Has anyone done....

[BitsnBearsMom]

an Alaskan cruise?? If so which line?
I'm really really torn as to vacation this summer - We were going to go to California BUT I found some great prices for Alaska cruises so now am tossed as to what to do.

Flights from either Toronto to Vancouver or Buffalo to Seattle will cost a bit more then the flights from Buffalo to California - the whole trip to Alaska would cost about $2k more once you factored in shore excursions and extra time to tour either Seattle or Vancouver..... I really don't know what to do!!

We know we like cruising - have done several Carnival cruises - would prefer to try a different line if we do go for Alaska.

Anyone have any advice for me?? I'm really wanting to get something settled soon - doesn't help that dh is in Germany on buisness until next Friday.... what WAS he thinking leaving me alone for a whole week!?!?

 

[bev r.]

We did Alaska on Celebrity Cruises out of Vancouver. We thoroughly enjoyed the cruise. I would like to go back.

We have also cruised on Princess, and think they have a good product. They seem to have something for everyone.

In two of the ports we rented vehicles and did touring on our own rather than booking ship excursions. There was six of us and this was more cost effective. In the 3rd port (Sitka), they have a tourist bus that you can purchase a daily pass and get off and on at various places around town.

Check out the cruisecritic message board for info on the ports.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

Thanks - have been doing lots of looking and reading this week and have found some decent prices on Norweigan Seattle round trip - flights BUF to SEA aren't too bad either.

Now to just decide if I want to spend that much this summer!!

 

[Cdn Gal]

We're going this summer!! We are Northbound from Vancouver to Anchorage on Carnival. We have already booked our shore excursions- they are $$$$ so beware! $600.00 each for the helicopter and dogsledding But we figure it's a once in a lifetime trip and we probably won't do it again! We are using airmiles- but haven't booked that yet as my DH might fly out early and go to Haida Gwaii (Queens Charlotte Islands) for a month before I meet up with him. We'll figure it out once we get back from Disney in a couple of weeks. To be honest, I'm more excited about Disney than Alaska!

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

I know this is a terrible thing to say on the DISBOARDS but I'm getting tired of going to Disney..... after doing the last 2 cruises Aug/07 and March/08 I really really want to see and do something different then Disney!

 

[mkmommy]

I think it is a cruise thing , since we did our first cruise last March, we also do not want to go to the parks. I cannot believe we are going to Orlando on Friday and we are not going to go to the parks. A cruise is such a relaxing vaction and the parks are so hectic.

I have been looking into Alaska Cruise's also, as we are going to BC to visit relatives so it would be easy to add on. From my research Princess is supposed to be one of the best to Alaska, and I have also heard that the Radiance class ship that RCCL uses to Alaska is supposed to be good for families.

We have been to Alaska once, not on a cruise and it is beautiful, just be prepared for any type of weather, even in the summer.

Lisa

 

[Northstar]

Did a roundtrip out of Vancouver, Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas, in 2006.

I think a one-way either north or southbound lets you see more, but after looking into transportation Halifax to Anchorage, I decided that I just didn't want to deal with that leg of the journey!Thus the roundtrip

We loved the trip. Loved the ship, loved Alaska, loved our direct flights Halifax to Vancouver.

 

[tiggerrulz]

We did an Alaskan cruise on Holland America - using DVC points - and would highly recommend that cruise line.

 

[BitsnBearsMom]

ok have to ask - how many DVC points did that take per person??? That might be an option!!

 

[Mickey1Fan]

Check out gapadventures.com Canadian company that has adventure trips. Not your usual cruise!

 

[joech]

Did a roundtrip out of Vancouver, Royal Caribbean Serenade of the Seas, in 2006.

I think a one-way either north or southbound lets you see more, but after looking into transportation Halifax to Anchorage, I decided that I just didn't want to deal with that leg of the journey!Thus the roundtrip

We loved the trip. Loved the ship, loved Alaska, loved our direct flights Halifax to Vancouver.

We did the same trip in September 2006 and it was simply amazing. The food was great and their service was excellent. The chicken wings from the top deck were so yummy and we made it a regualar visit for the last few nights. We did a couple excursion. Our DD (3) love the whale watching and we saw lot of differnt whale during the 3 hours on the small boat. The Train that go up the mountain to cross the states/canada border wasn't worth it IMHO.

 

[joech]