If you couldnt afford a disney cruise , what would be your second choice cruise line

[tajz90]

one way? sorry - does this mean you fly to/cruise out of one port, cruise into your final port and then fly home from there?

just checking into all Alaska cruises now as we can't go till 2014.

Yes... Diff ports

 

[disneyholic family]

I cruised to Alaska with Princess in 2007 (one-way from Vancouver on the Coral Princess) and 2009 (roundtrip from Seattle on the Golden Princess). Princess and Holland America have the most ships in Alaska, and both do a great job. However, not all itineraries are alike. The 10-night roundtrips from San Francisco in August 2013 go to Tracy Arm Fjord - same as DCL. You have a choice in itineraries, and I would choose a Princess ship that goes to Glacier Bay. You can do that roundtrip from Seattle in August 2013 on the Star Princess, or one-way between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska on the Coral, Island, Sapphire, or Diamond Princess. A southbound cruise will go to both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay, and it's the best 7-night itinerary - in my opinion.

DD said she cried at hubbard glacier, it was so beautiful...

so i guess that would be a can't miss

 

[NancyIL]

I've sailed both, but I'm wondering why so many people prefer one over the other?

Hahaa... Shock, but we really liked Tracy Arm with Disney. The captain got us very close and we witnessed several calving events. One so big it sounded like a bomb and we were very worried for the little boat that was right up on glacier.

Glacier Bay was also pretty, but I wouldn't say we prefer one over the other so much that it would stop me from sailing with Disney.

I've been to Glacier Bay once, Hubbard Glacier twice (the first time it was very foggy and we didn't get very close), and to Tracy Arm twice (the first time we didn't get to the end of the fjord). I would repeat any of them, but I would most like to see Glacier Bay again. I hope to do another independent land trip in Alaska, followed by a southbound cruise (most likely on Princess) - maybe in 2014.

 

[NancyIL]

one way? sorry - does this mean you fly to/cruise out of one port, cruise into your final port and then fly home from there?

just checking into all Alaska cruises now as we can't go till 2014.

For a northbound cruise - you would fly into Seattle or Vancouver and home from Anchorage or Fairbanks (depending on land tour itineraries). Do the reverse for a southbound cruise. Both of my one-way cruises were northbound - followed by 9 days of driving around Alaska in a rental car. I would like to experience the land trip + southbound cruise the next time I go to Alaska.

 

[ilovetexas]

It's like it pours from the clubs and casinos. And even one club with smoke is more than none.

It's my experience. Too much smoke for me.

I have a question about Tracy Arm vs Glacier Bay and why everyone says one is better than the other?

DCL allows smoking, too, which is pretty darned annoying when you're trying to enjoy your balcony and the person next door lights up!

If you want smoke free, cruise Celebrity. Smoking is not allowed in the casino nor in any stateroom or on any balcony. Princess doesn't allow smoking in staterooms or on balconies, either.

I've never been to Tracy Arm or Glacier Bay but Hubbard Glacier was fabulous!

 

[love280mickey]

For a northbound cruise - you would fly into Seattle or Vancouver and home from Anchorage or Fairbanks (depending on land tour itineraries). Do the reverse for a southbound cruise. Both of my one-way cruises were northbound - followed by 9 days of driving around Alaska in a rental car. I would like to experience the land trip + southbound cruise the next time I go to Alaska.

again, this is all new to me for the Alaska cruises, so I appreciate your comments. I'll have to check on my own, but wondering if the air fares to Alaska are so much more than Vancouver or Seattle?

You have me very intrigued about doing the South Bound and seeing Glacier Bay. Sounds so cool. ha! literally!

 

[tajz90]

DCL allows smoking, too, which is pretty darned annoying when you're trying to enjoy your balcony and the person next door lights up!

If you want smoke free, cruise Celebrity. Smoking is not allowed in the casino nor in any stateroom or on any balcony. Princess doesn't allow smoking in staterooms or on balconies, either.

I've never been to Tracy Arm or Glacier Bay but Hubbard Glacier was fabulous!

-- "smoking is prohibited in all interior spaces throughout (Disney) ships" and my gripe is with Carnival and RCL allowing smoking in diff clubs and casinos.

 

[ilovetexas]

-- "smoking is prohibited in all interior spaces throughout (Disney) ships" and my gripe is with Carnival and RCL allowing smoking in diff clubs and casinos.

I realize what your gripe is, which is why I pointed out that you have other options (since that is what this thread is about). DCL doesn't have a casino, so that's off the table but Celebrity doesn't allow smoking in theirs (unlike all other lines). Also, since you mentioned smoke, I thought I would point out that there are two cruise lines that don't allow smoking on their balconies, which is a BIG complaint about DCL here on the DIS.

Did you feel the need to defend DCL just because I mentioned that they allow smoking and gave you two other options where you can avoid smoke?

 

[NancyIL]

again, this is all new to me for the Alaska cruises, so I appreciate your comments. I'll have to check on my own, but wondering if the air fares to Alaska are so much more than Vancouver or Seattle?

You have me very intrigued about doing the South Bound and seeing Glacier Bay. Sounds so cool. ha! literally!

Airfares to Alaska are not inexpensive, and that's why I used FF miles for those trips! You can get an idea about airfares by checking June 2013 "multi-city" routings on www.kayak.com from your home airport to Anchorage, and from Vancouver (or Seattle) to your home.

If you choose to do a one-way cruise, I strongly suggest you allow at least a few days to see some of the Alaskan interior. At a minimum - I would fly to Anchorage, rent a car, drive to Denali National Park (about 5 hours) for 2 nights, then drive back to Anchorage. Princess sails out of Whittier (about 1.25 hours from Anchorage), and HAL, RCI, and Celebrity sail from Seward (about 3 hours from Anchorage).

The Alaska Ports of Call board at Cruise Critic has a lot of info: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

 

[love280mickey]

Airfares to Alaska are not inexpensive, and that's why I used FF miles for those trips! You can get an idea about airfares by checking June 2013 "multi-city" routings on www.kayak.com from your home airport to Anchorage, and from Vancouver (or Seattle) to your home.

If you choose to do a one-way cruise, I strongly suggest you allow at least a few days to see some of the Alaskan interior. At a minimum - I would fly to Anchorage, rent a car, drive to Denali National Park (about 5 hours) for 2 nights, then drive back to Anchorage. Princess sails out of Whittier (about 1.25 hours from Anchorage), and HAL, RCI, and Celebrity sail from Seward (about 3 hours from Anchorage).

The Alaska Ports of Call board at Cruise Critic has a lot of info: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

thanks again Nancy, that really does sound fantastic. I'll be sure to take note of that website as well, sounds very helpful!

 

[ilovetexas]

Airfares to Alaska are not inexpensive, and that's why I used FF miles for those trips! You can get an idea about airfares by checking June 2013 "multi-city" routings on www.kayak.com from your home airport to Anchorage, and from Vancouver (or Seattle) to your home.

If you choose to do a one-way cruise, I strongly suggest you allow at least a few days to see some of the Alaskan interior. At a minimum - I would fly to Anchorage, rent a car, drive to Denali National Park (about 5 hours) for 2 nights, then drive back to Anchorage. Princess sails out of Whittier (about 1.25 hours from Anchorage), and HAL, RCI, and Celebrity sail from Seward (about 3 hours from Anchorage).

The Alaska Ports of Call board at Cruise Critic has a lot of info: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

All good info and may I also suggest that if you are cruising out of Whittier or Seward, take the Alaskan Railroad from Anchorage down to the port and get a seat in the glass domed cars. It was actually my favorite part of the "cruise"; the train ride to get there. Absolutely beautiful.

 

[tajz90]

I realize what your gripe is, which is why I pointed out that you have other options (since that is what this thread is about). DCL doesn't have a casino, so that's off the table but Celebrity doesn't allow smoking in theirs (unlike all other lines). Also, since you mentioned smoke, I thought I would point out that there are two cruise lines that don't allow smoking on their balconies, which is a BIG complaint about DCL here on the DIS.

Did you feel the need to defend DCL just because I mentioned that they allow smoking and gave you two other options where you can avoid smoke?

Actually, I don't have issues with people smoking on balcony and on decks. Princess still allows as of Jan 2012, smoking in some clubs in interior spaces. I do have an issue with a line that restricts me to my balcony because they allow smoking indoors. Thanks!

I love me some Disney Cruise. I don't love Carnival and I'm ok enough with RCL. If a DCL could not be afforded, I would suggest RCL, but can not speak to Princess, Hal or Celebrity as I have never sailed these lines.

 

[declansdad]

Actually, I don't have issues with people smoking on balcony and on decks. Princess still allows as of Jan 2012, smoking in some clubs in interior spaces. I do have an issue with a line that restricts me to my balcony because they allow smoking indoors. Thanks!

I love me some Disney Cruise. I don't love Carnival and I'm ok enough with RCL. If a DCL could not be afforded, I would suggest RCL, but can not speak to Princess, Hal or Celebrity as I have never sailed these lines.

When we were on the Carnival Paradise in March there was smoking in part of the casino and on one side of the deck by the pool. We certainly didn't feel restricted to our balcony nor did we notice a lot of smoke.

 

[tajz90]

When we were on the Carnival Paradise in March there was smoking in part of the casino and on one side of the deck by the pool. We certainly didn't feel restricted to our balcony nor did we notice a lot of smoke.

Maybe you sailed with people who chose NOT to smoke in the clubs, but on the last Carnival I was on, smoking was allowed in the clubs making it difficult to spend time indoors. Granted, our last Carnival was in 2010, maybe they changed their club smoking policy.

We certainly spent most of our time on deck, even late into the night.

 

[declansdad]

Maybe you sailed with people who chose NOT to smoke in the clubs, but on the last Carnival I was on, smoking was allowed in the clubs making it difficult to spend time indoors. Granted, our last Carnival was in 2010, maybe they changed their club smoking policy.

We certainly spent most of our time on deck, even late into the night.

On both ships we have sailed on (Jan 2011 and March 2012), smoking was restricted to certain areas. It wasn't allowed in all clubs.

 

[NancyIL]

All good info and may I also suggest that if you are cruising out of Whittier or Seward, take the Alaskan Railroad from Anchorage down to the port and get a seat in the glass domed cars. It was actually my favorite part of the "cruise"; the train ride to get there. Absolutely beautiful.

Excellent suggestion! We took the railroad from Seward to Anchorage when our HAL cruise ended, after spending the morning and afternoon in Seward. The railroad doesn't parallel the highway all the way - and the area where the paths diverge is especially lovely. The train to Seward leaves very early in the morning, so you would need to arrive in Anchorage at least the day before.

The road and train tracks parallel each other between Anchorage and Whittier, and it's also a very scenic route.

 

[NancyIL]

Actually, I don't have issues with people smoking on balcony and on decks. Princess still allows as of Jan 2012, smoking in some clubs in interior spaces. I do have an issue with a line that restricts me to my balcony because they allow smoking indoors. Thanks!

I love me some Disney Cruise. I don't love Carnival and I'm ok enough with RCL. If a DCL could not be afforded, I would suggest RCL, but can not speak to Princess, Hal or Celebrity as I have never sailed these lines.

The reason most people get a balcony cabin is because they intend to spend time on it - enjoying the views. If your neighbor on DCL smokes on their balcony while you want to enjoy yours - that would be more aggravating to me than avoiding areas on another cruise line where smoking is allowed.

 

[tajz90]

The reason most people get a balcony cabin is because they intend to spend time on it - enjoying the views. If your neighbor on DCL smokes on their balcony while you want to enjoy yours - that would be more aggravating to me than avoiding areas on another cruise line where smoking is allowed.

We have had a baloney on Disney and RCL. Both time times, smokers. Well, one was actually a cigar smoker. It's not a 24/7 experience. When they are done, the smoke vanishes. I would just find something else to do and I'd head back out later. Inside smoke lingers.

 

[disneyjoe25]

I've done a Caribbean cruise with Carnival and a Norwegian Cruise with RC. It seemed to me Carnival was geared more to the younger crowd. RC again for us starting in Rome at the beginning of September and finally our first Disney cruise (also starting in Rome) next year. We need something to entertain our (will be) three year old so I would assume Disney Magic is the ship for us. I was not at all happy with RC since they advertised a nursery and once we were on the ship, had no crew members certified to do it.

 

[NancyIL]

We have had a baloney on Disney and RCL. Both time times, smokers. Well, one was actually a cigar smoker. It's not a 24/7 experience. When they are done, the smoke vanishes. I would just find something else to do and I'd head back out later. Inside smoke lingers.

As mentioned by others - put Celebrity on your "to be tried some day" list. As far as I know - it has the most restrictive smoking policy of any cruise line.