Breezy Kate & Joe Posted July 27, 2017 #1 Share Posted July 27, 2017 trying to plan a family cruise to Alaska with my 26, 24 and 22 year old - NCL or Carnival? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted July 27, 2017 #2 Share Posted July 27, 2017 I would do neither. HAL, Princess or RCL before Carnival and NCL. Just personal preference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cm5VTfam Posted July 27, 2017 #3 Share Posted July 27, 2017 trying to plan a family cruise to Alaska with my 26, 24 and 22 year old - NCL or Carnival? Sailed both NCL and Carnival. I would sail NCL over Carnival. Lots of choices for you in Alaska. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted July 27, 2017 #4 Share Posted July 27, 2017 Is there a reason for only these 2 choices? You have already determined the route? Round trip Seattle? Have you already determined what activities you are going to include? Port time allows? If you haven't, I first suggest you find out about each Alaska port (there are only 6 on the inside passage) see if you have any preference, and determine what you want to spend your time doing in port. Read up and take a look at each glacier area. This goes a long way toward selections. I have taken both Carnival and NCL cruises in Alaska multiple times. I certainly have enjoyed both. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breezy Kate & Joe Posted July 27, 2017 Author #5 Share Posted July 27, 2017 i ask about only these two lines because the 20 somethings are all boys and not into dressing up!! I thought these two were more casual cruises than the other lines Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted July 27, 2017 #6 Share Posted July 27, 2017 i ask about only these two lines because the 20 somethings are all boys and not into dressing up!! I thought these two were more casual cruises than the other lines Holland America Line's dress code on Gala Nights is a collared shirt and slacks for males in the Main Dining Room which is hardly "dressing up". If collared shirts (polos) are still too much, you can order the same meal delivered to your stateroom for no charge. It is important to pick what you want to see/itinerary before you choose the cruise line/ship unless you are a Disney family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted July 27, 2017 #7 Share Posted July 27, 2017 I would begin with the itinerary. Decide which one(s) would be of interest. As to cruise line the two you mentioned would be fine for children of the ages you mentioned. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
easyboy Posted July 27, 2017 #8 Share Posted July 27, 2017 trying to plan a family cruise to Alaska with my 26, 24 and 22 year old - NCL or Carnival? My wife and I prefer Princess and HAL. Princess may suit your family with its venues and activities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted July 27, 2017 #9 Share Posted July 27, 2017 i ask about only these two lines because the 20 somethings are all boys and not into dressing up!! I thought these two were more casual cruises than the other lines You've made a wrong assumption. No one has to "dress up", there are alternative dining options, including buffets. I haven't dressed up for over 10 years, and couldn't be bothered. It is FAR more important for you to understand the various routes and what each port and glacier offers, my opinion, only. I would suggest you start there first. THEN find a cruise that has your selections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herfnerd Posted July 27, 2017 #10 Share Posted July 27, 2017 We booked our first Alaskan cruise last year - after doing a bunch of research, we realized what everyone else has posted makes sense - choose itinerary first followed by cruise line. None of the mainstream lines require any special 'dressing up' other than a collared shirt and slacks - khaki's and a polo will work for gala/elegant nites these days. And it appears that Alaskan itineraries are a little more lenient in the dress code as well - within reason We are sailing the HAL Eurodam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
txagfan Posted July 27, 2017 #11 Share Posted July 27, 2017 No one has said it so I will...do your three sons drink? If so, I would go with NCL and select that for perk in their rooms. NCL seems to attract a somewhat younger crowd as well (in Caribbean, don't know about Alaska). Finally, Bliss will be in Alaska this summer which will be a BIG boat with a lot to do. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted July 27, 2017 #12 Share Posted July 27, 2017 No one has said it so I will...do your three sons drink? If so, I would go with NCL and select that for perk in their rooms. NCL seems to attract a somewhat younger crowd as well (in Caribbean, don't know about Alaska). Finally, Bliss will be in Alaska this summer which will be a BIG boat with a lot to do. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Other cruise lines run that perk as well. Princess currently has that special. Celebrity runs it periodically also (and I am sure I am missing other lines). In Alaska - the age demographic is older for all cruise lines. You can't go by Caribbean ages in Alaska. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ljclay0130 Posted July 31, 2017 #13 Share Posted July 31, 2017 I, too, was debating which cruise line to take. My husband and I are in our late 40's and couple we traveled with are in early 50's. Left kids at home;p Our decision was based on: First--- Itinerary Glacier Bay. Ship-- Second NCL Sun NCL Sun was a great choice for us. Great mix of all ages.... not to formal... and free drinks Had a great time!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lucy2mb Posted August 1, 2017 #14 Share Posted August 1, 2017 We are Platinum with Carnival and were very happy with our Alaskan cruise this past May. We have always found Carnival to be less expensive since we are a family of 6 and need to get 2 rooms. We had a 36, 31, 29 and 27 year old with us and the guys don't really care about dressing up any more and we always prefer eating in the MDR for dinner. They only dressed up the 2 nights that were elegant night and just wore casual pants with casual long sleeve shirt. The other nights we all dressed very casual. They didn't go to Alaska to find people their age, so having more older people did not bother them. We were there for seeing Alaska. We have loved all our Carnival cruises! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted August 2, 2017 #15 Share Posted August 2, 2017 We are Platinum with Carnival and were very happy with our Alaskan cruise this past May. We have always found Carnival to be less expensive since we are a family of 6 and need to get 2 rooms. We had a 36, 31, 29 and 27 year old with us and the guys don't really care about dressing up any more and we always prefer eating in the MDR for dinner. They only dressed up the 2 nights that were elegant night and just wore casual pants with casual long sleeve shirt. The other nights we all dressed very casual. They didn't go to Alaska to find people their age, so having more older people did not bother them. We were there for seeing Alaska. We have loved all our Carnival cruises! I never book based on loyalty, since it is way too limiting for my travels. Carnival does have some pluses with their Alaska itinerary, especially their ship naturalist and nice itinerary with Juneau and Tracy Arm separate days. However, this is just one option and no one way itinerary for Seward or Whittier as example. Everyone needs to decide what will work best for them, but sometimes the focus is skewed in a direction that, in the whole selection, may not be the priority, first thought. Take the time and think through carefully. Even if visiting Alaska yearly, it's still a long time in between. Many have less frequent visits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DnA2010 Posted August 2, 2017 #16 Share Posted August 2, 2017 After advice from on here, we figured out our itinerary first (wanted to go through Glacier Bay, round trip Vancouver) and then selected HAL Volendam..we are sailing in 2 weeks. We are two younger families and my 67 year old mom- ping me in a couple of weeks if you like :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Crew News Posted August 2, 2017 #17 Share Posted August 2, 2017 After advice from on here, we figured out our itinerary first (wanted to go through Glacier Bay, round trip Vancouver) and then selected HAL Volendam..we are sailing in 2 weeks. We are two younger families and my 67 year old mom- ping me in a couple of weeks if you like :) Kudos for choosing my favorite cruise line. Here are your menus for the Lido Market (buffet) and the Main Dining Room: http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/specifc-cruise-lido-and-mdr-menus/hal-7-day-alaska-2017-menus/ Here are breakfast, Room Service, Specialty Restaurant, and beverage menus: http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DnA2010 Posted August 2, 2017 #18 Share Posted August 2, 2017 Kudos for choosing my favorite cruise line. Here are your menus for the Lido Market (buffet) and the Main Dining Room: http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/specifc-cruise-lido-and-mdr-menus/hal-7-day-alaska-2017-menus/ Here are breakfast, Room Service, Specialty Restaurant, and beverage menus: http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/specialty-2/hal-regular-and-specialty-restaurants/ Awesome!! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristieB Posted September 28, 2017 #19 Share Posted September 28, 2017 trying to plan a family cruise to Alaska with my 26, 24 and 22 year old - NCL or Carnival? Have you decided yet? I was going to put my 2cents in but saw that your original post was a couple of months ago. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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