Alaska 2011: Inside Stateroom w/DCL or Oceanview w/RCI?

[lilpooh108]

Ok…we're planning for Alaska 2011, and obviously we have a budget to work with. I'm looking up roundtrip sailings from Vancouver and roundtrip sailings from Seattle.

If we go with Disney, we would *have* to book an inside stateroom in order to do all the excursions we want. If we go with RCI, we can get an oceanview and do the excursions we want.

I know this question has been asked before, but please help me out. I really would like to do Alaska with Disney, but I don't know if doing an inside stateroom for scenic Alaska is such a good idea. We have friends that did Princess (balcony) and insist that you "must" get a view for the glacier cruising days…any BTDT Alaska cruisers with opinions?

 

[sayhello]

Ok…we're planning for Alaska 2011, and obviously we have a budget to work with. I'm looking up roundtrip sailings from Vancouver and roundtrip sailings from Seattle.

If we go with Disney, we would *have* to book an inside stateroom in order to do all the excursions we want. If we go with RCI, we can get an oceanview and do the excursions we want.

I know this question has been asked before, but please help me out. I really would like to do Alaska with Disney, but I don't know if doing an inside stateroom for scenic Alaska is such a good idea. We have friends that did Princess (balcony) and insist that you "must" get a view for the glacier cruising days…any BTDT Alaska cruisers with opinions?

If you're only wanting the Oceanview for viewing the Glaciers, don't bother. If you don't have an actual balcony, then you're going to want to be out on deck. An Oceanview window just isn't going to cut it, or let you see & hear all the calving, the vastness, etc. Again, if that's the only reason, either get a balcony, or don't worry about it (ie, Oceanview vs inside).

Sayhello

 

[trekkie518]

There are tons of places around the ship that you can go, and view. I don't see it as that big of a deal (although I haven't done Alaska yet.)

 

[clten]

If you're only wanting the Oceanview for viewing the Glaciers, don't bother. If you don't have an actual balcony, then you're going to want to be out on deck. An Oceanview window just isn't going to cut it, or let you see & hear all the calving, the vastness, etc. Again, if that's the only reason, either get a balcony, or don't worry about it (ie, Oceanview vs inside).

Sayhello

I second that opinion. We did Alaska on Princess and did pay to have a balcony (usually don't think it is worth the money). You really want to be outside when you are glacier cruising to get the full experience. We are going to Alaska next year with DCL. This time we opted for no balcony. We figured we would be on deck during glacier viewing time. So if the only reason you want an OV is for the glacier viewing, save your money -- whether you choose DCL or RCCL.

 

[lilpooh108]

Thanks for the responses! It really helps to know all of this info---I think we will do inside, DCL. (What a relief )

 

[NancyIL]

If the RCI cruise you are considering is on Rhapsody of the Seas out of Seattle, then its itinerary is even worse than DCL's!

I have been on 3 Alaska cruises, and still haven't sprung for a balcony cabin!

 

[NancyIL]

I second that opinion. We did Alaska on Princess and did pay to have a balcony (usually don't think it is worth the money). You really want to be outside when you are glacier cruising to get the full experience. We are going to Alaska next year with DCL. This time we opted for no balcony. We figured we would be on deck during glacier viewing time. So if the only reason you want an OV is for the glacier viewing, save your money -- whether you choose DCL or RCCL.

I hope you realize that you may not see any glaciers while cruising Tracy Arm.

 

[sayhello]

If the RCI cruise you are considering is on Rhapsody of the Seas out of Seattle, then its itinerary is even worse than DCL's!

I have been on 3 Alaska cruises, and still haven't sprung for a balcony cabin!

OMG, it is! Only Juneau & Skagway for Alaska ports, and mostly sailing in the open ocean & not the Inside Passage. Not good!

Sayhello

 

[lilpooh108]

Hmmm...this makes me rethink everything.

I like the Radiance of the Sea itinerary (from Seward to Vancouver).

How difficult is it to get to Seward? I think you fly into Anchorage, then take a train to Seward. Does anyone know the logistics of how to do this (is the train station easily accessible)?

On the sailings of Vancouver to Seward, this looks hard to do. The only train out is in the evening. What would you do after disembarking and waiting for the train?

 

[sayhello]

Hmmm...this makes me rethink everything.

I like the Radiance of the Sea itinerary (from Seward to Vancouver).

How difficult is it to get to Seward? I think you fly into Anchorage, then take a train to Seward. Does anyone know the logistics of how to do this (is the train station easily accessible)?

On the sailings of Vancouver to Seward, this looks hard to do. The only train out is in the evening. What would you do after disembarking and waiting for the train?

OMG, stay in Seward for a day or two, and do the Kenai Fjords tour!!!! Or you might even be able to do it without staying the night. It's FABULOUS! (Read Day 5 of my Alaska ABD Trip Report!)

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2297302

Here's the company we sailed the Kenai Fjords with. They sail out of Seward!

http://www.kenaifjords.com/kenai-daycruises.html

And you're right. The one-way 7-day Radiance of the Sea itinerary is a good one.

Sayhello

 

[NancyIL]

Hmmm...this makes me rethink everything.

I like the Radiance of the Sea itinerary (from Seward to Vancouver).

How difficult is it to get to Seward? I think you fly into Anchorage, then take a train to Seward. Does anyone know the logistics of how to do this (is the train station easily accessible)?

On the sailings of Vancouver to Seward, this looks hard to do. The only train out is in the evening. What would you do after disembarking and waiting for the train?

The cruise line will have a morning train to the airport, but it costs more than the regular evening train from Seward to Anchorage. We stayed in Seward 2 nights on our first Alaska cruise + independent land trip. After my 2nd northbound cruise, we spent the day in Seward and went to the Sea Life Center and Exit Glacier (having arranged for a taxi to take us both places) - then took the evening train to Seward.

If you do a southbound cruise, you can take the cruise line's motorcoach transfer from Anchorage to Seward, or the early morning train from downtown Anchorage. You would need to arrive the day before. I would advise spending as much time in Alaska as possible before or after a one-way cruise.

 

[lilpooh108]

WOW the Kenai Fjords tour looks amazing. Those puffins are so cute. Oh decisions decisions.

(Why is the DCL itinerary so bad? Eek.)

 

[sayhello]

WOW the Kenai Fjords tour looks amazing. Those puffins are so cute. Oh decisions decisions.

(Why is the DCL itinerary so bad? Eek.)

That's a seriously good question.

If it was me? Of the options you've listed, I would DEFINITELY do the 7-day Radiance of the Sea cruise, either doing the Kenai Fjords before or after the cruise, depending on which one ends up working better for you (North or Southbound). And maybe a few more days in Alaska before or after...

Sayhello

 

[floridaminnie]

WOW the Kenai Fjords tour looks amazing. Those puffins are so cute. Oh decisions decisions.

(Why is the DCL itinerary so bad? Eek.)

Disney's passage is outside, where as the best and most calm are the inside passage.

 

[sayhello]

Disney's passage is outside, where as the best and most calm are the inside passage.

I think that was a rhetorical question from the OP, as in "WHY did they make it so bad"? vs. "What makes it bad"? But I could be wrong!

Sayhello

 

[NancyIL]

Some roundtrip cruise itineraries are better than others. I'd choose a cruise out of Seattle that sails west of Vancouver Island but goes to Glacier Bay over one leaving from Vancouver that sails east of Vancouver Island but goes to Tracy Arm. There's nothing wrong with cruising Tracy Arm, but the ship might not make it to the end of the fjord (~ 30 miles long) to see the glaciers at the end. For a first-time Alaska cruise, I would recommend one that goes to Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier.

My personal opinion is that you see more on a one-way cruise, especially if you add time for an interior Alaska land trip. If you want to do a roundtrip, I'm kind of partial to HAL Amsterdam's 14-night roundtrip from Seattle that I booked for next summer: http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-...umber=1&voyageCode=A122&destCode=AL&dateCode=

 

[floridaminnie]

I think that was a rhetorical question from the OP, as in "WHY did they make it so bad"? vs. "What makes it bad"? But I could be wrong!

Sayhello

Then I second it....Why did they make it so BAD!!!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Hi Nancy, .

 

[NancyIL]

Hi Nancy, .

Hi, CC friend!

 

[lilpooh108]

Then I second it....Why did they make it so BAD!!!

Haha yes it was a meant to be a rhetorical question I guess I was thinking/typing out loud...