Planning Alaska cruise from UK

[warrington]

[CruiserBruce]

Not aware any do the combo. Going through a TA is a good idea, if you are not comfortable or experienced enough to do it on your own.

[GTJ]

While cruises to Alaska do originate and/or terminate in Vancouver, and the western terminus for the Rocky Mountaineer is also in Vancouver, the two routes operate independent of each other. You might find that a cruise line would book a Rocky Mountaineer excursion in connection with one of its own cruises, you're likely to do better--have more choices--by treating the two routes separately. If you're not comfortable booking yourself, then engage a competent travel agent to book the two routes . . . you will probably find the travel agent treating them separately, but giving you a coordinated package.

 

Where the cruise lines do best in integrating with railroad service is using the Alaska Railroad, on its main line that connects Seward, Whittier, Anchorage, Talkeetna, Denali, and Fairbanks. Most all the cruise lines have these packages, especially Holland America Line and Princess Cruises.

[Ferry_Watcher]

I have met Australians who were on a combined extended tour of the western US & Canada  visiting the  Canadian Rockies via the Rocky Mountaineer train, then traveling to Seattle to cruise to Alaska, visiting San Francisco, then home to Australia, sometimes stopping in Hawaii.

 

I would bet a good travel agent could find you a similar tour.

[Frugalsgirl]

We have recently booked the Rocky Mountaineer followed by a cruise. The cruise company did offer a package but only with one night prior to train and given that we are flying in from Uk we felt that was not enough time. We have,therefore, gone with a TA locally and designed our own tour 

[warrington]

Thank you everyone for your advice, much appreciated. Will contact the TA but also look into booking the two elements ourselves.Thanks.

[cruiseryyc]

Just to let you know that the Rocky Mountaineer only spends about 90 minutes of the trip actually in the Rockies.  If you really want to see the Rockies, a much better option would be to fly from Vancouver to Calgary, rent a car and drive to Banff/Jasper.

[warrington]

That's a consideration - thank you.

 

[GTJ]

On 1/21/2023 at 12:48 PM, cruiseryyc said:

Just to let you know that the Rocky Mountaineer only spends about 90 minutes of the trip actually in the Rockies. If you really want to see the Rockies, a much better option would be to fly from Vancouver to Calgary, rent a car and drive to Banff/Jasper.

Technically true, though I would suggest that, from a marketing perspective, the name "Rocky Mountaineer" evokes better imagery generally than, say, "Kootenays Mountaineer," or some other that would be more accurate geographically. But train have never really been completely accurate of the entire route traversed, and many times the names given refer to the destination. Consider, for example, the Amtrak train named the "Adirondack" . . . only a portion of the trip is in the actual Adirondack Mountains. I willingly give license to the railroad here. Moreover, just as there is more to see while on the "Adirondack" than just the Adirondack Mountains (e.g., Hudson River Valley), so, too, is there more to see while on the "Rocky Mountaineer" than just the Canadian Rockies.

[Coral]

5 hours ago, warrington said:

That's a consideration - thank you.

 

Though if it helps - my US friends who have done the train ride have absolutely loved it. I personally would love to do it as well! It is obviously popular given the $$$ and how popular it is.

[janecambridge]

2 things.

1.Regent is offering a Rocky mountaineer service and 4 days pre cruise.

2.We looked at doing our own thing a few years back and Via Railways came out best for price and comfort.They have good reviews.

Good luck.

[weloveamerica]

We are from the uk and doing a land tour and the rocky mountaineer before boarding an alaskan cruise in April. We booked with our normal TA who booked it through a well known  TA for canada

. 

[GTJ]

9 hours ago, janecambridge said:

1.Regent is offering a Rocky mountaineer service and 4 days pre cruise.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises might offer an option, but whether it offers all options, or provides good value compared to treating Rocky Mountaineer separately, are open issues that should be considered.

 

9 hours ago, janecambridge said:

2.We looked at doing our own thing a few years back and Via Railways came out best for price and comfort.They have good reviews.

Via Rail Canada offers many more price and comfort options than Rocky Mountaineer, and can come out to be less or more expensive. It is a different experience, however, as Via Rail Canada travels continuously, 24 hours daily, while Rocky Mountaineer stops during the overnight. Via Rail Canada offers: coach cars, Manor cars (3 sections, 4 roomettes, 6 bedrooms), Prestige Château cars (6 prestige bedrooms), Prestige Park car (1 prestige bedroom, 1 accessible bedroom), and during peak summer season Château sleeping cars (3 sections, 8 duplex roomettes, 3 bedrooms, 1 drawing room). Note that upper and lower berths are sold separately for each of the sections (in each car 1 section has been removed and replaced with a shower), roomettes for 1 person, bedrooms for 2 persons, drawing rooms for 3 persons. In short, many more choices with Via Rail Canada.

[Coral]

Cunard also offers this:

 

https://www.seatrade-cruise.com/ports-destinations/cunard-adds-canadian-rockies-train-ride-queen-elizabeths-alaska-itinerary?NL=ST-004&Issue=ST-004_20230124_ST-004_263&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_11&utm_campaign=STRADE_News_Seatrade Cruise News Weekly Headline_News_NL_01242023_4117&utm_emailname=STRADE_News_Seatrade Cruise News Weekly Headline_News_NL_01242023_4117&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua&utm_MDMContactID=6512e4a0-aa38-4791-bad5-e626d5d9ab0c&utm_campaigntype=Newsletter&eM=715a5caebce68e6b77c57152d9eaefc3b22a8c9f6ddbf79d3d180621be96c05e&eventSeriesCode=ES_SEATRDCRSCTNT&eventEditionCode=MTM00SCC&sessionCode=S_STRDCRSNEWS&sp_eh=715a5caebce68e6b77c57152d9eaefc3b22a8c9f6ddbf79d3d180621be96c05e 

[warrington]

Thank you. Will explore that.