John Hall's Alaska Blog

Our official tours don’t being for two weeks yet, but our first charter group is in Ketchikan today. They seem like a happy bunch!

Yea!

We are so excited and honored to have been presented with the Visit Anchorage’s “2012 Tour Operator of the Year” award last Saturday, April 13th, 2013!

Visit Anchorage’s Seymour Awards recognize a community leader, Visit Anchorage member or volunteer who has provided excellence in product and/or service, contributed significantly to the visitor industry and Visit Anchorage’s programs or enhanced Anchorage’s image as a visitor destination.

Thank you to our guests, our Alaska partners who nominated us and then voted for us, and our John Hall’s Alaska team members who work so hard to deliver on our guests’ expectations. 

(Happy Dance) Yea! (Happy Dance)

(John Hall Sr. accepts the award)

John Hall Sr of John Hall’s Alaska, presents a check for $892.00 to Teresa Zumbrook and Oren Miller for AED boxes to be installed the week of April 15^th.

The Sani-Belles and Gents Social Club of the Bradford Loop Neighborhood in the Village of Sanibel, organized a program to purchase and install five AED life saving units throughout the neighborhood.

Placement of the units will be no further than 15 homes and seconds away from any given emergency.  Currently there are 26 responders in the neighborhood.

Teresa Zumbrook spearheaded the Sani-Belles & Gents Social Club and Oren Miller organized the AED program which was able to generate funding from residents for the AED’s in less than 60 days.

In an effort to extend the small group experience while cruising Alaska’s Inside Passage, John Hall’s Alaska will be partnering with Alaskan Dream Cruises on two Klondike Gold Rush tour departures in 2014.

Allen Marine, parent company of Alaskan Dream Cruises,  was established in 1970 when Bob and Betty Allen, and their five children, restored a ruined boat that became the St. Michael, the first in a long line of Allen Marine tour vessels named after saints of the family’s Russian Orthodox faith.

Alaskan Dream Cruises was conceived with the notion that guests come to Alaska in search of a deep personal connection with the true Alaska. A place of genuine character. A place where adventure is a way of life.  In the tradition of John Hall’s Alaska, Alaskan Dream Cruises employ true Alaskan experts on board and ashore. They boast years of experience as naturalists, educators, and authors and are well versed in everything from environmental science to marine biology.

CRUISING ITINERARIES:
In 2014, John Hall’s Alaska guests traveling on our Klondike Gold Rush (an 18 Day tour in 2014)  will enjoy the 8-day cruise portion of their tour aboard an Alaskan Dream Cruises vessel.

Vessels hold a maximum of 49 passengers and because of their smaller size can offer up-close glacier viewing and the best opportunities to mingle with and photograph wildlife. Itineraries highlight world renowned destinations combined with off-of-the-beaten path ports (our exact motto for land tours!). Get closer to tide water glaciers and tour native ports that larger cruise ships simply cannot gain access to.

LIFE ON BOARD: Enjoy an 100% casual atmosphere on board. Naturalists prep you for the next day’s highlights during complimentary cocktail hours and review what you see at the close of each day.

Locally harvested crab, halibut, shrimp and wild Alaskan salmon as well as a wide array of Pacific Northwest wines and Alaskan microbrews are always on the chef-inspired gourmet menu. Complimentary beer and wine are offered at dinner. Juice and bottled water are always included.

INCLUDED SHORE EXCURSIONS:
Hand picked shore excursions are built into the itineraries while allowing for free-time in each port. Here is a short list to give you an idea:

• Orca Point Lodge Alaskan salmon & king crab dinner
• Kayaks, all-terrain vehicles & Zego runabouts at Hobart Bay
• Sitka Sea Otter & Wildlife Quest Boat Tour
• St. Michaels Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Russian Bishop’s House, Alaska Raptor Center and Sheldon Jackson Museum in Sitka
• Mt. Roberts Tram and Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center in Juneau
• Kasaan walking and educational tour
• Norwegian Folk Dance show in Petersburg
• Stikine River Jet Boat Tour and Wrangell City Walking Tour
• World’s Largest Totem Pole, Totem Carving Demonstration, Gunnuk Creek Dog Salmon Hatchery Tour and Bear Viewing Platform in the village of Kake

John Hall’s Alaska will still offer 7-Day cruises with Royal Caribbean and Celebrity, but we think Alaskan Dream Cruises increases your choices when touring Alaska. Just another way for us to bring the Real Alaska to our guests!

(Some details pulled from www.alaskandreamcruises.com)

John Hall’s Alaska hosted two gatherings on Feb 9th and Feb 16th in The Villages, Florida. Just an excuse to get together and socialize! Fun had by all with some sweets and coffee to fill in the gaps.

Here are the pictures from both events!

At the 6th Annual Leisure Travel Leaders Awards, Royal Caribbean won two big awards for the cruise line.

Royal Caribbean won “Best Cruise Line Overall” and “Best Contemporary (Mass-Market) Line.

Leisure Travel Leaders awards are based on a survey sent to the more than 20,000 home-based travel agent readers of Agent@Home magazine, the more than 29,000 leisure-selling travel agent readers of Vacation Agent magazine, and the 65,000-plus travel agent readers of Travel Pulse Dailon TravelPulse.com.

Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises have begun the year in spectacular style by picking up the two main cruise prizes at the annual Travel Weekly Globe Awards for the third year running.
The prestigious awards – voted for by travel agents across the UK – saw Royal Caribbean International being named the Best Mainstream Cruise Company, while Celebrity Cruises was named Best Premium Cruise Company.

YOU ARE INVITED!
“The Villages John Hall’s Alaska Alumni”

February 9th, 2013: 7:00pm

February 16^th, 2013:  7:00pm

**Space on the above dates is limited.  RSVP to secure choice space. Please plan to attend just one of the above dates so that there is enough space for everyone.

LOCATION: (Location was formerly Hibiscus Rec Center but changed for more space)

Lake Miona Recreation Center 
1526 Buena Vista Blvd.
The Villages, FL 32162

Come meet and talk with John Hall Sr. in person!  Reunite with past travelers and welcome upcoming guests into the John Hall’s Alaska Alumni! Cake, Cookies and refreshments will be provided.

Please wear your blue jacket for a group photo of “The Villages Alumni.”
Please RSVP by February 4^th to lauren@kissalaska.com or by calling 907-250-2355 and leaving a message with your name and the number of people in your party. 

THERE”S MORE!

ANOTHER EVENT:
For The Villages John Hall’s Alaska Alumni Only- Not for 2013 Guests

By attending one of the events listed above, The Villages John Hall’s Alaska Alumni will be invited to attend a dinner on February 23^rd provided by John Hall’s Alaska.  Remember to mark your calendars because Alumni MUST attend an event on the 9^th or 16^th in order to be invited to the dinner.  Formal invites will not arrive until Alumni are present at the events on February 9^th or 16^th.

Dinner: 2/23 at 6pm, Lake Miona Rec Center

Get your John Hall’s Alaska “Bird is the Word” t-shirts from our online store! They make a nice addition to your Florida summer wardrobe. 

We are happy to announce that both of our Alaska cruise partners raked in numerous awards for 2012!

Royal Caribbean
Top Cruise Line- Canadian Travel Press Agent’s Choice Awards
#9 Top Cruise Line- Travel and Leisure Magazine
Best Onboard Entertainment- Travel Age West WAVE Awards
Best Onboard Teen Program- Travel Age West WAVE Awards
Best Line For Cruise Value- Travel Age West WAVE Awards
Cruse Line Providing the Best Client Satisfaction - Travel Age West WAVE Awards

Celebrity

BEST PREMIUM/LUXURY CRUISE LINE
2012 Cruises News Cruise Excellence Awards

BEST PREMIUM CRUISE COMPANY: CELEBRITY CRUISES®
2012 Travel Weekly Globe Awards

4+ STARS: CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM CLASS SHIPS
(CELEBRITY CONSTELLATION®, CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM®,
CELEBRITY SUMMIT®, CELEBRITY INFINITY®)
2012 Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships

BEST LUXURY CRUISE COMPANY: CELEBRITY CRUISES®
2012 Irish Travel Industry Awards

We, at John Hall’s Alaska feel so blessed and we wanted to give back to our community over the 2012 holiday season.

Utilizing John Sr’s prior Anderson House kitchen experience, we prepped, cooked and served a nice dinner to Lake City families in December. As is always the case, we had a great time and hope to make this dinner an annual giving event. Santa even made an appearance!

Here are some pics from the evening:

The John Hall’s Alaska family and staff – extended family and friends

 Joe Brehmer, John Hall Sr and Joe Hall- food prepping in the kitchen

 Joe Brehmer and Joe Hall- dishing out the food to be served- they worked very hard all evening.

 THE FOOD LINE – YUM!

Pictured: Al Thompson, John Hall, Emerson Hall, Lauren Hall and Mary Kay Paine

Santa and Mrs. Klaus showed up after the dinner to take requests from the kiddos. The children were thrilled and amazed!

 Emerson Hall asked Santa for something fluffy and something noisy for Christmas. 

Thank you to all who participated and brought a little light into the holidays for so many people! 

Normally we couldn’t care less about making New Years resolutions, but lately things have been slipping around the office and we think its time to start reflecting on how we can improve ourselves in the new year.

Our New Year’s Resolutions could actually make things worse….

Jenny’s New Year’s Resolution: ”Stop bringing lunch from home. I should eat out more. Especially Chinese Food.”

John Jr’s New Year’s Resolution: “Start a blog about chicken wings and how I would write more often if I had something important to write. Only make one blog entry and leave it published for years”

Joe’s New Year’s Resolution: “Stop licking frozen flag poles, it hurts too much when I drink my morning coffee.”

Emerson’s New Year’s Resolution: “I will not hang around girls – they think you love them and that sucks. I’m too young to commit.”

Killer’s New Year’s Resolution: “I will give up stealing chocolates totally. 100%. Completely. Honestly…..”

We hope your New Year’s Resolution will be to visit Alaska! Our biggest, ongoing resolution? To provide the most authentic Alaskan experience possible!