Alaska advice… 2027

[bbn1122]

I am looking for any and all advice, thoughts and experiences.

Finally going to book a DCL Alaskan cruise for 2027.

I really can go anytime. I know fares are less earlier and later.

Question should I book the best time, best ship/itinerary (I believe that’s the Wonder.

I am looking for the best experience for DH and I who are in good shape mid-60s.

We will be traveling from NJ. We have never been to Vancouver or Alaska.

Thanks in advance for everyone’s input!!!

 

[tvguy]

No advice because to me every Alaska cruise is amazing. But I have only done Alaska on HAL. They are the king of Alaskan cruises as they have been sailing there longer than anyone, have the best glacier permits and port berth locations and best naturalists on board.
But I would imagine Disney would be awesome too. The scenery is spectacular, the wildlife as well. And I think I ate my weight in fresh seafood over 7 days.

 

[Kwami]

I would go for the Wonder over the Magic because I prefer Juneau over Icy Straight Point.

June and July will be the warmest months, but also the most expensive by far. The peak of the salmon run is in August, so you'll have a better chance of seeing them and also bears in that month. September and May are cooler and September is rainier, but those months are less crowded and also much cheaper. So, what's most important to you?

My favorite (so far) is the middle to end of August. It's still warm enough, the fish are still swimming, the critters are still out, and the rainiest days are still in the future. Plus, it's a bit cheaper than June and July.

 

[bbn1122]

I would go for the Wonder over the Magic because I prefer Juneau over Icy Straight Point.

June and July will be the warmest months, but also the most expensive by far. The peak of the salmon run is in August, so you'll have a better chance of seeing them and also bears in that month. September and May are cooler and September is rainier, but those months are less crowded and also much cheaper. So, what's most important to you?

My favorite (so far) is the middle to end of August. It's still warm enough, the fish are still swimming, the critters are still out, and the rainiest days are still in the future. Plus, it's a bit cheaper than June and July.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and advice.

 

[o&smom]

We have taken advantage of the lower prices in September twice. Just went last year with an 8 night itinerary, and had a great time on both. We love the Magic, but vote for Wonder itinerary.

 

[MartyParty]

My wife and I went mid-September a couple of years ago on the Wonder departing out of Vancouver. Juneau is the better port over Icy Straits.

Weather was really nice in September but not a guarantee. Overall, an Alaskan cruise is wonderful. Regardless your choice you'll have a wonderful time.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I've been there on the Wonder twice and will be there this year on the Magic. There are slight differences in the ships, which might even be more different than my last sailing on the Wonder in 2019. I'll prioritize what works for me below. Your priorities might be very different, but I do recommend having priorities in mind before booking.

1.) What port excursions do I want to do? For example, this time, I want to prioritize seeing wild bears. That influences which weeks are better to book

2.) After viewing YouTube videos and reading trip reports on various websites, are there any must see ports? This time, I'm going to Icy Straight point because I've never been there and I want to support the locals who earn their living at this port.

3.) I don't love Ketchikan and I especially don't want to ride a shuttle bus to and from the ship. I don't want an itinerary that has us dock at Ward Cove. Ward Cove is a nothing spot and you need to shuttle to the main port in Ketchikan. I'm not going to spend 20+ minutes each way doing that when I can just dock at the main dock.

4.) Do you care about ship differences? Magic has a water drop slide that might be closed, but if you're interested in that, Wonder doesn't have that. When I cruised on the Wonder, the upstairs part of the Cove coffee shop was made for indoor comfort while enjoying the scenery. It was a great spot. I think I read that it's now only for concierge guests.

5.) Ship theming. They have slightly different themes in the restaurants and lounges. If that matters to you, look at those.

If you are going to watch YouTube videos of the ships, make sure to look at recent ones (last year and this year) since things change. There won't be any videos of the Magic in Alaska, yet, because this year is the first time it's sailed there