friday return to Anchorage - Night in Anchorage
Saturday - Fly Home

The Grande Denali is blocked for groups so not sure we can get confirmation without a group.

Waiting for Van company quote.