Alaska or Easter Carribean - Help me decide

[Ashleyfaz]

We are booked for Thanksgiving 2014 out of Port Canaveral. Ports include: St. Maarten, Castaway & San Juan. We are in a category 8d for $4900 ($400 onboard credits) since we took advantage of onboard booking.

I am considering changing to Alaska. We would not be able to afford a verandah. We would be in a category 9C over July 4th 2014 for about $5200 ($450 onboard credits).

I love the beach and my husband loves Alaska. My kids love swimming in the pool, but I worry it might be too cold or rainy for them.

Would you switch or stay? Either way we are going on a disney cruise and our kids are excited. We just got off the magic 6 days ago and I am having trouble waiting until our next vacation

FYI: my kids will be 5 and 6 at the time of sailing to Alaska.

 

[Chilly]

You can swim on an Alsakan cruise as the pools are heated, its a bit nippy when you get out but only for a minute.

We adored our Alsakan cruise last year.

 

[lady9]

We did the Alaska cruise in 2011 and agreed it was the best vacation we ever had. Our kids were 15 and 10. The 10 year old did swim a few times. We had wonderful weather-mid 70s and sunny on our Juneau day. We were also in a 9C and thought it was fine. You can go on deck to view the scenery. We had a table on deck 9 we used during the Tracy Arm day which was shielded from the wind. We also liked to sit on our couch in the room and look out the porthole while we were nice and warm. We have done warm weather cruises but would go back to Alaska in a heartbeat-it's the airfare that kills us!

 

[tvguy]

Sounds like you've done the Caribbean before. I'd do Alaska, you will be amazed.

 

[Cmbar]

We are goiing on the Alaska one this summer and are super excited.

... But in your situation I think your kids may be too young to appreciate what you are going to be seeing in Alaska. Trust me when your kids become tweens and teens, they all of a sudden don't want to just go swimming and it takes more to impress them!!! I say do the warmer weather cruise (and take your kids out of school) while they are young and happy as clams swimming in the pools!! I would wait until the kids are a bit older to go to Alaska with them. But that is just my family. My kids are a bit sick of the carribean at this point and since they are older and we can't take them out of school the only time we can travel is summer. That is when Alaska is great! We have been to the Caribbean in November... AWESOME time to go there!

Plus you said you were on the Magic, so a trip on the FANTASY is amazing!!! I say stick with the lower price trip on the newest ship! You also may want to compare airfare. Flying into Vancouver (or Seattle and then taking train) is expensive!

 

[aenan]

I'd have to agree with the pp, I have three younger kids and would LOVE to do an Alaskan cruise. But I also want my kids to have fun and appreciate the beauty of the place. To me, it's just not worth the cost of Alaska until they are old enough to really enjoy it! So for now, we're set to go to the Caribbean this fall and can't wait!

 

[mickeynut1]

... But in your situation I think your kids may be too young to appreciate what you are going to be seeing in Alaska.

But I also want my kids to have fun and appreciate the beauty of the place. To me, it's just not worth the cost of Alaska until they are old enough to really enjoy it!

I agree with both. I would stick with the Caribbean and wait until the kids are older to go to Alaska.

 

[wiigirl]

Sounds like you've done the Caribbean before. I'd do Alaska, you will be amazed.

I would recommend Alaska also...I was skeptical but it was so beautiful and fun.

 

[Woodmnky]

You know your kids best, but do you think that they would appreciate the natural beauty of Alaska. If so, then I would go to Alaska it is something that must be done at least once. If you think you would hear whining about there being nothing but trees & mountains to look at and how they wish they were at the beach then stay where you are. I am waiting until my son is older to venture to Alaska because I really want him to appreciate it when we do go.

 

[jxd]

... But in your situation I think your kids may be too young to appreciate what you are going to be seeing in Alaska.
/QUOTE]

We had a very different experience with our 4 & 6 year old 5 years ago on our HAL Alaska cruise. They loved every minute of it and and I am still amazed at the things they remember...not from pictures or us talking about it...it was that memorable for them. So much so that when we were planning our vacation destination for this June, the kids voted the Alaska cruise hands down over several options we were considering...including a 7 day DCL Eastern which is their favorite. We told them we couldn't afford DCL Alaska and they were bummed but fine with that too.

The best part is that we are sailing DCL and will surprise them when we get to the port and get on the Wonder!

 

[wallawallakids]

We are going to Alaska in summer 2014 and I cant wait. BUT if I was you, with kids your age, I would go back to the Caribbean. I think Alaska is beautiful and a once in a lifetime trip, but I wanted our kids to be old enough to appreciate it. Our twins will have just turned 7 by the time we go and I think they will enjoy seeing the wildlife and the mountains. Your kids might at 5 and 6 but it probably depends on the kids. Right now my 5 year olds would be underwhelmed with it. They would much rather swim in a pool. If your kids really love swimming and beaches right now, then I would go with that and take them back to the Caribbean. You can always go to Alaska the following year!

 

[N365PA]

I am biased...Alaska.

 

[wallawallakids]

... But in your situation I think your kids may be too young to appreciate what you are going to be seeing in Alaska.
/QUOTE]

We had a very different experience with our 4 & 6 year old 5 years ago on our HAL Alaska cruise. They loved every minute of it and and I am still amazed at the things they remember...not from pictures or us talking about it...it was that memorable for them. So much so that when we were planning our vacation destination for this June, the kids voted the Alaska cruise hands down over several options we were considering...including a 7 day DCL Eastern which is their favorite. We told them we couldn't afford DCL Alaska and they were bummed but fine with that too.

The best part is that we are sailing DCL and will surprise them when we get to the port and get on the Wonder!

That is so cool!! What a great surprise for your kids!!!