Best cruise for scenery if you can’t leave the boat

[HomeIsWhereIParkIt]

My 66 year old husband has Glioblastoma. He is still somewhat mobile but even an hour going to the grocery store exhausts him.

 

He has always wanted to go to Alaska and has been to the remaining 49 US states so if possible I would like to make this happen for him on one of the first Alaska cruises this season.

 

My question is what cruise might offer the best scenery and views of Alaska from the boat itself.  We would get off at one port ( at least ) to say we were on Alaskan soil, but adventure or day long tours would be out of the question. 
 

Obviously at this point it would also have to be a last minute booking, but I need to concentrate on which cruises would show the best views of Alaska without leaving the ship.

[CruiserBruce]

If you read around the board, you will see many discussions of the true Inside Passage as being extremely scenic, would mean sailing to, or from Vancouver. And that many glacier opportunities are sailing only, like Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm.  

 

You will be on a ship, by the way.

[edinburgher]

34 minutes ago, HomeIsWhereIParkIt said:

My question is what cruise might offer the best scenery and views of Alaska from the boat itself.

I suggest you book one which visits Glacier Bay.  Some cruiselines have more permits than others, including HAL and Princess, and both have decades of experience in Alaska.  And we found on our Alaskan itinerarties with HAL that we often also had preferred docking locations(compared to other lines) and I would start looking at these two.

 

Glacier Bay is a scenic sailing day and you would spend most of the day there with commentary from Park Rangers so there would be no need to get off the ship or to be left onboard when all others have gone ashore.  And at Juneau and Ketchikan ships usually dock in the centre, so if he wanted to get off for a short walk, he would be right there.  Also any other itinerary with glaciers in addition to Glacier Bay (Hubbard, Tracy Arm)as he would get close up viewing without needing to leave the ship.

Edited January 11 by edinburgher

[HomeIsWhereIParkIt]

25 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

If you read around the board, you will see many discussions of the true Inside Passage as being extremely scenic, would mean sailing to, or from Vancouver. And that many glacier opportunities are sailing only, like Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm.  

 

You will be on a ship, by the way.

True inside passage? I tried googling that but didn’t come up with anything. I am wondering if the smaller the boat the more “inside” it gets?

[SightCRR]

The real key to inside passage is where the ship leaves from. Vancouver has better chance of going up the east side of Vancouver Island. Seattle west side and then when north with shorter time inside. One of the main hurtles you have to deal with is how to get to ship. You don't say where you live but I think you want non stop flight if possible then minimum hassle to get to ship from airport. Another thing to consider when thinking about inside is the time you travel may be in the dark. View some you tube videos on the cruise and port views. Most all cruises go to the same cities. Skagway has mountains all around with very little city. Juneau has mts and city. Ketch has nice boardwalk for wheelchairs. ISP huge mts all around not much city.  TheSnowCloud Juneau area Webcams One sample of many youtubes: My First Alaska Cruise Was Not What I Expected. Here's Why - YouTube

 

 

Edited January 11 by SightCRR
added link.

[CruiserBruce]

20 minutes ago, HomeIsWhereIParkIt said:

True inside passage? I tried googling that but didn’t come up with anything. I am wondering if the smaller the boat the more “inside” it gets?

East of Vancouver Island. Again,  sailing to or from Vancouver. 

[Paula_MacFan]

18 minutes ago, HomeIsWhereIParkIt said:

True inside passage? I tried googling that but didn’t come up with anything. I am wondering if the smaller the boat the more “inside” it gets?

 

Look at this Princess cruise map, it shows the Inside Passage. The larger ships go to the west of Vancouver Island and the smaller ones sail the calmer & more scenic east side route. You can see on the map key for Princess that 'Royal class' or their larger ships sail west of VI. 

 

As already mentioned a one way cruise to or from Vancouver would travel this route.

[martincath]

The smaller the better to an extent OP - if your budget can handle it (lacking casinos and the like to subsidise costs, more staff to passenger ratios etc.) and you don't need the sheer variety of amenities on a Monstrosity of the Seas type beast - and a longer duration cruise with more ports means at the very least more time close to shore entering and leaving those ports.

 

Likely the most 'close to shore' time would be on the US-flagged cruises of Uncruise or American Cruise Lines - or maybe Lindblad/NatGeo 'exploration' trips? There are indeed layers of 'even more inside' up the coast, which other than deliveries and ferries only the teeniest and longest cruises visit - just fire up Google maps and zoom in and you'll see the AK and BC ferries routes which hit up a lot of places never seen on cruises... although actually using ferries, even with cabins, might be a step too far!

[Northern Aurora]

Given the mobility issues our OP's husband is experiencing they need to be very aware of the ship itself. Some of the small vessels, such as UnCruise, American Cruise Lines or Lindblad are not the most friendly to those with mobility issues.  For example, in the UnCruise fleet only the Wilderness Legacy has an elevator for guests and even then stairs are necessary to get to the top deck.  And I am trying to remember if any of the Alaska ferries in the Alaska Marine Highway system have elevators for guest use.  

 

For the best option regarding scenery our OP needs to consider a cruise out of Vancouver.  There are nice round trip options out of Vancouver.  The one-way trips are between Vancouver or either Seward or Whittier (Alaska).  While the RTs out of Seattle might initially be appealing our OP needs be aware that portions of the first and last day in and out of Seattle are sea views.  Also try to find a ship which has a forward observation lounge.

[oaktreerb]

Holland America ships have a forward looking Crows Nest for inside comfort when viewing the glaciers and other scenic areas.  There are a lot of public viewing windows throughout the ship.

 

[Northern Aurora]

Celebrity S-class ships also have a very large sky lounge forward looking.  Great amount of seating and views on multiple sides.  That is where their naturalists set up when not conducting lectures.  There are also other interior venues

[oaktreerb]

You may want to book a cruise that goes into Glacier Bay National Park.  The park rangers will come onboard and you will probably experience the calving of the glaciers.  If you have a balcony, you can sit on your balcony for a close up view as the ship rotates from port to starboard.  Warm clothing, gloves, and ear warming head covering will be necessary.  A warm blanket is provided in each stateroom.

[Coral]

On 1/11/2024 at 3:50 PM, Northern Aurora said:

Given the mobility issues our OP's husband is experiencing they need to be very aware of the ship itself. Some of the small vessels, such as UnCruise, American Cruise Lines or Lindblad are not the most friendly to those with mobility issues.  

A friend did American Cruise Lines before COVID and it was a brand new ship (2018 I think). I don't see why it would not be mobility friendly. Can you elaborate? I think he was on American Constitution. It has an elevator.

Edited January 13 by Coral

[wolfie11]

18 hours ago, Coral said:

A friend did American Cruise Lines before COVID and it was a brand new ship (2018 I think). I don't see why it would not be mobility friendly. Can you elaborate? I think he was on American Constitution. It has an elevator.

These small cruise lines are very expensive.  Nine days on ACL starts out around $6000 per person.

[Coral]

1 hour ago, wolfie11 said:

These small cruise lines are very expensive.  Nine days on ACL starts out around $6000 per person.

Yes they are. Though from a "viewing Alaska from a ship experience" - I think it would be great based on what my friend described. Someone mentioned it would not be good from a mobility stand point and that is what I was questioning. My friend has some issues and had absolutely no problems on the ship and raved about it. That is why I suggested it.

[Northern Aurora]

19 hours ago, Coral said:

A friend did American Cruise Lines before COVID and it was a brand new ship (2018 I think). I don't see why it would not be mobility friendly. Can you elaborate? I think he was on American Constitution. It has an elevator.

 

I have copied and pasted an excerpt from a very long review posted by @Ski Mom from the Disabled Cruiser forum.  Outlines some of the issues she had.

 

Hello just returned from a fabulous 8 night River cruise with ACL on the American Song July 8th through July 16th. A little about us. We are in our early sixties and I have MS. I walk with a cane and travel with a transport wheelchair. I usually rent a scooter for larger ships but didn’t for this trip and I will explain later.

We didn’t know what to expect when we booked with ACL because I honestly was not familiar with them. .......

 

 

 

 

Although the staff was willing to always help out I do think ACL needs to improve the overall accessibility in their staterooms and the disembarkation process on both shore excursions and the first and last day. I had done some research on line before the cruise and saw that the hallways and elevators were small and narrow and a scooter would have a hard time getting through especially when there are carts in the hallway from housekeeping staff who by the way were awesome and always seemed to be working and available if need be. The ramps to leave the ship for excursions were quite narrow steep and bumpy and I don’t think you would be able to use a scooter on them. That is the one thing that Princess and Celebrity have ACL beat hands down because I’ve been on both of them and never had a problem using my scooter.The ramps going ashore would definitely not accommodate a travel scooter and the shower in my accessible stateroom had a six inch lip that if I was traveling alone I would have not been able to use. I took pictures of the bathroom to show others so they are prepared. The balcony also required a step.
All and all it was a wonderful cruise and I would definitely recommend them but I think at this point it would be a bit hard on a wheelchair traveler to do on their own. 

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[HomeIsWhereIParkIt]

Great info all,thanks for sharing! DH is still able to walk, albeit slowly. At this point the main issue is stamina so I will look at all the suggestions carefully.

 

While money isn’t “no object”, and we are willing to pay for the perfect (for us) experience,  it also seems some of the smaller and more expensive cruises might be for more active participants. We might stick out too much, if you know what I mean.

Edited January 13 by HomeIsWhereIParkIt

[NothingBeatsBaseball]

I did the Sapphire Princess inside passage with Glacier Bay last June. I think if you had a balcony you'd be happy with what you can see from the balcony if you couldn't move to other spots on the ship the easiest. My only suggestion would be to get a balcony that has cover above it so if it is raining, it feels like you can still use the balcony. I traveled with someone who couldn't walk long distances and we found Princess' help getting them on and off the ship in a wheelchair was very considerate and helpful. 

 

I will add this, Princess' port locations in Ketchikan and Skagway were great. I can't speak to what they are for cruises you are looking at. But in Ketchikan, we were right in the city steps off the ship. Skagway.... not as much... BUT if you book the train through them, the train nearly pulls up to the ship. 

Edited January 13 by NothingBeatsBaseball

[HomeIsWhereIParkIt]

45 minutes ago, NothingBeatsBaseball said:

I did the Sapphire Princess inside passage with Glacier Bay last June. I think if you had a balcony you'd be happy with what you can see from the balcony if you couldn't move to other spots on the ship the easiest. My only suggestion would be to get a balcony that has cover above it so if it is raining, it feels like you can still use the balcony. I traveled with someone who couldn't walk long distances and we found Princess' help getting them on and off the ship in a wheelchair was very considerate and helpful. 

 

I will add this, Princess' port locations in Ketchikan and Skagway were great. I can't speak to what they are for cruises you are looking at. But in Ketchikan, we were right in the city steps off the ship. Skagway.... not as much... BUT if you book the train through them, the train nearly pulls up to the ship. 

Excellent info!

[julia]

A smaller ship such as Holland American's Noordam from Vancouver would be a great choice.  Easy to navigate and great port times in Alaska. We have an aft balcony in May... the best location for scenery while staying warm!

[wolfie11]

I would look at a smaller ship like Viking if you want to do the traditional cruise. It’s an older crowd, laid-back atmosphere, and the smaller ships are easy to get around in, with everything close together.

 

For real, blow-your-mind scenery look at Hurtigruten.  They are handicap accessible but go into places like Tracy Arm (all the way back to the glaciers) and Icy Bay.  When I was on the Roald Amundsen, they had two people in wheelchairs.  Each wheelchair got its own zodiac and the crew would lift the person and the wheelchair in and out.  Same with the tender. Even though it is an expedition ship, the guests probably average in the mid-sixties. A number of guests used canes.  You wouldn’t stick out.  However, there is very little of the hustle and bustle of the big lines.  No shows, no casino, no loud music playing constantly everywhere, no cruise director coming on the loudspeaker every half hour telling you about a sale in the shops, bingo, or a slots tournament.  Just quiet and lots of scenery.

Edited January 14 by wolfie11

[Coral]

15 hours ago, Northern Aurora said:

 

I have copied and pasted an excerpt from a very long review posted by @Ski Mom from the Disabled Cruiser forum.  Outlines some of the issues she had.

 

Hello just returned from a fabulous 8 night River cruise with ACL on the American Song July 8th through July 16th. A little about us. We are in our early sixties and I have MS. I walk with a cane and travel with a transport wheelchair. I usually rent a scooter for larger ships but didn’t for this trip and I will explain later.

We didn’t know what to expect when we booked with ACL because I honestly was not familiar with them. .......

 

I haven't been on the line or ship. I just know my friend has some disabilities. He raved as they spent the night near Glacier Bay and how close they got to Tracy Arm. They did a lot of things on the ship that large ships can't do.

 

I am aware of the main stream lines on how they treat people with disabilities as I brought my Mom and her Seeing Eye dog on all the major cruise lines. Princess treated her the best, RCL and Celebrity were the worst. Thus we sailed Princess the most and for some odd reason, we were on the Sapphire Princess the most (Grand and Golden were the next most frequent ships). I think Princess does fine with people with disabilities. I was just thinking of someone who doesn't leave the ship much. Hopefully whatever cruise line the OP picks, the trip will be amazing.

[docsievers]

On the general issue of access for mobility challenged passengers, my experience, as a challenged person, is most cruise lines, as a company, don't care. Many of the crew on most ships care very much as it is part of their nature to care and to be helpful - which is why they chose crewing on a cruise ship in the first place. Perhaps there is an issue with ships being designed and built overseas. The designers are free to ignore the US based ADA requirements, even though the corporation may be a US corporation. My wife and I have to use scooters now (either rented or our own) and have found it very difficult or impossible to get on or off the ship at some ports. On a recent cruise, their were very few crew staffing the gangplank and most were very reluctant to try and help us. This may come from corporate as the are fearful of liability if the passenger or crew person is hurt or injured. If the port requires tenders, we are confined to the ship for the day. Having cruised as much as we have, a quiet day on board, at a port we have already visited, is kind of nice. It is easier to use the pool and internet service is much better with so few people using it, and the eating venues are less crowded. I have resigned myself to the fact that I am a cruiser - not a vacationer on a cruise ship. I enjoy the tranquil sound of the water against the hull of the ship, watching the sea life and reading a good book in an old fashion deck chair.  

[jean-lynd]

We did a Princess cruise with my 95 year old father.  He was able to walk with a walker but we took a wheelchair with us.  We had a handicap balcony cabin and it was great.  If you do a one way make sure you get a starboard cabin if you are heading north or a port cabin if you are going south. We were able to do our own walking tours of Skagway and Ketchikan while pushing dad in the wheelchair. Of course it depends on if you are able to push your husband. We really enjoyed the city museum in Skagway and Creek Street in Ketchikan. A lot of the ports offer City tours where you can ride around town and see the high points without a lot of walking.  I hope this helps!

[SoloAlaska]

Icy Straight point is pretty amazing from the ship. We had whales even using the side of the ship to help in bubble net feeding…. Once in a lifetime experience plus there is an eagle who likes to sit right near the bow of one of the ships in dock. 
 

Inside passage is essential but I will note I saw more on the southbound trip vs my northbound trip. Honestly made me want to move to norther BC on my last trip. 
 

I haven’t been to Glacier Bay but the cruise that was able to get down the passage to Hubbard was INCREDIBLE. Don’t wait till too late in the season though since the rainy season won’t help what you can see from the ship.

 

I loved Celebrity for the onboard naturalist. Celia Garland was incredible and just seeing her photos and videos during her presentations was amazing.