Alaskan Cruise Question:?

Question

I am interested in going on an Alaskan cruise this summer with my husband and mother, 60 y.o. I am interested in ANY information, experiences, What cruise line is best for Alaskan cruises? I have traveled with Carnival in the past and had an amazing experience. What is the difference between the Southern and Northern tours? Which one is I guess more "scenic" and will have things for a 60 y.o. who is not athletic to participate in? This is something that she has wanted to do for years, and would really like to look into it for a trip this summer for her! Again, ANY information will be appreciated

Answer 1

We have been to Alaska four times, three on inside passage and one cruise tour.  We are going May of next year on another cruise tour.  We are always on RCCL or Celebrity because of past experience.  We take four cruises a year and have been on them all.  We like RCCL and Celebrity better than others because of the food, treatment, crew, etc.  Since we are both senior citizens and despite the fact that I have MS, I will still take a cruise tour.  Do you think your mother could do this?

Answer 2

I've been twice.  Once on Princess (Seward to Vancouver)and once on Holland America (round trip Seattle).  Both time I had family in their 60s and children.  Alaska is great for any age.  You might even consider the round trip from SF with Princess.  It's 10 days but cheaper airfare.  All the shore excursions are at different capabilities depending on you.  You should book soon though.  Cabins for 3 and 4 are always the first to go for families...there are few of those.  I also like Celebrity.  Better service & food over Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess or Holland America.  Nice staterooms, too.

Answer 3

You want to do what they call the inside passage.  The boat only briefly ventures out into the open ocean.  It seems that your traveling on a river, you can see things on both sides of the boat at all times.  There is no wave action.

Typically the inside passage trips stop in Sitka.  I'm not sure what a northern vs southern tour is, but if a northern tour goes to Seward or Valdez or Anchorage - I'd take the southern tour.  You will see just as much wildlife on the inside passage as you would further north.  The scenery isn't that much different in Seward than it is in Ketchikan.

You want to go in late June if possible, so you get the maximum amount of sunlight.  

Take a really good camera, one with 300mm + telephoto capability.  Take cloths for every possible kind of weather.  It rains a lot up there.

Answer 4

An Alaskan cruise is the best. If just going for 7 days then Norwegian or Princess will offer the best fares. All Lines leave out of either Seattle or Vancouver. Visit their sites. Norwegian offers Freestlying Cruising which means there is not a dress code or seat assignment to eat. Both lines offer an excellent Buffet.

These cruises sell out very fast so you would be advised to book now. If a member of AAA they can save you on both the cruise as well as airfare.

Most cruises take the inside passage. You will stop at 4 ports of call and YOU DO NEED TO BE BACK ON BOARD or the ship will leave without you. They have a schedule to keep which is explained in the rules.

Cruises start in May thru Sept. May & Sept. have the best fares. Sept. all stores in port have 50% off sales. Do not buy on ship. Example on ship T-Shirt $15.00 in port $5.00. Also book an inside cabin and save about $500.00 each.

There are plenty of things for people of all ages to do on the ship as well in port. Ask for an excursions booklet which will list everything to do in each port and for how long and how much. If you decide on whale watching only take the ones that are guareented. If you take this and do not see awhale they will give you each back $100.00. The train tours can be fun also.

Do not book any shore excursions until you get to port to besure of weather and how everyone feels. They sell them both on the ship and dock.

I am not a travel agent but, if you have any questions you can either call the cruise lines or email me.

Enjoy. All 3 of you will LOVE this cruise.

No matter what anyone says Alaska is not Expensive.

Answer 5

I worked in downtown Anchorage fo 7 years in the tourism industry and the best reviews were always of Princess.  In those 7 years, I only heard one bad thing about it: they don't serve Dr. Pepper.  Granted, I don't think any of the other cruise lines do either. . . .

The "inside passage" is the most scenic, but you really can't go wrong anywhere in AK.  It is gorgeous in all parts (except during "break up season" which is about March to April) and you'll get plenty of amazing pictures.

Answer 6

You might want to visit a local travel agency. Most have cruise agents that can lead you in the right direction.

Answer 7

Alaskan crusies are the best!  For your age group, I would recommend Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), Princess, Holland America, or Royal Caribbean.  NCL and Royal Caribbean have the best prices but Holland America and Princess go to more destinations.  

I would recommend NCL if you and your husband want to spend your vacation alone and if you want to go on shore excursions.  NCL has a program called Freestyle Cruising that lets you do whatever you want without a schedule.  That makes it more enjoyable to go to the ports because you don't have to be back for dinner on the ship at a scheduled time.  You also aren't forced to interact with people.  You are allowed to eat with whom you want, and like I said, when you want and where you want.  

Holland America and Princess have round-trip cruises, but are the only ones that I know of that have a one-way cruise that goes from Seattle/Vancouver to Anchorage Alaska.  All other cruises only go as far north as Skagway.  If you want to go to Anchorage and see Denali National Park, then Holland America and Princess are the ones you want to cruise with.

The best time to go to Alaska is late May through early June.  The weather is decent and the infamous Alaskan mosquitoes haven't come out yet.  You also see a ton of whales and dolphins in the water.

Answer 8

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