First Time Alaska - Nervous

[Dindrane404]

Hi, I will be cruising for the first time this year. I've booked a cruisetour on Celebrity's Summit (July 19th Fairbanks to Vancouver) and have recently read mixed reviews regarding the entertainment and daily activities on this ship. Some people say the ship is very formal with a professional but not very warm and friendly crew. And while we're not looking for keg parties and hairy chest competitions, we still would like fun, engaging activities and a decent nightlife. Also, I've read that certain clothing is not allowed after 6pm, regardless of which part of the ship you are on. Can anyone shed some light regarding these issues?

And if anyone has taken a cruisetour that includes Fairbanks and Denali, could you please let me know about the accommodations there and your take on the motorcoach ride from Denali to Anchorage. (I've heard it's 5 and a half hours. Whew!!) Any imput would be greatly appreciated.

[catmand]

Hi there:

First: DO NOT give any of these reviews more than a fleeting thought. Everyone has a different idea of whats good, whats bad, what should be different etc. Just go with an open mind and you will have a great time. No two people have the exact cruise experience. The Alaskan cruise is a beautiful adventure, enjoy.

As far as dress, on formal nights it is asked that the dress be maintained in the public areas, Dining Room, Casino, Theater, Lounges. Casual dress is just fine for the Lido deck area, buffet, pools etc. Don't make yourself nuts about dress, you will NOT have to lock yourself in your cabin, if you participate, great. If you do not, there will still be lots to do.

Celebrity is NOT "stuffy". There is more than a "decent" night life. Don't forget there is so much to do and see in Alaska you may find YOU don't have much of a night life.....:D

[flashdog_1]

I did not take the land tour but did the southbound Anchorage (Seward) cruise to Vancouver on Summit last summer. I had cruised once before on Summit to the Panama Canal and loved the ship, personnel, and itineraries offered by Celebrity.

 

I, too, had wondered if Summit would be stuffy and if I would not have the right clothing. I was pleased to find that people are people, and that they bring their clothing from home and it is totally acceptable on the ship. On both cruises, casual clothing for touring the ports and just being on the ship was fine. The only time you dressed up was for informal and formal dinners on the ship. If you don't want to do that, there are other eating venues available.

 

Celebrity ships have a higher square footage per passenger than other main stream cruise lines so you rarely feel you are one of 2000. The passenger to crew ratio is good, too, so there is approximately one crew member per cabin occupancy or 1/2 so you will be well cared for.

 

The ship itself is a destination! It is filled with wonderful public areas and nooks and crannies where you can get off to yourself.There are so many activities that you may have trouble selecting the one thing to do at say 10 a.m. on a sea day because there will be 3 things you want to do at that hour.

 

A library, a coffee bar with musicians playing, the thalossotherapy pool and spa, with spa cafe for 3 meals a day, the buffet for 2 meals and a special casual dining opportunity with a more limited menu at night. The formal dining room is also open for 3 meals a day if you want to meet more people by enjoying the open seating there for breakfast and lunch. And the free room service menu is quite extensive for a cruise ship. The whole experience is really fun. You can be retiring or very active and find your niche.

 

If you go to the Alaska port of call board you will find gobs of information about tours on your own, things not to miss, etc. in Alaska.

 

incidentally, we had an inside cabin in Alaska and were able to sleep thru the night (it is day light until the wee hours there) and received the same attentive service as we had received in a balcony or concierge class or suite.

 

If you do your research now, months in advance, you will have a more relaxed trip and not worry about connections etc. Go to the blue banner at the top of the cruise critic home page and click "Reviews." Read the professional review of Summit, and then click "member reviews." you will find my reviews there amidst many others.

[Nancynurse]

Don't worry you will have a wonderful cruise. We cruised Alaska last year for the first time on Celebrity and had a great time. We are a family of 4 ages 42 down to 11. There was always something to do for each of us. We enjoyed each and every minute of it! Relax...Nancy

[pamkev]

Don't worry! We did a 12 day land tour starting in Fairbanks and picked up the ship in Seward. The accommondations were wonderful! The bus ride didn't seem long at all we stopped along the way. They do play games and keep you amused if you chose along the way! I can't say enough about this cruise! We found the ship and crew to be wonderful!

 

Pam

[davis0056]

We've done Alaska twice, on Celebrity and Princess. We're going back again next year and will head back to Celebrity in a heart beat. As soon as the 07 schedule is out we'll be booking our favorite aft cabin. Like Phyllis, the ship as part of the destination and we've never met a Celebrity ship we didn't like. On our second trip to Alaska we did a 7 day interior tour which we did independently, none of the packages met our needs, but we sure wouldn't have done that on our first trip to Alaska.

 

OP-as for hairy chest contests, I've never seen one on any cruise ship, but my husband entered one here in San Antonio and came in first place. He was $500 richer at the end of the contest. It was a sure bet he'd win--a lot beter odds then bingo on any ship!!

 

Elaine and Dave

[Ichiban Nekko]

Our first cruise was to Alaska which hooked us into this wonderful vacation form. In hindsight, our only regret was not knowing about these boards at that time. We could have learned so much more in advance.

 

We returned in 2003 for a 13-day Fairbanks to Vancouver on the Summit and had the time of our lives. Bonding with a group for the first week made the second week on board even more fabulous. The Summit is stunning.

 

Go for it!

[Tricia724]

If you are like the rest of us, you will be so caught up in Alaska that you won't think much about shipboard activities. We didn't do a cruisetour but did our own independent touring for 10 days before we boarded Summit in Seward. I didn't think I was tired, but once we got on the ship, we crashed, but we also put in full days at the port stops. Our favorite activity was to hop in the thalassotherapy pool when we returned from shore excursions and relax before dinner. After dinner and a show, we weren't looking for too much else. On non-port days, we were on our balcony enjoying the scenery and whale watching. I'm sure you'll be fine. There will be enough activity onboard, and we enjoyed the crews on both of our Summit Alaska sailings.

[spearmint]

:D Summit, at this time, is our favorite Celebrity ship, and that is saying something as we love Century. (Millenium was just OK for us.) The staff on the ship was very friendly as well as professional. When I was ill in the cabin one night, the dining room staff that looked after us at our table for two, from from the assistant Maitre d', to our waiter, Nada, to our assistant waiter, Edina, to the wine steward, Vesta, could not do enough to take care of my wife at dinner; they continually found time to come over to talk to her and to make sure that she was OK.

 

I have no doubt that you will enjoy the atmosphere both casual through formal. What flashdog 1 says is true. It is wonderful wandering around the ship on formal nights; everyone looks so good, and you feel great. We have not yet taken an Alaskan cruise so cannot give you anything in that regard.

 

Have a GREAT time!!!!!!

[Dindrane404]

Thank you all for your wonderful encouragement. I guess I'm just nervous since there are so many choices out there. I just wanted to make sure I made a good one. I must say this was the first time I ever posted on any message board on any site and didn't know what to expect. But it has been so helpful to me to read all of the posts. Thanks and maybe we'll (my aunt and I) sign up for the cruisecritic celebrity connections party. Take care all of you and thank you again. :)

[Liat]

I grew up in New York City, and while we have lived in Arizona's wide open spaces for the past 40+ years, nothing prepared us for the sheer size of Alaska. That is why the land tours, by either bus or train, take a while!

The upside is that you are in the USA and can (a) use US$$ (b) probably use your cell phone © speak the same language as the "natives" and (d) telephone about tours from home.

Actually, since Alaska has a short tourist season from mid May to September, there are no real tour bargains, so you might as well use the ship's tours for what you want.

Don't worry about "formal" nights. The men do not have to wear tuxes, and we felt that our Alaskan cruise was a bit more casual than some others we have been on. There were plenty of dark suits worn on formal nights, and the women's clothing, while quite nice, was not ultra fancy. I would say that Alaskan cruises are among the most relaxed, so this is a great way to initiate yourself into the wonderful worl of cruising.

[catmand]

To anyone else that happens to come along,

I just had the nicest feeling reading all of the posts for Dindrane404. There are so many "arguments" on threads, from dress, to free ice cream, how nice to read all these positive posts. It's no wonder, as Celebrity is such a terrific line and Alaska such a beautiful state. On more than one occasion I've written, a cruise is a vacation but a cruise to Alaska is an adventure.

[joramrose]

I ;;lmade a back to back from Vancouver to Seward and back last summer, solo.

And I had a ball!

Summit is one of the friendliest ships I have ever cruised on. From the Cruise Director to the lowliest bathroom cleaner, staff and crew were wonderful -- they learned my name and called me by it very quickly, making mle feel right at home.

 

I have one suggestion not previously posted here. Join the Roll Call for your cruise TODAY -- get acQuainted with your fellow passengers. Not only crew but mlany fellow passengers will know you and be ready to be friends from boarding time to disembarkation. I NEVER FELT ALONE THE WHOLE CRUISE!!!

 

A good number of those on the Roll Call also will be on your land trou portion, and you can share concerns before you ever leave home.

 

Happy Sailing!! Wish I were going with you.

 

love

joan

 

P.S. Oh yes there are bargains to Alaska. I got one!!!

[captain1]

My family and I did the southbound Summit with the pre-cruise land package last August. I wholeheartedly agree with all the comments about how wonderful it was. There were approx. 30 of us on our land tour, and we all had a great time getting to know one another. It was nice to already know some people by the time we boarded Summit. Celebrity did a GREAT job with the land part - our bus (excuse me "deluxe motorcoach") driver Kirsten and tour guide Kathy were awesome. They wrangle your luggage for you, have you pre checked in to your hotels (which were also very nice) and have everything organized to a T. The times on the bus flew by with games, etc. and of course ALWAYS the absolutely awesome scenery out the window. It ranged from the sublime to the funny - out in the middle of nowhere there appeared a little motel named "Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn" that I would have liked to have been able to take a picture of! Summit herself was beautiful and we found the entertainment to be very good as well. Can't tell you about the casino, though - just not our thing. The food was great and the service unbeatable. You will love it all!

[badger71]

hi captain1 nice post it was a great trip the land tour, ship etc were great and who could have counted on the fabulous weather we had:)

[ChuckL]

We'll be on this same southbound cruise out of Seward on the 22nd. Be sure and register for the Cruise Critic party on that date and join the roll call on the Summit Roll Call board.

[captain1]

Hey Badger - good to hear from you. I am living vicariously on these boards until we can plan our next cruise!

[badger71]

jeanne and i leave 2-17 to palm beach and then on 2-19 onto the infinity next feb(2007) we are on the millie i think but they change ships around so i'm not even sure this august finally getting married:)