Cruise ship ports question (Anchorage, Fairbanks: environment, travel, jobs)

[irisheyes13]

I was just looking for advice on off the beaten places to go and spend a few minutes experiencing the local culture (away from the tourist crowd for us as well) . We have many friends who have lived there and we appreciate what they have told us about their experience. Sorry if visitors are such a negative thing for some of you but thanks to those of you with constructive advice.

[ASpilot2be]

Originally Posted by irisheyes13

I was just looking for advice on off the beaten places to go and spend a few minutes experiencing the local culture (away from the tourist crowd for us as well) . We have many friends who have lived there and we appreciate what they have told us about their experience. Sorry if visitors are such a negative thing for some of you but thanks to those of you with constructive advice.

I dont think the visitors are what they hate. I know I dont mind visitors.

It is more the cruise lines and their way of doing buisness.

[irisheyes13]

Originally Posted by ASpilot2be

I dont think the visitors are what they hate. I know I dont mind visitors.

It is more the cruise lines and their way of doing buisness.

Thanks ASpilot2be, I can't speak for the cruise lines but have every intention of being a responsible visitor to the area and hope to meet some local folks. That has always been the highlight of anywhere we have lived or visited.

[Metlakatla]

The average Alaska-bound cruise ship generates about 28,000 gallons of sewage sludge during the seven-day jaunt from Seattle, according to port staff. From May to September of this year, 150 cruises are bound for Alaska from the Port of Seattle.

Cruise ship waste: All ashore?

We must have a different definition of responsible.

Nothing against you personally, Irish.

But I'm sick of people dumping their crap in our water and then trying to tell us that our communities wouldn't exist without their presence.

And yes, we're well aware that there are supposedly safeguards against it.


Cruise Control? | The Dominion

[Barkingowl]

That's an interesting article.

[irisheyes13]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Cruise ship waste: All ashore?

We must have a different definition of responsible.

Nothing against you personally, Irish.

But I'm sick of people dumping their crap in our water and then trying to tell us that our communities wouldn't exist without their presence.

And yes, we're well aware that there are supposedly safeguards against it.


Cruise Control? | The Dominion

Very intersting article and I really do appreciate you sending it. It bothers me as well to see this. I have to say I never thought I was saving your community though, I just want to see the amazing things I read about.

[Metlakatla]

Alaska has a pretty good clean water act now. Too bad we waited until some of our water had something like over 100 times the amount of (cruise ship generated) fecal matter than what is deemed safe by the EPA and too bad that at first, the cruise ship companies tried to say that the clean water act did not pertain to them. The problem though is that now, Canada is having trouble with them because of dumping.

Xa'at, look what I found

cruisejunkie.com Cruise Page

Irish, no one said that you said that you thought you were saving our communities. I was referencing a post on the previous page.

That attitude is really quite prevalent among some of the passengers I've met. I really don't know where it comes from. These places were all communities in their own right even back in the day when cultural tourism was the norm here.

I guess they see people working at these jobs around the docks, and in the bars and restaurants, etc., and think that they are Alaska residents happily employed. But the truth is is that about 90% of this segment of the workforce is from out of state. I have no problem with people being able to come here and work. We can't afford to do these jobs ourselves and there isn't nearly enough of us to do them anyway. But that money that they are paid isn't staying in the state anymore than the money people pay for trinkets and t shirts.

That's kind of typical of places with high tourism. Most of the people you meet in the course of your cruise will not be locals.

Actually Irish, you came here asking about non touron places to go, and we do appreciate that. It is just kind of a hot subject with some of us.

[Metlakatla]

After you take the cruise, consider coming back at a future time on your own, as a traveler instead of a tourist. Most of us locals here really do like to show off and talk about our state to people who are really interested in the real Alaska.

[Barkingowl]

Met are we still going to be able to meet in August?

[irisheyes13]

Metlakatla,
I am sorry to hear that about peoples attitudes but of course am not surprised. We have been fortunate in that we have lived in a number of states and a couple of countries and have always worked hard to learn the culture and get to know the local people. While a cruise experience will be very different, we still plan to get away from the tourist areas and tourist themselves to as much as we can (as you noted from my original post). We hope to one day be able to take an extended trip on our own to Alaska but can't do that at this point in our lives so the cruise was our best opportunity and we are looking so forward to it!