Alaska Cruise??

[lil mermaid]

Has anyone done it? How was it? Which cruise line?

What were some specific things that you liked about it. Excurisions you recommend?

My DH was in the merchant marine for many years and has been to Alaska several times on an oil tanker, but has never seen the Inner Passage. He says it is an amazing place but there are so many things he never got to see because he was working.
And - did you take your kids???

We are thinking of doing an Alaskan cruise in about 2 years - it may or may not be a no kids trip.

Love to hear what y'all think!

 

[Laura]

I went on one in 2004 on the Norwegian Spirit. Great trip! We did a roundtrip from Seattle, and stopped in Ketchikan, Juneau, Tracy Arm/Sawyer Glacier, Skagway and Prince Rupert. I highly recommend doing a whale watch excursion; we did that in Prince Rupert but you also can do it in Juneau with great results.

I can't tell you if your kids would like Alaska, but we did see quite a few children on the cruise (it was June) as well as older passengers. They seemed to be enjoying themselves. It's a very outdoors-oriented cruise, you just go and enjoy nature.

We liked NCL because of their Freestyle cruising; you don't have to dress up much, and you don't have to eat at the same place every night with the same strangers.

Go to cruisecritic.com and see their forums. They have an Alaska-specific forum as well as cruise line-specific forums.

 

[DisneyBlonde]

We haven't done the Alaskan itinerary yet but we have investigated it. We felt that Princess did the best Alaskan cruise with a naturalist on board to describe everything you are seeing. We also felt the best way to 'do it right' was to take a week before the cruise and fly into fairbanks and do the glacier excursion where you helicopter into the glacier.

We eventually cancelled the Alaskan cruise because of the expense. Someday! You can get excellent info on www.cruisecritic.com, go to the Ports of Call board, you can read threads specifically about cruising Alaska.

 

[bekkiz]

We went on one in May of 2005 on the RCCL Radiance of the Seas. It was a 7 night round trip out of Vancouver. We had an inside stateroom, due to cost, but if we return, we'll have a balcony.

We had an AMAZING time. We have an online trip diary w/ tons of pics and info on our excursions
http://www.adamlyon.com/trips/alaska2005/

My #1 rec is going on the kayaks in Ketchikan and use Southeast Seas Kayaks http://www.kayakketchikan.com/

That was our favorite excursion and we booked it on our own (not on the ship) becuase the kayak excursion offered on board used groups of 15+. Our trip with Southeast Seas was just us (Although that is rare, but you'll never be in a group of more than 6).

 

[Mom21]

We did 3 years ago Oct. We went on Royal Carribean on the repositioning cruise. 10 days. Left out of Vancouver......ended in LA. It was gorgeous. Since we homeschooled and added days onto each end of our trip we were gone 3 weeks. My dd was 6 and she had a blast. Not many children on the ship......maybe 15 total. We did an excursion panning for gold. DD was the only child on that one and the "miner" just loved her and made it so much fun. She got extra gold and got to run all the machines. We also went on a crabbing expedition. We did whale watching of course.

We had a balcony cabin and have lots of pics of whales breaching right off of our balcony. Dolphins swimming alongside the ship. I would say this is one cruise you must spring for the balcony. It is a not to miss---once in a lifetime experience.

As far as the kids.......I say take them. Of course, we never vacation without my dd so it isn't even an option for us. I know some people don't, but we want our dd to experience everything we do. They have babysitting on board and an awesome kids club. My dd just loved the kids club and would ask to go instead of going to dinner. Plenty of alone time available for the parents.

 

[TLHB70]

DH and I did the Alaskan cruise on Holland America's Westerdam this past June. We are both in our mid 30s. We went on a couple only trip.....no kids. (They stayed with grandparents.) It was the most beautiful place I have ever seen!!!!! We had the best time!! Words cannot express how beautiful it was! Pictures cannot do it justice!!!
GO if you get the chance!!!!!

 

[Beth76]

We went on one in May of 2005 on the RCCL Radiance of the Seas. It was a 7 night round trip out of Vancouver.

My #1 rec is going on the kayaks in Ketchikan and use Southeast Seas Kayaks http://www.kayakketchikan.com/

That was our favorite excursion and we booked it on our own (not on the ship) becuase the kayak excursion offered on board used groups of 15+. Our trip with Southeast Seas was just us (Although that is rare, but you'll never be in a group of more than 6).

I second the above. We were on the Radiance in 2003 and it was fabulous. We met people before hand on Cruise Critic and had a great time with them. We're still friends. We kayaked with the same company with one couple that we met online and another young couple that we met on the ship. There were just the 6 of us and the guide. It was fantastic. We also whale watched in Juneau through the ship and it was horrible. When I go back, I'll definitely do Capt Larry if he's still around (you'll see him mentioned on CC). We also did a helicopter glacier tour in Skagway. That was excellent too.

My son was just 2 when we went so we left him with the grandparents. But we intend on going back one day and taking the boys when they are a little older.

 

[NCRedding]

We travelled on the Radiance in late July of 2003. We had a balcony and loved it. In Juneau, we did the whale watching excursion thru the ship and had an amazing time. We saw whales doing a bubble net feeding which was incredible.

In Ketchikan, we went to the lumberjack show and walked around. In Skagway, we just walked around the small town there and spent time on the ship.

We loved Alaska, but weren't crazy about Royal Caribbean. When we go back, I want to do a one way--rather than round trip, and then spend time traveling by car or train around the interior of Alaska. I definitely recommend the balcony for Alaska. Our ship also had a naturalist onboard, who broadcast comments about the glacier, etc.

 

[TLHB70]

I forgot to tell the things we did at ports.
In Juneau we took the floatplane ride over/to the ice fields and glaciers.
We also did a whale watching trip in Juneau.

In Ketchikan we went salmon fishing.

In Sitka we did another whale watching trip. We also walked around the town.

In Victoria, BC we did a pedi cab around the town and toured the gardens.

It was a fabulous trip!!!!! I am already begging DH to go again!!!!!

 

[m&m's mom]

Ship:
We were on RCCL Radiance of the Seas late July in Alaska. I would highly recommend that ship. It was beautiful.
We flew to Vancouver and sailed to Seward. I would definitely do it opposite next time. I wanted to get the long plane ride over w/ at the beginning but I was out voted. There were 31 of us on the trip. Almost all family and a couple of friends.
We paid a bit more to go in July (supposedly better weather) but we heard late May was better than when we were there. Next time we would go in Late May/early June.
I recommend getting a balcony. I am pretty cheap, but in Alaska is was worth it.
Excursions:
Some of our family made it on the helicopter tours and some of ours were cancelled. Seems like most of the mornings were the ones cancelled.
Skagway - Loved! the White Pass Railroad ride. Foggy, but beautiful.
Hoonah - RCCL private stop. We rented out a private boat to go whale watching. $1000.00 and we only saw 2 stinking whales. Next time I would go whale watching in Juneau.
Heard Glacier tours were great.

I can't think of a single negative except maybe the weather but that's a crpa shoot any time of year.

 

[TLHB70]

We went the first week of June. It did not rain on us a single day at port!! The only day we had rain was our glacier day. It drizzled then.
I agree with m&m's mom about the balcony. We had one, and it is a must for Alaska.......especially glacier day!!!!!!!!!!

BTW, m&m's mom, DH and I saw more whales in Sitka than we did in Juneau. We only saw three or four in Juneau, but we saw about 6 in Sitka. We saw a mama bear with her cub in Sitka too.

 

[tchan03]

I heard that on Royal Caribbean Alaska cruise, the restaurants have gorgeous view (floor to ceiling glass windows all around) , is that true?

It would be a great treat while having lunch.

 

[aprilgail2]

Ship:
We were on RCCL Radiance of the Seas late July in Alaska. I would highly recommend that ship. It was beautiful.
We flew to Vancouver and sailed to Seward. I would definitely do it opposite next time. I wanted to get the long plane ride over w/ at the beginning but I was out voted. There were 31 of us on the trip. Almost all family and a couple of friends.

How long was your flight home after the cruise. I am really looking into this cruise with my 7 year old- well she would be 8 by the time we went in 2008. Are the pools/hot tubs open to adults and kids or do they have a seperate adult pool like Disney does? Would there be a lot of things we can do together? I would get a blacony for sure, I cruised Disney with a Cat 11 and it was SUCH a disappointment after cruising twice with verandahs.

 

[aprilgail2]

are tips included on royal carrib or are they seperate like Disney??

 

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

We are taking an Alaska cruise in June on Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas. I can't wait. We're taking our two teenage kids. I'd second going to cruisecritic.com. It is a great website about cruises.

 

[i3utterfli82]

I was lucky enough to go on the Carnival Spirit in 2001 from Seward to Vancouver. It was the most breathaking vacation and I want to go again so bad, next time with DH. It is like nothing else!

I went kayaking next to the glaciers and also on a tour around skagway were we went into the Alaskan rainforests (who knew) and saw waterfalls. These are the 2 excursions I remember...oh and a tour of the totem poles in ketchikan.

 

[DisneyDotty]

Hey you Alaskan cruisers--great thread/info! We're booked for a 7-night southbound Anchorage to Vancouver on Princess next July. I'm curious about the excursions--do you recommend booking through Princess, or doing it on your own?
And any must-do's are greatly appreciated!

 

[i3utterfli82]

book all excursions on your own...you will save a ton of money! There will be a ton of vendors at the ports. Just watch the time...we had no problems.

 

[cybrkitn]

DH and I went back in 2001 on Royal Caribbean (pre-child days). We flew from NY to Vancouver, Canada where we boarded our ship. Our cruise was 7 days with stops in Skagway, Junea, Ketchikan, Hubbard Glacier (not in that order). We loved it and would like to go again someday.

Due to limited money, we only did the low cost excursions. However, one that was highly recommended by my former boss (and one that we did) was the White Pass Scenic Railway tour in Skagway. The train ride is about 3 to 3 1/2 hours long and takes you into Canada then heads back to Skagway. It was so beautiful and the air was so fresh with pine in the crisp, clean air. We went on July 4, 2001 and it was a bit chilly in town and pretty cold on the train ride as it climbed up the mountain (and yes, there was snow there).

DH and would love to take another Alaska cruise only this time, take our DS with us on a cruise to Anchorage and spend a day with my Aunt who lives there.

 

[tycopj]

I would love to go on an Alaskan cruise so I am bumping to read all about it!