OT Cruise to Alaska...Help Me Plan

[drnriordan]

DH and I just got back from a 12 night cruisetour (land & sea) with Princess. It was absolutely glorious. Alaska is truly amazing and an unspoiled gem, provided you can get out to those unspoiled places. I'm concrned that your only considration is price without any thought to itinerary. I researched for months on cruisecritic, with TAs and via books and on-line to select our itinerary. While I know price is important, with a round trip out of seattle, I think the furthest into Alaska you may get is Skagway and Juneau, or maybe slightly further. While these are great ports to see, you will definitely be missing out on some of the very best of Alaska by not going further. YMMV with the ship and itinerary you've chosen, but just wanted to offer my perspective given my proximity to an Alaskan cruise.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

DH and I just got back from a 12 night cruisetour (land & sea) with Princess. It was absolutely glorious. Alaska is truly amazing and an unspoiled gem, provided you can get out to those unspoiled places. I'm concrned that your only considration is price without any thought to itinerary. I researched for months on cruisecritic, with TAs and via books and on-line to select our itinerary. While I know price is important, with a round trip out of seattle, I think the furthest into Alaska you may get is Skagway and Juneau, or maybe slightly further. While these are great ports to see, you will definitely be missing out on some of the very best of Alaska by not going further. YMMV with the ship and itinerary you've chosen, but just wanted to offer my perspective given my proximity to an Alaskan cruise.

My thought is not only price. I am trying to find the best deal that is me. Having 3 school aged kids that need to be cared for while we are gone there is no way we can take a 2 week cruise...a week is still pushing it. The itenerary does include Glacier Bay and from what I have heard that is the best part. We live in Montana. There are many places that look very much like some of the towns that we would go to. If I had unlimited resourses (and no children) I would take a trip around the world.

 

[Vijoge]

If I had unlimited resourses (and no children) I would take a trip around the world.

That's my plan for when I win the lottery!

 

[bumbershoot]

Tell him you heard the rates for passports are going to go up, and you want to get your passports before the fees go up.

Since the prices *just* went up (the other week) and he might somehow be aware of that, I'm not sure that's the best way!



I'm a person that doesn't really like surprises, not good or bad ones. I'm happy being surprised by something being possible, or someone being interested in something that I ddin't think they were...but not when they hold back info in order TO surprise me.

So that's where I'm coming from.

I, personally, in your husband's position, would probably be extremely happy to have you just find good prices and good itineraries, or at least just get a whole bunch of brochures (I'm sure the big cruiselines still send those out!), and find out HOW to budget for a great trip...and then present all of that to him.

So you're not giving him a "done deal", but you've gathered all the info that you need, including getting links to cruiseline reviews, actual ship reviews, etc etc etc, you've found where the money will come from, you've gotten ideas on great excursions that you guys can afford (cruisecritic's forums are GREAT for that!), and THAT is quite a lovely surprise!

So that's the way I would want to go, if giving or receiving such a lovely thing.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Since the prices *just* went up (the other week) and he might somehow be aware of that, I'm not sure that's the best way!



I'm a person that doesn't really like surprises, not good or bad ones. I'm happy being surprised by something being possible, or someone being interested in something that I ddin't think they were...but not when they hold back info in order TO surprise me.

So that's where I'm coming from.

I, personally, in your husband's position, would probably be extremely happy to have you just find good prices and good itineraries, or at least just get a whole bunch of brochures (I'm sure the big cruiselines still send those out!), and find out HOW to budget for a great trip...and then present all of that to him.

So you're not giving him a "done deal", but you've gathered all the info that you need, including getting links to cruiseline reviews, actual ship reviews, etc etc etc, you've found where the money will come from, you've gotten ideas on great excursions that you guys can afford (cruisecritic's forums are GREAT for that!), and THAT is quite a lovely surprise!

So that's the way I would want to go, if giving or receiving such a lovely thing.

If my DH would go for it this would be a good idea. He would just tell me how we just went on a trip to WDW and how no one will watch the kiddos, etc. He would not appreciate getting in the car and flying to Seattle just to get on a ship. He likes time to prepare. He likes me to decide all the main things and he likes to do the finishing touches. If I present his with a paid for trip and give him plenty of time to prepare I think that would work.