Deciding between 2 AK cruises.

[parentsof5]

Sailing May 2018. 7 day. Looking for thoughts on pro and con of Northbound and Southbound. Also, College Fjord vs Hubbard (only "stop" difference between the two. Preferences (why's please ) between Star Princess and Coral. Thanks everyone.

[azbirdmom]

We prefer southbound. Hubbard Glacier is amazing and in fact we are going back to see it for the 3rd time in 3 years next month. It's also nice to have a shorter flight home at the end of the cruise, plus flight times are much better leaving from Vancouver. Many flights out of Anchorage leave late at night or are red eyes.

 

We've cruised on both ships and either one should be fine. Coral is smaller and has only one anytime dining room which can make for longer waits if you dine at popular times. Star has two anytime dining rooms. Coral has the "secret" viewing areas fore and aft on several decks which allows for uncrowded viewing of the glaciers. But Star has plenty of room as well on the Promenade and Lido decks. We prefer Crown Grill to Bayou, so Star wins in this category. The casino is larger on the Star too. Both ships have their pluses and minuses but we would not hesitate to recommend either one. It's just a matter of what is important to you.

[sdf89]

We prefer southbound. .. It's also nice to have a shorter flight home at the end of the cruise, plus flight times are much better leaving from Vancouver. Many flights out of Anchorage leave late at night or are red eyes.

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Having done many Alaska cruises, the above I have found huge factor, and why we only do southbound now.

[cruisequeen4ever]

Both are nice. I personally prefer Northbound because you work your way up in beauty until you reach the pinnacle of Glacier Bay. It felt a tad bit of a letdown starting with the glaciers on the Southbound.

 

 

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[Host Jazzbeau]

If you are planning a land portion, I would recommend Southbound so that you get that out of the way and then relax on the cruise. But otherwise, cruisequeen4ever has a good point that saving the glaciers for last will let the cruise keep getting better and better [unless you think Diamonds International is better than Glacier Bay :D]

[Coral]

I like them both. I don't think you can go wrong. Hubbard glacier is a massive glacier and College Fiords is made up of several smaller glaciers named after colleges. Both are beautiful if the weather cooperates.

 

I prefer the Coral Princess. Smaller ship with front and aft viewing. Star Princess is a good second choice.

[parentsof5]

Fantastic, everyone. We will do land for a few days before, mostly in Matanuska Glacier area, where husband will Ice Climb. Now to contemplate build up from Vancouver, or start off with a bang. May be working our way down, but can you be going down while cruising and celebrating your 25th anniversary.

[Cruise-Crazzy]

I recommend taking a land tour prior to a southbound cruise. If you are going to Alaska it is a must to see the interior and experience the wilderness. Then on the cruise you can relax.

[Bill B]

If time and budget allow, the 'only way' to do Alaska is a back-to-back Voyage of the Glaciers returning to Vancouver. You eliminate a flight; and if the weather is bad one week, the chances are it will be good the other.

[Host Jazzbeau]

If you decide on Southbound VOTG, take the early train from Anchorage to Whittier (you check your luggage with Princess right at the Anchorage train station) and spend the afternoon on a Prince William Sound glacier day cruise. The small boats can go much closer to the glacier face than any cruise ship, and the one we took [MajorMarine Blackstone Glacier Cruise] lingered at each glacier o that we could really absorb the vista and experience calving. It was a terrific afternoon [lunch was great too], and when we got back we boarded the ship with no line and our luggage was already in our cabin.

[DougH]

Hard choice as both have some great points, that is why I always do a B2B. I'm on the Coral in May for a B2B.

 

Northbound the scenery gets more impressive as you head North with the last day College Fjord and sailing across the Gulf of Alaska. I like the long port time in Juneau as it allows me to take the all day tour into Tracy Arm with Adventure Bound. With the B2B I've still go the 2nd leg to explore Juneau.

 

Southbound gives you the ability to do a daytime Glacier cruise before sailing from Whittier, and the first couple of hours after sailing that evening are to me some of the most spectacular. Visiting both Hubbard and Glacier Bay is a huge plus with decent port times in Skagway and Juneau. Ketchican gets a full day stop Southbound.

 

My preference would be Coral for smaller ship and nice viewing areas both forward and aft. Star Princess is also OK, I like being on the Promenade deck away from a lot of the huge crowds on the top deck. The covered area on the Promenade at the bow is also nice but you do lose some of the overhead view.

 

Have fun, neither is a bad choice

[CineGraphic]

Without even considering the difference of itinerary, I'd choose the Coral. It's one-of-a-kind.

[FirstCruiseBeth]

Agree with Bill B that if possible a B2B out of Vancouver could be the best option. We did this 2 years ago and the weather was great the first week, not so good the second week.

 

But if that's not a possiblity, then I agree that the scenery gets more impressive as you go north.

 

But, if you decide to go for the southbound cruise and have time for a trip from Whitter before you embark, the 26 glacier trip includes College Fjord. We took that on our turnaround day and it was good to go back to College Fjord with a different perspective from a much smaller ship.