Which would you do: Alaska or Panama Canal

[PoppyandNana]

I voted for 14 day to Alaska on HAL.

 

I have done Panama Canal 3 times, with one being a partial transit on Princess, the other 2 on Celebrity Infinity.

 

I love 14-15 cruises and 14 days in Alaska would be very interesting / appealing to me. DW has sailed on 7 day Westerdam in Alaska and loved it. I have only sailed Coral Princess in Alaska and it was a 7 day inside passage cruise starting in Seward to Vancouver.

 

I would love for Celebrity to offer a 14/15 day Alaska cruise. Would though have to see the itinerary.

 

The only reason we are considering HAL is their 14 day itinerary which among other thing goes to Kodiak Island. X is only seven days. We really don't like short cruises. I know, we can add on land packages but they are very expensive. If I was going to do that I'd source a tour guide/company for a land vacation. However, we love cruising.

 

We have sailed HAL before several times. Their ships are elegant, service is better than X although the food nod goes to X.

[PoppyandNana]

I'd go to Alaska in a row boat! It's our all-time favorite and have cruised 4 times - Princess twice, Celebrity and Crystal. It's different every time and always glorious. We've cruised the Canal also which is an experience not to be missed. But we're not so crazy about hot and sticky weather so that colored our opinion. Don't know much about HAL but have heard wonderful things. You can't lose!

 

Princess up to Crystal (or Crystal down to Princess) is interesting. After Crystal how could you go "slumming"?

[TomTN]

For whatever its worth HAL has revamped their smoking policy so now it is the same as X. No smoking in the casino, on balconies or staterooms.

 

I suppose there is misinformation out there, and I might be wrong, but I read on this site that E cigs and Vaping are allowed inside state rooms, and only two ships are smoke free in the casino,

"Smoking-designated areas for active slot players will be located in all casinos except Oosterdam and Eurodam, which have entirely smoke-free casinos."

 

Here is the link:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/news/news.cfm?ID=7263

[PoppyandNana]

I love Alaska, but won't do HAL.

 

We prefer Celebrity and HAL's smoking policy is not so good. I know it is to change in the future, but I don't think HAL is superior to Celebrity and we are elite, with great bennies.

 

Our deliminia is precisely to your point. We are 110 points from Elite Plus. If we do three cruises this year we just might make it. Can't see the air expense from the east coast for a seven day cruise. Yes, we could do a B2B but why spend an extra $4,000 to see the same ports going up and coming down.

 

For a number of reasons, age, physical condition we'd rather not do the Denali thing although I hear good (and not so good) things. Someone said go on the seven day X but blow the budget on helicopter and dog sled rides. Problem with that is HAL's 14 day is not all that much more than X's seven day.

 

HAL's smoking policy has changed immensely. Same as X now.

[PoppyandNana]

For you Alaska mavens how critical is a balcony? On HAL its not quite double (but close) for ocean view versus a balcony. We normally take a balcony particularly in Europe.

 

Can't get my arms around the differential in this case. Is it mob city out on decks where all the inside and OV passengers hangout?

[TeaBag]

I wouldn't let the 110 points dictate which cruise you choose. As far as we are concerned the difference between Elite and Elite + is not all that great. We do enjoy the free cappuccinos each day.

 

Celebrity does have a 9 day cruise on Solstice May 2017. I think they might have a longer one on Millennium at the end of the season too, but not sure. We did a 10 day on Millennium to Alaska some years ago and really enjoyed it. Then you would have more $$$ left over to do the Panama some other time. Both itineraries are very different and both lovely.

 

We liked the Panama very well as DH is an engineer and loved the transit. As for Alaska, we see bald eagles here, even at the dump and we have a problem with bears coming into peoples' yards to feed out of their unsecured garbage cans! We also get to see Orcas while sailing on the ferry to Vancouver Island. That makes us unsuitable candidates to advise you!:D However, we have done Alaska twice and loved it too.

 

Whatever you choose, I'm sure you will love it. Let us know your decision.

 

I think the general consensus is that a balcony for Alaska is important. On the 10 day, we had an inside and on the 7 day we had an aft balcony (incredible) on Millennium.

As for mobs outside, yes it is packed by the rails but people do move on. You really need to be outside to hear the calving. Pack gloves and scarf or hooded parka for this day.

Edited November 21, 2016 by TeaBag

[Travelbug750]

Princess up to Crystal (or Crystal down to Princess) is interesting. After Crystal how could you go "slumming"?

 

I'm a retired travel agent. Princess was first as an agent cruise, then Crystal , Celebrity then Princess again. The only reason we did Princess for the second time is that it sailed from San Francisco round trip. Nothing like getting off a ship and being back home within an hour. Now I know why Floridians love to do last minute sailings. Crystal was unbelievable in every catagory. We did the Summit out of Vancouver and loved it. The Grand Princess was just meh, IMHO.

[PoppyandNana]

I'm a retired travel agent. Princess was first as an agent cruise, then Crystal , Celebrity then Princess again. The only reason we did Princess for the second time is that it sailed from San Francisco round trip. Nothing like getting off a ship and being back home within an hour. Now I know why Floridians love to do last minute sailings. Crystal was unbelievable in every catagory. We did the Summit out of Vancouver and loved it. The Grand Princess was just meh, IMHO.

 

 

Would like to hear more about the Grand. We are looking at her for a 15 night from SFO. Whatever impressions you'd care to share would be apprecated.

[Travelbug750]

My biggest issue was the food. It was very ordinary. The buffet was more like an ordinary diner quality. One meal, I had a piece of meat that was absolutely inedible. We had open seating for dinner that was an absolute mess. I always felt like it was a cattle call with most people in line waiting for tables. We often had a light dinner at the little Italian Cafe in the atrium instead. It had the best food on the ship. My husband pointed out that the dining room was only a single floor, making it feel very claustrophobic compared to the beautiful dining rooms on Celebrity ships with two levels. The ship itself is fine but doesn't compare to the M class Celebrity ships, IMHO (we haven't sailed on S class yet - scheduled next August). Princess is removing (or has already removed) that awkward cross piece at the top of the back of the ship that is just silly - again IMHO. We booked a mini-suite guarantee and ended up with a very nice cabin toward the aft. Their mini suites are a good deal - nice seating area, two separate TVs, plenty of storage, nice bathroom and closet arrangement. The service was just OK - I don't think anyone remembered names, preferences, etc. I don't remember much regarding entertainment except a nice string quartet in the atrium in the afternoon. I also didn't love the alternative restaurants much.

 

We both love the bars at the top of Celebrity ships (and Crystal for that matter) where you can just watch the sea, arriving or departing from port or just having a cocktail before dinner. There wasn't anything similar on the Grand, unfortunately other than the night club at the back of the ship.....which wasn't open much till late in the evening,

 

Hope this helps. I know I sound negative but I honestly think Celebrity has a superior product. I know there are rabid Princess fans out there and I don't mean to diminish their enthusiasm in any way.

[cruise47]

I cast my ballot for the Panama cruise. I just dislike snow and cold weather anytime and anyplace.

[shipshape sam]

The only reason we are considering HAL is their 14 day itinerary which among other thing goes to Kodiak Island. X is only seven days. We really don't like short cruises. I know, we can add on land packages but they are very expensive. If I was going to do that I'd source a tour guide/company for a land vacation. However, we love cruising.

 

We have sailed HAL before several times. Their ships are elegant, service is better than X although the food nod goes to X.

 

We too like the longer cruise length. Someone posted earlier a land based extension, but I do not count that. I would think Kodiak would be a neat stop. Also, Celebrity could have at least one overnight port of call and that might be interesting too.

 

We have also done 2 land only trips to Alaska for 10 and 12 days respectively and both times went to Homer for Halibut fishing as part of our trip. I would love a cruise where we had time to go on a full day Halibut fishing trip and then have them freeze/store and then ship our catch home. Not sure of the opportunity in Southeast Alaska based on time in ports currently.

 

A longer cruise could allow them to have some flexibility.

[PoppyandNana]

 

We too like the longer cruise length. Someone posted earlier a land based extension, but I do not count that. I would think Kodiak would be a neat stop. Also, Celebrity could have at least one overnight port of call and that might be interesting too.

 

We have also done 2 land only trips to Alaska for 10 and 12 days respectively and both times went to Homer for Halibut fishing as part of our trip. I would love a cruise where we had time to go on a full day Halibut fishing trip and then have them freeze/store and then ship our catch home. Not sure of the opportunity in Southeast Alaska based on time in ports currently.

 

A longer cruise could allow them to have some flexibility.

 

Thank you for your commentary, appreciated. My son-in-law took his father to Homer on his 70h birthday. Had a marvelous trip.

[Aquahound]

For you Alaska mavens how critical is a balcony?

 

Personally, I wouldn't cruise Alaska without a balcony so if you ask me, I'd say mandatory.

 

Also, I highly recommend against picking a cruise based on your loyalty points. Points chasers miss out on so much in the cruising world.

 

Back to your original question. I think Alaska cruises or extraordinary. I would pick Alaska any day over the PC. But, as I said at the beginning, it would have to be in a balcony.

[dznymom]

I would choose Alaska over the Panama Canal, although we loved both. But Alaska was something unique every day, and on the Panama Canal cruise, other than the Canal itself, it was pretty standard. To the poster above that said Alaska was more memorable, I completely agree, as does my engineer husband who loved the Panama Canal itself, and the excursion he took. But for both of us, Alaska wins.

 

To address the question about an ocean view vs a balcony, we had a balcony on our Alaska cruise and enjoyed it, but for much of the viewing we were up on the deck with everyone else.

 

The only HAL ship I saw doing the 14 night was the Amsterdam, so unless I missed something that is the ship you are referring to. We sailed both the Veendam to Bermuda and the Maasdam to Canada, which I believe are her sisters. Both times we opted for ocean view rooms and were on the Lower Promenade, and very, very close to the door so we considered the whole Promenade Deck to be our balcony. Our room was compact (haha - actually quite small) but we loved the location and saved a fortune. Although we prefer our own balcony, the money saved was huge and a very good trade off for us.

 

I'm not sure if any of this helps, but that's my two cents :)

[GottaKnowWhen]

We have never been to Alaska or the CA - FL Panama Canal thing. Been to the Caribbean many times and Europe six times.

 

We are planning for one big trip in 2017 and it comes down to either a 14 day Alaska on HAL or a 15 day Panama on X. We are elite on X which is our go to line. However, we have previously sailed on HAL several times and always enjoyed their product.

 

Air is not an issue from NJ as we always use miles.

 

Which would You Pick?

 

I have done a 14-day Alaska with Celebrity (Seward-Vancouver-Seward b2b) but not the standard Panama Canal yoyo route from California to Florida or vice versa. With the two choices you suggest, I would pick Alaska (with any line) in a heartbeat. But it would be a close call for me if you had suggested the Panama Canal itinerary that we did last year: Fort Lauderdale-Cartegena-Colon-Manta-Lima-Arica-Valparaiso. Good ports, many days at sea. And if you have the time, you will end up as close as you are ever likely to get to Easter Island, a short 5-hour flight from Santiago...

Edited November 23, 2016 by GottaKnowWhen

[twoflyers]

I have done both trips and I would recommend that you go to Alaska. The ice is melting and won't be there forever, where as the Panama Canal has not changed since it was built. :) Also Hal is a great choice for Alaska.

Enjoy whatever you choose! :)

 

Cheers!

 

Agree with HooKares. We took our first Alaska cruise 20 years ago and our most recent in 2014. Over those 18 years there's been a significant reduction in the ice mass. The glaciers are receding and there is less mass - when we reviewed both trip's pictures, we were astounded by the change.

It's happening quickly, so I would suggest an Alaska cruise. The Canal will be there for a long time.

[youwash]

For you Alaska mavens how critical is a balcony? On HAL its not quite double (but close) for ocean view versus a balcony. We normally take a balcony particularly in Europe.

 

Can't get my arms around the differential in this case. Is it mob city out on decks where all the inside and OV passengers hangout?

 

 

We sailed the Maasdam in July on the 14 night cruise and as mentioned earlier we had an inside room. We booked 1 month before and felt we got a really good rate but at the rate only a few rooms were available. Ended up as low as you can go and as far forward as you can go. Spent very little time in the room. Under way our favorite spot was out on deck from the buffet with the binoculars looking for whales and watching the shoreline

The bow deck is open most days and glacier day they serve pea soup there. Many other outside deck areas available.

Never felt the mob scene at all. We're pretty easy going though and willing to just move around if needed.

[shipshape sam]

We too like a balcony on most cruises. In Alaska, at least on the inside passage portion, you are fairly close to land and also there is possibility of whales throughout the cruise. We have seen lots of wildlife and vistas from our balcony that were 'just there' and then gone.

 

We have also had a balcony where we have had to push snow off the rail. :)

[calvins5]

Alaska, just do it!

 

 

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[smtcan]

We too like a balcony on most cruises. In Alaska, at least on the inside passage portion, you are fairly close to land and also there is possibility of whales throughout the cruise. We have seen lots of wildlife and vistas from our balcony that were 'just there' and then gone.

 

We have also had a balcony where we have had to push snow off the rail. :)

 

While I enjoy having a balcony, i would never pick one just to view scenery. I much prefer to be up on deck to enjoy the wide view. it is nice to look out first thing in the morning and see something interesting, but I always wonder what is on the other side. If we can afford a balcony, and still do the other cruises or trips we want, we will book one. if the cost is too high, I would rather be in an inside cabin than miss the cruise.