Alaska itinerary options - advice needed please

[Gordo]

We finally were able to get mom on her first cruise at 70 (YEAH :) ) and are now trying to convince her to try a cruise to Alaska. While we will need assistance booking our tours for this cruise we first need to decide which itinerary.

 

Since there are several sailing routes for Alaska and we are not familar with this destination we are hoping that someone can offer their advice/opinion on the different options. For example, what are the advantages of an outside passage versus an inside passage, or vice versus? Also, what are the "must-see" ports of call in this area?

 

We were hoping to travel in either May or September, but would be open to other travel dates. We have no preference on departure or disembarkation ports. We would probably want to book a cabin that would work for three people so that needs to be a consideration as well.

 

Mom would love to see whales and a polar bears. She also loves the dining experience and loves to gamble so a ship with a casino would be ideal.

 

Royal Caribbean or Princess would be the preference, but we would be open to other lines as well.

 

Thanks for your help.

[CowPrincess]

Leaving from Vancouver, you get much better scenery because for most of the sea day you are between the mainland and Vancouver Island, which are visible most of the time -- leaving from Seattle you're on the west side of Vancouver Island and don't see much except ocean on the sea days.

 

On a cruise, you will not see polar bears -- you'd need to travel further north. I know someone on this board has done polar bear viewing, but it was either before or after a cruise. You can see whales, and Juneau has great whale watching excursions. You'll see whales from the ship, but to really SEE them you need to take an excursion.

 

Consider one of the Holland America ships -- they are smaller, and easier to navigate, and feel less crowded, with fewer line-ups. And LOTS of public deck area for glacier viewing. If your mom wants her own cabin, HAL has a lower "single supplement" than most of the other lines for inside and oceanview cabins -- usually 150%, sometimes a bit less.

 

May has more hours of daylight. September is historically worse weather than May.

[Budget Queen]

I suggest you head to your library and take out Alaska By Cruiseship. Request several cruise brochures. There are only 6 Alaska ports. Do your homework and find out about them. Look over online shore excursion lists, this will give you an idea of what the port offers, and is about.

 

ALL Alaska cruises sail "Inside Passage". You can not get to Juneau or Skagway without doing so. The difference is round trip Seattle cruises go OUTSIDE Vancouver Island, which is excellent scenery. It's a pretty simple matter getting between Seattle and Vancouver, if Seattle is your cheapest flights. An overnight is needed.

 

No polar bears- UNLESS, you are going to head way north. I spent 4 days in Barrow, didn't see any.

 

IF "regular" bears, browns and blacks are of interest, they can be seen. As for whale watching, tours are "necessary". For 100% sightings of humpbacks, tours operate out of Juneau and Hoonah. For orcas, about 75% sightings on tours out of Victoria. "Chance" orca sightings with southbound Vancouver sailings. BUT these do require a great deal of time invested forward viewing with a good pair of wide angle binoculars.

 

Determine, how much time you have?? Are you interested in a one way cruise, then further interior Alaska touring??? (you ideally need at least another 5 days)

 

I would suggest end of May over Sept.

[mytime53]

I spent 12 weeks in Barrow and didn't see a polar bear, so don't plan a trip that far north (Barrow) if that is your only interest.

[Budget Queen]

I spent 12 weeks in Barrow and didn't see a polar bear, so don't plan a trip that far north (Barrow) if that is your only interest.

 

Yikes!!!!! I actually didn't go for a bear viewing priority. But did do some looking with my touring. Had some great flightseeing of bowheads. :)

[Ashland]

We sailed RCCL ROS May 22, 2009 Northbound Vancouver-Anchorage via Seward. We loved the inside passage itinery. Chose Northbound so we could take the Train from Seward to the Anchorage airport. This was one of the highlights of our trip. Radiance of the Sea is a beautiful ship and provides great views of Alaska. Make sure to at least book a Balcony Cabin don't try to save money here, it's a MUST. We were very lucky and had beautiful weather but it is Alaska so be prepared.Your Mother will love Alaska..Enjoy :)

[Mr_Cruise]

...if there are only 6 Alaska ports, how is it that the ms Amsterdam is scheduled to visit 7 of them? (and still doesn't visit all of them).

[Budget Queen]

...if there are only 6 Alaska ports, how is it that the ms Amsterdam is scheduled to visit 7 of them? (and still doesn't visit all of them).

 

You are correct, I am referrring to regular Inside Passage Alaska cruises, of which there are only 6 Alaska ports, that these cruise ships go to. This poster does not give any indication they are looking at the unique 14 day Alaska cruise itinerary, or even mention HAL.

[Gordo]

Thanks for the great information. We appreciate the advices as we have never sailed Alaska. This will definitely point us in the right direction for research and we will definitely check out that book.

 

We sailed RCCL ROS May 22, 2009 Northbound Vancouver-Anchorage via Seward. We loved the inside passage itinery. Chose Northbound so we could take the Train from Seward to the Anchorage airport. This was one of the highlights of our trip. Radiance of the Sea is a beautiful ship and provides great views of Alaska. Make sure to at least book a Balcony Cabin don't try to save money here, it's a MUST. We were very lucky and had beautiful weather but it is Alaska so be prepared.Your Mother will love Alaska..Enjoy :)

 

The first cruise ship my husband and I were on together was the Radiance of the Seas. It would be great to be on her again. :)

[Minoushka]

If you go in May or Sept expect it to be cool or cold .I would go much later mid june or July

This year in JUly the weather was glorious

We went with Carnival..they always stayed the longest in ports .Check that because on a cruise you need TIME to do a lot

From Vancouver the inside passage has calmer seas and nicer scenery

[psyfi]

Some southbound Princess ships are offereing both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. And May or Septemeber being "shoulder season" for Alaska should be less expensive than mid summer. Enjoy your planning!

[lcmslady]

We finally were able to get mom on her first cruise at 70 (YEAH :) ) and are now trying to convince her to try a cruise to Alaska. While we will need assistance booking our tours for this cruise we first need to decide which itinerary.

 

Since there are several sailing routes for Alaska and we are not familar with this destination we are hoping that someone can offer their advice/opinion on the different options. For example, what are the advantages of an outside passage versus an inside passage, or vice versus? Also, what are the "must-see" ports of call in this area?

 

We were hoping to travel in either May or September, but would be open to other travel dates. We have no preference on departure or disembarkation ports. We would probably want to book a cabin that would work for three people so that needs to be a consideration as well.

 

Mom would love to see whales and a polar bears. She also loves the dining experience and loves to gamble so a ship with a casino would be ideal.

 

Royal Caribbean or Princess would be the preference, but we would be open to other lines as well.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

If you have the time and $$, I would consider doing a cruisetour. I did one with Princess. The interior of the state is so vastly different from the coast and if you think you might never get there again, I would consider it.

We went in September and it was definitely chilly at night and inthe morning. The advantage is that we got to see the Northern Lights in Fairbanks - you won't get to see that in the summer.

In my humble opinion, Princess has Alaska 'down'. It was a flawless trip and the Princess staff went out of their way to make sure that we got the most from the trip.

If you decide to do a cruisetour - I would do the land tour first and the southbound cruise afterwards. The cruise is a slower pace and you'll need it after the land tour.

Whatever you decide, enjoy!

[Gordo]

A big thanks to everyone for all the great information. You have given us a lot to think about and it will be very helpful with our planning. :)

[PennyAgain]

The shoulders of the season May/Sept are not bargains any more especially with fewer ships going to Alaska in 2010.

[NMLady]

The shoulders of the season May/Sept are not bargains any more especially with fewer ships going to Alaska in 2010.

 

On some cruise lines they still are. I chose the 5/17 dates on HAL because they were a couple hundred dollars per person cheaper than the end of May and even more cheaper than July/August. September sailing was also cheaper than July or August but a little bit more expensive than 5/17.

[the2006Junket]

Gordo,

 

If you like RCI already, and the Radiance -- I'd highly recommend a one-way voyage Seward to Vancouver or the reverse. Beautiful ship in fine condition with wonderful staff!

 

Happy planning!

 

Lynne

[Kerry&LuAnn]

We thoroughly enjoyed our Alaska cruise on the Diamond Princess at the end of July. The food, entertainment, and service on the ship were outstanding. We chose the one-way northbound cruise, sailing from Vancouver to Whittier, because we wanted to go as far north as possible into Glacier Bay and College Fjord. We were delighted with the northbound itinerary... the scenery just kept getting more and more spectacular the further north we sailed. The glaciers were amazing! We saw some whales from the cruise ship, but had the most sightings from Harv & Marv's boat in Juneau.