Recommendation for Alaskan Cruise

[Scotchick]

My sister is coming over from Scotland in September. I would like to surprize her with an Alaskan cruise. (we live in Vancouver, BC). Anybody out there recommend RCI's Alaskan cruises and why?????

[NorbertsNiece]

Whilst I've not cruised Alaska with RCCL before I am comfortable with the RCCL way of life and their approach to the whole experience. I've had excellent support from the Vacation Planner to date. Whilst I could leave everything to the cruise line in the way of excursions I am comfortable with booking tours independently too and the most important thing for me coming from so far away is to feel that I've spent an adequate amount of time in the planning process. Have to give a major heads up to the Alaska Ports of Call board on CC for the advice and support there.

 

Absolutely I didn't compare with other lines and your question is a very good one. It would be interesting to hear from guests who have cruised Alaska with different companies to give a comparison.

[CruiseQueenie]

Good Morning:

Back in 2007 we did a cruise to Alaska on Serenade of the Seas. It was a perfect, wonderful exciting cruise. It is breathtaking, surprisingly warm - we had on t-shirts/shorts everyday and the sites were amazing. I would definitely recommend an Alaskan cruise on RCCL. The captain takes you right into the glaciers and gets as close as he can!!!!

Have a nice day,

[negc]

RCI's Radiance of the Seas seems like the ideal ship for sailing in Alaska. The acres of glass will provide you with fantastic views of Alaska's scenery from almost anywhere onboard and the climate-controlled solarium will allow you to use the pool and hot tub on even the chilliest of days without having to sacrifice your views of the glaciers, mountains, etc. We cruised Alaska with Princess years ago and had a fabulous time, but this time we have chosen to go with Royal Caribbean. Other advantages of traveling with RCI in Alaska are that their landtours come with a full-time escort, which is something that Princess charges extra for, and in Denali RCI offers the Tundra Wilderness Tour which most feel is superior to the shorter Natural History Tour that Princess provides in its basic passage. Princess does go to Glacier By while RCI cruises by Hubbard Glacier. There is an ongoing debate concerning the overall merits of the one rather than the other. We went to Glacier Bay on our last trip and will see Hubbard Glacier this time and may be able to judge for ourselves. Check out the Alaska board for more indepth discussion of Alaska cruises and for some invaluable information which might greatly enhance your Alaska experience.:)

[Pat.bz]

We are on the Radiance this Sept for a 14 day "Ultimate Alaska" cruise that ends in San Diego.

[klingoncruiser]

I have been going to Alaska for many years and cruised several lines there. I would either go with RCL, Celebrity or Princess. All have good points and bad. NONE will be a "bad" cruise. Hard to screw up Alaska.:)

 

It would be better to know what you want to do to better help you with a cruise there. ie... wildlife, glaciers, ect.

[ribarfly]

We cruised Alaska out of Vancouver on the Serenade mid June a few years ago and the weather was fantastic. As others have said the Radiance class is the best ship for this, I would strongly recommend that you book a balcony cabin on the stern of the ship. The day we went to the glacier everyone is crowding around the upper decks but when the ship turned we had the whole glacier in our view with no crowds from our balcony. Sailing thru the passages we watched hundreds of porpoises riding the ships wake, Alaska was just truly amazing.

Ron :)

[Ashland]

Look at the RCI cruiseline inside passage sailing as early in September as you can, since this will be the end of the season..We sailed ROS out of Vancouver - Anchorage via Seward..You might look into a Train for your return trip back to Vancouver...Enjoy !!!

[Alayne]

We sailed on the Radiance of the Seas repositioning cruise September 2009. It was wonderful. This was our second time to Alaska, the first being on Princess. The first time we did a cruise-tour and loved everything about it but the last time we got the bonus of a couple diferent stops in Alaska and two days in San Francisco before ending in San Diego.

[luvscruising2007]

We did a 10 day cruise and land tour in June 2007. It was wonderful.

We were aboard the Radiance. I would highly recommend it and also

to take a land tour for as long as your schedule permits.