Need an Alaskan Cruise Expert

[irishgal432]

Living in the south, we take advantage of the Florida/New Orleans homeports which are driving distance for us and have never ventured towards an Alaskan Cruise.

 

Can you elaborate on the itineraries for the Rhapsody leaving from Seattle on the Rhapsody and Leaving from Vancouver on the Radiance.

 

Rhapsody: Seattle, Washington; Alaska Inside Passage; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia; Seattle, Washington

 

Radiance: Vancouver, British Columbia; Inside Passage (Cruising); Ketchikan, Alaska; Icy Strait Point, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Hubbard Glacier (Cruising); Seward, Alaska

 

Do you see Glaciers on the Rhapsody?

 

Do you see whales on the Rhapsoday?

[BILL-WI]

Living in the south, we take advantage of the Florida/New Orleans homeports which are driving distance for us and have never ventured towards an Alaskan Cruise.

 

Can you elaborate on the itineraries for the Rhapsody leaving from Seattle on the Rhapsody and Leaving from Vancouver on the Radiance.

 

Rhapsody: Seattle, Washington; Alaska Inside Passage; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia; Seattle, Washington

 

Radiance: Vancouver, British Columbia; Inside Passage (Cruising); Ketchikan, Alaska; Icy Strait Point, Alaska; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Hubbard Glacier (Cruising); Seward, Alaska

 

Do you see Glaciers on the Rhapsody?

 

Do you see whales on the Rhapsoday?

 

If you really want to see Alaska take the Radiance. Icy Strait Point is "Whale City" and the Hubbard Glacier is a MUST see!

 

BILL

[TonyFred]

.

 

Rhapsody: Seattle, Washington; Alaska Inside Passage; Juneau, Alaska; Skagway, Alaska; Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska; Victoria, British Columbia; Seattle, Washington

 

Tracy Arm Fjord is one of the most beautiful spots on Earth, but there is always a risk you cannot make it all the way to the glaciers due to ice in the very narrow straits leading to them.

You will see whales regardless of which itinerary you choose.

[PantherFan]

I have done both round trip Alaska cruise. One on Rhapsody (Seattle-Seattle) and one on Serenade (Vancouver-Vancouver)

 

One time we got real close to the Tracy arm glacier and the second time not so close.

 

you will see whales on both. If you want to get some close up views of whales do a whale watch out of Juneau and stop by the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau as well.

 

We did private whale watch with Harv and Marv tours (harvandmarvs.com) Highly recommended you get very close the whales and they don't take more then 12-15 people. You can also ask them to stop by the Mendenhall glacier on the way back to the ship.

[LMZinSC]

Check out the Alaska board. Lots of great information there.

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

[Sequim88]

I would do Radiance. Partly for the ship and a LOT for the itinerary. Besides - one way allows you to cross the Gulf of Alaska and the views of mountains in distance are spectacular - especially if late June when it is light most of the night. Rather than doing a cruisetour and if time is tight you can still see some amazing things on way to airport at Anchorage. Seward has a nice aquarium, also nearby is Kenai Fjords National Park and you can walk to foot of Exit Glacier. If budget permits a night at the Alyeska Reort at Girdwood would be amazing - especially with dinner at Seven Glaciers at top of mountain via the tram.

[negc]

You will see glaciers on Rhapsody (Juneau, after all, is where Mendenhall Glacier is located.) but in my opinion, Radiance's itineraries are superior to Rhapsody's in many ways. Hubbard Glacier is spectacular and the other ports are all well worth visiting. If you have both the time and money, I would recommend adding a land tour to your cruise so that you can see even more of Alaska. :)

[Budget Queen]

If you do a one way cruise, I never consider this without adding at least an extra well for mainland touring. It is a long flight that isn't free, so consider taking advantage??

 

Yes you can see whales, but whale watch tours are grossly superior. 100% viewing of humpbacks out of Juneau and Hoonah. IF you want to see them from the ship, you have to know the likely areas, be forward viewing- if outside proper attire necessary, with a good pair of wide angle binoculars and hours of invested time.

[sredish]

If you do a one way cruise, I never consider this without adding at least an extra well for mainland touring. It is a long flight that isn't free, so consider taking advantage??

 

Yes you can see whales, but whale watch tours are grossly superior. 100% viewing of humpbacks out of Juneau and Hoonah. IF you want to see them from the ship, you have to know the likely areas, be forward viewing- if outside proper attire necessary, with a good pair of wide angle binoculars and hours of invested time.

 

To the OP: Listen to anything and everything Budget Queen says. She helped me out when researching our very first cruise years ago - which was also an Alaskan cruise. She's a living breathing Alaska encyclopedia. :D

[Sequim88]

She's a living breathing Alaska encyclopedia.

 

Second that! Search posts by member name on Alaska forum for answer to just about any question Alaska related.