Alaska?

[marie2004]

We have been on 3 Disney cruises and 1 RCI, went to the Caribbean every cruise, NOW my husband wants to go to Alaska next summer, we may take our son who will be 12, has anyone sailed to Alaska and which cruise line did you use? I worry that it will be too chilly for the pools, any feed back would be appreciated. Thanks!

 

[mostyn17]

I can't help you on what ship to pick.....but I do know that all the ships that sail to Alaska, are equipped with indoor type pools so you don't have to worry about the cooler weather.

I hear that the RCCL is a pretty nice one for Alaska.

Sorry I can't be more of a help!

Travis

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by mostyn17
I can't help you on what ship to pick.....but I do know that all the ships that sail to Alaska, are equipped with indoor type pools so you don't have to worry about the cooler weather.

Not all ships that cruise in Alaska waters have an indoor pool or a retractacle cover over one pool. Some do. Some don't.

With a breeze and daytime highs in the 60s or 70s, an outdoor pool could be chilly. But I don't cruise for the pools anyway. I haven't cruised in Alaska, but I have visited Alaska a couple of times. With a light jacket, the cooler weather should not be a problem most of the time.

The major lines (HAL, NCL, RCCL, Princess, Celebrity, Carnival) all offer Alaska cruises. They each have their fans.

 

[LibertyBelle]

I would choose RCCL or Princess for Alaska. We have sailed Alaska on Carnival and Norweigan. Both were good cruises, but they were just OK. We are Disney/RCCL fans and went with Carnival the first time because it fit our work schedules best and NCL thae second time because it fit the budget better. If I were to do it again I would choose RCCL (Serenade or Radiance of the Seas...Vision is a little to old for me). Both Serenade and Radiance have indoor pools as well as a lot of indoor spaces with lots of windows... I have never been on a Princess Cruise, but from what I have heard they are GREAT for Alaska...

 

[marie2004]

Thanks, I was thinking of the pools for my son, if he goes, grandma wants him to visit her in Texas. I will check out the newer ships for RCI and Princess

 

[TooPure4u]

I lived in Alaska for 3 years and although it wasnt on the water, the summers in Alaska are as warm and as beautiful as most other places in the country. Alaska has normal weather and gets into the 90's over the summer. The only difference with Alaska and the states is that the summers do not last nearly as long. HTH.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

My dd's ex boyfriend cruised to Alaska on Princess. They had an outstanding time. I would highly recommend them. We are wanting to go and it will be Princess for us. The family did the cruise, train and lodge. It was like a 12 day cruise or so. Princess has several to choose from.

 

[Minybear]

In September we cruised Holland America the inside passage out of Vancouver BC, but I would recommend RCCL or Princess. I have heard lots of good things about RCCL prior to our Alaska trip and when we were on HAL we wished we were on RCCL (Radience of the Sea).

 

[kath00]

We cruised with Princess (Grand) 2 years ago. It was FABULOUS! They do an amazing job with their excursions, etc. The weather is COLD though! We went in early August, which was supposed to be the warmest time, but it often rained or was windy. No way I'd want to get into any sort of pool on that trip! I would also recommend that you pick a cruise that gets you into Glacier Bay. Many round trip cruises (from Seattle, for example), only take you into the smaller glaciers but not all the way to Glacier Bay. It was the highlight of our trip!

Also, if you go, I heard you should go South to North (end up in Anchorage), which is what we did. The scenery from Vancouver was green and warm, and then it got more and more icy as the trip went on. It was fabulous!

We have done lots of Caribbean cruises but Alaska was the most amazing of them all. VERY DIFFERENT from any warm-weather cruise, though! No matter when you go, it will be WAY colder. Also, less young kids.

Katherine

 

[tvguy]

Strongly recomend HAL. The year before our DCL we cruised HAL's Amsterdam to Alaska. We have also cruised RCCL, NCL and Paquet. RCCL and NCL are great, but HAL was the closest to DCL in service. Wouldn't recommend Paquet to anyone under age 70.

The Amsterdam has one pool with a retractable roof for bad weather, and another one that is out in the open, but both are heated. I have great pictures of all of us in the uncovered pool, steam coming up, with the Hubbard glacier in the background.
Some ships have indoor pools too, but most designed for cold weather cruising have the retractable roofs for the pools

 

[disneygatorfan]

been on HAL also, and loved it... mostly for Alaska, but the service was very good as well. I prefered it to my RCCL Explorer of the Seas cruise...

You will just love Alaska, truely breath-taking. Haven't seen anything else like it on a cruise.

Although, all the major cruise liners have their pro's and cons... so it's hard to say really. You can't beat Alaska really, so you will love any liner I am sure. Heck, I'd be happy cruising on a rowboat in Alaska!

But if I had to go back, I would probably do HAL again, or give Celebrity a try in Alaska, over RCCL.

 

[SAWYERMAW1]

We're doing Alaska next August on Pricess and taking our then 12 year old grandson. Very excited! In August 2006 we're doing the DCL. Even more excited!!!

 

[Alaska Catdog]

And I base that on the people I know who work for them. Also HAL has good people too. If you are thinking of traveling here in the Summer and you want warmer weather come in the end of June or beginning of July. I live an hour north of Anchorage by car and the temperature is rarely higher than 83 degrees. It gets hotter as you travel north and into the interior (Fairbanks for instance is 300 miles north of where I live and much hotter in the summer). You must remember that if you are on the water that can be as much as 30 degrees colder than on land (yeah, it sounded crazy to me too until I went out on a boat without a coat).