lauren0309

We first have lunch, then explore the ship and take some photos while the ship is still quiet (we board early) and then go to the dining room so see the location of our table. By then the cabin is ready so we drop off our carryon and go out to explore some more.

While I have not gone to Alaska yet, I too was seeking advice. I decided on the Pearl for three main reasons. One, was the long hours it spends in each port, two, I was looking for a round trip from Seattle and what really was the final deciding factor was that I was told on these boards to pick an itinerary that goes by Glacier Bay. I was originally going to go Solstice but it goes by Tracy Arm and not Glacier Bay. Hope this helps you in your decision which is best for you.

We usually do self disembark because we usually have early flights. This time our flight is 11:30. Allure is due back into Ft. Lauderdale at 6:15. Would we have plenty of time if we don't do self disembark or should we walk off ourselves with our luggage.

Yes another comment to my previous one as the previous poster said. We never fly in the day of. We only did it once when we were beginners. Now that we've learned the ropes (lol) we know to fly in the day before. You never know what can happen which can cause the flight to be delayed and cause you to miss your ship.

I never book through the cruiselines. They're prices are similar to even more than what I find. Also, for our very first cruise we booked through the cruiseline and we got awful flight times. By the time we got to the ship the lunch buffet was over and there was nothing to eat but whatever was left. We felt also a total day was wasted, whereas if we would have booked our own flight we could have arrived early at be on the ship by 11:00 a.m. which is another vacation day to enjoy the ship itself.

I am going to be on Allure so when I go to the computer onboard to print out my pass for free how do I know I wasn't charged for using their computer for that purpose only. Do I have to tell the front desk first?

Can you view your account from your cabin on Allure to see what you spent each day and view your onboard credit?

Our mind is made up for the NCL. The itinerary is more important to us than the ship.

Day 1

Seattle, Washington- opens in a new window -- 4:00 pm

Day 2

At Sea -- --

Day 3

Juneau, Alaska- opens in a new window 2:00 pm 10:00 pm

Day 4

Skagway, Alaska- opens in a new window 7:00 am 8:15 pm

Day 5

Glacier Bay- opens in a new window -- --

Day 6

Ketchikan, Alaska- opens in a new window 8:00 am 6:00 pm

Day 7

Victoria, British Columbia- opens in a new window 6:00 pm 11:59 pm

Day 8

Seattle, Washington- opens in a new window

We're in Ketchikan from 8 to 6. I don't know what itinerary on Pearl you were looking at? This is the 2015 itinerary.

Hope this isn't a silly questions, but are there restrooms, food for purchase on the train?

The short stop won't do in Ketchikan on the Crown. I want to go to Totem Pole Park, see the Lumberjack show and have time to walk around the shops at Creek street.

With the Crown, the stop in Ketchikan seems pretty short. The ships leaves by 12:30 p.m.

There is only a $100 price difference but I think I'm leaning towards NCL because of Glacier Bay.

One ship sails Sept. 6 and the other Sept. 7. Port times are almost the same, vary by an hour.

I had to change the month we were going to go to Alaska from May to September because of my boyfriend's job. So these are the 2 ships I've narrowed it down to. And we would also be going round trip from Seattle since airfare is much cheaper.

NCL Pearl

Seattle, SeaDay, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Victoria, Seattle

or

Ruby Princess (I've been on this ship before to the Caribbbean)

Seattle, SeaDay, Ketchikan, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Skagway, SeaDay, Victoria, Seattle

They are very similar except for Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm. So is one itinerary better than the other. The direction seems a little different. Price was also very similar. Can't decide.

Thanks. I'll check them all out! I'm thinking of going the end of May.

I think I've decided on the Radiance since I've been on Radiance class ships before and they are beautiful plus it makes the extra stop in Icy strait point.

This was the NCL Sun Itinerary for May. Seems both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier? Ends in Seward.

Day 1

Vancouver, British Columbia-- 4:00 pm

Day 2

Cruising Inside Passage-

Day 3

Ketchikan, Alaska- 7:00 am 4:00 pm

Day 4

Juneau, Alaska- 10:00 am 8:00 pm

Day 5

Skagway, Alaska- 7:00 am 8:00 pm

Day 6

Glacier Bay- -- --

Day 7

Hubbard Glacier, Alaska- --

Day 8

Seward, Alaska 7:00 am --

I'm having trouble deciding which ship I want to take to Alaska. I want to leave from Anchorage and get dropped off in Seward. I've narrowed it down to two choices.

These are 2 differences in the itinerary:

NCL Sun goes by Glacier Bay plus Hubbard Glacier.

Radiance goes by Hubbard Glacier and Icy Point Strait.

Also NCL Sun stays in Skagway until 8:00 while Radiance only stays in Skagway until 4:30.

So these were the two main difference in both cruises. Is there a lot to see in Skagway to spend the extra hours there and which is better, Icy Point or Glacier Bay.

LOVED, your pictures which were amazing, videos and review. I'm am so excited to go on Allure in November!!! I'm sure I will take another glance at your review again as it gets closer.

Thanks to all for your input.

Hstergo- I've done the Eastern itinerary also. (this will be my 12th cruise).

DonnaK- I've also been to Roatan and Belize but since I can get the ship in New Orleans that is why I was thinking of leaving from there instead of Ft. Lauderdale so this way I can spend a couple of days in New Orleans, something different. We can't do Bermuda because it doesn't leave from NY/NJ in November or December which is the months of our vacation.

Clarea-Would love a B2B but don't have the time.

Trying to decide on which itinerary I want to do. One is Southern Caribbean. I've done the Southern twice, been there, done that. But I still love going there. The second itinerary is Western, been there, done that too and don't like the itinerary as much as the southern. The only difference is that I was thinking of taking it from New Orleans since I've never been there before and spending a few days there before boarding ship. It would be something different for me. So that's why I'm trying to figure out which one I want to do. Any opinions?

Loving your review so far. We will be sailing on her in November and cannot wait! Time is moving too slowly.

Go to insuremytrip.com There you can compare the rates. They are very low compared to the money you would lose if you had to cancel your cruise for sickness, etc.

I had to use it twice. Once when my husband passed away before we were to go on our cruise, the second time there was a major snowstorm in NYC and all airports were closed so we got stuck in Miami for 3 days after our cruise ended. Insurance paid for our hotel stay in Miami, all meals and rental car. It was well worth it.

I would never leave home without it. You never know. It's not worth the gamble.

We did a private excursion to a turtle farm and held a bunch of different sized turtles and learned about them. Very interesting. There is a restaurant on facility where we had lunch by a lagoon that you can also swim in. Very nice day.