B2B to Alaska. Best way for a longer cruise?

[PoppyandNana]

We want to do an Alaskan cruise but seven days is too short. Not real interested in the extended hotel/train thing.

 

Does a B2B on X just show the same things twice? Would a port balcony one week then starboard the next do anything?

 

Know that HAL does longer cruises but we're too close to Elite Plus.

 

Any suggestions? Oh, one more. Given the weather vagaries does it really pay to get a balcony?

[zoncom]

Solstice Sept 11 Alaska, then 22 Sept to Honolulu.

[gergles]

Solstice Sept 11 Alaska, then 22 Sept to Honolulu.

 

Can't do this, it's a PVSA violation.

[zoncom]

Forgot, violation of Passenger Vessel Services Act. Gotta go on Millie or over to Sydney.

[CHEZMARYLOU]

We want to do an Alaskan cruise but seven days is too short. Not real interested in the extended hotel/train thing.

 

Does a B2B on X just show the same things twice? Would a port balcony one week then starboard the next do anything?

 

Know that HAL does longer cruises but we're too close to Elite Plus.

 

Any suggestions? Oh, one more. Given the weather vagaries does it really pay to get a balcony?

 

A B2B does show the same things twice, unless you manage to book one of the cruises at the beginning of the season that has a slightly different itinerary. We would not sail without a balcony, even to Alaska. In July the weather was quite nice and we saw whales from our balcony.

 

If you do a B2B, stay in the same cabin, or at least on the same side of the ship for both cruises. Heading north you want to be on the starboard side, south on the port side. If you switch port to starboard you would have the same views on both legs.

[BourbonNBluesLuvr]

Hello,

 

If you want to go next year...you could do a B2B on the Infinity, and combine a Coastal Cruise with an Alaskan cruise...departs San Diego on May 11, 2016 sailing to Vancouver for 11 nights, then RdTrip Vancouver to Alaska for 7 nights.

 

Just a thought

 

BBL

Edited August 17, 2015 by BourbonNBluesLuvr

[SheriffJoe]

We are booked on Solstice B2B may 20th and 27th....our 3rd and 4th Alaskan cruises and a balcony is MORE useful than a warm weather cruise, sure it can get chilly but the scenery is not to be missed.....we could care less on a warm water cruise cause there is nothing to see but water though we still only sail balcony but an Alaskan cruise it is a must IMO.....don't switch sides, just saty in the same cabin, no packing and moving and we prefer stbd side in Alaska cause that usually is the side you tie to so we can watch things going on in town.....

[kelmac]

Take two different ships. One northbound (Celebrity) and one southbound (Holland America). Maybe do 3 -- 5 days in the Kenai area between cruises. You will get some different ports, as well as Hubbard Glacier and Glacier National Park.

 

We did 23 days for less than a 12 day land/sea combo.

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

[Northern Aurora]

Take two different ships. One northbound (Celebrity) and one southbound (Holland America). Maybe do 3 -- 5 days in the Kenai area between cruises. You will get some different ports, as well as Hubbard Glacier and Glacier National Park.

....

Kel:)

 

This was my thought also. There is much to do for a visitor in the Seward area, but perhaps rent a car and drive to Homer, which is my favorite south-central coastal town, for an overnight.

[kelmac]

This was my thought also. There is much to do for a visitor in the Seward area, but perhaps rent a car and drive to Homer, which is my favorite south-central coastal town, for an overnight.

 

Hi NA,

 

We did seven nights all around the Kenai and a few days in Anchorage. Put a few miles on that rental car!:D Homer was great!

 

Kel

[PoppyandNana]

Take two different ships. One northbound (Celebrity) and one southbound (Holland America). Maybe do 3 -- 5 days in the Kenai area between cruises. You will get some different ports, as well as Hubbard Glacier and Glacier National Park.

 

We did 23 days for less than a 12 day land/sea combo.

 

Enjoy!

Kel:)

 

Only 320 points from Elie Plus so hate to change although we really like HAL. Stupid reason but maybe X knows what they were doing with this whole loyalty program. Actually a great idea although the logistics are simpler on a B2B than X one way and HAL another.

[charliem]

Only 320 points from Elie Plus so hate to change although we really like HAL. Stupid reason but maybe X knows what they were doing with this whole loyalty program. Actually a great idea although the logistics are simpler on a B2B than X one way and HAL another.

 

PoppyandNana,

 

We just returned Saturday night from a B2B on the Millennium - our third B2B Alaskan cruise on the Millennium (our 8th Alaskan trip overall). And we could have stayed longer. As you can tell, we LOVE Alaska! 😍😍 I highly recommend the B2B as a way to extend this amazing itinerary.

 

Linda

[ClaudiaB]

˙Have you considered renting a car in Seward and doing it yourself? Really, you don't need to get in a big bus and go on the cruise line's land package excursion, stopping only when and where they stop. Over on the Alaska forums there are many many people who have done this trip themselves cheaper and better and longer. Just reading there for a bit will make you want to get out there and do it! You absolutely do not need to take it with the cruise line.

I agree, 7 days seems short. We've done it twice and we've been left wanting much more. Next time we ARE renting a car in Seward and hanging out on the Kenai peninsula for 3 or 4 days. Then we're driving to Anchorage for a day or so. Then we're doing a trip for 3 or 4 days to Denali. You can get better excursions into the park that go much much farther than the ones the cruise lines offer.

You can stay at hotels in better areas that aren't so commercialized and you can stop when you want. Really it's a trip we look forward to. I want to get INTO Alaska and see the interior, and do it myself. Can't get lost - really only one read anywhere!

[varoo]

B2B on the same ship is easiest if you can keep the same cabin both ways.

 

But by changing ships for the second leg, you can experience a different itinerary, different glacier viewing opportunities, different decor, different menus and different entertainment.

 

 

Even better, when cruising northbound to Seward on the Millennium, if you have the time and budget to include some land touring (such as visiting Denali Park and/or the Kenai Peninsula), would be to book your southbound cruise out of Whittier instead of Seward.

 

That way you can experience so much more, adding the opportunity to cruise through Prince William Sound, College Fjord and Glacier Bay, which you can't do on a Celebrity cruise. You may get a different port stop or two as well.

 

 

[Patrick IL.]

Do a cruise tour, one of the most enjoyable things we ever did.

[Dakkar]

...

Edited August 18, 2015 by Dakkar

[kelmac]

Only 320 points from Elie Plus so hate to change although we really like HAL. Stupid reason but maybe X knows what they were doing with this whole loyalty program. Actually a great idea although the logistics are simpler on a B2B than X one way and HAL another.

 

Hi P&A,

 

We are Elite Plus with Celebrity and the perks are very nice indeed! Those oneway Alaskan cruises are cheaper than the R/T out of Seattle or Vancouver.

We liked the fact that we didn't need an "open-Jaws" flight from/to Anchorage, just R/T airfare to Vancouver. We usually do an inside cabin in Alaska as the days are very long and the cabin is very dark. :roll eyes: In addition, you can usually pick up an inside in the $599 -- $699 range.

 

Good luck and enjoy!

Kel:)