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We would like to take a cruise to Alaska, which cruise line should we take?
We would like to take a cruise to Alaska, which cruise line is best? We want something clean, fun and a great value. It will just be my husband and I. We have never cruised so we need lots of input.
This entry was posted by admin on May 27, 2010 at 2:17 pm, and is filed under Cruises. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0.You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.
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#2 written by palmyrafan 1 year ago
If you like to be able to eat when you want and not when you are told to, go Norwegian Cruise Lines. If you want to be with a more mature crowd and not worry about a younger rowdier crowd, sail NCL.
My husband and I always sail NCL and we sailed in May to Alaska.
Regardless of what line you sail, a trip to Alaska will be well worth it. Make sure you take plenty of memory cards and a cam corder too.
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#4 written by sally b 1 year ago
Because visiting Alaska is such an absorbing and amazing adventure, it would be hard to go wrong in picking any of the main ships that go there. Each has its own advantages. One of the things Princess does is have as an onboard guest, the first woman to win the iditorod. Very interesting. You should expect good food, service and entertainment from any of the lines. I would suggest that you add a land portion if at all possible. Princess has a train that will get you to Denali in a day while the others take their time and make more stops. May and September are the least expensive times to go, but they are also the months when it will be the coolest and you will see less wildlife. About 35% of all cruisers to Alaska are first time cruisers so you are bound to find others in the same situation. There are so many options, I really urge you to contact a cruise agent.
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#5 written by TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only 1 year ago
My recommendation is Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean or Holland America. Here’s why.
I have been to Alaska twice, once on with some weekend sightseeing on a small ship, and then on a Princess cruise-tour. In my opinion the best cruise for you would be a cruise-tour. The cruise tour allows you to see more of Alaska by land (bus and/or train) either before or after the cruise. They typically afford an opportunity to stay a night or two in/at Denali National Park, Anchorage, Talkeetna, or Fairbanks, Alaska. There are four cruise lines that use the train to transport you from/to the cruise point to/from the park and Fairbanks. The train ride is magnificent and when you do the cruise tour you will have the best opportunity to see wildlife like bears, caribou, moose, fox, wolf, and a few others. These cruise-tours can be from 12 to 15 days or more while normal cruises are 7 days.
There are several ways to have a cruise to Alaska. You can cruise north from San Francisco, Seattle, or Vancouver Canada or cruise south from Anchorage (Whittier or Seward). Cruises typically cruise the “inside passage” which is a waterway much like a river where you can in most places see land on both sides of the ship. It provides a very smooth ride on that part of the cruise. Cruises typically go to Juneau (the capitol), and Ketchikan, Skagway, and stop at one or more glaciers like Glacier Bay National Park and College Fjord. Some cruises do other port stops. So you need to pay attention to which itinerary (port stops) the cruises will have.
The 4 cruise lines which offer the cruise-tours and all would be good; Princess Cruise line, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Holland America.
All four of the cruise lines that I have mentioned use the train for the land tour. But Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Celebrity have special domed train cars that provide great visibility. Not all tour segments are the same so you really have to pay attention to how the land tour is organized and whether it uses the train or buses.
The best time to go on an Alaska cruise is when you can get the best price. The Alaska cruise season is from May to Sept. So right now you are near the end of the Alaska cruise season and thus your best option is to plan for next year, 2010. The best prices will be in May and Sept but you will see the same things as other times. The weather is generally warmer in June, July and Aug, but it can also be pleasant in May and Sept. When we went a few years ago in May it was shirt sleeve weather (70′s) in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
You will do well to book your cruise now for next year because all of the cruise lines give the best prices for very early bookings. Also look for specials on the cruise line web sites.
These are the cruise lines that most people go on:
HOLLAND AMERICA
http://www.hollandamerica.com/CELEBRITY:
http://www.celebritycruises.com/home .ROYAL CARIBBEAN:
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/gohome.d..…NORWEGIAN:
http://www.ncl.com/PRINCESS:
http://www.princess.com/index.htmlCARNIVAL:
http://www.carnivalcruiselines.com/ABOUT THE CRUISE LINES:
Princess, Celebrity and Holland America have great ships are more classy and reserved. They are just a little more upscale and luxurious than the other cruise lines. Passengers tend to be middle aged and up and have cruised multiple times. Holland America has mostly senior citizens (65 and up) cruising on its ships and very few kids and young people.Norwegian cruise line is good, they cater to families and have mostly passengers in the range of age 35-40 and up. Its the line that you want to go on if you want to be informal for pretty much your whole cruise. They have formal nights like other cruise lines but they do not stress dressing up; they call it “dress up if you want to” night
Carnival is the budget cruise line that generally has the lowest prices. They cater to young people, first time cruiser and families. Most of their cruiser will be in the 20 to 45 age group and there will be lots of kids on board. Royal Caribbean is also a cruise line that caters to young cruiser and families; ages about 25/30 to 60. It has the advantage of having the most on-board activities.
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We started on the “big” ships. Now we would not go on a ship with more than say 100 people.
We have just returned from an Anchorage to Vancouver trip on a “small” expedition ship.
We went to all the places the big ships can’t/don’t, we did not call at any of the “tourist trap” towns.
We had no shows/dancing girls/casino etc.
We also didn’t have any Chav’s!!!!!!
What we did have was nature!
We were out in the Zodiacs just about every day. We watched spellbound for about an hour humpback whales bubble/lunge feeding! We visited the off the beaten track glaciers and sat there watching them calve – often!
We drifted among several hundred sea otters!
We visited a sea lion colony
We were with bald eagles most days.
We went up a salmon spawning river. When the Zodiacs grounded we got out and were standing in the water with the salmon swimming all around us!
We explored the geology of the tectonic plates.
We saw a brown bear feeding/catching salmon in a river 60ft from us!
We saw Orca whale pods and got a photo of one breaching (jumping right out of the water)!
Yes the small ships are more expensive, but you do get a better class of well educated and knowledgeable person!
Generally once you convert to small ships you will never set foot on the big ships going to the “fashionable” destinations ever again!
If you want further help email me (I am in the UK)