Non-Disney Alaska Cruise Questions

[hmcfall711]

We are hoping to do an Alaskan cruise in June or July (this year) for our 20th anniversary. We have only ever cruised with Disney and only in the Bahamas. I have a lot of questions and I know that my Disney friends will have the answers.

1) It is my understanding that you can not fly into Seward on commercial airlines, that our best best is to fly into Anchorage. This would mean that we stay the night there (based on the current flight availability) and shuttle to Seward. Does this sound correct?

2) Any suggestions for hotels in Anchorage?

3) Similarly we will disembark in Vancouver, any suggestions for where to stay a night and how to get to the airport (economically)?

4) Currently we are looking into cruising with the Norwegian Jewel. Has anyone else been on this ship? Suggestions or comments about the ship or excursions through Norwegian?

** Due to some unusual circumstances, we are really trying to do this as economically as possible. It has been in the plan for years and we had hoped to go with Disney but lots of life changes have made it an unrealistic option.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

 

[xlxo]

With regards to your Vancouver hotel question....

• Vancouver offers many hotel choices for all budgets. I like people with unlimited budgets. Vancouver is worth stay a few extra days as your bonus port.
  • Blue Horizon is a great central downtown hotel for value travellers
  • YWCA is another popular option for budget travellers
• the $4 subway is the cheapest way to get from downtown to the airport. If you travel heavy with lots of luggage, the $31 cab ride is a great option.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We cruised Alaska on the NCL Pearl a few years ago. It was fine. Definitely not my favorite ship (I don't like the way NCL upsells), but if you are only there to see Alaska, it's really spectacular. We did 2 excursions through NCL (helicopter to a glacier with dog sledding, Skagway train), both of which were very good, though I wish we had had more time to walk through Skagway. We walked through Juneau on our own (great crab shack by the library!) and just did a hop on, hop off bus in Ketchikan plus purchased tickets to the lumberjack show which was really fun.

I can't comment on Seward or Vancouver unfortunately as our ship embarked and disembarked in Seattle which was such a fantastic city. I hope you enjoy your cruise! Alaska is stunningly beautiful!

 

[Pens Fan]

As for the first question - yes, you will fly into Anchorage. Transportation options to Seward include the train, bus or renting a car. Hertz offers one way rentals between Anchorage and Seward. I'm sure NCL offers some type of transfer, though I imagine at a premium price.

In regards to the Jewel, while we haven't been on that ship, se sailed on the NCL Sun from Vancouver to Seward last summer (the Jewel is running that route this year). We loved it, so much so that we have two more NCL cruises booked. The Jewel is larger than the Sun, but not one of their mega ships. We thought the food was much better than Disney and the service comparable, though Disney definitely wins for family friendly entertainment. An Alaskan cruise is all about Alaska anyway. I'm sure you will love your cruise no matter which line you sail on. We booked all of our excursions privately, rather than through NCL. Here is recent thread discussing Alaska excursions:
https://www.disboards.com/threads/alaska-independent-tour-operators-and-excursions.3662291/

You stated that you are planning on the southbound trip. I just wanted to make sure you realized that the itinerary is different if you choose to begin in Vancouver rather than Seward. The northbound cruise goes to Glacier Bay which is pretty spectacular. Southbound goes to Tracy Arm instead. While it's beautiful as well, if I had to choose I'd pick Glacier Bay.

 

[Shanti]

We will disembark in Vancouver, any suggestions for where to stay a night...

We're cruising to Alaska this June, and booked a before & after night at the bed & breakfast Barclay House in Vancouver. It is really well-reviewed on Trip Advisor & looks beautiful. The nightly rate we got for a 2-person room was less than US $200 including taxes & fees.

 

[Shanti]

I like people with unlimited budgets.

???

 

[jdb in AZ]

We cruised northward from Vancouver to Seward and the cruise ended just a few yards from a rail station, so we took a scenic passenger train right to the Anchorage airport. Our luggage was checked from the ship to our home airport so we didn't have to hassle with it. This was on RCCL; I assume Princess and Holland have similar options. Don't know about Norwegian. We had such poor service from them a few years ago I refuse to cruise with them again.

 

[hmcfall711]

Thank you to everyone for your input, it will definitely help with our planning. Now to commit to the decisions.