WHICH cruise line did you use for your Alaska trip?

[Rafaella]

Thinking of going to Alaska in near future. Never thought that I would like to go to Alaska until someone had told me how great their cruise was... Just wondering if you can share your Alaska high-lights in relation to the cruise line you have travelled with... Also, what is the BEST month to go to Alaska? ( I assume , it would be around summer, LOL)

[Budget Queen]

Alaska will offer you something- ANY time you go. :) First thing is probably to determine how much time you want to go for. A one way cruise with another week for interior land touring is just ideal and offers plenty packed into that time. A round trip Vancouver sailing is also excellent, again 7 days of nonstop scenery and wonderful varied ports.

 

I give an edge to HAL for their round trip Vancouver sailings and the one ways with Seward. Princess one ways and Carnival also can offer a wonderful trip. You might want to consider budgeting heavy for costly excursions, you get half a trip without them in my opinion.

 

For any cruise look at several factors- routing, glacier, ports, time in ports, ship naturalist, price. Then see what fits in for your priorities.

[Rafaella]

Alaska will offer you something- ANY time you go. :) First thing is probably to determine how much time you want to go for. A one way cruise with another week for interior land touring is just ideal and offers plenty packed into that time. A round trip Vancouver sailing is also excellent, again 7 days of nonstop scenery and wonderful varied ports.

 

I give an edge to HAL for their round trip Vancouver sailings and the one ways with Seward. Princess one ways and Carnival also can offer a wonderful trip. You might want to consider budgeting heavy for costly excursions, you get half a trip without them in my opinion.

 

For any cruise look at several factors- routing, glacier, ports, time in ports, ship naturalist, price. Then see what fits in for your priorities.

Thanks,

I was "thinking" HAL too.

I JUST imagine how great that would be with HAL. Also, I want to check on Celebrity line for Alaska.

[dustyroad]

my first cruise was too alaska. wow, what a fantastic trip.

i picked the carnival spirit because my ta got me a terrific price ( alot cheaper than the other cruise lines ) and it was roundtrip from vancouver to glacier bay with stops in ketchikan, juneau and skagway. i had an iside cabin and it was great for me. but a balcony is also wonderful to have. it depends on how much you think you will be in the cabin and what your budget is for a cabin. i had always wanted to see vancouver, so leaving from there was a bonus for me also. no matter what ship you choose, you are going to have a wonderful time.

 

as far as the best month to go----may and sept are cheaper because they are what they call the '' shoulder months'' ( the start and end of the alsaka cruises ) , the kids are still in school if that is an issue for you, and it is more quiet on the ship. in may the snow is melting on top of the mts so the waterfalls are beautiful. the wildlife is coming to life and it is possible to see many animals on the land as well as in the water. in sept the salmon are on the run and the whales are everywhere and the eagles are seen flying all over the place. whenever you go you are going to have a wonderful time. pick a time to fits your schedule, your budget and what port you want to leave from. ''the ports you stop at and how long you are there'' are also an important factor in choosing a ship and itiniery. i also like to be in the ports when there are not going to alot of other ships there at the same time. it can get very busy and crowded with thousands of other passengers trying to shop and go on tours at the same time as you.

 

i hope this has helped you. have a great time. :)

[cruisergrandma]

I have been roundtrip from Vancouver on the Carnival Spirit in May. I have been roundtrip from Seattle on the Holland America Oosterdam. in September.

I MUCH preferred both the itinerary from Vancouver and the Carnival Spirit. The Canival Spirit was a larger ship with larger rooms (both cabins and public space), many more activities, better food, etc. It is a much livlier ship. We are mid-50s and found HAL boring.

 

I liked sailing in May better than September but, both were great. Weather was about the same for both. There are more snow-capped mountains in May so, the scenery was a bit better. We did not see fall leaf change in September.

 

You will love Alaska no matter which cruise line or what time of year you go. There are just not words to explain how incredible the scenery is.

[Chat Noir]

We've only sailed Carnival Spirit SB and Princess Sapphire NB. Princess was our favorite of the two. We enjoyed the ship and the itinerary. Personal opinion... if Alaskan glaciers are a highlight for you (they are for us), plan an itinerary with 2 glacier sailing days or book at least one glacier excursion off ship.

[Coral]

I have cruised Alaska 6x. 5x with Princess and 1x with RCCL.

 

I love the Princess routes with 2 glaciers.

[Rafaella]

Sounds terrific.

I have never thought that Alaska would be one of my choices... Why?

Not sure, I guess, cold weather and just a "general" preception of wilderness only... Yet, after talking to quiet a few cruisers, I was surprized and started to get interested in Alaska's cruise. One on my closest family friends family from Alaska , and they love it there.. No questions, it is one of the places to see on my "list."

[dustyroad]

you cannot imagine how truley beautiful it is untill you go there. check out this web site to get a better idea of what you might want to do or what route to take www.alaska.org . also the ports have their own web sites also that are very helpful in picking out tours and things to do. i know you are going to have a great time. i cant wait to go for the 3rd time next year.

[Sea and Me]

We chose Princess (Dawn) because we got a great price (group price) and it is a 10 day out of San Francisco. Friends we are going with have been there before and suggested we do this together. I've heard so many wonderful comments on this board that I'm getting excited planning the tours etc. I know it is a not until May but time goes fast when your having fun doesn't it???

[OnTheJourney]

Hi:

As I indicated in another thread similar to this, I had a great experience with HAL on our recent Alaska cruisetour. It was an awesome trip from the cruise all the way through the landtour. I've heard it said that the alaska cruise experience is certainly among the best cruises to be found anywhere. The scenery going north out of Vancouver just gets better and better as you go. I felt like I was living in a postcard the entire time we were there.

One poster mentioned something about Carnival being a bit 'livelier'. I suspect there is some truth to this...as I've heard it said more than once that Carnival is somewhat more of a party atmosphere. However, the HAL Veendam certainly presented many optional and varied activities. I went on the Alaska cruise to see Alaska and had little interest in filling my time with onboard entertainment, but that's just me. Others who are truly seeking a very active onboard experience may do well to carefully review the activities offered by the various cruiselines. No matter who you sail with, you'll undoubtedly find the ubiquitous bingo games, movies, and casino offers. I can pass on the wet t-shirt type of activities. Then again, had the Veendam offered a rock wall, I may have had a hard time getting my daughter on deck to see College Fjord...

 

Best,

three4rd

[LeftcoastBC]

Have cruised HAL and Celebrity to Alsaka both Vancouvr returns. Both great let the Itinerary you want to the talking. Having been around the north the snow and stuff is pretty and all that but.....you get my drift?:) I'd put Skagway at the top of my choices for the RR.

[creddick]

Royal Caribbean was fabulous. We went on Serenade of the Seas round trip from Vancouver. We were there is September and the weather was unbelievable. In Juneau and Ketchikan it was near 70 and not a cloud in the sky. Lots of peolpe in the pool that day. Have a wonderful time whenever you go.

[Thoth]

Thinking of going to Alaska in near future. Never thought that I would like to go to Alaska until someone had told me how great their cruise was... Just wondering if you can share your Alaska high-lights in relation to the cruise line you have travelled with... Also, what is the BEST month to go to Alaska? ( I assume , it would be around summer, LOL)

HAL both times in my case, but I feel that others would do it as well. Alaska seems to be more about the ports than ships. Itinerary is very important, all seem to have their merits. What do you wish to see?

In my case, I cruised in July and September. September was a better bargain in my case, but weather is a factor.

[TomMMD]

Our trip on the Carnival Jubilee was our first ever cruise. We chose them for two reasons

 

1. We used Marriott Reward Points for the cruise

 

2. It was a one way trip from Vancouver to Seward which I think is much preferable to a round trip Vancouver to Vancouver or Seattle to Seattle.

 

We like Celebrity more now but I still think Celebrity has one of the best iteneraries for this trip.

 

(Our second week was an RV up through Denalt to Fairbanks and then back south along the Aleyeska Pipeline.) I talk about this trip as going from the submlime (waiters, fine meals, smooth pace) to the ridiculous (finding places to stop along the road, finding restaurants that were open) All in all the perfect way to see Alaska!!

 

:)

[H2O babe]

We did a southbound sailing on the Island Princess. Would sail that itinerary and ship again with no hesitation. Glacier Bay was a must for us and we were not disappointed.