Alaskan Cruise Tours - Hal Or Princess?

[Aussie Gal]

Alaska is one area we have never been and do not have a lot of knowledge about. We are planning a cruisetour for next year and am looking at both HAL and Princess.

 

Being a loyal HAL cruiser and having also cruised a number of times on Princess, I am at a loss to know which line has the best Tours of Alaska in both content and accommodation.

 

Has anyone done both and if so, could you give me the reasons why one is better than the other or are they both good in their own ways.

 

I did post this on the HAL Board but only received a couple of replies.

 

Thanks.

 

Jennie

__________________

[Budget Queen]

I do give an edge to HAL for their Seward port. But most cruisetours don't have any time here so then it really doesn't matter - Princess or HAL, both do an excellent job with their ship itineraries.

 

If you have been reading this board, hopefully you already know- BE VERY careful and do your homework with the cruisetour selection. Understand EVERYTHING fully and be certain it is what you think it is and best for your touring priorities. There is a lot that isn't disclosed and purchasers have no clue about that can greatly impact on the tour.

 

Key points to consider- Denali Park- learn everything and make the choice you want. Distances, factor it ALL out and be aware of activities of interest you want to include- be certain there is time for it. This usually is the most costly way to travel interior Alaska, so make the right choices. Budget 50% more than you would at home for meals, not included unless specified.

 

Lastly- if of interest- independent travel is easy and can add freedom for other touring priorities.

[Emeraldtx]

Lastly- if of interest- independent travel is easy and can add freedom for other touring priorities.

 

I agree wholeheartedly. We were originally interested in a cruisetour, but after reading and researching (mostly here!), we switched to independent. Staying longer and doing more... and about half the cost.

[qiangf2]

I like do independent tour too. It gave me more freedom to choose and combine different options. I figure it gives back more to local community too, instead having big cruiseline to take a big chunk of my money away from local vendors. :)

[Aussie Gal]

Budget Queen, Emeraldtx and giangf2,

 

I appreciate what you are saying about Independent travel, we always travel independently in Europe, but as we are coming many miles we want to see as much as we can in the short time we have up in that part of the world. We also want to see some of Canada, so we really can only spare at the most 8 days, though even less would be better, for the land portion of the tour.

 

We would prefer a tour that had a Tour director or someone to co-ordinate the entire trip. We also do not drive on the right hand side so hiring a car is really out of the question as it would take the fun out of the whole trip.

 

I would appreciate anything at all that you can tell me about Denali or any other place that you think we should visit. Alaska is about as far away from here as you can go and we do not have much information either in newspapers, books etc. on that part of the world.

 

Jennie

[Budget Queen]

Budget Queen, Emeraldtx and giangf2,

 

I appreciate what you are saying about Independent travel, we always travel independently in Europe, but as we are coming many miles we want to see as much as we can in the short time we have up in that part of the world. We also want to see some of Canada, so we really can only spare at the most 8 days, though even less would be better, for the land portion of the tour.

 

We would prefer a tour that had a Tour director or someone to co-ordinate the entire trip. We also do not drive on the right hand side so hiring a car is really out of the question as it would take the fun out of the whole trip.

 

I would appreciate anything at all that you can tell me about Denali or any other place that you think we should visit. Alaska is about as far away from here as you can go and we do not have much information either in newspapers, books etc. on that part of the world.

 

Jennie

 

"seeing as much as we can", isn't good with a cruisetour option. Comparing side by side, they see the least. You might want to look at and consider one of the many private tour operators to put a trip together for you?? Murray's site I believe has listings?? http://www.explorenorth.com

 

As for Denali Park- distance in is the key to more wildlife and scenery. The cruisetours- at the most go to mile 53 The Tundra Wilderness tour or only the worthless Natural History tour, mile 16. the Park Road is 90 miles, Shuttle buses run to Toklat mile 53, Fish Creek mile 63 (my min. in for me) and Wonder Lake mile 85 all via shuttle bus. Significantly cheaper than the tour buses. You do have to bring in all your own food and drink.

 

The other area that is always a stop on my trips is Seward and Kenai fjords, this is a fantastic area for varied wildlife and close up glacier viewing. Few cruisetours offer these locations with any time.

 

Here is a photo sample with Denali Park and Kenai Fjords wildlife from a single trip. http://community.webshots.com/user/budgetqueen

[agabbymama]

Aussie Gal,

I started looking at independent travel and switched to the cruisetour for pretty much the same reason that you did. I have limited vacation days, and I wanted to see some of the Yukon as well as Interior Alaska. I chose HAL Yukon Wilderness Tour #1. It's only 3 days on the ship with 8 days on land. They have a number of different tours. I looked at Princess, but the only one they had that went to the Yukon was 16 days (I think) with only 1 night in Dawson City Yukon, and it was double the cost of the HAL tour I selected. I figure HAL or Princess have been guiding folks a lot longer than I have even thought of going there. They know what there is to see, how long it takes to get there, and if it's even possible to get there. I think even sitting on the coach watching the scenery go by will be much more enjoyable than driving it myself, trying to find the different places of interest. The only thing I would have done differently is to possibly plan to stay at Denali 2 days, but then again I'll leave the planning up to HAL. If they feel 1 1/2 days there is enough, I'll be happy with that too. Check out all the HAL tours, I'm sure you'll find one you like. I don't think you can go wrong with HAL. They quite an extensive infrastructure in Alaska!

[ShelbyAD]

Princess is a better way to go. They have been traveling to Alaska the longest and has access to areas that other cruise lines do not. Plus, Princess has first "dibs" birthing. They always dock and don't have to be tendered at any of the ports.

 

We went on the Coral Princess and it was a beautiful ship! The staff was great & friendly.

 

We recently took a cruise on the Crown - which is bigger - but loved the Coral better. It was prettier, the food was better, etc. The Island Princess is the sister ship to the Coral.

[Aussie Gal]

Budget Queen,

 

Thanks for all your information and giving the link to Explore North and to those wonderful photos of yours.

 

I have been going back through the postings and have taken your advice on board to read as much as I can.

 

agabbymamma,

 

I feel very much home with HAL and therefore am probably favouring their tours a little more than Princess. I would like to go as far north as possible and I do know that quite a few of HAL's tours provide this.

 

Shelby AD,

 

If we choose Princess it will be either on the Coral or Island Princess, I do not want to go on one of their mega ships. If we chose Princess we would have the added advantage of having a mini suite as against a normal verandah on HAL.

 

Besides my DH and myself, we will be going with another couple who have only cruised on Princess so that is the reason I am trying to find a good reason for one or the other. If it were up to just us, it would probably be HAL but I want to be fair and give them a choice of a couple of tours from each line.

 

In the short time I have started this research I have learnt that you need to spend as much time as you can in Denali as against going all the way to Mt. Kinley lodge, to do the Tundra Wilderness Tour and not the Natural History Tour and that all meals are extra and if time allows to go further north to either Kenai fjords or Copper River. Also it is cheaper to not have a tour director though I think most of HAL's tours do have one.

 

Thanks for all the valuable information and if there is anything else you can think of please pass it on.

 

Jennie

[ShelbyAD]

In the short time I have started this research I have learnt that you need to spend as much time as you can in Denali

That is so true!! Denali is breath taking.

 

The next time we go to AK, we are going to back to Denali and go to Copper River and Kenai River lodges.

 

Thanks for all the valuable information and if there is anything else you can think of please pass it on.

I did start a thread "Tips & Suggestions for ALL Alaska Travelers". Check it out if you have not already.

 

I remember my trip as if I just got yesterday and we went in 2003. It was our 5 yr anniversary.

 

Good choice with going on either the Coral or the Island. They are beautiful ships.

[mimitmt]

This will be our first cruise and first time to Alaska. The best advice we were given by our travel agent was to see which itenerary you liked the most and go with that. Service, excursions, etc. are all comparable. We also checked out Celebrity. Go with the itenerary and you can't go wrong. We're going on the Princess Diamond in July on a Cruisetour with another couple.

 

Enjoy! - We're really excited about our trip.

mimitmt

[Budget Queen]

This will be our first cruise and first time to Alaska. The best advice we were given by our travel agent was to see which itenerary you liked the most and go with that. Service, excursions, etc. are all comparable. We also checked out Celebrity. Go with the itenerary and you can't go wrong. We're going on the Princess Diamond in July on a Cruisetour with another couple.

 

Enjoy! - We're really excited about our trip.

mimitmt

 

The problem is some people don't know differences with itineraries. I am referring to land portions. I see many many mistakes that people just didn't realize, then when they find out, it usually is too late to fix. Traveling Alaska is costly, do your homework and decide what is right for your touring preferences.

[Wilcoam]

In the same decision-making predictiment. Have sailed both with HAL n Princess. Being 'younger', my wife I prefer Princess, however as this is a 'mom's trip', (they have sailed X n princess), HAL seems just as good a choice. Do not want independant tour.

 

Usually get big suite, next to 2 balc cabis, hang6-8 of us on the balcony suite. In this sense Princess grand class PH mid-ship suites hold a slight advantage over HAL aft's similar suites. Though either/or are incredible.

 

I am worried the smaller Princess ships do not have such a large balc as

the grand class ships.

 

Looking at 7 day cruise, 2 days in Denali, 1 Mt Mckinnley.

 

So far, the only difference I can see, giving Princess the edge, is that they claim to be able to board you on a train right at the Dock in Whittier

and transport you directly to Denali, thus giving you 1/2 extra there, whereas HAL buses you into Anchorage, to pick up a train, so forth.

 

Perhaps people will confirm this 'advantage' or de-bunk it (lol)

 

Thx

jc

Canada

Princess Star Feb 2007

X Xpedition Sept 2007

[Budget Queen]

Looking at 7 day cruise, 2 days in Denali, 1 Mt Mckinnley.

 

So far, the only difference I can see, giving Princess the edge, is that they claim to be able to board you on a train right at the Dock in Whittier

and transport you directly to Denali, thus giving you 1/2 extra there, whereas HAL buses you into Anchorage, to pick up a train, so forth.

 

Perhaps people will confirm this 'advantage' or de-bunk it (lol)

 

Thx

jc

Canada

Princess Star Feb 2007

X Xpedition Sept 2007

 

I don't know if it is an advantage to be 10 hours on a train. This is the timeframe of Whittier/Denali park. By far the superior scenery is the first 2 hours leaving Whittier- last 2 arriving. Anchorage has plenty to offer if of interest and a great city to see. Look over a visitor guide and determine if this is a place you want to skip? http://www.anchorage.net.

 

 

Not sure of your (1/2 extra) ??? Still arrives in the evening, and people usually aren't too anxious to jump into tours, not a lot of offerings either.