Is it too late to book Alaska cruise for 2018?

Have always planned on sailing the Alaskan inside passage with Princess for our 50th anniversary, but some surgeries in the last 12 months have made us wait on booking. Is it too late now to try for something in August or September? We are not new to cruising so we understand that this is probably not one of those last minute decisions that makes sense, but DH still has his heart set on this year, I’m having a hard time convincing him otherwise. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Why would you believe to late to book? Really not last minute travel, you said you have cruised so you know what to plan and do. Still lots of time and open ships, with most types of cabins still available. The Emerald Princess & Ruby Princess are doing 7 days trips, with the Grand Princess Golden Princess & Star Princess doing 10 to 12 days trips. And the pricing seems to still be very reasonable. Enjoy your wonderful Summer trip.

The only thing you might run into is independent excursions or smaller hotels booking up - but I'm sure if you are flexible you can still find tons of stuff to do that would interest you.....

Not sure why you would think it too late. Are you very selective in your cabin needs? Maybe you will not be able to pick the cabin type or location you like. Airfares and hotel (if you need one) might be higher.

But, if there is the will, there is the way.

Last week we booked the NCL Jewel 6/25 Vancouver to Seward at bargain prices. 5 of us with 2 cabins. If you’re willing to be flexible there are still bargains to be found.

We have done last minute Caribbean and MX., really not too much planning goes into those cuz we know our way around, but was concerned with so many options for AK. and booking out by only a few months. DH is a fisherman and did want to do that but with a recent shoulder fix, that might be out. I am the planner, haven’t used a TA in years, but I’m not sure that I want to tackle all that research this time. Usually the week before the actual sail date, I am ready for a padded room with no windows! ;)

Loved one had cancer.... so we would book an Alaskan cruise a week away from departure. Yes it cost more, but it meant less stress when we could travel when she was strong.

I do recommend early August to avoid the wet and storm season. I like dry port weather.

Check the 90 day cruise ticker (google it) for bargain prices on Alaska cruises. They have a bunch as long as you’re not incredibly picky about hip or cabins.

I don’t think this will be a problem for two people.

Now three families (need 2, 3, 4 people rooms) side by side interconnected mid ship balcony cabins sometime between late June and first week of August itinerary including Glacier Bay; that was tricky in early February this year.

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Definitely not too late. As others have said, airfare and hotel rates may be a little higher, but not a deal breaker.

Don’t rush and grab the first option you see. Do a little research on the main ports, find things of interest to you, then search for itineraries that spend the most time in those ports. Itinerary is much more important than cruise line or specific ship in Alaska.

One-way itineraries to / from Vancouver tend to offer some of the best itineraries, but there are good round-trip options as well.

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We have done last minute Caribbean and MX., really not too much planning goes into those cuz we know our way around, but was concerned with so many options for AK. and booking out by only a few months. DH is a fisherman and did want to do that but with a recent shoulder fix, that might be out. I am the planner, haven’t used a TA in years, but I’m not sure that I want to tackle all that research this time. Usually the week before the actual sail date, I am ready for a padded room with no windows! ;)

It sounds like you have a lot going on, that your normal way of planning might add too much stress, and that you both could certainly use the time away to do something restorative and celebratory.

Might I suggest that you let the cruise line do your planning for you just this once? Even though you usually do it DIY, take the ship excursions and hotel-transfer add-ons. It sounds like you could use the break, and it might help you both truly enjoy the wild and wonderful beauty of Alaska. Just this once ;)

Simple book your cruise and book excursions with the ship....that gives you flexibility....My DH was recovering from a very serious illness 20 years ago and we booked our first cruise with Princess, last minute to Alaska.....because we felt it would be an easy trip for him...Back then, we were the youngest on the ship.....LOL Times have certainly changed...

Do it, leave the planning to the cruise line and don't look back.

I agree with those who suggest booking the cruise and take cruise excursions. I have done 6 week trips on 3 continents and obsessively planned each day's activities. I've also just booked a destination and then taken each day as it comes. Both are equally fun. Do we sometimes miss things when we do an "unplanned" trip. Of course, but then we miss other things on the planned trips.

We call the ones with little to no planning our "Serendipitous Travel". I think a 50th anniversary would be an excellent time for Serendipitous travel!

These are great replies, thank you all so much! Mind if I ask a couple of more questions?

I don’t think that his shoulder will be quite ready until August or September, so I am going to check out the itineraries and the ships in those time frames, but if you all could share some opinions on which may or may not be better, I would love your help. Also, has anyone ever done the Princess cruise with the added overnights at one or two of their lodges?

Thanks again.

Maybe shoulder season will be different, but the cruise line land portion was sold out (or outrageously expensive) for early July when I checked in mid-February.

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We call the ones with little to no planning our "Serendipitous Travel". I think a 50th anniversary would be an excellent time for Serendipitous travel!

Oh, I love calling this Serendipitous Travel!

I also love the idea of traveling during shoulder season with a recovering shoulder.

Seems meant to be :-)

Oh, I love calling this Serendipitous Travel!

 

I also love the idea of traveling during shoulder season with a recovering shoulder.

 

Seems meant to be :-)

I love that moniker! My biggest problem with myself though is my heart loves the idea of spur of the moment but my brain says, “I don’t think so!”

These are great replies, thank you all so much! Mind if I ask a couple of more questions?

 

I don’t think that his shoulder will be quite ready until August or September, so I am going to check out the itineraries and the ships in those time frames, but if you all could share some opinions on which may or may not be better, I would love your help. Also, has anyone ever done the Princess cruise with the added overnights at one or two of their lodges?

Thanks again.

We have taken Alaskan cruises, done a land tour on our own in a rental car, taken a Princess cruise tour with a 3 day land segment and a 7 day cruise, and taken a Princess Connoisseur Escorted cruise tour with an 8 day land segment and a 7 day southbound cruise.

The Connoisseur Escorted cruise tour was by far the best one. You will see the most, get to stay in several lodges, tour Denali park, and have absolutely no hassles or worries. All transportation, luggage handling and lodging is arranged for you. Most meals and several excursions are included. It is great and we have booked another one for next year. The land tour group size is only about 50 people and books up early. Our group was split among two tour guides, motor coaches and train cars so we only had 24 people that we traveled with. If you are too late to book one for this year, it will be worth it to wait until next year. That will give more time for an injured shoulder to heal. Also take the land tour before the cruise. That way you will save the most relaxing part of the vacation until last.

No.

DON

We have done last minute Caribbean and MX., really not too much planning goes into those cuz we know our way around, but was concerned with so many options for AK. and booking out by only a few months. DH is a fisherman and did want to do that but with a recent shoulder fix, that might be out. I am the planner, haven’t used a TA in years, but I’m not sure that I want to tackle all that research this time. Usually the week before the actual sail date, I am ready for a padded room with no windows! ;)

My advice is to go for it! You will have a great time in spite of the surgeries. Last summer I got off an Alaska cruise, flew to Malta, got on a 7 day Med cruise, then flew home and had a hip replacement 3 weeks later. I was hobbling around on a cane and it took me forever to walk anywhere, but I had a fantastic time. Maybe I didn’t get to do all the things I would have liked to do, but there was a lot of enjoyment in slowing down and enjoying the ambiance of a place. I figured I was going to hurt anyway and I would rather do it with a glass of wine at a sidewalk cafe at St. Mark’s in Venice or watching whales in Auke Bay than sitting at home.

Alaska is beautiful. You can walk off the ship and even with no advance planning find something fun to do in every port. Shore excursions can be booked on the ship, and the joy cruising to Alaska is that the gorgeous scenery never ends...

Carpe diem!

Have always planned on sailing the Alaskan inside passage with Princess for our 50th anniversary, but some surgeries in the last 12 months have made us wait on booking. Is it too late now to try for something in August or September? We are not new to cruising so we understand that this is probably not one of those last minute decisions that makes sense, but DH still has his heart set on this year, I’m having a hard time convincing him otherwise. Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

No- i got an email from celebrity just yesterday about booking even in June and really good prices! Made me sorry that i booked so soon. I could have saved $400!!!

We have taken Alaskan cruises, done a land tour on our own in a rental car, taken a Princess cruise tour with a 3 day land segment and a 7 day cruise, and taken a Princess Connoisseur Escorted cruise tour with an 8 day land segment and a 7 day southbound cruise.

The Connoisseur Escorted cruise tour was by far the best one. You will see the most, get to stay in several lodges, tour Denali park, and have absolutely no hassles or worries. All transportation, luggage handling and lodging is arranged for you. Most meals and several excursions are included. It is great and we have booked another one for next year. The land tour group size is only about 50 people and books up early. Our group was split among two tour guides, motor coaches and train cars so we only had 24 people that we traveled with. If you are too late to book one for this year, it will be worth it to wait until next year. That will give more time for an injured shoulder to heal. Also take the land tour before the cruise. That way you will save the most relaxing part of the vacation until last.

Great advice, thank you!

Loved one had cancer.... so we would book an Alaskan cruise a week away from departure. Yes it cost more, but it meant less stress when we could travel when she was strong.

 

I do recommend early August to avoid the wet and storm season. I like dry port weather.

Guess that I need to do a bit more research, I didn’t even realize that there was a rainy season!😉 Thanks for that

We have taken Alaskan cruises, done a land tour on our own in a rental car, taken a Princess cruise tour with a 3 day land segment and a 7 day cruise, and taken a Princess Connoisseur Escorted cruise tour with an 8 day land segment and a 7 day southbound cruise.

The Connoisseur Escorted cruise tour was by far the best one. You will see the most, get to stay in several lodges, tour Denali park, and have absolutely no hassles or worries. All transportation, luggage handling and lodging is arranged for you. Most meals and several excursions are included. It is great and we have booked another one for next year. The land tour group size is only about 50 people and books up early. Our group was split among two tour guides, motor coaches and train cars so we only had 24 people that we traveled with. If you are too late to book one for this year, it will be worth it to wait until next year. That will give more time for an injured shoulder to heal. Also take the land tour before the cruise. That way you will save the most relaxing part of the vacation until last.

Thanks for that last piece of advice, we have been trying to figure which one first, land or cruise 🚢

The Emerald Princess & Ruby Princess are doing 7 days trips, with the Grand Princess Golden Princess & Star Princess doing 10 to 12 days trips.

Just to be clear, all of these ships are doing 7 day cruises, with the exception of the Grand, which is doing 10 day cruises from San Francisco. The Island and Coral are also doing 7 days cruises.