All Princess ships to Alaska fairly similar?

[fletcher57]

Hi, I've just found a friend who would like to go to Alaska with me. Couldn't sleep at all last night I was so happy. We are in the beginning stages of discussing details. I'm wondering if all of the Princess ships that go to Alaska are pretty much alike? Things I want are: a large buffet, promenade deck, self-service laundry, casino with a decent number of penny slots, small safe in room, and balcony. If anybody has been to Alaska on Princess I'd love to hear your comments on the above features of your ship or lack of same.

 

Thank you. Joyce

[Coracii]

Pretty much all of your requirements would be met on any of the Princess ships cruising Alaska (though I don't know about the penny slots, I choose not to go into the Casino because of the overwhelming smell of cigarettes). Base your decision of which ship on the dates and itineraries that are more desirable to you.

[Wishing on a star]

Yes, choose by itinerary.

 

The one-way trips that get you all the way up to Anchorage will give you more Alaska. ( I am hoping to do the southbound itinerary )

 

There are some differences in ships.

There are the smaller ships, the Diamond, and I think the Grand.

But all will have the basic cruise ship offerings that you have listed.

 

We would be traveling with our son, and my choice would be the Diamond, as it has one of the main pools as the covered all-weather pool, instead of just the smaller, adult, lotus spa pool.

 

I am thinking that the Diamond has a really nice promenade as compared to the other ships????

 

You can look at photos online, and by doing searches on sites like webshots.

 

 

PS: you can find larger, halfway covered, balconies on the Caribe deck of most ships. ;)

[Loonbeam]

The Coral and the Island are actually the smaller ones on the Alaska run (I don't think the small ships go there much). These are also the only two ships with a single level promenade that I can think of. But those two don't have the international cafe and some other items, being smaller.

 

 

That said, none of the princess ships will be a bad choice, it just depends on what your priorities are.

[wizard-of-roz]

We took the Golden, right after her retrofit......absolutely wonderful. I higly recommend her.

Have a wonderful cruise.

[sultan_sfo]

For All Itins: Choose cruise dates that includes Glacier Bay in Itin.

 

Best itinerary: Vancouver / Anchorage (Seeward) or Reverse (7 days). Highest Air Fare. Large Ships.

 

Next Best: RT Seattle (7 days). Lower Air Fare. Choose one that has Glacier Bay.

 

Next Best: RT San Francisco (10 days). Just adds more sea days. Ships not as large or with as much glitter as other 2 itins. Air Fare?? But one gets to stay in SF.

[RickEk]

If a wide Promenade deck is important, then take the Golden Princess off your list. All the other Princess ships to Alaska (Island Princess, Coral Princess, Sapphire Princess, Diamond Princess and Sea Princess) have wide Promenades with loungers. The Golden Princess only has benches and chairs.

[LoriPhil]

If the "wow" factor is important, I think cruising Northbound from or Southbound to Vancouver provides the most sustained scenic views as you are traveling the Inside Passage for a nice chunk of the trip, vs sailing out of Seattle which takes you west of Vancouver Island. The Coral and Island configuration are nice because the Horizon Court is at the bow and you get some great panoramic views from there and it also accommodates the Park Service Ranger's displays very nicely. They have public decks spanning the aft of the ship (vs cabins) which provide spectacular panoramic viewing as well. A wide promenade deck circles the ship without going up or down stairs. AND there is the "secret" door at the front of the Carib and (Baja? Dolphin?) decks giving you access to more panoramic view.

 

I'm a Coral cheerleader (ya think?:D) but we're sailing RT from Seattle on the Golden in August and are thrilled to be going back to beautiful magnificent Alaska. Whatever ship you choose, it will be wonderful!

[Joe&KayCruisers]

We were on the Diamond from Vancouver BC to Whittier (Anc) then took the train to Denali and then to McKinley. The route we took included Glacier Bay and College Fjords. They were both can't miss locations. College Fjords especially. We were up close and personal to the glacier as it calved. We were on the starboard side of the ship and had a mini suite with balcony. I highly recommend this itinerary and this ship. A trip we will never forget.

[IECalCruiser]

We have been on the Coral and the Golden. We did the Voyage of the Glaciers northbound on the Coral. As people have said the Promenade is wider, has deck chairs and is on one level. The viewing from the wrap around aft decks was wonderful. In August we were able to see a number of whales on both sides of the ship as we departed Glacier Bay. Booths by the windows in Sabatini's and Bayou Cafe are a great place for dinner, especially with the live band and dance floor in the Bayou Cafe. We watched a pod of Dolphins swimming next to the ship while we had dinner at the Bayou Cafe. The Island and Coral are sisters and do the Voyage of the Glaciers cruise between Vancouver and Whittier (Anchorage) along with the Diamond.

 

If you do the Inside Passage RT from Seattle I would suggest the Golden because her itinerary includes Glacier Bay National Park. The Golden is also the only Princess ship in Alaska with the International Cafe and Vines, both of which we greatly enjoyed.

 

The Coral, Island, Diamond, Sapphire and Golden all have a covered pool. The deck chair on the Island and Coral are much nicer with teak frames and deeper cushions. The public areas are of a bit classier design. Based upon the itinerary you choose you can't go wrong with any of the Princess ships cruising Alaska. I believe that Princess does Alaska best.

[fletcher57]

Hi, I thank everybody who responded to my question about whether all Princess ships going to Alaska were pretty similar. The Coral Princess sounds good to me because of her wide promenade all on one level.

 

Now I'd love to hear comparisons between Holland America and Princess going to Alaska. Things I want are: a large buffet, promenade deck, self-service laundry, casino with a decent number of penny slots, small safe in room, and balcony. If anybody has been to Alaska on Princess and Holland I'd love to hear comparisons between the two lines. I know Princess offers "anytime dining". Is Holland America as flexible?

 

Thank you. Joyce

[Wishing on a star]

I think one of the considerations when looking between Princess and Holland would be the overall atmosphere/style... Your personal preferences...

 

I believe that both have some excellent itineraries in Alaska...

[Loonbeam]

Other than Penny slots (which I don't know about at all, I play blackjack) both lines offer those amenities as far as I know (not 100% sure on self service laundry on HAL). It's more a matter of overall ambience. HAL is a little more formal, a little fancier, and at least based on my observation skews a little bit older in terms of average age.

 

I'd focus more on itinerary than on carrier to start, then compare actual ship to ship the ones that offer the schedule and ports you like best.

 

Hi, I thank everybody who responded to my question about whether all Princess ships going to Alaska were pretty similar. The Coral Princess sounds good to me because of her wide promenade all on one level.

 

Now I'd love to hear comparisons between Holland America and Princess going to Alaska. Things I want are: a large buffet, promenade deck, self-service laundry, casino with a decent number of penny slots, small safe in room, and balcony. If anybody has been to Alaska on Princess and Holland I'd love to hear comparisons between the two lines. I know Princess offers "anytime dining". Is Holland America as flexible?

 

Thank you. Joyce

[5326jan]

We took the SB on Coral and loved it. One of my favorite things about the Coral is the Horizon's Buffet is at the bow and has panoramic view of the scenery. Breathtaking!!!

[Tina G]

Within Princess, all ships have the same things that you are looking for. The Coral and Island are frustrating to avid photographers because of the lack of unobstructed photo sites on the ship. This may not bother you. Much of the upper deck is obstructed by blue windscreens. Most of the balconies are covered, which can be a good thing in rainy Alaska.

HAL does not have self service laundry on all of their ships.

[Pam in CA]

Now I'd love to hear comparisons between Holland America and Princess going to Alaska. Things I want are: a large buffet, promenade deck, self-service laundry, casino with a decent number of penny slots, small safe in room, and balcony. If anybody has been to Alaska on Princess and Holland I'd love to hear comparisons between the two lines. I know Princess offers "anytime dining". Is Holland America as flexible?

HAL's ships are smaller and the atmosphere more formal. Fewer families, more elderly. Yes to the promenade deck, self-service laundry depends on the ship (only a few HAL ships have self-serve laundries), yes to the safe and yes to the balcony.

 

The buffet is largish but is set up very differently from Princess. Princess is set up with "stations" and you go from one area to another to get what you want. HAL's buffet is set up with areas, but most of the food is prepared to order, which means waits for each thing you get. Yes, the food is fresh and prepared just for you but I found it frustrating that I had to wait 10 minutes to have a salad made, another 10 minutes to have a tuna melt made, etc. I had to get food in the order in which they wouldn't get cold fast. Also, HAL's buffet is open only a few hours for breakfast, closed and re-opens for lunch, closing at about 2pm, and re-opens for dinner but closes up tight at 8pm. It's not 24/7 the way Princess is. On the other hand, HAL offers full dining room menu room service, so you can ask to have the dinner menu delivered to your cabin, order from it and have it delivered to your cabin. HAL also has open seating similar to Princess' Anytime. The difference is that HAL doesn't allow any Traditional/Fixed diners in their open seating unless requested beforehand and approved by the Maitre d' as a permanent change. I've had HAL's open seating several times and have never had to wait for a table, even getting there at 7pm.

 

One plus for HAL is their ships have the Crow's Nest, which is a lounge at the top of the ship, far forward, which offers spectacular viewing. They have coffee and hot chocolate service there as well as hot soup.

 

There are pluses and minus' to both lines. It all depends on what is most important to you, pricing and cabin availability.

[sammiedawg]

We're big fans of the Coral, we did a SB 5 years ago and a NB last year. Just a beautiful ship, the most space per passenger in the fleet ( Coral and Island). The Coral and Island were considered premium ships within the Princess fleet. I'm sure we will do Alaska again and Coral would be my first choice.

We did a round trip HAL out of Vancouver on the Zaandam which an excellent ship.