2005 alaska questions...

[cruisehokie]

2 Very broad questions..When is best time (how far out) to purchase a 2005 alaska cruise- price etc/ what about airfare to alaska- when is good to buy?? Assuming june-aug travel dates

[mii]

I do not know what cruise line you are using but as for Princess (which I use) the prices just came out and they are very expensive for both 7 and 10 day. We plan to go next year again for a back to back and I am going to wait awhile. I am seriously going to start looking at the end of this summer. As for airlines, now that is a trapshoot due to gas prices. Can't help you there. Hope this helps.

 

 

Marilyn

[Budget Queen]

If you aren't flexable with the ship/dates or cabin. Book early and Keep TRACK of pricing trends yourself. Immediately contact your booking agent if you see a price reduction. I alway late book- generally 60-90 days before sailing. Going for rock bottom is my priority.

[holton]

We've already booked with Princess both up and back...got the cabins we wanted...and will watch the pricing to get reductions as they come out. As we are going on the first cruises in May we know there will be reductions. But, you must be proactive with Princess...call in regularly to check on pricing for the catagory you purchased. Our cruise this year is in mid-July...2 of the cabins we booked (for our grown kids and families) reduced...our did not. The ship is now waitlisted...so, we don't expect any further reductions (in fact our kids' cabins went up after we bought them last year...then, dropped below our price...and finished above.)

I think it pays to buy early...IF you are willing to call in every few weeks to check.

[cruisehokie]

thanks for the advice- i have some flexibility w/ dates- but i have seen airfare this (04)summer upwards of $1000 rt from wash dc - so it seems if you wait and get low cruise fares- the catch 22 might be very steep airfare out of fairbanks. It does seem as though booking early and checking may be best option.

[Host Caroline]

It sounds like you are doing a cruise tour but if you are interested in a roundtrip sailing from Seattle check back here on the boards for information on our Cruise Critic Group to Alaska in late June. We generally get very good pricing. Would love for you to join us

 

Host Caroline

<font SIZE="1">Join me on the beautiful Diamond Princess in July 2005 for Cruise Critic's Awesome Alaskan Adventure --You'll have a whale of a good time!

 

Sept 04-Royal Hounds Mariner of the Seas

Feb 05-Partae Pirates Carnival Miracle

One can never have too many days at sea..</font>

[bandg]

where did you find prices for 2005?

 

thanks a lot

dave and gerry

[Lynda90]

I would also like to know where to find the 2005 prices for 7 day alaska cruise for 2005. I called princess today and was told that information (inside passage) would not be available until July.

 

Thanks,

Lynda

[Jett456]

From what I can tell, Carnival, RC and Crystal has prices out. I checked on Yahoo Travel

[Lynda90]

Alaska prices for inside passage on Princess do not seem to be posted that I could tell. All other lines seem to have that information available.

[LEtue]

I picked this up from another cruise message board...

 

5/24/2004

 

PRINCESS' 2005 INSIDE PASSAGE PROGRAM FEATURES MORE SAILINGS ON WEST

COAST'S LARGEST AND MOST AMENITY-FILLED VESSELS

Convenient Roundtrip Voyages Offered from Seattle and San Francisco

 

Princess will offer additional Alaska Inside Passage cruising in 2005,

with more sailings on its convenient roundtrip itinerary from Seattle

on the new Sapphire Princess and sister ship Diamond Princess -- the

largest and most amenity-filled vessels to sail on the West Coast.

They are joined once again by Regal Princess' popular sailings from

San Francisco.

In total the line will offer 53 departures on three itineraries, all

featuring the convenience of easily accessible home ports. These

roundtrip cruises complement Princess' other 2005 Alaska option, the

"Voyage of the Glaciers" Gulf of Alaska itinerary, available on four

ships. With the Inside Passage program, passengers enjoy an easily

accessible U.S.-based discovery adventure that also offers the

opportunity to add a land tour to the Canadian Rockies or take

advantage of the many attractions in the ships' home ports with pre-

or post-cruise stays in Seattle or San Francisco.

 

"The debut of Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess last year really

made our Inside Passage cruises a phenomenal addition to our Alaska

program," said Alan Buckelew, president of Princess Cruises. "This

year we've added even more sailings to make these cruises available

for additional passengers who want an easy and carefree way to enjoy

the best of the Inside Passage."

 

Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess Sail From Seattle

 

Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess return to Seattle to offer a

seven-day roundtrip voyages calling at Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and

Victoria, plus cruise through the dramatic glaciers, rock walls and

waterfalls of Tracy Arm and the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Diamond Princess

will offer 20 voyages on this itinerary departing on Saturdays between

May 7 and September 17, 2005, while Sapphire Princess will offer 19

voyages departing on Sundays, beginning May 15 and continuing through

September 18.

 

Regal Princess from San Francisco

 

Regal Princess will offer 14 departures between May 8 and September 15

on a 10-day Inside Passage itinerary roundtrip from "The City by the

Bay," San Francisco. Passengers have a choice of itineraries that

feature calls at Victoria, Juneau and two other scenic Alaska ports

that rotate between Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway or Haines. All voyages

also offer premiere glacier viewing in Tracy Arm.

 

Canadian Rockies Cruisetours

 

Passengers who would like to add to their vacation have three Canadian

Rockies tour options designed to coordinate with Inside Passage

cruises from Seattle. Princess' escorted itineraries take guests to

the heart of these spectacular mountains with visits to Banff, Jasper,

Calgary and Kamloops, along with other local highlights. The 12- and

13-night packages feature stays at the area's premiere Fairmont resort

properties such as the Chateau Lake Louise, Banff Springs Hotel and

Jasper Park Lodge.

 

The Seattle-based Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess offer Inside

Passage passengers the opportunity to enjoy the Alaskan scenery from

the comfort of the West Coast's largest and most amenity-filled

vessels. These "gems" of the Princess fleet feature such innovations

at themed main dining rooms -- Italian, Asian, Southwestern and

steakhouse. Other popular features include the largest Internet Café

at sea, multiple show lounges, a wedding chapel, Lotus Spa, a

multi-room youth center, and Princess' trademark balcony staterooms,

perfect for enjoying the dramatic glacier views.

 

Early booking fares for Inside Passage voyages start at $899 for

cruises and $2,599 for Canadian Rockies cruisetours.

 

One of the best-known names in North American cruising, Princess

Cruises is a global cruise and tour company. Part of Carnival

Corporation (NYSE: CCL), its current fleet of 14 ships sail on

approximately 150 different itineraries around the globe, calling at

more than 260 ports on all seven continents. Additional information is

available through a professional travel agent.

 

Carnival Miracle 11/07/04

 

Jewel of the Seas 11/20/04 - Thanksgiving Journey on the Jewel

http://www.cruisecritic.com/interests/groups.cfm?ID=47

 

Brilliance of the Seas 6/5/05 - Mediterranean

http://www.cruisecritic.com/interests/groups.cfm?ID=51

 

[Lynda90]

Thank you so much for that post. That's the most information I have seen as yet. Now if Princess would only get the information out to the TA's.

 

Lynda

[LEtue]

Lynda,

 

I agree! There seems to be a lot of different stories out there and yet this announcement from Princess seems to imply that you can book now!

 

A pre-cruise to the Canadian Rockies sounds wonderful

 

Linda

 

Carnival Miracle 11/07/04

 

Jewel of the Seas 11/20/04 - Thanksgiving Journey on the Jewel

http://www.cruisecritic.com/interests/groups.cfm?ID=47

 

Brilliance of the Seas 6/5/05 - Mediterranean

http://www.cruisecritic.com/interests/groups.cfm?ID=51

 

[Host Caroline]

I talked to a TA today and individual bookings are open but not groups. As soon as group bookings are open we will be posting rates about the Cruise Critic Group Cruise to Alaska for 2005.

The Canadian Rockies precruise tour is wonderful but unfortunately doesn't spend enough time in Banff and Jasper and Lake Louise. One could spend at least a week between the three. The Rocky Mountaineer to Vancouver is one of the best and most scenic train routes in North America.. that alone is worth the tour.

 

Host Caroline

<font SIZE="1">Join me on the beautiful Diamond Princess in July 2005 for Cruise Critic's Awesome Alaskan Adventure --You'll have a whale of a good time!

 

Sept 04-Royal Hounds Mariner of the Seas

Feb 05-Partae Pirates Carnival Miracle

One can never have too many days at sea..</font>

[cruisehokie]

Princess, carnival, Celeb and RCI are up for '05- In fact i have priced N bound in june- july on all 4 at Costco travel and travelocity. We intend to rent a car in Seward/ Whittier and meander towards Fairbanks- thanks for the thought...

[Lynda90]

I have searched all over the internet and cannot find inside passage on princess from Seattle for 2005. Where, specifically, are these prices being posted?

 

Thanks,

Lynda