Table Of Content
Wood-paneled walls, brass fixtures and leather banquettes add that nautical "cruiser" touch that is sure to please fans of smaller vessels. It is a charming ship well-suited for those who like vessels with good, nautical ambiance and don't mind smaller cabin accommodations.
Specifications of MV Misty Fjord
We also learned enough to be confident about planning the next interior trip on our own. DO NOT plan on renting a car without advance reservations--this is peak time in Alaska and vehicle rentals are reserved well in advance. The Alaskan Dream Cruises' Misty Fjord ship has the ambiance of an Alaskan fishing ship but also has the comfort of a contemporary small yacht. The boat's profile and arrangement have been created especially for small group wilderness cruising. An aft deck drying room offers a place to hang rain gear and ensure a dry start the next morning.
Cruising To Misty Fjords
We had great weather and our pilot was wonderful. But, the sled dogging and other glacial helicopter trips were far better. Ketchikan was our last stop so something more physical (canoeing or hiking) would have been a good change of pace. Misty Fjord was specifically designed with both a salon lounge and dining area for passenger comfort. There is a self-service buffet counter set up to provide snacks and beverages.
Food And Drinks Onboard
During our trip, the crew scanned the waters and coastline with binoculars for signs of wildlife. The monument is characterized by steep granite rock walls that rise dramatically from the tranquil waters below. Some of these measure a staggering 3,000 feet above sea level. As we entered the fjord, I could understand its appeal and the true magnificence of the Misty Fjords began to unfold. While mist often blankets this area, we enjoyed the sheer cliffs with clear skies.
rockfsh
During the excursion, you’ll learn how nature creates these steep fjords and discover the hidden corners of its mist-shrouded landscapes. I have sailed it once and flown it over 10 times. The benefit of the flight is the "3D" look from above, which is vastly different from the ground level. We just came back from Alaska and we did the Misty Fjord Float Plane with Island Wings. By the way we also did Dog Mushing with Temsco and whale watching with Capt. Larry, they also were great excursions.
The vessel is owned and operated by the Sitka-based small-ship travel company Alaskan Dream Cruises/fleet. With such a small group onboard, socializing in the off-hours becomes a popular pastime. People read books in the ship's main salon or converse about the day's events over a pint of Alaskan brew. Scheduled activities are few and far between, and that's how passengers like it. Up on deck, passengers can visit Misty Fjord's wheelhouse when conditions allow, or engage in wildlife viewing from the ship's open deck spaces.
Since large cruise ships can’t access the narrow fjord, you have two options to visit; by air or by sea. This is our first time to Alaska and the Misty Fjords flightseeing sounds magical. I've seen pictures and would love to see it firsthand. I prefer to book independent and wonder if any operators give a better tour than the others. Island Wings sounds like a good one...do they book independents? And how do you recommend I get to and from the operator?
Pros And Cons Of The Misty Fjords Explorer
The crew also offered chowder and vegetarian chili on the ride back. The occasional sound of nature punctuates the serenity of the fjord—water lapping against the vessel’s hull, the distant cry of a bald eagle, or the sound of a waterfall. With high cliffs and abundant rainfall come the cascading waterfalls, one of the most iconic features of the Misty Fjords National Monument. On the way, our naturalist pointed out the Saxman Native Village, another popular shore excursion. We saw an active bald eagle’s nest and many eagles resting in the trees, which were easy to spot with their white heads.
We had the opportunity to fly with Michelle from Island Wings during our trip the first week in June. The scenery was breathtaking and Michelle has an IPOD full of music to choose from to listen to during your flight. Landing on a lake and standing on shore in such a remote area certainly added to the Alaska experience. I went on the trip with Michelle and it was great. However, If you have to choose between this and doing the helicopter dogsled trip with TEMSCO in Skagway, I would do the dogsled in Skagway.
The boat is powered by two John Deere diesel engines (output 526 HP) featuring good fuel efficiency and low emissions. These engines are EPA Tier 11 compliant and meet both the IMO (International Maritime Organization) emission standards and the standards of European Recreational Craft Directive. For comfort and efficiency, the ship usually cruise at “hull speed”.
The wet weather contributes to thick rainforests in the area. However, with clear skies, and calm seas, we enjoyed the rock formations and landscapes from the outdoor deck. While the boat had two levels with comfortable seating, the top upper level filled up fast. That meant the last few guests needed to sit downstairs. The vessel had a maximum capacity of 149, but we cruised with 77 plus the crew of six.
It is an amazing experience riding those sleds with the dogs pulling you across the ice. It really makes you hold the Iditarod mushers in awe after doing it yourself. We're doing two expensive shore excursions for the 4 of us in Alaska and haven't set anything up in Ketchikan yet. We thought about doing the Crabfeed and Crab dinner but $140/pp seems outrageous for that particular excursion. However, the Misty Fjords flight is about $200/pp - is it worth it? Our other excursions are Helicopter to Mendenhall Glacier (land on it and walk around for 15 minutes) in Juneau and the Wheeled Dogsled in Skagway.
I've been eying this site for a while now, but am finally getting the dirty work done by consulting the family & mapping out our itinerary. Many of us would be in big trouble without this site's guidance. I'm probably the only person who will tell you that I was disappointed by the Misty Fjords trip. The scenery was beautiful but not uniquely "Alaskan." There are mountains and mountains of green trees, fjords and granite walls.
While I loved the trip, my son did not care for it too much. He indicated that the scenary was not as nice as some of the other scenary we had seen on our trip. I will agree with a previous poster that having to decide between this tour and dogsledding would be a challenge. We went with TEMSCO in Skagway and had an outstanding trip as well. Budget Queen is so right--for what the trip costs to go that far, be sure you see the things you really want to see. You can shop anywhere--that is not the highlight of an Alaskan adventure.
The Tlingit people developed a deep spiritual and cultural connection to the land, which is still honored and celebrated today. The exploration of Misty Fjords traces back to the late 18th century when British explorer George Vancouver navigated these remote waters. In 1793, Vancouver and his crew charted the area and marveled at the breathtaking landscapes. Alaska, known as “The Last Frontier,” boasts some of the most breathtaking natural wonders on the planet.
It seemed unconcerned of our presence and went about its business foraging for food. The rugged cliffs of the fjords are a prime landscape for mountain goats, and I was surprised we only saw one. Thick forests of spruce, western cedar, and hemlock line the fjords and, along with the abundance of moss, create a striking contrast with the granite. The lower level contained a washroom and an area to get drinks and snacks. Covering more than two million acres of the Tongass National Forest, the fjord continues to inspire all who visit. As its name suggests, mist often blankets the fjords, creating an ambiance that adds to the landscape’s allure.
No comments:
Post a Comment