Kinda clueless looking for direction - Alaska or Europe newbie cruisers

[missesdisney]

Very different trips, so it becomes very subjective.

I'll share my own subjectivity:
Doing Alaska this summer. A cruise ship is a great way to see Alaska. Get a chance to see several ports, while enjoying the comforts of a cruise ship. Not visiting major cities, no night life in these places to speak of. It's about getting the overall flavor of the glaciers, mountains, wildlife. And these are locations that aren't exactly easy to get to. I can't just book a flight to Skagway and then take a taxi to Juneau. So a cruise ship is a pretty effective way to get from place to place.

I would NOT want to do Europe by cruise ship. This is a personal preference. Because with Europe, I want to fully immerse myself in the cities and culture. I can enjoy the local dining and nightlife. When paying for a cruise, you are partially paying for the nightly shows, you are paying for the banquet hall dining. I'd much rather spend the night at a quaint French cafe, eating authentic local food, sipping the wine, then rushing back to the ship for a cruise-evening. If I'm visiting Rome, there is a long list of activities that I would want to explore over a few days.. Not just do a quick city-highlights tour for a few hours, before rushing back to the ship. Take the 7 night Northern Europe cruise in 2016: Round trip from Copenhagen. A 7 hour stop in Tallinn Eastonia. Not exactly high on my list of European destinations I want to go to. Then a full day, 15 hours in St. Petersburg Russia. Now that is an interesting location -- I wouldn't mind spending a couple days in and around St. Petersburg! Even just really appreciating the Hermitage Museum and the Winter Palace, want to just quickly rush through both?
Then a mere 6 hours in Helsinki... While not highest on my list of destinations, 6 hours barely gives you time for a quick city tour. Then 8 hours in Stokholm, but have to get back to the ship before dinner time. It's the capital of Sweden, and don't even have time to enjoy a dinner there.
So if I was doing a week in Northern Europe -- maybe I'd do just Russia, and spend a few days in St. Petersburg and a few days in Moscow. Or spend a couple days each in Norway, Finland and Denmark. Getting to enjoy the days and nights, not just a quick in and out around the major port cities.

Now this is purely my own personal reasoning. Obviously, lots of people disagree with me and love European cruises. But to me, cruises are about enjoying a cruise, while also getting in a bit of local scenery (whether a beach in the Caribbean or glacier in Alaska), while Europe is really getting into the local culture, sights, foods, etc. Things that are not best appreciated from the deck of a cruise ship .

This is a great overview and I appreciate your thoughts that this is what works for you. Thanks!

 

[missesdisney]

Keep the info coming these comparisons are exactly what I am looking for. I know everyone travels differently and we will have other opportunities to do either I have just decided based on the overall idea of seizing life that it's time to cross somewhere off a bucket list - and a cruise to one of these locations may be the way to cross of more than one and if we go for Europe decide where to visit on land another time.

What do you all mean by port-intensive?

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Keep the info coming these comparisons are exactly what I am looking for. I know everyone travels differently and we will have other opportunities to do either I have just decided based on the overall idea of seizing life that it's time to cross somewhere off a bucket list - and a cruise to one of these locations may be the way to cross of more than one and if we go for Europe decide where to visit on land another time.

What do you all mean by port-intensive?

Basically lots of ports.

So

Alaska has a seven night cruise three ports of call and Tracy arm and two sea days.
A seven night Med cruise may have six ports of call, - port intensive.
A twelve night Med and Greece cruise seven ports of call four sea days. Not port intensive.

 

[ldo]

My family is a lot like yours with teens the same age. We like seeing bits of things, with plans to go back to where we love later. DH and I love sun/water/snorkeling--3 teens, not so much. We are a very active family. you can read a book and sleep at home is our motto.
In Europe, we have checked some off our bucket list and had some surprises-for ex., DH and I no need to go back to the Greek Isles. Nice to see, but OK for "once and done" for us. But, I could go back 5X to Italian ports.
Baltic cruises have nice climates, even in the summer. Med. cruises are HOT--like wear only cotton, lather on the sunscreen, be prepared to be sweaty and exhausted at the end of the day--but they have exceptional sightseeing and activities.
Baltic is more of a city-sightseeing cruise, while (I imagine) Norway will be more of a scenery/active/sightseeing cruise. For ex., for Norway, DH and DS will kayak at Gerianger (sp?), we'll take the Ho-HO bus/walk around in Alessund/Bergen/Stavenger (sp?) and maybe hike a bit, take the funicular up for photos.
On the Baltics, we did the following:
Tallin-walk around 1/2 day
Finland-bike ride
StP.-10+ hr private tour (great, but exhausting)
Stockholm-Ho-Ho to city center/museum/boat ride
if the Med, we like (have done) the following:
BCN-bike tour, Sangra Familia
Rome-Colo, Forum, Spanish steps, trevi--will do Vatican next time
Livorno/La Spezia--1. Pisa tower climb, walk around, 2. lucca/pisa, 3. cinque terre. Florence by train is also a good option
Naples-Pompeii + Herculeum by train or Sorrento
Marseille-tour to Avignon/Aix.
good luck. Elaine

 

[Ofinn]

I've been debating the same thing for a month. I've changed my cruise multiple times. It's between, Alaska, Norway and the Med. I know I'll eventually do them all, but I'm having a hard time deciding. I was set on the med until they released the New England cruise. Now I'm leaning alaska because I think I may be able to pull off both cruises if I don't take 3 weeks off for Europe. On the other hand... the dollar is gaining strength and the forecast looks good... so this is a good time for Europe. Good luck you will probably come to a decision before I do.

 

[jdb in AZ]

Keep the info coming these comparisons are exactly what I am looking for. I know everyone travels differently and we will have other opportunities to do either I have just decided based on the overall idea of seizing life that it's time to cross somewhere off a bucket list - and a cruise to one of these locations may be the way to cross of more than one and if we go for Europe decide where to visit on land another time.

What do you all mean by port-intensive?

You spend a lot of days in port instead of "at sea" where you can relax and unwind between ports.

 

[SailingSeas]

Duh didn't even think of that. Myself, hubby and son who is 14. We are sightseeing types - we like to be moving and doing and seeing things, but not sporty/water kinds of things, and relaxing is not much in the vocab Like the idea of DCL for shows, activities, some pool, etc. on days at sea but locations we wouldn't otherwise go to for port days.

Misses, it's okay, your question was bound to drum up quite a wide range of responses (which is has) and each of us has a unique family makeup. It sounds like both itineraries will be wonderful for you, and I can see why you are drawn to them. And I can also see why you have no desire to do the Caribbean as well.

Both Alaska and the Med are perfect on the Disney ships. Both become a floating hotel, where you are basically sailing your bed around (and world-class service) to experience as many ports as possible, with minimal downtime (land itineraries have downtime to move from hotel to hotel.) Since you travel a lot for work (as do I) you know what I mean.

I am going to make a particular recommendation based on the age of your son and what you have expressed as an active family. Go Europe to start. Get your feet wet with the 7-night Med cruise: the culture, history, and (hopefully) language experience will be an amazing enhancement for his high school career. if he's studying an language, throw him under the bus and get him talking in the ports. I cannot stress how much European cruising has helped my daughter in all subjects in high school, and has helped her earned scholarships and get acceptances for college. We are avid Disney cruisers, and this was a completely unexpected and delightful benefit as she started the college process this year. In a perfect world and if you truly are looking to seize life, I *highly* recommend the 12-night Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruise on August 1. We've done all of these ports on different itineraries, and each are spectacular. To cover the highlights of the ancient world in one trip, seasoned with the local flavor of the more intimate ports, is an amazing experience for all of you. Also, you don't necessarily have to book the Disney excursions; we've done everything from Disney excursions to private tours to going it on our own.

I do think you would also love the Alaskan sailings as well, I just have a hunch that a Med cruise first will be a wiser investment for your family in the long run.

And I do find any of the Med cruises to be port intensive - even our 12-night Greek Isles one with 4 sea days. Port-intensive is more than how many sea days you have, it's also the length of time you are in each port of call. When you are off the ship at 7am and don't have to be back until 7 or 8 (or later!) at night, then the port days are long and... intense.

 

[ldo]

As a European history major, I agree with SailingSeas for a Med. cruise. At 14, seeing some of the great antiquities of the world is an awesome experience. But, it is very hot and sunny--doable with lots of water, breaks, umbrella/hats for shade. If you don't wan the heat, I'd probably do the Baltics, as being able to see Russia is also a once in a lifetime experience.

 

[missesdisney]

Misses, it's okay, your question was bound to drum up quite a wide range of responses (which is has) and each of us has a unique family makeup. It sounds like both itineraries will be wonderful for you, and I can see why you are drawn to them. And I can also see why you have no desire to do the Caribbean as well.

Both Alaska and the Med are perfect on the Disney ships. Both become a floating hotel, where you are basically sailing your bed around (and world-class service) to experience as many ports as possible, with minimal downtime (land itineraries have downtime to move from hotel to hotel.) Since you travel a lot for work (as do I) you know what I mean.

I am going to make a particular recommendation based on the age of your son and what you have expressed as an active family. Go Europe to start. Get your feet wet with the 7-night Med cruise: the culture, history, and (hopefully) language experience will be an amazing enhancement for his high school career. if he's studying an language, throw him under the bus and get him talking in the ports. I cannot stress how much European cruising has helped my daughter in all subjects in high school, and has helped her earned scholarships and get acceptances for college. We are avid Disney cruisers, and this was a completely unexpected and delightful benefit as she started the college process this year. In a perfect world and if you truly are looking to seize life, I *highly* recommend the 12-night Mediterranean and Greek Isles cruise on August 1. We've done all of these ports on different itineraries, and each are spectacular. To cover the highlights of the ancient world in one trip, seasoned with the local flavor of the more intimate ports, is an amazing experience for all of you. Also, you don't necessarily have to book the Disney excursions; we've done everything from Disney excursions to private tours to going it on our own.

I do think you would also love the Alaskan sailings as well, I just have a hunch that a Med cruise first will be a wiser investment for your family in the long run.

And I do find any of the Med cruises to be port intensive - even our 12-night Greek Isles one with 4 sea days. Port-intensive is more than how many sea days you have, it's also the length of time you are in each port of call. When you are off the ship at 7am and don't have to be back until 7 or 8 (or later!) at night, then the port days are long and... intense.

Thank you for the thorough assessment!

We are going to do Europe and I believe the 7 day med with a few days early in Barcelona to sight see. After going through the excursion descriptions (I think I will do tours in most locations if for no reason the language barrier combined with my seafood allergy - don't want to goof on that). The kid wants the med - hubby and I were on the fence, and then I checked flights. We can get to Barcelona in a reasonable amount of time (in line with California where we are going this August) but Copenhagen not so much. So pretty sure the 7 day med from Barcelona with the three Italy and one France stop and two days at sea.

SO, given long port days I am thinking we will want second seating for dinner? We are get up and out and go go go all day kind of people so that part will be fine. Any other considerations for a clueless cruiser (or places to find good basics?) We'll need to book when the flights come up in a month or so - they aren't open for next august yet.

Happy for any advice on this particular cruise or cruising in general. Thank you to all who provided info so far it's been helpful!

BTW - My son is planning to take Italian and not sure if he will have this first year but hoping so now!!!

 

[ldo]

sounds like a great plan! I will say, though, that some ports are so easy to DIY, such as Pompeii (and Herculaneum on the way back, if you are so inclined) by train. There are many sites online with step-by step instructions. I have also posted them before on disboards, as well. There are thousands of English speaking tourists each day going there. Train personnel and Pompeii ticket vendors speak excellent English. Even the tobacco stand vendor across from the port speaks English-plus everyone is buying the same thing from him--day pass good for trams and trains to Pompeii for 8 euros. Whatever you decide, have a great trip.
After having late dinner 1X, we always get main seating, as we are famished when we return and have found if we snack, then we're too full for late dinner--plus we are super tired. You have to be back on the ship at least 1 hr prior to departure time. On other cruiselines, we told the server we would be 30 minutes late the next night and it was fine with them. We said they could just bring the courses together. Elaine

 

[kiford]

SO, given long port days I am thinking we will want second seating for dinner?

Part of the decision is personal preference. Early seating is too early for us - we normally eat later at home. There's also fewer young children at the later seating (it's just DH and I) and can be eaten at a more leisurely pace because they're not worried about setting up for another seating. I don't believe that dining is just about acquiring sustenance. I like to enjoy my food, the company and relax over coffee and liqueur after dinner so the more hurried pace of early dining just isn't for us.

The other part of the decision will be how long your port days are. We were usually on very long tours during the day. While it is possible to make early seating after a tour that gets back just before all aboard, we liked to shower and change (especially after the really hot days of which there were many) and relax before dinner; sometimes we'd go to the adults-only pool for a bit. If I was hungry, I could always grab a slice of pizza from deck before dinner.

 

[bibbidibobbidibecky]

I vote Europe, although I am a bit biased as I've never been on an Alaskan cruise! I don't know if you are traveling with kids, but I will say this in case you are: I never thought I would want to cruise in Europe, but it makes life SO MUCH EASIER. I have cruised in Europe twice now and several other times just on land. Getting from place to place is the hardest part and the ship does it for you. It's so much more relaxing! And you get to see small towns you would probably never go to if you weren't on a ship! We love it, and with kids, it's just so much nicer and less stressful. I say do the Med one with Greece next summer!

Edit, just saw you only have a 14-year-old, so not little kids, but I think that's the perfect age to do Europe and while traveling on land wouldn't be hard for the three of you, it will still be nicer to cruise!

 

[SailingSeas]

Thank you for the thorough assessment!

We are going to do Europe and I believe the 7 day med with a few days early in Barcelona to sight see. After going through the excursion descriptions (I think I will do tours in most locations if for no reason the language barrier combined with my seafood allergy - don't want to goof on that). The kid wants the med - hubby and I were on the fence, and then I checked flights. We can get to Barcelona in a reasonable amount of time (in line with California where we are going this August) but Copenhagen not so much. So pretty sure the 7 day med from Barcelona with the three Italy and one France stop and two days at sea.

You are welcome, and that's the perfect European starter cruise. Get a taste for possible later trips; you know you will want to return

SO, given long port days I am thinking we will want second seating for dinner?

I heartily recommend this. Your port days are longer than most itineraries. If you want to make it back for dinner (You're in Europe, you're active, this may not matter anyways) then second dining is the way to go. You are also sailing with a higher percentage of Europeans than most itineraries, and they dine later, so if it's available, grab it.

We are get up and out and go go go all day kind of people so that part will be fine. Any other considerations for a clueless cruiser (or places to find good basics?) We'll need to book when the flights come up in a month or so - they aren't open for next august yet.

Not sure where you are flying from (sounds like east coast?) but also consider Aer Lingus. Great flight times, and a possible stopover in Dublin, if you care to add on another country to your stay. Usually some of the lowest priced flights available, too.

BTW - My son is planning to take Italian and not sure if he will have this first year but hoping so now!!!

It is super helpful, and I'm glad to hear he's taking Italian! That and Spanish are both very helpful to have.

 

[SwimMom2]

We did the inaugural Norweigan fjord cruise as our first cruise ever. I am so delighted that we did. It was a great choice for our family. We were always busy on the ships and in port. Disney does an incredible job of offering programming for many types of people. We spent 4 days in Copenhagen before and after the cruise so we could get the land experience as well. It was phenomenal. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

People who say to choose the itinerary first are spot on. Do it. You know your family best. If you are even thinking about this, then it is likely the right choice for you.

 

[jburge12000]

We did Alaska last summer and loved it. Booked the Med cruise for this summer while we were in Alaska on the Wonder. About 6 weeks till we leave for the Med. My son took a world language class this year with Spanish and French, chose it as his elective because of this trip, and did Rome in his History class so he is very excited to see some of the things he was studying. My wife does work in London occasionally but none of us have every gone to Europe. We are flying into London. Since the trains are so easy their we are doing a week before our cruise starting in London, then over to Paris, and then a day in Barcelona before our cruise. When we booked on the Wonder last summer, the guy helping us recommended the second dining for the Med cruises since some of the port adventures do not get back until after 6:00. Gives us time to get cleaned up a little before dinner.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

In the Med the dinner times are 6.15 and 8.45 and all port adventures are timed to be back by then.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We have done both Alaska and Norway with DCL. We enjoy going by cruise so we don't have to arrange our own transportation to different cities and meals are a no brainer. We are also a family of 3 with a 14 year old DD. She absolutely loved both itineraries. She loves wildlife so Alaska was awesome. But, she is old enough now to appreciate the history and splendor of royalty in Europe and a different culture.

If Northern Europe is what you want to see, I don't know when DCL will be back after 2016. But, Alaska was awesome as well. You can't go wrong with either choice. You can read about our adventures below in by clicking on my trip reports..

 

[Lobofan5]

I originally booked the Norwegian Fjord cruise for our 25th anniversary next summer. THEN I started pricing the add ins....the flights there...the 'we have to do THIS or THAT while we are there"... the expense QUICKLY skyrocketed....and it would have been a 2 week vacation. Once I got in to the mindset of a 2 week vacation...I happened to notice the 14 night Panama Canal cruise was VERY inexpensive. Double the cruise for less money, less flight expense... so, long story short... I'm now obsessively planning our 5/1/16 Panama canal cruise.

 

[NancyIL]

I see you've already decided on Europe, but I'll still add my two cents! I've cruised to both Alaska and Europe, and both are great destinations. However, I prefer to visit cooler places when it's hot at home, so that means Alaska, Canada, or northern Europe during the summer. In winter I want to get out of the cold, so that's the time to go to the Caribbean (of which I'm kind of tired), Australia/New Zealand, and South America. I wouldn't do a summer cruise to the Med because it's hot. (For the same reason - I usually don't go to WDW in the summer.) I'd rather do my Med cruising in the spring or fall - which pretty much eliminates Disney. That's okay, because I'm not willing to pay DCL's prices for their port-intensive summer cruises.

 

[taysalyn]

I vote Alaska but only because we just came off our Alaskan DCL cruise about 3 weeks ago so it's still very fresh in my memory. We have a transatlantic cruise booked for next year but I don't consider that a European cruise as it is leaving Europe and ending in New York. I think everyone has great opinions and it really does come down to what you expect from your vacation. Are you more into nature scenes and enjoying the serenity of the mountains around you or would you prefer to do more metropolitan sightseeing? I did feel that we could have used more time in port in the Alaskan towns but that is part of a cruise; limited availability in port. But then a European cruise gives you stops in different locations so you can get a sample of those places for future reference. IMHO, you can't go wrong with either one. It is a Disney cruise after all.