THE VACATION NERD WITH PATRICK WISCOMBE — EPISODE 185
TODD CARLSON: This is the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show, presented by BluePlanetVacations.com, America’s Best Travel Advisors.
Call or text the show right now: 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700.
And now, here are your hosts, Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: All aboard. It is time to talk cruising.
As I alluded to right at the bottom of the hour, we are talking about Alaska cruises. It is official: Next week, you can get on an Alaska cruise.
This week, the infamous Just Cruising segment is only about Alaska. I know this is a subject near and dear to Mark Faldmo’s heart.
The reason we are bringing it up is that we received a text message from Jill earlier this week. She is taking an Alaska cruise that has already been booked. You took care of that already, right?
MARK FALDMO: I did, yes.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: She is taking an Alaska cruise this summer and wants to know what you would suggest for shore excursions.
MARK FALDMO: There are several amazing shore excursions in Alaska. Each port is different. Some of my favorite shore excursions in the world are in Alaska, so I will give a rundown.
We will start in Juneau. This is not in any particular order because cruise lines visit these ports in different orders.
In Juneau, I think the best excursion is whale watching. My number-one tour would be a combination tour that includes whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier.
The whale watching is superb in Juneau. Where most of the whale-watching boats leave from, you have to drive right past Mendenhall Glacier, so you might as well book a tour that includes both.
You spend approximately an hour at Mendenhall Glacier, where you can visit the visitor center, learn about the glacier and walk some of the hiking trails around it.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: I will let people know that when you are on a glacier tour and it sounds as though you are standing in a gun-firing range, it is the ice hitting the water. Man, does it make a racket.
MARK FALDMO: It does.
The next tour I really like in Juneau is called Glacier Gardens Adventure.
They have taken fallen trees, drilled holes in them and turned the trees upside down so the roots are at the top. They have turned the root systems into planter boxes hanging with flowers and ferns.
There are also a couple of trails. They take you by vehicle toward the top of the mountain, where you have an amazing view of the entire valley where Juneau is located.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What a unique idea—turning trees upside down.
MARK FALDMO: Yes, turning trees upside down. It is a pretty cool place.
Time permitting, I also like to take the Mount Roberts Tram, which is right where most of the cruise ships dock.
If you have time, walk around town. There is good shopping in downtown Juneau, and the Mount Roberts Tram is a great activity if you have extra time.
There is also, from what I hear, a pretty good salmon bake. I am not a fish eater, but that is probably one of the more popular tours in Juneau.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What about Skagway?
MARK FALDMO: Skagway is probably my favorite port in all of Alaska.
I have some family history there. My great-great-grandfather—or maybe three greats; I am not sure how far back—was one of the miners who went over White Pass. I enjoy visiting and exploring that history.
The number-one thing to do there is the White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad. There are three different versions you can take.
One is the summit-and-return trip, which is a round-trip train ride. You can also take the train up and a bus back, which gives you views from two different sides of the canyon.
Or you can take the Yukon Explorer, which takes the train up before you transfer to a bus and travel deeper into Yukon Territory.
It includes a dog-sledding camp and lunch. It is an all-day tour, but it is very interesting.
Another activity I enjoy in Skagway is the streetcar tour. You travel aboard old 1930s-style buses while the guides explain the history of the town.
You visit a scenic lookout and the cemetery where Soapy Smith is buried. He was one of the villains of the old mining town.
All of the tour guides are dressed in period clothing. It is a fun tour, and you get a good overview of Skagway’s history.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Is it bad to say I have no idea who Soapy Smith is?
MARK FALDMO: Not many people do unless they have been to Skagway.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: I have been there, and I still do not know who he was.
MARK FALDMO: Then you did not take the right tour.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: That is what I am saying.
Ketchikan is another port. What do you like to do there?
MARK FALDMO: Ketchikan is probably best known for its totem poles.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: That is right—totem poles.
MARK FALDMO: You can learn a lot about the history of totem poles there.
My favorite activity, though, is a Misty Fjords flightseeing tour. You board a floatplane, fly into Misty Fjords and land on a lake. It is a fascinating experience.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: I have done that several times.
MARK FALDMO: I really enjoy the Misty Fjords flightseeing tour.
For travelers interested in totem poles, there are three primary places to see them. Totem Bight is my favorite. There is also Saxman Native Village and Potlatch Totem Park.
Those tours are often combined with a wildlife tour. There is a good location near Ketchikan where you can sometimes watch bears.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: What else do you like to do in Ketchikan?
MARK FALDMO: Make sure you visit Creek Street. You can walk there from most of the cruise terminals. It is a nice shopping street.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: I love Creek Street.
MARK FALDMO: Another popular activity I enjoy is the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.
It is the United States versus Canada in a logging competition. It is fun and very well produced.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Instead of hockey, we have logs flying around.
When Nikki and I went to Alaska, we did not visit Sitka. What do you recommend doing there?
MARK FALDMO: Sitka is probably the fourth major Alaska port. Not every cruise line visits because there is not room for many ships—generally just one ship at a time.
It used to be that primarily Holland America visited Sitka, but more cruise lines are beginning to go there.
There are three attractions I recommend. You can visit them individually or as part of a combination tour. I have always done them as a combination.
The first is Sitka National Historical Park, where a historic battle was fought.
The second is Fortress of the Bear, which is a bear-rescue and rehabilitation center. You can safely watch grizzly bears up close.
The third is the Alaska Raptor Center, where they rehabilitate birds of prey.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Four trucks?
MARK FALDMO: Birds.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Oh—birds. Okay.
MARK FALDMO: Those are the three places I enjoy, and I have always visited them as part of a combination tour.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: One of my favorite ports, purely because of its beauty, is Victoria, British Columbia.
I have been there during the day, and I have been there at night. If you can visit during the daytime, it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth that I have ever seen. I love it.
What do you like to do there?
MARK FALDMO: Victoria is the international stop that cruise lines have to make. Often, you are only there from approximately 6:00 or 8:00 p.m. until midnight, so it is usually a shorter stop.
As you mentioned, I love it. I wish more cruise lines spent additional time there.
Usually, you only have enough time to take a Butchart Gardens tour—which I would book through the cruise line because of the timing—or go into the harbor area and walk around.
The harbor area is fascinating.
Speaking of fish, there is a place called Red Fish Blue Fish. It has the best fish and chips I have ever had, and you can order it with several different types of fish. I order halibut, and I am fine with that.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Halibut is about the only fish I will eat.
Always in this segment of the show, the infamous Just Cruising segment, we have the cruise news and the cruise deals.
What Alaska cruise deals do we have for listeners this week?
MARK FALDMO: I have two—one for this summer and one for next summer, because I want people to start thinking about that.
For this summer, the end of August is generally a good time for pricing.
This week’s deal is a round-trip Vancouver cruise aboard Holland America Line. It visits Tracy Arm Fjord, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.
The departure is August 30. Inside cabins start at $959 per person.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: For an Alaska cruise, that is pretty good.
MARK FALDMO: It is. Balcony cabins start at $1,699 per person.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: That is a significant increase. But if you are not going to spend much time in your room, you can always use the outside decks.
Which Holland America ship is it?
MARK FALDMO: Koningsdam.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Next week I will be aboard Holland America, but on the East Coast. I am going on Rotterdam.
MARK FALDMO: That is Koningsdam’s sister ship, so it will be a similar vessel.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: You cannot go wrong with Alaska.
To get everyone ready for 2026, what other promotion do you have?
MARK FALDMO: In 2026, two new cruise lines will begin sailing in Alaska: Virgin Voyages and MSC Cruises.
I wanted to highlight MSC because the price is very good.
It is a round-trip Seattle cruise visiting Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Strait Point and Victoria.
The featured departure is June 1. Inside cabins start at $929 per person, which is close to the Holland America price we just discussed.
A balcony cabin starts at $1,299 per person.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Whoa.
MARK FALDMO: That $1,299 price only increases slightly as you move farther into June, so you can get a peak-season balcony for under $1,500.
I have seen prices beginning to increase on other MSC sailings. If you are considering Alaska in 2026, you should look at MSC and place something under deposit.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: How much is the balcony again?
MARK FALDMO: It is $1,299 for the June 1 departure and $1,349 for a June 29 departure.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: That is amazing for Alaska.
Call Mark during the break. You have to take advantage of that price, especially for a seven-day round-trip sailing from Seattle: 888-718-7717. 888-718-7717.
Mark will also post the information at BluePlanetVacations.com.
When we come back, it is the final segment of the show. We have Mark’s travel tips, and we are talking about REAL ID and passports.
This is important if you are traveling. We always talk about having the correct documentation, and we are going to give you the details.
That is next when the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show continues.
Alongside my good friend Mark Faldmo, my name is Patrick Wiscombe. Thank you for listening. We will be right back.
TODD CARLSON: Explore your world. You are listening to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show with Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo.
Call or text the show now: 801-649-3700. That is 801-649-3700. And check out the podcast at InsideTravelTalk.com.
TODD CARLSON: This segment of Inside Travel Talk is sponsored by El Dorado Spa Resorts.
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To book your romantic beach getaway, contact Blue Planet Vacations at 888-718-7717 or BluePlanetVacations.com.
TODD CARLSON: This is the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show with Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo, presented by BluePlanetVacations.com, America’s Best Travel Advisors.
Call the show right now: 801-649-3700. 801-649-3700.
And now, your hosts, Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Welcome back inside the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show.
We hope you are having a terrific weekend. My name is Patrick Wiscombe, alongside Mark Faldmo.
Coming up in this final segment, Mark and I are talking about travel identification.
We received a text earlier this week from one of our listeners, Jessica—last four digits 2426. She had questions about REAL ID.
We are also going to talk about eight passport mistakes and explain what a travel visa is.
Before we get to Jessica’s question, I want to bring up the Hot Deal Update, which is the email you send every one to two weeks with the latest travel information.
Let’s talk about that.
MARK FALDMO: The Hot Deal Update is a great way to learn about upcoming travel deals and offers.
It is a curated list for my clients and our Inside Travel Talk listeners. I look for the best deals and unique offers, and I also include travel news and updates.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: How do people sign up?
MARK FALDMO: Go to BluePlanetVacations.com.
If it is your first time visiting the website, a pop-up should appear. Otherwise, go to “Hot Deals” in the upper navigation bar. You will see a link where you can enter your name and email address.
That is all we need. We try not to spam people with the list. We make sure the information is relevant and valid when we send it.
If something is time-sensitive, because we only do this show once a week, I will send the information so people receive the most current travel offers.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: You and I received a text from Jessica, last four digits 2426.
She said, “I saw something about REAL ID and that it will be required soon. How do I know whether I have REAL ID? What is REAL ID, and should I be worried?”
MARK FALDMO: I will begin with the last question: Should she be worried?
If you have a Utah or Idaho driver’s license—which covers much of our listening area—you probably do not need to worry. Those states have been issuing REAL ID-compliant licenses for quite a while.
What is REAL ID? It was a recommendation from the 9/11 Commission and was passed by Congress in 2005 to make travel more secure.
Officials were finding that fake identification was being used to get through airport security. REAL IDs are more difficult to forge and include features that help TSA identify them as valid.
The main point is that REAL ID requirements go into effect May 7 of this year. That is approximately four weeks from today and probably why people are seeing so many stories about it.
If you are traveling after May 7, you will need either a passport or a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license.
Jessica’s main question was how to tell whether she has one.
On most states’ driver’s licenses, there will be a gold or black star in the upper-right corner.
California is different. A California REAL ID has a gold bear with a star inside the bear. Most other states use a gold star, while some use a black star.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: It is definitely happening May 7, 2025, in all 50 states?
MARK FALDMO: Correct.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: It is nice to know the government can move quickly.
Let’s get to the eight passport mistakes. Where do you want to begin?
MARK FALDMO: First, if you are taking an international trip, look at your passport’s expiration date. In many cases, do this before you begin planning.
Unfortunately, I have booked trips for people over the years who did not look at their passport and later discovered it had expired.
Another common mistake is being unaware that many countries require your passport to remain valid for six months after your final date of travel.
Not every country has that rule, but as a general rule of thumb, I tell travelers to make sure their passport is valid for six months after their return date.
One reason is that if a medical issue occurs and you have to remain in the country, you do not want your passport to expire while you are receiving treatment. You would then have to wait for a new passport before returning home.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: How many times have you renewed your passport?
MARK FALDMO: I think I am on my fourth passport.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Do you receive an email from the State Department when it is time to renew?
MARK FALDMO: You do not receive an email from the State Department.
However, if you are a Blue Planet Vacations customer and we have entered your passport information into our system, you will receive a notice one year before it expires.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: So there is no email unless it comes from you.
MARK FALDMO: Correct, at least right now.
The next common passport mistake is failing to check current processing times when applying for a new passport.
Current processing is approximately six to eight weeks for routine service and two to three weeks for expedited service.
You can check the current times on the State Department’s Travel.State.Gov website. There is also a link in the resources section of BluePlanetVacations.com.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Is it possible to get a rushed or same-day passport?
MARK FALDMO: It is, under certain circumstances.
First, you have to be near a passport office. You also have to prove certain things to receive a same-day passport or one within a few days.
You must prove that you are traveling within 14 days, or that you need a foreign visa within four weeks.
If you receive an appointment for a same-day passport, you must pay the $60 expedited-service fee in addition to the normal passport fee.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: The newly announced passport office in Salt Lake City—I think it is supposed to be at the airport—is it open yet?
MARK FALDMO: It is not.
The State Department website lists it as a future location, but the opening date is “to be announced.”
Who knows when it will actually open? It will be exciting to have a passport office here in Salt Lake for our local listeners.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: Before we end the show, I have a question. What is a travel visa? It is not a credit card; I know that.
MARK FALDMO: Some countries require travelers to receive a visa before entering.
For example, when I traveled to China, I had to send my passport to the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, and they issued a visa.
You pay a fee, fill out a form and receive a stamp or sticker inside your passport.
If you take multiple trips and need a visa, you have to consider your passport expiration date and the time required to process the visa.
My father was preparing for several trips and needed a Chinese visa. There was no way for him to get the passport back quickly enough because foreign consulates can sometimes keep passports for six to eight weeks.
He ultimately had to obtain a second passport.
A second passport is only valid for five years, and you have to meet certain requirements to receive one. For a while, my father traveled with two passports because of that visa situation.
A visa is essentially authorization to enter a particular country.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: There is a lot of jargon involved. I think this conversation will answer questions travelers and potential travelers have had for a long time.
MARK FALDMO: One more passport mistake I forgot to mention: Some countries require you to have consecutive blank pages in your passport.
You may need two to four consecutive blank pages to enter the country.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: That is right.
MARK FALDMO: I have had people arrive in a country without enough blank pages and be turned away.
You have to check the entry requirements, passport requirements and visa requirements for every country you are visiting.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: You can help people with that?
MARK FALDMO: Yes.
In the resources section of BluePlanetVacations.com, there is a link labeled “Passport Requirements.” It goes to a service called Sherpa.
Enter your travel date and destination country, and it will tell you what you need to enter.
PATRICK WISCOMBE: This has been very helpful. This is one of those segments we could put on repeat to help travelers.
If you have travel-related questions about REAL ID, passport mistakes or travel visas, call Mark in his office.
You can also call him about any of the deals discussed during the show: 888-718-7717. 888-718-7717.
Many of the resources are available at BluePlanetVacations.com.
You can listen to this show again tomorrow morning, Sunday at 11:00 a.m., on this radio station and around the country.
You can also stream, download and subscribe to the podcast at InsideTravelTalk.com. We are available on all major podcast platforms.
Our job is done. Now it is your turn to get out and explore the world while you can, because you never know what curveballs life will throw at you.
Live your life deliberately. Live your life intentionally.
Thank you so much for listening. We will talk to you again next week.
TODD CARLSON: That is it. That is the end of the show.
You have been listening to the Inside Travel Talk Podcast and Radio Show with Patrick Wiscombe and Mark Faldmo, presented by BluePlanetVacations.com.
Book your adventure right now. Call 888-718-7717. That is 888-718-7717.
Thanks for listening. Have a great week.
TODD CARLSON: Inside Travel Talk is brought to you by Travelex Insurance Services.
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