whittier vs seward

[xbaci]

help, unfortuantely cant get a cruise on our vacation date and rcl,which is our preference due to kids activities. we really want to take my parents as a gift, and include kenai fjords national park. i see that seward is the port with excursions there. anyone know if we could do that park out of whittier? also how are kids activities on say carnival and holland?

thx

[Host Kat]

Howdy xbaci!

 

Welcome to Cruise Critic and the Need Help Using The Boards? Ask Here! Forum!

 

Thank you for your inquiry regarding Alaska. However, you have posted on the forum where members find the "How to ..." type of information for using Cruise Critic's software such as avatars, signatures, countdown clocks or tickers, attaching pictures, etc. It is not the place for your type of post and the information you seek is off topic here.

 

Per the Community Guidelines and to help you out, I am moving your thread to the Ports of Call - Alaska Forum where it will be on topic. The new location for your thread is the best location for more of your fellow Cruise Critic members to see it and to be able to help you with the information you seek. And since you mention activities for kids on Carnival and HAL as another topic, you might want to research the Carnival and HAL forums.

 

I hope you don't mind another friendly suggestion, but you need to read the Community Guidelines and FAQ. Especially the "Getting Started" section in FAQ. You will see how a new topic should be consistent with the specific forum you choose. It also gives a brief summary of the topics covered in some of the forum sections. Click here http://boards.cruisecritic.com/index.php for the list of all the Cruise Critic forums and be sure to read all Announcement and Sticky threads at the top of the various forums for additional information too.

 

I sincerely hope this will be satisfactory, and glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic!

Kat

[Budget Queen]

Yes you can get between Whittier and Seward. About a 2 hour drive, which is my recommendation if short on time. Only rental is Avis- be prepared for top dollar. You also have to deal with the tunnel with limited openings. With an effort you can be on your way and though the 9am tunnel and in Seward by noon. I suggest an overnight.

 

IF You have several days, you can transfer to Anchorage, then take the train to Seward- another day. Determine- What you want to do and how much time you have.

[allentownahoy]

There are also several companies that will drivee you from one place to the other for 200-225 per van. We are arriving on the Volendam in Seward on a Friday AM, will spend the day and overnight in Seward,then getting the van ride with several scenic tour stops on the way to Whittier before boardin the Diamond Princess for a Sat.night sail. This works best for us since we are going only 1 way, but if you plan to go roundtrip a car rental is probably better/cheaper. Rail for 4 is probably the most expensive as you need to go up to Anchorage and then down to Seard ad possiblyup to Anchorage again if you are fling from there.

Ruth

[sea_u_onboard]

..i see that seward is the port with excursions there. anyone know if we could do that park out of whittier? also how are kids activities on say carnival and holland?

You don't say if you are looking at pre-cruise - leaving out of Whittier OR post-cruise - coming into Whittier. I haven't cruised Alaska YET but have done a lot of research. We are on the Spirit on July 4th.

 

PRE-CRUISE: You would fly into Anchorage. If you want to do Seward then rent a car - as previously stated AVIS is the only game in town. If spending the night I suggest you pick up car downtown if possible (taking a shuttle from the airport to the hotel). This way you will avoid the extra fees associated with the airport. You will still have the drop off fee in Whittier. If you don't plan to stay in Anchorage then pick up the car at the airport.

 

If you are not on limited time there is plenty to do in the Anchorage area - if you are limited then head for Seward. There are things to do along the way and plenty to do when you get there. You will have to deal with the tunnel into Whittier but I know Carnival doesn't leave until late in the evening. Not sure about Holland. AVIS has an office in Whittier to drop off the car. There are some boat tours out of Whittier but not much more.

 

POST CRUISE: Get off the ship. You can do a boat tour and then pick up the car from AVIS. Drive to Seward and spend your time there - then off to Anchorage.

 

I haven't done Holland so I can't give you any insight on what they have. But I can tell you what Carnival offers. Carnival has a naturialist onboard the ENTIRE cruise. Most (from what I have read) only have a naturalist on at given points - like Glacier Bay. This to me is a BIG plus. Carnival has a very good kids program. You didn't say the ages of the kids so I can't give you much more than that. I also haven't been on the Spirit but in looking over the plans it is a very nicely layed out ship. Canrival offers lots in the way of food and if your kids like pizza they will love Carnival's.

 

If you are military / former military Carnival offers military rates on a select number of cruises and cabins. If you plan to go in 2007 then you may be out of luck for the military discount.

 

Hope this helps a little.

[Budget Queen]

I haven't done Holland so I can't give you any insight on what they have. But I can tell you what Carnival offers. Carnival has a naturialist onboard the ENTIRE cruise. Most (from what I have read) only have a naturalist on at given points - like Glacier Bay. This to me is a BIG plus. .

 

 

This is not correct. Lines that have naturalists DO have them for the entire week. This includes ALL Princess and HAL ships.

 

For clairfication- it isn't "naturalists" that come on every boat in Glacier Bay, it's Park Rangers. These are in addition to any ship naturalist. All ships entering have to be escorted in

[xcomet]

Thanks so much for the info and great ideas. We have sailed on rcl to alaska before and were planning to stick with rcl. unfortunately we didnt plan far enough in advance. Funny you should say the spirit that is what i was looking into for july 4th. my kids are 15,13 and 10. We have ONLY cruised RCL with them, because of their unbelievable kids programs,both fun and educational and extremely well supervised. It has been many single years ago since we have cruised any other line. I also have my elderly parents to consider. We are taking them as a gift. The van sounds like a great idea with them. We only plan to go one way,but may need the car. My parents my son and myself , really want to do the exit glacier, or as much of it as possible. Pre or Post doesnt really matter ,although having been a flight attendant I know traveling on July 4th is very likely to have flight schedule changes at the last minute. Dont want to miss the ship!

While I know we will always try to go back, I want to try to make this a special trip for my parents ,because you just never know.

[sea_u_onboard]

This is not correct. Lines that have naturalists DO have them for the entire week. This includes ALL Princess and HAL ships.

 

For clairfication- it isn't "naturalists" that come on every boat in Glacier Bay, it's Park Rangers. These are in addition to any ship naturalist. All ships entering have to be escorted in

Thank you for the clarification. I guess somewhere along the way I was lead astay.

[Budget Queen]

Thanks so much for the info and great ideas. We have sailed on rcl to alaska before and were planning to stick with rcl. unfortunately we didnt plan far enough in advance. Funny you should say the spirit that is what i was looking into for july 4th. my kids are 15,13 and 10. We have ONLY cruised RCL with them, because of their unbelievable kids programs,both fun and educational and extremely well supervised. It has been many single years ago since we have cruised any other line. I also have my elderly parents to consider. We are taking them as a gift. The van sounds like a great idea with them. We only plan to go one way,but may need the car. My parents my son and myself , really want to do the exit glacier, or as much of it as possible. Pre or Post doesnt really matter ,although having been a flight attendant I know traveling on July 4th is very likely to have flight schedule changes at the last minute. Dont want to miss the ship!

While I know we will always try to go back, I want to try to make this a special trip for my parents ,because you just never know.

 

 

I may be making assumptions??? But it sounds like you are looking for a great Alaska cruise for your parents and am worried about Carnival??? Perhaps thinking- it's like the Caribbean party ships??? Absolutely NOT in Alaska, passsengers of all ages sail Carnival with probably the bulk being middle aged and above - LIKE all lines sailing there. Carnival does an excellent job. If you want to hike the Harding Ice Field- your Exit Glacier reference??? Be well prepared and allow enough time.

[sea_u_onboard]

Excellent point BQ and I should have mentioned it myself.

 

This "virtual cruise" http://www.cruisecritic.com/virtual/virtual.cfm?ID=14 will give you an idea of how an Alaskan cruise is on Carnival. Be sure to click through all the links - included the related link "Carnival Spirit Ship Review".