Hoping to take a cruise to Alaska, need help?

Question

My friend and I were hoping to take a cruise to visit Alaska before we finished college and figured a cruise would be a great time. We will be planning the trip from Miami, fl and she is having a tough time finding efficient searches for the trip. If anyone could possibly help me by directing me in the right direction to take this cruise, or possibly links that can simplify our search. We are planning this trip for next summer, May 2009. Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

Here's a link to a website where you can view all of the different cruises to Alaska compare prices and itineraries and book the one that you like the best:

http://vgsims.traverustravel.com/cruises...

Answer 2

Are you planning to go from Florida to Alaska on a cruise or fly from Florida to Seattle and then go on a cruise.

Answer 3

you should go on royal cariibean

if ur doing a land tour dont book with the cruise line plan it out by ur self u have more flexibillity that way

Answer 4

First call 1-800-Princess their 2009 brochuresare out now & if you ask they will also send you afree DVD of Alaska & you can tour the ships. Many say use a travel agent I have been to Alaska over 20 times & always book threw the cruise company as I found most travel agents have never been where they are sending you and they call the cruise lines to book their bookings. A cruisetour is the best way to see Alaska. However if you can only spare 7 days then for the best experience for the best price I would go with Princess or Norwegian. If you can take a cruisetour Princess offers 5 star lodging where the others do not.

Answer 5

I have been to Alaska twice and can help.

There are several ways to have a cruise to Alaska. You can cruise north from San Francisco, Seattle, or Vancouver Canada or cruise south from Anchorage (Whittier or Seward). If you live in or are leaving from Miami then you will need to fly to one of the many departure ports available on the west coast.  There will be more cruises leaving from Seattle and Vancouver going north and/or Anchorage going south than any of the other port options.

Cruises typically cruise the "inside passage" which is a waterway much like a river where you can in most places see land on both sides of the ship. It provides a very smooth ride on that part of the cruise. Cruises typically go to Juneau (the capitol), and Ketchikan, Skagway, and stop at one or more glaciers like Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord. Some cruises do other port stops. So you need to pay attention to which itinerary (port stops) the cruises will have.

The best time to go on an Alaska cruise is when you can get the best price. The Alaska cruise season is from May to Sept. So right now you are near the end of the 2008 Alaska cruise season but the cruise lines do have their schedules up for next season.   You will do well to book your cruise now for next year because all of the cruise lines give the best prices for very early bookings.

Although the best prices will be in May and Sept,  you will see the same things as other times. The weather is generally warmer in June, July and Aug, but it can also be pleasant in May and Sept. When we went a few years ago in May it was shirt sleeve weather (70's) in Anchorage and Fairbanks.

The best Alaska cruise experience is the cruise-tour that allows you to spend a few days either before or after your cruise touring further north of Anchorage, Alaska by bus and/or train.  The cruise-tours give you the best opportunity to see moose, caribou, wolf, fox, and bear, as well as more spectacular scenery.  

Four cruise lines, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Holland America and Princess offer the cruise tours.  All of these lines use a train for a portion of the land tour.  Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Princess have special domed vista train coaches for their land tours.  These cruise tours are a few days longer and cost more than the regular 7 day cruise but in my opinion are worth it.  Carnival is the budget cruise line and may have the lowest prices and probably more young cruisers.  So just shop the web sites below for the various cruise itineraries; like I said do pay close attention because they are not all the same.  You can book your own airfare (which may be cheaper), or the cruise lines will offer you a cruise and air package with everything included.  

HOLLAND AMERICA

http://www.hollandamerica.com/

CELEBRITY:

http://www.celebritycruises.com/home .

ROYAL CARIBBEAN:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/gohome.d.....

NORWEGIAN:

http://www.ncl.com/

PRINCESS:

http://www.princess.com/index.html

CARNIVAL:

http://www.carnivalcruiselines.com/

Answer 6

try the newspapers in big cities to find some great deals

cruisecritic.com

you can find out from the cruise lines themselves because alot are there in FLorida.

have a great time.

Answer 7

My first cruise to Alaska was a cruise/tour. We flew into Fairbanks. The next day, we took a train to Denali and toured around there for 3 days. We then took another train to the port and sailed for 7 days. This was all arranged with Princess cruises. They took care of every detail and it was the best cruise ever. We went in Late May. My next cruise to Alaska will be next year. We will cruise round trip out of San Francisco. This will also be with Princess as I think they are wonderful. Princess.com can help you out with planning a cruise to Alaska. I am also using a regular travel agent as the next cruise to Alaska involves several family members.