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The 6 best Alaska cruise shore excursions — from heli-hiking to whale watching
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There are some cruise destinations — Barcelona, for instance, or Venice — where you really don't need to sign up for shore excursions . You can just walk off the ship and head to the major attractions on your own.
For the most part, the ports of Alaska aren't like that.
To get the most out of an Alaska cruise, you'll want to sign up for a tour in most, if not all, of the ports you visit. And not just any old tour. You'll want the best Alaska shore excursions that get you out into the Alaska backcountry.
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In Alaska, many of the biggest "attractions" — breathtaking mountain landscapes, glaciers, fjords, breaching whales and feeding bears, for instance — are related to the Great Outdoors. As a result, many of the best Alaska shore excursions for cruisers are found outside of the towns where ships stop. If you just stay in the towns and explore on your own, you'll miss a big part of what Alaska is all about.
Related: The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler
Picking the best Alaska shore excursions
People who know me know that I love talking about Alaska port towns. This isn't just because I spent more than two decades writing about Alaska and other cruise destinations for major newspapers. For many years, I was the co-author of Frommer's "Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call" guide. In researching nearly half a dozen editions of that book, I spent many days exploring each of the major cruise ports in the state. I've tried a large number of the shore excursions in places such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. I've also poked around these towns a lot on my own.
As noted above, my biggest message to anyone planning an Alaska cruise is to get out of the towns . Sign up for something — a hike, a rafting trip, a train ride, a fishing outing — that gets you out into Alaska's spectacular outdoor settings.
But I also have a few specific, top-line pro tips when you're thinking about the best Alaska shore excursions:
- Get up in the air . It'll be expensive. We're talking $250 or more per person. But there's nothing like seeing the grandeur of Alaska from a helicopter or floatplane. The Juneau Icefield, in particular, is a sight to behold. It covers around 1,500 square miles. You can see it on a flightseeing tour from Juneau, with some tours including landings on the ice.
- Don't miss the whales. Even if you're not a big wildlife person, you'll be mesmerized by the humpback whales of Alaska. They are huge (at up to 52 feet, longer than a Greyhound bus), and there are boat tours that will get you up close to them. The best places to do this are out of Juneau and also Icy Strait Point if your ship stops there.
- Splurge for a trip to Misty Fjords National Monument . This glacier-carved wilderness area, not far from Ketchikan, is another don't-miss sight. It's everything you think of when you think of Alaska: icy blue lakes, waterfalls, snowcapped peaks and glacial valleys. The only way to get there is on a boat or floatplane tour, and they typically start at over $200 a person.
Unfortunately, as you can see from the above, many of the most spectacular excursions in Alaskan ports are expensive. But Alaska is not a place to skimp. Alaska is a destination where you may want to budget almost as much per person for your shore excursions as you do for your cabin.
That said, you don't have to splurge for a big outing at every call. In Juneau, for instance, you can get an outdoor experience with a relatively inexpensive trip to the nearby Mendenhall Glacier. It's just 12 miles from the cruise ship docks and reachable by bus or taxi. The bus will set you back an astounding $45 per person round-trip, which I find an intolerable gouge (but ... it is what it is). If you have a few people, you're probably better off with a taxi, which runs around $35 each way. For two or three people traveling together, it's not all that pricey a trip.
Either way you do it, you'll find some nice hiking trails around Mendenhall Glacier and a visitor center. There's a creek there, too, where I've sometimes seen salmon running. One time, I even saw a bear. Speaking of which: A bear is something you think you want to see in Alaska until you actually see one. Then you're just hoping you don't get eaten.
Related: The best Alaska cruises for couples
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I should also be clear that the towns themselves aren't devoid of attractions. While I highly encourage Alaska-bound cruisers to get out into the wilderness, there are plenty of worthwhile things to do in each of the main port towns.
In Juneau, food tours have become popular; think King crab bisque and Alaska salmon. The Alaska State Museum is beautiful and worth a visit. Skagway is like a Gold Rush-themed movie set. You should at least walk its main street (Broadway), with its wooden-board sidewalks. If you're a craft beer fan like me, you also might want to sample a Spruce Tip Blonde Ale at the Skagway Brewing Company. It's made with Sitka spruce tips picked locally in the spring.
In Ketchikan, you should save a few minutes to stroll up Creek Street along Ketchikan Creek, where you might spot salmon running. It's the ultimate Alaska selfie spot.
Related: The best cruises to Alaska from Seattle
How to book the best Alaska shore excursions
The simplest way to book an Alaska shore excursion is through your cruise line. You check a box on an online form before sailing or while on board, and — poof! — it's all arranged. They send a ticket to your room, and a tour guide will be waiting for you when you walk off the ship.
Another way to go is to book directly with a tour operator in one of the ports. That said, many of the tour operators you'll find in Alaskan ports are the same tour operators that operate the ship-sponsored excursions. Often, the tours that the local tour operators will sell you are the same tours that the cruise lines are selling you at the same price . Shopping around isn't necessarily going to get you anywhere.
Indeed, in some cases, the cruise lines own the tour operators in Alaska ports, or at least a piece of them. For instance, the parent company of Princess Cruises and Holland America is a part-owner of Skagway's big attraction, the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.
Note that you can sometimes get discounts by calling a tour operator directly. I've had some luck with that over the years, but it's hit or miss.
Related: 8 tips for booking the best cruise shore excursion for your money
The 6 best Alaska shore excursions
Below, I've listed six of my all-time favorite Alaska shore excursions. These all are tours that you'll find in the tour lineups at every major cruise line that operates in Alaska. Different lines sometimes have different names for these tours — and sometimes different pricing.
For the listings below, I've used the tour names and pricing listed in the current tour sheets at Princess, which along with sister line Holland America, is the biggest cruise operator in Alaska.
Related: The ultimate guide to picking a cruise line
Dog-sledding and glacier adventure by helicopter
Cost: $849.95 per person
Port where available: Juneau
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For those with a hefty bankroll, this might be the ultimate Alaska shore excursion. Combining helicopter flightseeing over the seemingly endless Juneau Icefield with a landing on a glacier for dog sledding, it hits two of Alaska's most iconic experiences.
It's also insanely expensive, as I know from firsthand experience. I once took my entire family of five on this excursion, dropping more than $2,000 in the process (this was back when the pricing was half what it is today). That's a huge chunk of change for an outing that lasts three hours.
But I'll tell you this: I don't regret doing it. Not one bit. For starters, the views of the Juneau Icefield as you fly to and from the dog-sledding camp are incredible (assuming the weather cooperates). But the real joy was seeing my three young girls interacting with the teams of Alaskan huskies that live at the camp.
Once you arrive at the camp, you'll meet the dogs and their mushers, see where they live, get a quick tutorial in mushing, and then head out for a spin around the camp on a dog-pulled sled.
Related: These are the best times to visit Alaska
Whale watching and wildlife quest
Cost: $204.95
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If it's Alaska's famous humpback whales that you want to see, you'll want to book a whale-watching tour. The waters around Juneau are particularly known for humpback whales — so much so that the operator of this excursion offers a whale-sighting guarantee.
Setting off from the Juneau harbor in a whale-watching boat, you'll cruise to nearby areas to see not just humpback whales but harbor seals and sea lions, too. You might even spot a killer whale or porpoise.
The boat used for this excursion has both inside and outdoor viewing areas. The trips last about four hours, including transfer time from your cruise ship to the whale-watching boat.
Related: The ultimate list of Alaska cruise tips
Note that if you have a big enough group, it sometimes pays to arrange a private boat out of Juneau to take you to see humpback whales. Many lines offer a private boat charter for whale watching as a tour option, or you can arrange one through a local company.
Klondike rock climbing and rappelling
Cost: $119.95
Port where available: Skagway
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If you're like me, you may be a little terrified at the idea of climbing the sheer face of a rock cliff. But don't let that scare you away from this 3 1/4-hour tour. It's a hoot.
Experienced climbing guides will meet you at your ship and drive you up the Klondike Highway to an area of granite cliffs that's the perfect playground for beginner and more seasoned climbers alike. Upon arrival, the guides provide you with all the gear you need — climbing shoes, helmets and harnesses — for a safe scramble up a 70-foot-high wall. They'll also offer plenty of instruction (and encouragement), plus a snack of trail mix and hot chocolate.
If it all sounds a bit daunting, know that you don't need any experience at climbing to do it; I sure didn't have any when I tried it, nor did my young daughters, who absolutely loved it. There are multiple routes up the cliffs, some perfect for beginners. After making it to the top, you'll rappel back down — an entirely different kind of thrill.
Related: How to plan a cruise with points and miles
White Pass & Yukon Route Railway ride
Cost: $254.95
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Call it the iconic attraction of Skagway, Alaska. A ride into the mountains on this narrow-gauge railroad is the tour everybody takes when visiting the Gold Rush town-turned-tourist hub. And for good reason. It offers an easy way to get deep into the Great Alaskan Outdoors.
Truth be told, I'm a fan of more active excursions. But for someone who isn't going to hike, bike, horseback ride or raft their way through the wilderness around Skagway (there are tours for all of those things, too), a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Railway is one of the best ways to get a glimpse of the area's classic Alaskan scenery.
Related: 13 things you should do before every cruise
From the comfort of a vintage rail car, you'll get stunning views of mountains, gorges, glacial rivers and waterfalls as you climb nearly 3,000 feet to the summit of White Pass — the headwaters to the mighty Yukon River. Designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, the 20-mile route is a marvel in its own right, with improbably steep grades at times and segments that pass over soaring wooden trestles and around tight, cliff-hanging curves.
Heli-hike and rail adventure
Cost: $399.95
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This is another tour with a sky-high cost. But, in my opinion, it's well worth the money. Indeed, it's one of my all-time favorite Alaska shore excursions.
The five-hour, Skagway-based outing begins with a transfer from your ship to a nearby helicopter pad, where you'll find a helicopter waiting to whisk you high into the surrounding Sawtooth Mountain Range.
On a quick flight to your destination — a mountain trail in the Tongass National Forest — you'll get spectacular views of the mountains and Goat Lake. You'll land at Glacier Station, a remote mountain helicopter pad alongside the White Pass & Yukon Railway tracks. From there, you'll set off on a two- to six-mile guided wilderness hike on a trail along the Skagway River. The highlight of the hike is a magnificent view of Laughton Glacier.
Returning to Glacier Station, you'll end the day with a ride back to Skagway on the White Pass & Yukon Railway, which makes a special stop to pick you up.
Misty Fjords National Monument by seaplane
Cost: $329.95
Port where available: Ketchikan
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There's nothing that says Alaska quite like a trip in a floatplane. And, if you're going to do a floatplane ride, there's nowhere better than in Ketchikan. You'll find a small armada of floatplanes waiting to take you to the nearby Misty Fjords National Monument.
Misty Fjords is one of those quintessential Alaska destinations that's so beautiful you just want to cry. That is, if it's not too "misty" to see it. It got its name for a reason. The area is often shrouded in clouds and drizzly rain. Ketchikan is known as one of the rainiest places in North America, with over 13 feet of rain each year. So, yeah, bring a rain jacket.
But, also get ready for lovely views of glacier-carved fjords, cliffs and rock walls jutting thousands of feet out of the ocean. The whole thing is covered with temperate rainforests and features huge waterfalls (thanks to all that rain). It's definitely a sight to see.
Note that there often are two versions of this tour available: One that is about two hours long and only includes flightseeing and a slightly longer version that includes a water landing within Misty Fjord National Monument.
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Alaska Excursions on NCL Bliss
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By surferboyandcathy , February 1, 2019 in Norwegian Cruise Line
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surferboyandcathy
Sailing on Bliss in June
How long does it take to get off the ship in Juneau, Skagway & Ketchican if I want to go on privately booked excursions ?
NCL suggest allowing 2 hours between docking and starting excursions. Then 2 hours between end of excursion and being back on ship
I realise that it is a big boat BUT...That's 4 hours lost at port ! Not much time left to squeeze in any sightseeing. Most of the excursions I am looking at start about 1 hour from docking time.
Has anybody done these ports and can tell me how long it actually takes
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This past Sept at each port we were off in 10 min. Last boarding is 30 minutes before the ship is scheduled to leave. Our private excursions were all wonderful. Out of 30+ cruises, the Bliss was in our top 3. Enjoy!!
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BirdTravels
You can be ashore about the advertised arrival time. There are no delays. Tour operators know exactly when a ship is arriving.
NCL requires you you to be on board 30 minutes before departure. So, you have the full time from the advertised arrival time to 30 minutes before departure time to do an excursion. The 2 hours refers to your initial embarkation from Seattle.
2 hours ago, gbcruise said: This past Sept at each port we were off in 10 min. Last boarding is 30 minutes before the ship is scheduled to leave. Our private excursions were all wonderful. Out of 30+ cruises, the Bliss was in our top 3. Enjoy!!
Thanks gbcruise & BirdTravels
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I was booking excursions with Alaska Shore Tours and gave them the ships arrival/departure times and the times they gave me were approx. 1 hour from scheduled arrival time. I figured they knew what would work, but being a worrier- I rang NCL and was told the 2 hour information. I think this is a fixed time they give for every port on every cruise to allow for any late arrivals etc
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ps we would be grateful of any tips you are happy to share. 1st time to Alaska. we have done Hawaii, Mediteranean, Pacific Island cruises previously
32 minutes ago, surferboyandcathy said: Thanks gbcruise & BirdTravels I worry about stuff (Cathy worries more) I was booking excursions with Alaska Shore Tours and gave them the ships arrival/departure times and the times they gave me were approx. 1 hour from scheduled arrival time. I figured they knew what would work, but being a worrier- I rang NCL and was told the 2 hour information. I think this is a fixed time they give for every port on every cruise to allow for any late arrivals etc I am now going to take a deep breath... RELAX... and book my tours ta surferboy ps we would be grateful of any tips you are happy to share. 1st time to Alaska. we have done Hawaii, Mediteranean, Pacific Island cruises previously
Tell Cathy that there is nothing to worry about.
Alaska is is one of our favorite cruise destinations. We sail their as often as possible. We spend ours on our balcony watching for whales, dolphin and sea lions (which are plentiful as you move between the ports at night - not as much in open sea).
The follwoing link is to our live post from last year’s maiden voyage of the Bliss to Alaska.
It it is a long way from home, so I would show up in Seattle a few days early to get synced with American time.
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10 hours ago, gbcruise said: This past Sept at each port we were off in 10 min. Last boarding is 30 minutes before the ship is scheduled to leave. Our private excursions were all wonderful. Out of 30+ cruises, the Bliss was in our top 3. Enjoy!!
Care to share which excursions you did?
The May 19 Bliss sailing still only has 2 excursions listed for Ketchikan. Are the other Bliss sailings this year also missing most Ketchikan excursions? If I look at the Shore Excursions section of the public website it lists many more options, but not when logged in.
we only have 1 for June 9th sailing
and I didn't want to spend the day on a boat watching people catch crabs
so I was organizing my own excursion on a Misty Fjord seaplane flight
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I have not been on a ship as large as the Bliss - if it follows the same schedule as the Pearl used to, Juneau will be a massive exodus as it is the first port after being onboard for almost 2 days and arriving in the PM people are anxious to get sightseeing. NCL usually queues their own excursions several places onboard - those folks are the first off. This is where it is nice to be in a suite and being able to go to the head of the line. In Skagway you will be spending all day and there is not as much push to get off the ship - it is also early in the morning too.
In Skagway you can walk the town in about an hour - we did our tour with Chilkoot and took the train to Carcross with a bus return (the tour is limited to 25 people - when we did it there was 5 of us) We had a whole car on the train to ourselves -while the cruise ship PAX were crammed into two cars.
In Ketchikan we simply walked around and did most of our souvenir shopping (Tongass Trading Co)
For more great ideas visit www.cruiseportinsider.com
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Regarding these shore excursions - do most book thru the cruise line, or use a third party? We are also doing the Alaska bliss this summer.
I always book independently from the cruise line. In Skagway, we rent a car and drive into the Yukon territory, The views are stunning and many interesting things there to see. Google Murray's guide to the South Yukon Highway for a description of what you can see by car.
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Thank you for the helpful links. Definitely want to do the train into the Yukon for our cruise on Bliss this August.
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On 2/1/2019 at 3:06 AM, surferboyandcathy said: Sailing on Bliss in June How long does it take to get off the ship in Juneau, Skagway & Ketchican if I want to go on privately booked excursions ? NCL suggest allowing 2 hours between docking and starting excursions. Then 2 hours between end of excursion and being back on ship I realise that it is a big boat BUT...That's 4 hours lost at port ! Not much time left to squeeze in any sightseeing. Most of the excursions I am looking at start about 1 hour from docking time. Has anybody done these ports and can tell me how long it actually takes Thank you
Was on the Bliss last summer in Alaska and getting off the ship was not an issue at all. The process runs smoothly.
We hadn't cruised for ages so we stuck to ship excursions and weren't disappointed, and I think with the $50 credit and my 10% gold discount it wasn't that much more expensive. We did Bliss September 2018.
Ketchikan - adventure karts, I thought meh but hubby loved it, plus we walked around town a lot, saw the salmon stream and shops, which was nice
Juneau - Mendenhall glacier photo safari & whale watching am, Tracy arm excursion pm (separate ones). Both were excellent. The scenery going to the whale watching was spectacular, the Mendenhall was cool and good photo tips. Tracy arm was well worth doing, but it was FREEEEEZZZZZZING! Warm clothes a must! Again, spectacular scenery and nothing beats getting up close with a glacier.
Skagway - Scenic highway bus tour, glad we did that rather than the train. It was a small bus, about 18 pax more or less, and a guide who talked all about the gold rush and tied in the areas we were to their history. About $100 cheaper than the train and I don't think we missed anything. Walked around town afterwards once again.
We didn't do anything in Victoria, I took advantage of the in-port spa services discount (be aware it's just on the "signature" services which are the most expensive, and they add back a 15% autograt)
1threadshort
On 2/1/2019 at 7:28 AM, BirdTravels said: Tell Cathy that there is nothing to worry about. Alaska is is one of our favorite cruise destinations. We sail their as often as possible. We spend ours on our balcony watching for whales, dolphin and sea lions (which are plentiful as you move between the ports at night - not as much in open sea). The follwoing link is to our live post from last year’s maiden voyage of the Bliss to Alaska. It it is a long way from home, so I would show up in Seattle a few days early to get synced with American time.
i also would like to sit on my balcony and look out. was your room port or starboard side? tx.
Thanks everybody for your advice.
With NCL advising to allow 2 hours to get off at port and Cathy worried that we have to sit on the boat until ALL the NCL organized excursions were off the boat first, I didn't want to organize private excursions then miss them.
We have sailed with NCL before but always booked the NCL excursions (so we know how long you can be sitting in that theatre waiting for your excursion to be called !)
On our Meditereanean cruise most of the experienced Cruise Critic Roll Call members were organizing private tours but we were to scared to join in (we might get stuck and miss the boat). This time I am being brave. To be able to be more flexible and to save money I am going to organize my tours .
I guess I will be safe with
Juneau Dock 2.30pm Excursion starts 3.30pm (Whales & Glacier tour)
Skagway Dock 7.00am Excursion starts 8.00am (Yukon tour by bus)
Ketchican Dock 6.00am Excursion starts 7.30am (Misty Fjord seaplane flight)
Doing organized tours because we drive on the other side of the road in Australia so we don't want to hire a car and we like meeting people from different places while on coaches etc
Surferboy & Cathy
You will love your trip, sounds like some good choices. The trip into the Yukon is great, we saw the world's smallest dessert, a miniature locomotive that they used in mining, and Emerald Lake. This year we will take our granddaughter to see those things and add in the suspension bridge close to Carcross.
I agree, they are all great choices!
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On 2/5/2019 at 8:06 AM, ZsaZsa2019 said: Regarding these shore excursions - do most book thru the cruise line, or use a third party? We are also doing the Alaska bliss this summer.
We are going to Alaska (first time) on the Bliss, May 19. Just finished booking excursions through Alaska Shore Excursions. We almost unfailingly, no matter where we are, book private / independent tours. My wife and I usually get truly private tours, but they were hard to find in Alaska, so we're doing mostly small groups.
To the OP, I don't think I've ever had to wait more than 30 minutes past the scheduled arrival time to get off the ship. So I usually assume that if the ship is scheduled to arrive at 7am, I will be off by 7:30 am. The times can vary, but in my experience, folks are able to get off pretty much right at the scheduled time. The cruise lines won't promise anything (because "stuff" happens)...but in our many excursions, the timing has always been pretty spot on. They DO want you back on the ship 30 minutes before announced departure time. We stick to that pretty strictly...as in, ON the ship with at least 30 minutes to spare.
We're sure excited about Alaska!!
here is what we booked for our excursions for august on the bliss:
4:10 – 7:30 D/E 3 ½ hrs Taku Glacier Adventure by Air, Water & Ice BOOKED NCL
3:00 – 6:30 Glacier Tour booked w/ncl
2 hrs 8:45-11:15 BOOKED ALL OF US T HRU Ocean Raft Adventure
WHITE PASS RAILWAY & SUSPENSION BRIDGE 12:30 – 5
http://www.fishketchikan.com/rates 7:30-11:30 booked Captain Jerry says “I guarantee we catch fish”
7:00 - 9:30 2 ½ HRS $169 BackcountryZodiac Expedition i drive the zodiac boat
here is a unique way to get around town:
ALASKA PEDICAB JUNEAU Need a Lift? Starting at just $5/person Downtown Tours Only $90 for 2 people 907-782-4396
On 2/5/2019 at 1:54 PM, Joeghartman said: Thank you for the helpful links. Definitely want to do the train into the Yukon for our cruise on Bliss this August.
when are you goin in august? we're goin 8/4
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27 minutes ago, surferboyandcathy said: Love that linked post of your Bliss Alaska cruise BirdTravels
Thank you. It was a little early in the season for us, but we wanted to be on the inaugural cruise.
We tried to book the inaugural Joy this year, but NCL cancelled the cruise and we are not able to book the following week. So the Joy will have to wait for another day. We try to live post when we are on board.
On 2/5/2019 at 7:48 PM, 1threadshort said: i also would like to sit on my balcony and look out. was your room port or starboard side? tx.
We were on the starboard side, Deck 15 near the forward elevator lobby. It was a PERFECT location because it was a 30 second walk into the Observation Lounge where snacks and light meals were served throughout the day and a bar. Early in the morning, you could walk into the lounge and get a cup of coffee and watch the ship pull into port. In the afternoon, scones with cream and jelly with tea. In the evening, just a place to be your [large] living room.
thank you for the info.
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