Alaska, northbound or southbound?

[Bufferdoo]

We are exploring an Alaskan cruise for 2008. Is it "best" to go northbound or southbound or does it matter?

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have done it both ways. The one year when we did not do back-to-back cruises, we chose to go southbound. That way we had the longest flights over with.

[jhannah]

But with a northbound, your scenery just keeps getting better and better. It really doesn't matter that much, though. It's all beautiful. So go with which flights are less expensive and easier on you. Good luck!

[jtl513]

If you go northbound you'll go through most of the Inside Passage east of Vancouver Island in the dark. :(

[aliaschief]

We did the northbound this summer on the Volendam. We had wanted the south bound but they were filled. The philosophy of some is that by going southbound it is more relaxing as you have all the Denali, train rides out of the way. IMO with all the excursions Alaska offers the whole cruise either way is not as relaxing because you are taking excursions every day.

 

We went in early June and were glad we did because the snow covered mountains and the waterfalls from the melt add so much to the beauty of Alaska. Either way have a great cruise.

[BigBearLady]

When my husband and I took the Veendam to Alaska in 2001, he spoke often to one of the assistant chefs. The chef said our Northbound cruise was a good choice because the Southbound often has rougher seas.

[lstrong]

We chose southbound so we could rent a car in Anchorage and tour on our own for 4 days pre-cruise, then relax on the cruise and watch the scenery. That was a fabulous cruise. But I think our inside passage roundtrip Vancouver had the best scenery and I do want to repeat that trip soon. Hoping my trip to Hawaii in 2008 comes close to Alaska.

[Stevesan]

We are exploring an Alaskan cruise for 2008. Is it "best" to go northbound or southbound or does it matter?

 

If the itineraries are identical, it makes no difference.

 

The perfect solution: book a B2B!!:D

 

If you plan any land touring, either guided or on your own, then do that first so you can recover on board the cruise ship.

[RuthC]

Are you changing time zones? If you're coming from the east it's easier to deal with time zone changes when you end in Vancouver. It's one loooong trip back to the east coast! Even Central Time Zone would be easier coming from Vancouver than Anchorage.

If you intend to do any land touring then definitely do that first, then relax on the cruise south.

[Joanandjoe]

Our first Alaska cruise in 1998 was northbound, and we hope to try southbound for our next cruise, maybe next year. The best argument for north bound is that it's significantly cheaper than south bound. For reasons shown on this thread, more people want south bound than north bound.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Are you changing time zones? If you're coming from the east it's easier to deal with time zone changes when you end in Vancouver. It's one loooong trip back to the east coast! Even Central Time Zone would be easier coming from Vancouver than Anchorage.

If you intend to do any land touring then definitely do that first, then relax on the cruise south.

 

You got that right!!

[Krazy Kruizers]

If the itineraries are identical, it makes no difference.

 

The perfect solution: book a B2B!!:D

 

If you plan any land touring, either guided or on your own, then do that first so you can recover on board the cruise ship.

 

Have done several back-to-back Alaskan cruises and there was always at least one port that was different.

Love that!!