Is the Sea Rough on August Alaska Cruise in Forward Stateroom?

[Travelbee]

Our family along with two others are taking the DCL Alaska cruise next August. One of the families is very sensitive to motion sickness and have heard that forward staterooms on Alaska cruises are bad news. Can any experienced Alaska cruiser confirm or deny this? We are in Deck 5 forward.

 

[kcashner]

My guess would be that each ship is different...and since the Wonder has never been to Alaska, no one can say how she would react to whatever happens there. However...the ships have excellent stabilizers. We've had some sailings with some rough seas, but the ships handle it well. As I'm sure you've read, midship is better than forward.

 

[bajasst]

I've sailed Alaska twice now both on Celebrity cruise line. Most of the cruise is in the inside passage so you have calm waters most of the time. We left from seward and when we headed toward Hubbard Glacier this is the main area you could have waves but was calm for us both times.

 

[bajasst]

Double post

 

[Empress Room]

Agreed. Was there on the HAL Ryndam a few years back. The inside passage is no problem; however, the parts where you traverse the ocean (Pacific) was some of the roughest water we have encountered in our 12 cruises - definitely not like the Carribean!

The Ryndam captain said that it was typical in that area and that the "ocean is in motion." It sure was. But it's only for about a day. And the views and experiences are so well worth it.

 

[justmestace]

Deck Five is in the middle of the ship (in other words, not high up, and not way down low) so that should reduce some of the motion, but we just got off Norwegian to Alaska and there were two days when we had a ton of motion. As much as I've experienced in the Caribbean.

We were on the Bridge on the last day at sea, and the ship was REALLY rocking. We were told we were experiencing some heavy cross winds, which combined with the waves, were really making the ship roll.

I'd suggest your friends see their doctor about getting a motion sickness patch or some such. I had once thought that we wouldn't have much motion in Alaska, but boy, was I wrong!

 

[luvdamouse91]

We sailed on HAL, we were as far forward as you can get on Deck 4. There was some motion on the first night ( not a lot) when the ship was out in open sea, but once you hit the "inside passage", we found the seas very calm.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't believe DCL is sailing the inside passage - this was one of the reasons many persons have decided not to take DCL to Alaska (not due to rough seas but because they wanted to see the inside passage)

 

[HiMagicFan]

I was on Sea Princess in 09 for alaska inside passage and the only time we did some rock and roll was on our way down from alaska to victoria (Disney is going from Alaska to Vancouver so I expect it could be similar).

It didn't seem to matter where on the ship you were (whether sleeping or just hanging around) you could feel the motion of the ship. So if you are prone to motion sickness you should consider getting the patch or having something with you.

For me, dinner just didn't go well and I used dramamine and ginger on the trip to help aleviate what I was feeling.

We plan to go again in August on Disney to alaska. The high seas were part of the fun (though my stomach didn't think so at the time).

 

[smeecanada]

We sailed RCCL Serenade of the Seas last August and will be sailing DCL next August to Alaska from Vancouver. The sea was not rough at all. You are in fairly protected water leaving from Vancouver and going up the east coast of Vancouver Island - a few open spots after that. We were forward on the RCCL cruise and will be DECK 5 - 5510 on the DCL cruise.

You don't get many wind storms in August around here. The May weather this past year was a bit stormy though. If the cruise was coming down to Victoria (which it is not)- I would be concerned as the ship would most likely come down along the Westcoast of the Island which is totally unprotected water.

 

[woody73]

We sailed on HAL twice in Alaska, and had significant motion in the Pacific.
The inside passage was very smooth.

Woody

 

[moomy-san]

VANCOUVER, Canada (KABC) -- Disney's Cruise Line announced plans Friday for its first cruises to Alaska.

Disney will kick off the Alaska sailings in 2011 aboard the 2,400 passenger Disney Wonder.

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The Wonder will operate out of Vancouver, Canada. It will offer seven-night roundtrip voyages with ports of call in Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway.

The first of 18 cruises will depart Vancouver on May 3, 2011, with the last cruise scheduled for Aug., 30, 2011. Rates will start at $939 per person for an inside cabin, based on double occupancy.

Disney's move into Alaska comes as five ships have been pulled from the region.

Cruise lines have said a passenger cruise tax approved by Alaska voters three years ago and additional regulations imposed in recent years make the region less appealing.

Carnival is reportedly considering a lawsuit against Alaska for the $50 per passenger cruise tax.

Disney says it will upgrade the Wonder with a 2,500 square-foot lounge to watch for wildlife as it sails along the Inside Passage. The lounge will have floor-to-ceiling, curved glass windows.

Disney is the parent company of ABC7.

Taken from the Disney website:
"Guests depart from Vancouver, Canada and travel through the Inside Passage to Southeastern Alaska, with stops in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan."
I kinda had a panic attack at the thought of my first cruise NOT being the inside passage. But from what I can find it will be!

 

[Momof3greatkids]

I am also confused about inside passage or not. The map Disney posted does not look to be the inside passage, according to what my understanding of the inside passage is. But, they claim it is an inside passage cruise. Not so sure about that.

 

[smeecanada]

The Inside Passage is a coastal route for oceangoing vessels along a series of passages between the mainland and the coastal islands. It is generally accepted that this geographic region starts in the Puget Sound of the U.S. state of Washington and extends through coastal British Columbia and the Alaska Panhandle.

Basically from Seattle, Washington (provided the Ship cruises on the East side of Vancouver Island) upto Skagway, Alaska. Which DCL will do with leaving from Vancouver.

 

[TDC Nala]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2491135

This thread notes Disney is not visiting Glacier Bay which is apparently not the same as the inside passage. So they may be visiting the inside passage but not Glacier Bay.

 

[WDWLVR]

This thread notes Disney is not visiting Glacier Bay which is apparently not the same as the inside passage. So they may be visiting the inside passage but not Glacier Bay.

Correct. Cruising Glacier Bay is done by MANY inside passage cruises, but you can still cruise the inside passage and not strop there. That is what I believe DCL is doing.

 

[Momof3greatkids]

I just checked with Disney and even spoke with a supervisor. Disney does not do an inside passage cruise. They spend some time in the inside passage sailing Tracy Arm, and between the ports of Skagway and Junuea. However, they sail up the western side of Vancouver out into the Pacific, and then back into the Pacific to reach Ketchican, and then the same for Vancouver. I am really disappointed. Rougher seas, no views on sailing days. Disney should do better than this. 2 port days are very short only about 7 hours each, only 1 port day is even a full day. Disney is new and other lines probably have priority, but Disney should do better than this for what they want money wise. Alaska is about seeing the beauty and scenery. Thinking about changing to a line that does inside passage.

 

[TDC Nala]

According to what you wrote it appears they are doing SOME of the cruise on the inside passage but not ALL of it.

 

[Momof3greatkids]

They are not really doing what a true inside passage cruise is. They are only going into the inside passage to hit a couple of ports. By convention, an inside passage cruise would sail on the eastern side of Vancouver and between the coastal islands and the mainland. Disney does not do that. They only sail into the inside passage to do Tracy Arm and stop at Skagway and Juneau. As opposed to say Princess, who would sail east of Vancouver and stay in the inside passage the entire time. Hope that makes sense. There is a much greater chance of rough seas and less views the way Disney is doing it.

 

[smeecanada]

There is a difference between West of Vancouver and West of Vancouver Island. If they are stating they are sailing West of Vancouver then they are doing the Inside Passage. It doesn't make sense that they are going to back track so to speak and go around the West of Vancouver Island. Rougher seas and not as scenic. I think it is more that DCL CM's don't know their BC geography well enough to explain it.

I would almost bet that all cruises leaving Vancouver for Alaska sail up between the Mainland of BC and the East coast of Vancouver Island. The Island is not little - it takes more than 8+ hours to drive from one end to the other. It's a 1 hour and 40 minute sail from the Island to Vancouver and that is from the East side of the Island, not from Victoria proper where they will dock on the Repo cruises. Why add all that extra time when you can just come out of Vancouver and essentially turn right and head up to Alaska.