Alaska - which cruiseline if DCL prices us out!

[bas71873]

No, Princess is not all inclusive. Just like DCL, food (in the main dining room) is included. Soft drinks are extra cost, you can buy a soda card, or you can purchase drinks separately, but there is no 24/7 drink station.

Thanks. They do have traditional AND freestyle dining right? I thought I read that. We'd much prefer freestyle dining as we didn't like being tied to time on our DCL cruise last year.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

If you don't mind, would you care to share what you paid for your party of 3 of opening day? We too are a party of 3 (2A, 1C (she'll be 13 by the time we do this). I do plan to book opening day if we go DCL.

We did our first cruise this past April over Spring Break and I swore I'd never cruise again. I was so sea sick. I needed the verandah to be able to open the door for fresh air, but I could not step foot out there while sailing. I was shocked because I grew up on boats, am on them all the time now, but this was miserable. Although when I got home, a day later, I tested positive for flu, so I'm not sure if it was that coming on or real sea sickness. Everyone tells me an Alaskan cruise will be different because you aren't in open waters. So I'm considering it...

Hi! No I don't mind at all I paid $4481.07 and that includes a 10% off for an onboard booking so add roughly 10% back to that for a good estimate. Our DS is 12 so our family is about the same.

I do agree the Alaskan cruise is the most relaxing and calming we've been on but we were also blessed in 2013 with perfect weather that it never even rained one drop on us the entire time. We were able to sail back to Vancouver through a more inside passage due to the tides being just right and it was like being on glass and it was so enjoyable. From Deck 2 oceanview it's easy to go up to decks to be outside which is what we plan to do if needed.

Just for comparison - I checked the NCL Sun yesterday for 2017 I believe that was RT from Seattle (we had hearts set on Vancouver) but did include Glacier Bay and it was *more* for oceanview than our DCL. Just price around and considering the apples to apples and the categories and upgrading/downgrading if you need to.

Good luck,
Heather

 

[gometros]

Thanks. They do have traditional AND freestyle dining right? I thought I read that. We'd much prefer freestyle dining as we didn't like being tied to time on our DCL cruise last year.

Yes, they have both traditional and anytime dining. We loved anytime, because 5:45 is too early and 8:30 too late. We'd go every night at 7 and by the second night, the maitre d' got the idea and reserved us a table.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks. They do have traditional AND freestyle dining right? I thought I read that. We'd much prefer freestyle dining as we didn't like being tied to time on our DCL cruise last year.

Yes. We had fixed seating on our Princess cruise. Except for those nights when the ship had a late departure or stayed overnight. Those nights all dining rooms were open dining.

 

[NancyIL]

Hi! No I don't mind at all I paid $4481.07 and that includes a 10% off for an onboard booking so add roughly 10% back to that for a good estimate. Our DS is 12 so our family is about the same.

I do agree the Alaskan cruise is the most relaxing and calming we've been on but we were also blessed in 2013 with perfect weather that it never even rained one drop on us the entire time. We were able to sail back to Vancouver through a more inside passage due to the tides being just right and it was like being on glass and it was so enjoyable. From Deck 2 oceanview it's easy to go up to decks to be outside which is what we plan to do if needed.

Just for comparison - I checked the NCL Sun yesterday for 2017 I believe that was RT from Seattle (we had hearts set on Vancouver) but did include Glacier Bay and it was *more* for oceanview than our DCL. Just price around and considering the apples to apples and the categories and upgrading/downgrading if you need to.

Good luck,
Heather

In 2017 - NCL Sun sails one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward. It goes to Glacier Bay as well as Hubbard Glacier on its northbound cruises, and to Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm on its southbound cruises. The Pearl (Glacier Bay) and Jewel (Tracy Arm) sail roundtrip from Seattle.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

In 2017 - NCL Sun sails one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward. It goes to Glacier Bay as well as Hubbard Glacier on its northbound cruises, and to Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm on its southbound cruises. The Pearl (Glacier Bay) and Jewel (Tracy Arm) sail roundtrip from Seattle.

Yes indeed, my apologies it was the Pearl I looked at briefly yesterday.

Heather

 

[IncredibleboysMom]

We are Platinum Disney cruisers (going to take #15 in March). However when it came to Alaska, I had my heart set on a verandah stateroom and Glacier Bay. After some research, we are booked on the Carnival Legend in late May 2016. For our party of five, the price was HALF for one verandah and one inside versus two insides or one verandah on Disney. My husband gets interline rates on Carnival so that helped also. DH and I have cruised other lines several times but my kids have not. Ultimately, we are cruising to see Alaska, not Mickey. Also, take into account that Alaskan excursions are very pricey.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

My wife and I had a dummy cruise transferred to an Alaska cruise with DCL and because we are Gold CC members our Dreams Unlimited TA was able to do it before dates opened to the general public. Two other couples (never been on DCL) went to book the same cruise when it was open to the general public. Both couples got back to us that it was not going to happen for them because of the cost. DW and I broke down; changed our Alaska cruise to a WDW/DCL vacation and will be sailing with two other couples on Celebrity, summer of 2016. Not counting the Big Red Boat back in 1987 all of our sailings have been with DCL. We are a lot nervous and a little excited about sailing on another cruise line.

Will type up a report when we have completed the cruise. It's a one way from Seward to Vancouver which I am excited about vs the round trip offered by DCL out of Vancouver.