We recently completed a cruisetour operated by Premier Alaska tours. Although the tour itself was FANTASTIC ,our tour director ( as she liked to refer to herself) , Lynea, was not. One of the first things out of her mouth was that this was a service and, as such ,warranted tips. She then told us how much and highlighted the amounts in the tour guide!!!
We proceeded to Anchorage for our so called city tour. This tour consisted of circling a block numerous times,all while she described the same businesses over and over! We think she was killing time!
When we got to our hotel she gave out bag tags and explained the colors for the bag going with us and those that stayed behind. The next morning,an older couple having been confused placed both colors on their bags and she was livid! Lynea made the woman cry and berated them for causing the schedule to fall behind for 30 minutes! We did not know this couple but felt badly for them and stuck close by after that. Later that day,we arrived at our less than stellar hotel. We had taken the 4 hour natural history tour.My husband was helping this couple, off of the bus ,when Lynea said rather loudly" let's all hurry up and wait" !!!!
She held up a white board with bags out time,etc and told everyone to take a photo because she didn't want a repeat of the morning's mess up! The older couple were mortified and went to their room.
Im not going into the hotel and its' lack of a restaurant, soundproofing or decent bedding.
This review pertains to our so called director.
I am handicapped and use a cane. The obvious reason is a brace on my leg. There are other reasons that I did not feel the need to share. some how we ended up at the back of the bus everyday. It was not easy maneuvering the aisle. At no time did she suggest that someone move a row back near the front so it would be easier for me. So we were always the next to the last ones on and off. The only time we were accomodated was at Denali's train depot and that was by the train staff,not Lynea.
On the bus ride back to anchorage she made a one hour "pit" stop and encouraged everyone to buy ice cream. The consensus was that she was getting a kick back!!!
The bus driver, Karen,then went on and on about the important job a tour director had making sure that those with mobility issues were helped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lynea kept asking me to do the survey and she would give a prize for doing so. I told her I would do it when I got home and she gave us a key chain.
Lastly,she told a few of us that 13 people had told her she was the worst tour guide ever! Let's make that 14 and 15 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ps- she also said it was not her job to make things magical for her guests! read more