Aids HIV FAQ

Alaska on the Zaandam

Question:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Smartest thing we did was have our TA reserve a rental car from Avis in >Skagway.  For $65 we drove to the graveyard, the ghost town, over the White >Pass the same way the railroad does for $88 per person, on into the Yukon to >Emerald Lake.  We stopped whenever we wanted (which was often) to take >pictures. >To read our review and see our pictures go to >http://www.elite.net/~thehalls/cruising.html >Mike

If you didn’t take the railroad you really can’t compare.  As Larry says- the scenery at the summit is indeed superior to the Klondike Highway.  I HAVE gone both ways.  Also no need for a TA to do a simple car reservation- you can book yourself via 1-800 number.

Response:

> … a rental car…  over the White Pass the same way the railroad > does for $88 per person

Nope. Not the same. The railroad tracks are within the valley walls on the eastern slope. You look almost straight down at the narrow path which is near the valley floor of the western slope. The road parallels the western slope. It is set far enough away from the edge that I’m not persuaded car passengers can see the foot path below. Now, this may not be a big deal to some. It was an important distinction to me. After all, this footpath was the rich man’s route; it was wide enough to accommodate pack horses. When you see how narrow it is, you’ll shake your head in bewilderment about the narrower-still width of the poor man’s foot path (not seen via this port call). Most of all, the train is a real Gold-Rush-era piece of history. From my point of view, sharing in that history even as a tourist definitely outweighs a modern rental car any time. I’m not disputing that you were well satisfied with your choice and that you even stopped to take great views, but the two experiences are simply not the same. Karen Selwyn

Response:

>We hope to go in June of 2002.  We’ll probably go for a suite.  Any >experiences you’d like to relate ?

We stayed in a mini-suite.  We had a good time, but our luggage must have had a better time because it never showed up at the terminal in Vancouver.  Whether it decided to stay on the Zaandam for good, or wanted to go home with another pax or crew, I guess we’ll never know. — Asya Kamsky I will complete a marathon and raise $5000 for the SF AIDS Foundation, Dec 9, 2001, Honolulu, Hawaii.   Sponsor me! For more information see http://www.things.org/~asya/why.html

Response:

>Smartest thing we did was have our TA reserve a rental car from Avis in >Skagway.  For $65 we drove to the graveyard, the ghost town, over the White >Pass the same way the railroad does for $88 per person,

No, not the same way. The railroad and the road are on opposite sides of the valley. You will see things from the railroad that you won’t see from the road that will make you appreciate just what went into building it. I’m not saying that driving over White Pass isn’t worth it but it will not be the same as riding the railroad. — — Larry Stone    http://www.stonejongleux.com/

Response:

We hope to go in June of 2002.  We’ll probably go for a suite.  Any experiences you’d like to relate ? Thanks in advance

Response:

You will have a GREAT time in Alaska. Smartest thing we did was have our TA reserve a rental car from Avis in Skagway.  For $65 we drove to the graveyard, the ghost town, over the White Pass the same way the railroad does for $88 per person, on into the Yukon to Emerald Lake.  We stopped whenever we wanted (which was often) to take pictures. To read our review and see our pictures go to http://www.elite.net/~thehalls/cruising.html Mike

Response:

We hope to go in June of 2002.  We’ll probably go for a suite.  Any experiences you’d like to relate ? Thanks in advance

Response:

You will have a GREAT time in Alaska. Smartest thing we did was have our TA reserve a rental car from Avis in Skagway.  For $65 we drove to the graveyard, the ghost town, over the White Pass the same way the railroad does for $88 per person, on into the Yukon to Emerald Lake.  We stopped whenever we wanted (which was often) to take pictures. To read our review and see our pictures go to http://www.elite.net/~thehalls/cruising.html Mike

Response:

>Smartest thing we did was have our TA reserve a rental car from Avis in >Skagway.  For $65 we drove to the graveyard, the ghost town, over the White >Pass the same way the railroad does for $88 per person,

No, not the same way. The railroad and the road are on opposite sides of the valley. You will see things from the railroad that you won’t see from the road that will make you appreciate just what went into building it. I’m not saying that driving over White Pass isn’t worth it but it will not be the same as riding the railroad. — — Larry Stone    http://www.stonejongleux.com/

Response:

>We hope to go in June of 2002.  We’ll probably go for a suite.  Any >experiences you’d like to relate ?

We stayed in a mini-suite.  We had a good time, but our luggage must have had a better time because it never showed up at the terminal in Vancouver.  Whether it decided to stay on the Zaandam for good, or wanted to go home with another pax or crew, I guess we’ll never know. — Asya Kamsky I will complete a marathon and raise $5000 for the SF AIDS Foundation, Dec 9, 2001, Honolulu, Hawaii.   Sponsor me! For more information see http://www.things.org/~asya/why.html

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->Smartest thing we did was have our TA reserve a rental car from Avis in >Skagway.  For $65 we drove to the graveyard, the ghost town, over the White >Pass the same way the railroad does for $88 per person, on into the Yukon to >Emerald Lake.  We stopped whenever we wanted (which was often) to take >pictures. >To read our review and see our pictures go to >http://www.elite.net/~thehalls/cruising.html >Mike

If you didn’t take the railroad you really can’t compare.  As Larry says- the scenery at the summit is indeed superior to the Klondike Highway.  I HAVE gone both ways.  Also no need for a TA to do a simple car reservation- you can book yourself via 1-800 number.

Response:

> … a rental car…  over the White Pass the same way the railroad > does for $88 per person

Nope. Not the same. The railroad tracks are within the valley walls on the eastern slope. You look almost straight down at the narrow path which is near the valley floor of the western slope. The road parallels the western slope. It is set far enough away from the edge that I’m not persuaded car passengers can see the foot path below. Now, this may not be a big deal to some. It was an important distinction to me. After all, this footpath was the rich man’s route; it was wide enough to accommodate pack horses. When you see how narrow it is, you’ll shake your head in bewilderment about the narrower-still width of the poor man’s foot path (not seen via this port call). Most of all, the train is a real Gold-Rush-era piece of history. From my point of view, sharing in that history even as a tourist definitely outweighs a modern rental car any time. I’m not disputing that you were well satisfied with your choice and that you even stopped to take great views, but the two experiences are simply not the same. Karen Selwyn

Response:

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