Majestic Princess or Nieuw Amsterdam for Alaska?

[lissie]

Tentatively considering a southbound cruise in July 2022. We have a booking out of SF to Europe and we're considering a cruise Anchorage to Vancouver - one way because we want to spend time on land, an Vancouver because I want to revisit - I lived there in the 80s. 

 

Given the timing of the cruise we've booked already I'm down to 2 sailings: 

Majestic Princess 9 Jul 

Nieuw Amsterdam 10 Jul 

 

The only cruise we have ever done was Cunard QE (which is also the ship we have booked  ex SF). We chose Cunard because of the dancing - we liked it becuase of the dancing, the entertainment, and the amount of space - we did an Australian cruise to PNG and the decks were never crowded. 

 

So out of the 2 ships  which should we choose? 

• the schedules are identical Whitter-Hubbard - GB-Skagaway-Juneau-Ketchikan-Van
• the prices are very similar 
• they are both carnival so we get shareholders OBC 
• we are more interested in the destinations than the ship  given the long days and most nights being in port until the evening I imagine we'lll miss the MDR on port days 
• I know neither are any good for ballroom dancing compared to Cunard 
• Neither are formal compared to Cunard - so that doesn't split them as he'll need a dark sui anyways.

 

Things I can't find easily include: 

• is the Internet better /cheaper/faster on Princess - they seem to be the leading brand for connectivity at sea - yes I have a business - no I can't just go AWOL
• drink prices - we are aren't huge drinkers but we like a cocktail 
• is there a different in the gratuities suggested - we don't understand tipping so we just go with the recommended daily charge 
• we like shows, cabaret, good singers, nice food.We'd like interesting relevant talks about Alaska culture, wildlife, geology etc 
• we don't care about casinos, trivia, spa treatments, shopping, find dining 
• we'd normally get a cheap/low/inside cabin - I get seasick - but for Alaska maybe a balcony is a better choice - does either have a big difference in cabins. Apart from this cabins don't really matter to us - not that you spend much time in them. 

 

At the moment I'm leaning to Princess only because they tend to have a lot more cruises in Australasia so we could maybe used  the frequent flyer points on Princess easier than HAL. And HAL has a reputation for old people - is that true? We're not young (58/68) but not old yet either LOL. Also quite keen to to avoid other people's children so maybe HAL would win there?  

[Heidi13]

Based on the size of the ships, the HAL ship would be the better option, as I can't imagine going to Alaska on a ship with > 4,000 pax and doesn't have a Prom Dk.

• On all our Princess cruises the internet was hopeless, compared to Viking Ocean
• Since Princess and HAL are 2 of the 4 Brands in the Holland America Group, with many management jobs consolidated a few years ago - I expect drinks prices, entertainment, etc is being slowly standardised.
• For cabin, we usually opt for balcony cabins, but in Alaska prefer an inside, due to prolonged daylight.  

[Crew News]

Holland America drink prices:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Bar-Menu.pdf

 

Photo review of the Nieuw Amsterdam:

 

https://www.rogerjett-photography.com/photo-reviews/ms-nieuw-amsterdam-on-board-images

 

 

[lissie]

5 hours ago, Heidi13 said:

Based on the size of the ships, the HAL ship would be the better option, as I can't imagine going to Alaska on a ship with > 4,000 pax and doesn't have a Prom Dk.

• On all our Princess cruises the internet was hopeless, compared to Viking Ocean
• Since Princess and HAL are 2 of the 4 Brands in the Holland America Group, with many management jobs consolidated a few years ago - I expect drinks prices, entertainment, etc is being slowly standardised.
• For cabin, we usually opt for balcony cabins, but in Alaska prefer an inside, due to prolonged daylight.  

I hadn't noticed the Majestic was so big - that is a big negative for it.  I checked Viking but they don't do Glacier Bay.  

 

Also agree re promenade deck. Good point abut the long daylight hours - however we'll have spent a week on land prior so I guess well have got used to it. 

[lissie]

24 minutes ago, Crew News said:

Holland America drink prices:

 

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/here/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Bar-Menu.pdf

 

Photo review of the Nieuw Amsterdam:

 

https://www.rogerjett-photography.com/photo-reviews/ms-nieuw-amsterdam-on-board-images

 

 

Thanks for the photos. 

 

Those drink prices are so much cheaper than Cunard -  I assume a 15% gratuity on top? 

[donaldsc]

You say that the ports are identical but are the port times also identical.  Cruises in AK have some strange port arrival and departure times.  Also, I would not want an inside cabin on an AK cruise (in fact I would not want an inside cabin on any cruise) but a standard outside cabin w/o a balcony has always worked for me.

 

DON

Edited December 27, 2020 by donaldsc

[lissie]

16 minutes ago, donaldsc said:

You say that the ports are identical but are the port times also identical.  Cruises in AK have some strange port arrival and departure times.  Also, I would not want an inside cabin on an AK cruise (in fact I would not want an inside cabin on any cruise) but a standard outside cabin w/o a balcony has always worked for me.

 

DON

the times are very, very close: 

Skagway 7am - 8:30pm (princess) compared to 7am - 9pm 

Juneau 6:30am - 5pm compared 8:30am - 6pm 

Ketchitkan 10am-6pm compared 11am - 7pm 

 

The main difference is that the Princess ship leaves Whittiker 8pm but the HAL ship doesn't leave until 10pm 

 

I probably prefer the slightly later times in port - we're not morning people 

[Crew News]

34 minutes ago, lissie said:

Thanks for the photos. 

 

Those drink prices are so much cheaper than Cunard -  I assume a 15% gratuity on top? 

Yes.  FWIW you may bring as much water and soda as you wish at no charge.

 

[lissie]

1 minute ago, Crew News said:

Yes.  FWIW you may bring as much water and soda as you wish at no charge.

 

Cunard you can bring on as much  booze on as you want 🙂 We don't drink soda and I assume the water out of the taps is drinkable?  I expect though that we really won't be drinking that much given long days in port, I don't have that much stamina anymore LOL 

[naturelovergirl]

Hi Lissie- I’ve interacted on some of the past Cunard topics you were on about QE. We loved our trip on her in Aug/Sept 2019 to Norway!! 😊

Anyway- we are planning Alaska in 2022... now we are opting for Vancouver round trip to Alaska with the Hubbard Glacier on Celebrity.

We also need internet on our trips for our business- no ability to leave work totally behind. One of the reasons we are going with Celebrity is that they are affiliated with Royal Caribbean... and we have always had much better luck with internet and technology on Royal Caribbean than any other line. 

Also we are taking advantage of their new Always Included format which includes drinks, tips, and WiFi once cruising resumes.

It is true that they do not go to Glacier Bay- but we wanted to go to Hubbard. So we were pleased with our itinerary.

I’m not sure if you have looked at Celebrity or not... but we are giving it a try because it ticks off some of our boxes for what we want.

Enjoy your planning!

Edited December 30, 2020 by naturelovergirl

[lissie]

On 12/30/2020 at 2:18 PM, naturelovergirl said:

Hi Lissie- I’ve interacted on some of the past Cunard topics you were on about QE. We loved our trip on her in Aug/Sept 2019 to Norway!! 😊

Anyway- we are planning Alaska in 2022... now we are opting for Vancouver round trip to Alaska with the Hubbard Glacier on Celebrity.

We also need internet on our trips for our business- no ability to leave work totally behind. One of the reasons we are going with Celebrity is that they are affiliated with Royal Caribbean... and we have always had much better luck with internet and technology on Royal Caribbean than any other line. 

Also we are taking advantage of their new Always Included format which includes drinks, tips, and WiFi once cruising resumes.

It is true that they do not go to Glacier Bay- but we wanted to go to Hubbard. So we were pleased with our itinerary.

I’m not sure if you have looked at Celebrity or not... but we are giving it a try because it ticks off some of our boxes for what we want.

Enjoy your planning!

That's interesting re the wifi on Royal/Celebrity. I hadn't consider them for Alaska because Glacier Bay is a must do for us as Alaska is a bit out of the way for us so we're unlikely to cruise it twice! 

[naturelovergirl]

14 hours ago, lissie said:

That's interesting re the wifi on Royal/Celebrity. I hadn't consider them for Alaska because Glacier Bay is a must do for us as Alaska is a bit out of the way for us so we're unlikely to cruise it twice! 

Totally understand

Glaciers are truly amazing to see in person... I’m always so in awe of the color.

Enjoy planning!!!!

[Coral]

On 12/31/2020 at 5:36 PM, lissie said:

That's interesting re the wifi on Royal/Celebrity. I hadn't consider them for Alaska because Glacier Bay is a must do for us as Alaska is a bit out of the way for us so we're unlikely to cruise it twice! 

I did Royal Caribbean in Alaska for my first trip and was greatly disappointed in lack of Alaska lectures, speakers, activities on the ship. I would not do them again.

[wolfie11]

Cunard goes to Glacier Bay.  Is there a reason you wouldn't do Alaska on the QE?

 

I would never recommend Majestic Princess for Alaska.  She is too big and has the same viewing and propulsion issues as her sister ship Royal Princess.  I do highly recommend the Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary on a smaller ship.

[lissie]

On 1/9/2021 at 6:01 AM, wolfie11 said:

Cunard goes to Glacier Bay.  Is there a reason you wouldn't do Alaska on the QE?

 

I would never recommend Majestic Princess for Alaska.  She is too big and has the same viewing and propulsion issues as her sister ship Royal Princess.  I do highly recommend the Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary on a smaller ship.

Yes - Cunard doesn't do one way in Alaska - we want to do an on land portion of Alaska - to -visit Denali, Fairbanks etc 

 

Which smaller ships do you recommend?

[Coral]

5 hours ago, lissie said:

Yes - Cunard doesn't do one way in Alaska - we want to do an on land portion of Alaska - to -visit Denali, Fairbanks etc 

 

Which smaller ships do you recommend?

Look at the Sapphire Princess - it is fine for Alaska and you can add on your own land tour (or one through the cruise line). A lot of small ships have gone away, the Sapphire is not as big as some of the larger ships mentioned here (Majestic). I was on the ship 2 years ago and it is great condition and have done the ship in Alaska many times.

[Heidi13]

6 hours ago, lissie said:

Yes - Cunard doesn't do one way in Alaska - we want to do an on land portion of Alaska - to -visit Denali, Fairbanks etc 

 

Which smaller ships do you recommend?

 

If looking for a small ship, I would suggest Viking, who have 10-day cruises from Vancouver to Seward. Only 930 pax and no kids.