OT - Alaska Cruise Advice

[flavorguy]

My wife's family is looking at the idea of an Alaska Cruise. 18 people total - ages 18-81! Due to the age difference, we would probably be held more to the coast (although the land excursions to Denali and what not look amazing)..

Any posters here have any experience with recommended cruise lines and itineraries?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Wandering Spectator]

Can’t speak for all areas, but we did the inner passage route or what I call Western Canada. Seattle, Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau and Victoria. Simply awesome!

We had our teen girls and my mother-in-law. We were worried that the girls wouldn’t enjoy it because they’re used to carribean cruises, but they loved it.

We visited Mendenhall Galcier in Juneau, the train in Skagway and a hokey but fun lumberjack show in Ketchikan.

Overall, one of the most memorable cruises we’ve done.

Enjoy!

 

[YogiMan71]

We did a cruise on Princess line up there and it was incredible. At the time they left out of Vancouver vs Victoria now and did the inland passageway up to Glacier Bay and College Fjord. We landed in Seward at end of cruise and bussed up to Anchorage where we had an RV rented and drove to Glennallen, Valdez, Fairbanks, Denali, and back to Anchorage. The Ruby Princess is highly rated. We did the ports below except Victoria, and they also had a required stop at Haines. We did the Mendenhall Glacier River raft float in Juneau. We never saw so many bald eagles as coming into Juneau.They also took us up to US/Canadian border on a train ride up past Bridal Veil Falls. Haines has an amazing Bald Eagle Conservancy Center. At Glacier Bay you could watch glaciers calving. Plenty to see and do or shop at the ports if shying away from excursions.

• Homeports: Seattle and Los Angeles
• Ports: Juneau; Ketchikan; Skagway; Victoria, BC; and Glacier Bay National Park (scenic cruising)

 

[wex18]

If your cruise ends in Anchorage, try to extend the trip and take the Alaska Railroad to Denali and stay a night or two. Then head on up to Fairbanks for at least one night.

I went in the mid 1980s and was one of the few passengers under 50 at the time. Most of us 30-somethings at the time couldn't afford the Alaska cruises, which were among the most expensive. But my parents owed me a trip of my choice, since I turned down a family trip to Europe the previous year because it was during PSU football season, and I wasn't about to miss up to three football games for some lousy European vacation. It turns out I also would have completely missed the last time my Orioles won the World Series.

I got off at Skagway, took a bus to Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory and flew to Fairbanks (some people went from Whitehorse to Dawson). Even though the cruise was in the summer, the pool on the ship was empty, because it was too cold to swim (I suppose some Alaska cruise ships might have indoor pools these days.)

 

[LK64]

I would look at the inner passage. I did the same as the wandering spectator and it was great. The group of 18 - 80 all would enjoy it. I happened to catch the Diamond Princess being new at 4 months but Princes would be my choice the use. Have fun!

 

[PSU1282]

Be sure to take the train in Skagway. White Pass Railroad. Number one attraction in Alaska, Do not book with the cruise line! If you book directly thru the train people they put you in a separate car with fewer people and it's cheaper. The people from the cruise will be in the cattle cars ahead of you

 

[We Are . . .]

We went with Princess 10 years ago. Went the Inside Passage from Vancouver to Whittier and extended to a second week with a Copper River/Denali/Fairbanks land tour. Princess has a number of lodges in Alaska that give them an edge on the land tour side. It was a great trip but... expect rain, especially in Ketchikan.

 

[bwifan]

My wife's family is looking at the idea of an Alaska Cruise. 18 people total - ages 18-81! Due to the age difference, we would probably be held more to the coast (although the land excursions to Denali and what not look amazing)..

Any posters here have any experience with recommended cruise lines and itineraries?

Thanks in advance...

Norwegians new ship the Bliss just commissioned last month is doing Alaska cruises. Incredible ship and many friends are just back and loved it. Even has a go kart track on top. Also plan on doing side excursions. So much to see and do up there and factor in the new ship and everything it has to offer and it will be a great time.

 

[not so fast my friend]

So a few years ago we did the inner passage cruise without going on train to Denali. It was nice including helicopter to glacier, jeep tour (green jeep tour booked by ourselves), etc.

But this summer, combined with a work trip, I flew my wife and son up after his graduation to Anchorage. Then we took the train up to Denali staying at the Princess McKinley along the way and then two nights outside Denali. We also went to Kenai peninsula for fishing.
We were fortunate to have denali "out" for 24 hours as some go and never get to see it due to the clouds.

So I highly recommend adding the train to Denali. Saw grizzlies, caribou, moose, Dal Sheep and really enjoyed it. It adds expense, but well worth it in my opinion.

 

[Frabjous]

My wife & kids took the Alaska ferry (Alaska Marine Highway System) and had a wonderful time, with good accommodations. And less expensive than the cruise lines.

https://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/

 

[Ralphie_]

We've done 2 Alaska cruises. They have been our favorites. Both times did the inside passage from Vancouver to Seward. One time took the train back to Anchorage for our flight, the next time rented a car and just stopped where we wanted on the way to Anchorage. Usually ship gets in early in the morning and flights out late in the day, early evening. We book most of our shore trips through shoretrips.com. Similar in price but more personal. For instance, at Icy Strait Point our whale watching trip had 6 people vs. the 150-200 on the cruise ship excursion. We used Celebrity the last one and it was good. Most of the stops are good, Skagway, Ketchikan, etc. not one we didn't enjoy.

 

[Fayette_LION]

Be sure to take the train in Skagway. White Pass Railroad. Number one attraction in Alaska, Do not book with the cruise line! If you book directly thru the train people they put you in a separate car with fewer people and it's cheaper. The people from the cruise will be in the cattle cars ahead of you

If you can get in the last car. You are able to stand outside the last car on a small standing area and have an absolutely wonderful view all the way up the mountain. Best of the best!

 

[roswelllion]

Just did Alaska last summer including land excursion to Denali. Trip was great.
Couple observations
1.Denali, often too cloudy to see the top, apparently only 50% see the top. We saw it from 150 miles away on the bus ride from Fairbanks and that was it. Otherwise the land trip was great and the train ride from Denali to Anchorage was great.
2. Cruise Line/cruise - I think you will find almost all cruise lines stop[ in the same cities. The difference might be in the excursions and price each offer. Be sure to consider that in price comparison's.
3. One difference may be on whether or not the large ships can do the inner passage, which I would recommend.
4. regarding cruise lines. We chose Regent Seven Seas for a couple reasons. We have used them before and liked the experience. The ships are generally smaller [around 500] and it is all inclusive so you don't have to worry about drinks and tips. Our traveling friend's did a fair amount of research and Holland America also sounded good. Princess gets rated high for Alaska but that is a completely different cruising experience. [a couple thousand on the ship] that may work better for you with a large and diverse group.
5. Finally, don't try to save on the excursions. We found each city is fairly similar and the really cool part of the trips were the excursions in each port and they all offer lots of choices.
6. One other thing and I never checked to see if true but we were told after we got there that July is generally drier but the mosquitoes are terrible, and August is wetter with no mosquitoes.we went in August and it rained every day but it didn't slow us down although a couple seaplane excursions got cancelled.
Have fun, eat lot's of salmon and halibut.

 

[Bylion]

Be sure to take the train in Skagway. White Pass Railroad. Number one attraction in Alaska, Do not book with the cruise line! If you book directly thru the train people they put you in a separate car with fewer people and it's cheaper. The people from the cruise will be in the cattle cars ahead of you

My wife's family is looking at the idea of an Alaska Cruise. 18 people total - ages 18-81! Due to the age difference, we would probably be held more to the coast (although the land excursions to Denali and what not look amazing)..

Any posters here have any experience with recommended cruise lines and itineraries?

Thanks in advance...

went on a Princess cruise/trip. First week on land. Second on the ship. I have some walking problems, but it was no problem. Everything was handicapped accessible. Don’t miss the land part

 

[Nittany Ziggy]

You have a diverse crowd, age wise, and that demands compromise. If you are not interested in seeing Fairbanks, Anchorage or Denali; then you should depart from Vancouver (or Seattle) and do the inner passage and enjoy it. The smaller the ship, the better because large ships require more walking for the elders. Also, the smaller ships are more nimble and get closer to some cool spots up there.

If you plan on doing anything WHATSOEVER near the larger cities (or Denali), then do that portion FIRST in your trip. Fly to Alaska and get the more demanding portion of the trip behind you! You can then get on the cruise ship back in Anchorage and enjoy the sights and the ride all the way back to Vancouver.

Otherwise, you are subjecting yourself to two full days on the water at max speed going from Vancouver to the inner passage and back. If you are only doing the inner passage, this is fine. If you are going to the larger, "big city" attractions, you are subjecting yourself to misery.

 

[roswelllion]

Following up on Ziggy we flew into Fairbanks went to Denali, train to Anchorage, cruised Anchorage to Vancouver and flew home from there. Re side trips or excursions, strongly recommend you use the ships side trips. It might be a little more expensive but with a group your size the organization the ship offers will be worth it.

 

[RLCookie]

My wife and I cruises on Royal Carribean last summer. We cruised first and then took the train with the glass tops from anchorage to Fairbanks. As someone else said don’t skimp on the excursions, that’s what may a great trip an amazing trip. Also when you book your rooms on the ship get a balcony if you can afford it and pick a room “on the land side” depending on which way you are cruising. If cruising first and traveling north you want to be in the right side of the ship.

Also if you need someone to go along and serve as a guide for your group I will gladly serve in that capacity!