Alaska 2013 Inside Passage

[rachl143]

Excited to see they released the dates and itineraries for Alaska 2013. But I noticed there are very few dates going to Glacier Bay and most go to Tracy Arm. I am planning my first cruise to Alaska and thought Glacier Bay was the way to go, am I wrong? Also they moved this itinerary to Star Princess from the Golden. Is there a big difference in the two ships since they are "sisters". Thanks for the advice it is much appreciated as I anxiously await the 15th to book!

[graphicgal]

Excited to see they released the dates and itineraries for Alaska 2013. But I noticed there are very few dates going to Glacier Bay and most go to Tracy Arm. I am planning my first cruise to Alaska and thought Glacier Bay was the way to go, am I wrong? Also they moved this itinerary to Star Princess from the Golden. Is there a big difference in the two ships since they are "sisters". Thanks for the advice it is much appreciated as I anxiously await the 15th to book!

 

About the Glacier Bay issue: my understanding is that Alaska limits the number of ships entering Glacier Bay each day. Cruise companies have been forced to vary their itineraries and offer some with Glacier Bay and some going to another location.

[butternut1]

Excited to see they released the dates and itineraries for Alaska 2013. But I noticed there are very few dates going to Glacier Bay and most go to Tracy Arm. I am planning my first cruise to Alaska and thought Glacier Bay was the way to go, am I wrong? Also they moved this itinerary to Star Princess from the Golden. Is there a big difference in the two ships since they are "sisters". Thanks for the advice it is much appreciated as I anxiously await the 15th to book!

 

Can you please tell me where you saw the release dates/itineraries for 2013? I'm sorry but I just can't seem to find it. Thanks so much.

[chrysalis]

Can you please tell me where you saw the release dates/itineraries for 2013? I'm sorry but I just can't seem to find it. Thanks so much.

 

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1585211

[butternut1]

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1585211

 

Thank you so much. I really appreciate it!!!!

[JudithLynne]

My husband and I have completed 10 cruises to Alaska.

 

This is our opinion: Definitely choose an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay, or Hubbard Glacier, if you can. Tracy Arm is not a glacier experience. It is more like a canyon and is often foggy. Although Sawyer Glacier at the end of it, you will not get close enough to experience that glacier. You will be lucky if you can see it with the naked eye and forget about seeing it calve. You are just too far away.

 

We can't imagine taking a first Alaska cruise without experiencing a Glacier.

 

You are right that the Golden and Star are sisters and the experience will be similar. We have enjoyed both of those ships.

[dclark]

Glacier Bay is limited to two ships per day. I have done Glacier Bay and Tracey Arm and to me, I liked Tracey Arm a little more.

Glacier Bay was nice, but it was cold, cloudy and rainy. When we got to the glacier, i think we were there for maybe 30 minutes, saw three calvings and left.

Tracey Arm was spectacular with all the waterfalls. One thing that that made it special was that it was clear and sunny, everything was bright and lively. I was told that clear sunny days are rare.

Now I know no one can control the weather. If Tracey Arm was not sunny, I would have preferred Glacier Bay.

I'll be heading back on the Star this July, to Tracey Arm...

[rachl143]

Thank you everyone for the responses! I will be booking the Glacier Bay cruise!

 

Butternut1, I have a wonderful travel agent and she email me about the upcoming Alaska season.

[butternut1]

Thank you everyone for the responses! I will be booking the Glacier Bay cruise!

 

Butternut1, I have a wonderful travel agent and she email me about the upcoming Alaska season.

 

That is awesome! Sounds like you found yourself a keeper travel agent.

[paddingtonbear]

My husband and I have completed 10 cruises to Alaska.

 

 

Hi

We are planning our first cruise - Alaska in July 2013 with Princess - Vancouver to Whittier. As an experienced Alaskan cruiser can you please tell me:

 

Why do so many people go in May when (from what I can gather) a lot of port activities are closed?

 

We are embarking in Vancouver. Despite this the currency on board is USD isn't it?

 

Why do so many people carry hundreds of dollars in cash for everyday spending. Aren't there ATMs on board?

[Jasperdo]

About the Glacier Bay issue: my understanding is that Alaska limits the number of ships entering Glacier Bay each day. Cruise companies have been forced to vary their itineraries and offer some with Glacier Bay and some going to another location.

It's actually the National Park Service that limits the cruise industry to two ships a day.

[don'tleavewithoutme]

Hi

We are planning our first cruise - Alaska in July 2013 with Princess - Vancouver to Whittier. As an experienced Alaskan cruiser can you please tell me:

 

Why do so many people go in May when (from what I can gather) a lot of port activities are closed?

 

We are embarking in Vancouver. Despite this the currency on board is USD isn't it?

 

Why do so many people carry hundreds of dollars in cash for everyday spending. Aren't there ATMs on board?

 

May - the weather often is pretty good, fares are less expensive than mid-summer.

Currency is USD.

Yes, there is an ATM on board in the casino, but the fees are rather exorbitant. Seems like it cost me about $6 the one and only time I used it.

If you can't take enough cash with you for in-port spending, you are better off to get the cash from an ATM on shore rather than using the one on the ship. Either that or use your debit/credit card for purchases in port.

[DougH]

The Glacier visits look the same as always to me. The one ways between Vancouver and Whittier visit either Glacier bay or Hubbard, the Round trips from Seattle and San Francisoc stop at Tracy Arm.

[paddingtonbear]

May - the weather often is pretty good' date=' fares are less expensive than mid-summer.

Currency is USD.

Yes, there is an ATM on board in the casino, but the fees are rather exorbitant. Seems like it cost me about $6 the one and only time I used it.

If you can't take enough cash with you for in-port spending, you are better off to get the cash from an ATM on shore rather than using the one on the ship. Either that or use your debit/credit card for purchases in port.[/quote']

 

I need some USD for tips as soon as I get on board the ship.

Looks like I will have to make friends with some Americans who may want my Canadian dollars in exchange for some USD without paying exchange rates! Thanks.

[Coral]

The Glacier visits look the same as always to me. The one ways between Vancouver and Whittier visit either Glacier bay or Hubbard, the Round trips from Seattle and San Francisoc stop at Tracy Arm.

 

One year (last year or the year before?) all of the Golden sailings went to GB. It is when Princess pulled one of their one way ships which allowed for this. This year, it varies from week to week when the Golden goes to GB or when it goes to Tracy Arm.

[dclark]

The Glacier visits look the same as always to me. The one ways between Vancouver and Whittier visit either Glacier bay or Hubbard, the Round trips from Seattle and San Francisoc stop at Tracy Arm.

 

The Golden out of Seattle still does Glacier Bay, did when we were on her two years ago.

[Jasperdo]

The Golden out of Seattle still does Glacier Bay, did when we were on her two years ago.

It did it every week in the summer of 2011 as well. I notice that this summer (2012) she is alternating every other week with Tracy Arm.

[rachl143]

The Golden was alternating weeks going to Glacier Bay until this year. I have been researching this trip for 2 years. And now they release their itineraries and its just the Star that is going round trip from Seattle and they too are alternating weeks.I was worried why they stopped using the Golden.