Last Minute September Cruise (first Alaska trip)--HELP APPRECIATED!

Hello:

My husband and I are deciding on a last minute mid-September 7 day Alaska cruise out of Seattle. I've done some research but just need some help narrowing down.

1) September weather--I know Alaska weather is extremely unpredictable and are going to plan for some cold and rain...hopefully it's not too much that will inhibit scenic views. My concern though is about the rough waters around that time of year--I last cruised about 10 years ago (to the Caribbean...did not get sick) and it's my husband's first cruise. Still figuring out the cruise line and itinerary but most likely going to port in Kechikan and possibly Sitka, if we do the HAL cruise. How bad could the waters be from and to Seattle around that time, and would it be most of the trip? I understand it may be calmer in the inside passage area. We plan to take whatever precautions necessary and will hopefully book a cabin in the middle of the ship but wanted to plan ahead. In addition, if we decide to go on HAL, I've heard that those are smaller ships (not sure if that would be a big factor).

Also--when should we expect it to get dark (on average) in September?

2) Cruiseline--trying to narrow this down as well. So far, it's between Holland (the only one that goes Sitka on the list we have), Norwegian (Pearl), or Princess (Ruby or Emerald). We are leaning towards HAL (Ms. Oosterdam) for 9/10 or 9/17 as that goes through Puget Sound, Stephens Passage, Juneau, Hubbard Glacier, Sitka, Kechikan, and Victoria. The only drawback on that one is no Glacier Bay or Skagway; if we do the Princess one, that is on the itinerary. Is Hubbard Glacier just as nice as Glacier Bay? Is going to Sitka really worth it, or is Skagway the best for first time visit? Any preferences as to what cruiseline is best to Alaska during that time (FYI--we are both in our mid-30s). Most of the itineraries are only in Victoria in the evening which is ok by us as we just spent a day there in April during a Vancouver trip...we just want to maximize our hours in the Alaska ports.

I also understand that there might not be as many excursions in September which is ok...we just want to get a taste of Alaska for our first trip.

Thank you all!

I'll see if I can help a little. I've done two cruises in late September, both on HAL, both round trip Seattle. In 2013 it was on Oosterdam and in 2016 is was on Amsterdam.

Upon boarding in 2013 there was a letter in our cabin that said due to expected storms our itinerary was changing and we would miss Sitka and would have a full day in Victoria instead of the normal few evening hours. We also did the inside passage up through Seymour Narrows and the Captain would make announcements when we would have to be in open water so everyone could prepare. It was a rough patch but rest of the trip was decent.

In 2016 we were a few days into the cruise when storms again caused us to miss Sitka. We had a few extra hours in Ketchikan and had a full day in Victoria. Other than the storm we encountered we had good weather in Juneau and rain in Ketchikan. We were supposed to go to Tracy Arm but diverted to Endicott Arm due to ice.

If memory serves it would get dark around 10pm.

When I returned from the September cruise (with my mom and sister) I was 0 for 2 in getting to Sitka and told my hubby I was booking us to Alaska in May 2017 to try to get to Sitka. We chose the Emerald Princess round trip Vancouver. It also included Glacier Bay, which we had not seen. Alaska cruise in 2013 went to Tracy Arm, and in 2014 went to Hubbard Glacier (that was a one way between Seward and Vancouver).

I now know why so many folks say to include Glacier Bay if possible. It was incredibly beautiful.

Good luck with your planning.

Later.....

Thank you very much for the reply...looks like getting to Sitka may be rough in September!

Any downsides to cruising with HAL or did you enjoy it overall? Thanks again!

I'll see if I can help a little. I've done two cruises in late September, both on HAL, both round trip Seattle. In 2013 it was on Oosterdam and in 2016 is was on Amsterdam.

 

Upon boarding in 2013 there was a letter in our cabin that said due to expected storms our itinerary was changing and we would miss Sitka and would have a full day in Victoria instead of the normal few evening hours. We also did the inside passage up through Seymour Narrows and the Captain would make announcements when we would have to be in open water so everyone could prepare. It was a rough patch but rest of the trip was decent.

 

In 2016 we were a few days into the cruise when storms again caused us to miss Sitka. We had a few extra hours in Ketchikan and had a full day in Victoria. Other than the storm we encountered we had good weather in Juneau and rain in Ketchikan. We were supposed to go to Tracy Arm but diverted to Endicott Arm due to ice.

 

If memory serves it would get dark around 10pm.

 

When I returned from the September cruise (with my mom and sister) I was 0 for 2 in getting to Sitka and told my hubby I was booking us to Alaska in May 2017 to try to get to Sitka. We chose the Emerald Princess round trip Vancouver. It also included Glacier Bay, which we had not seen. Alaska cruise in 2013 went to Tracy Arm, and in 2014 went to Hubbard Glacier (that was a one way between Seward and Vancouver).

 

I now know why so many folks say to include Glacier Bay if possible. It was incredibly beautiful.

 

Good luck with your planning.

 

Later.....

I can only answer for myself... for US, Glacier Bay was a 'deal breaker'. We would only consider a cruise if it went there. Of course, no one can tell you what to do...only what THEY are doing and why. We're "big" into National Parks and we consider Glacier Bay to be the ultimate in a Alaskan cruise. There are those who don't agree... That's ok ;)

Princess does Glacier Bay very well...with Naturalists...Folk Singers...Iditarod champions...North to Alaska and Discovery at Sea programs... but I"m sure NCL does a good job to. I just haven't researched them as much. Also, I don't know if you realize it or not, but PCL and HAL are owned by the same parent company - CCL. (Carnival Cruise Line)

With weather, Sept may be the most UNpredictable of any...can be beautiful...can be rainy...can be cold...can be warm...but will (almost certainly) contain some rainy days so be prepared.

As far as sunrise/sunset, you don't have to question at all. Check here:

http://www.sunrisesunset.com/USA/Alaska.asp

insert port name and you'll get that info and more.....

Because I"m an info-maniac, I found the sunrise/set times for each port we were going to including our DIY land tour, then copied/pasted that info into a calendar form according to our itinerary. It's my own personalized sunrise/sunset calendar :)

No it isn't light out at as post 2 claims. Mid Sept, it is dark around 7pm on the inside passage.

Rough sailing out of Seattle is a significant chance. This routing has the roughest sailing potential. I would expect at least one sailing to have people feeling ill. Expect an average of 3 days of rain. Realize that if going to Sitka for birds, the puffins will be gone by mid Sept.

I am not of the opinion that Glacier Bay is a must (for those claims I would hope that all of the glacier areas had been experienced- too often they aren't) College Fjords, Tracy Arm, Endicott Arm, Glacier Bay Hubbard Glacier. I find remarkable beauty in all of them. Always in a constant state of change so always changing.

Thank you very much for the reply...looks like getting to Sitka may be rough in September!

 

 

Any downsides to cruising with HAL or did you enjoy it overall? Thanks again!

Both of the HAL cruises were with my mother, who spent most of each day in the casino. As I had to be with her I didn't get to enjoy the entertainment and have no idea what the "nightlife" might have been like. I like to rise early and enjoy the ship when it's quiet so we were in the cabin by 10-11 each night. In 2016 mom turned 80 and I am 60. In my opinion, an Alaskan cruise is all about the scenery and not so much about the ship or cruise line.

I really liked HAL (so much that I talked hubby into doing Alaska on the Noordam next June along with a couple of cruise newbies). The cabins are nice and we always had good food.

Later....