OT Cruise to Alaska...Help Me Plan

[TiggerStac]

Loved DCL but can't recommend them for an Alaska cruise. Glacier Bay is the most amazing part of an Alaska cruise and Disney doesn't have permits to go there.
Bring binoculars and study up and budget for your desired excursions. If you don't have a digital SLR take a traditional film camera as a regular digital camera will not be fast enough to get whales, eagles, and other wildlife before they are gone.

I agree Glacier Bay was the highlight of our cruise. Absolutely breathtaking! We sat out on our balcony as we went thru, and the boat spun very slowly. We could hear the nature talks going on over the intercom.

We went on carnival almost 2 years ago.

 

[mrsklamc]

We went on Holland America 5 years ago and tipping was included. Have they changed that?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

Just putting in my 2 cents....Holland America Line!!!! They go to Glacier Bay, have amazing food and service....Just remember to include crewmembers' tips as part of a budget.

We did a Holland America cruise out of Seattle a few years ago, and it was great. We did most of the excursions on our own after reading about them on Cruise Critic (Captain Larry's whale watching out of Juneau was awesome!). We booked through Costco, so check prices there - thye were much cheaper than anyone at cruisecompete.com.

 

[zscfan]

When we went on our cruise in May, Holland America added $11 per day to our onboard accounts for the tips. You can take the auto tips off, but it is an unwritten custom that it is rude to do so.

 

[mrsklamc]

When we went on our cruise in May, Holland America added $11 per day to our onboard accounts for the tips. You can take the auto tips off, but it is an unwritten custom that it is rude to do so.

I think this is how it was for us too but I'm not sure as the cruise was a wedding gift. I do know that we were specifically told not to tip because it was included in whatever way, but that didn't stop them from acting just a tad bit like they expected it. I probably would tip a little extra now, but we were at a very different place in our financial lives then, AND now I am much more conscience of how a small sum to me can make a big difference in the lives of the crew and their families.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I received a call from a very nice woman from Carnival. I think I may found my cruise. Sept 2011 for about 2000. This is for a balcony. I don't think I will be able to put down the deposit until Dec so hopefully the type of room I want will still be available. Right now we are working on WDW in Dec (our vacations are always cash only) but after that the cruise will be more manageable.

 

[Vijoge]

I think I may found my cruise .

Have a great trip! Alaska is truly beautiful! Excellent decision on the balcony, by the way. . .

 

[MaryC]

Another plug for Holland America. I've been on 4 lines, and HAL's AK cruises are awesome, staff is friendly, great value for $. And, they have Glacier Bay permits and bring naturalists aboard.

That said, you really want to familiarize yourself with the different lines. There is a wide range in service and quality--- and you don't want any surprises about service, etc, that could be avoided by a few hours of research.
Quality + service aren't necessarily expensive. Enjoy your special time w/ hubby!

 

[wdwfan16]

I did find a 6 day cruise on carnival that will run us about 5K. It sails out of Seattle. To me it sounds like a steal compared to what it costs to take 5 of us to WDW.

If you leave and return to Seattle you will not need a passport. If you leave from Vancouver you will need a passport.

 

[antmaril]

If you leave and return to Seattle you will not need a passport. If you leave from Vancouver you will need a passport.

I don't think this is correct. Even if you are traveling roundtrip from Seattle, there is always a stop in Canada, which requires a passport or a passport card.

To the OP, my friends and I took a cruise to Alaska on Holland America last August and it was fabulous. Glacier Bay is spectacular!

 

[wdwfan16]

I don't think this is correct. Even if you are traveling roundtrip from Seattle, there is always a stop in Canada, which requires a passport or a passport card.

To the OP, my friends and I took a cruise to Alaska on Holland America last August and it was fabulous. Glacier Bay is spectacular!

There is a rule about a closed loop cruise. That is one that departs and returns to the US. This is true in the Caribbean too. You might need the passport if you want to get off the ship in a different country but not if you stay on the ship or only get off in US ports then no need for a port.

What Canadian port do they stop at? Many depart and return at Vancouver and then you need the passport.

Personally I would get the passport just in case and for future travel. They could also get a passcard. It allows land or sea only. If you fly you need a passport. Again I would pay the extra for the passport so you are not restricted.



ETA:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/passportGuidelines.do

"U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate and laminated government issued picture ID, denoting photo, name and date of birth. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "

 

[antmaril]

There is a rule about a closed loop cruise. That is one that departs and returns to the US. This is true in the Caribbean too. You might need the passport if you want to get off the ship in a different country but not if you stay on the ship or only get off in US ports then no need for a port.

What Canadian port do they stop at? Many depart and return at Vancouver and then you need the passport.

Personally I would get the passport just in case and for future travel. They could also get a passcard. It allows land or sea only. If you fly you need a passport. Again I would pay the extra for the passport so you are not restricted.





ETA:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/beforeyouboard/passportGuidelines.do

"U.S. citizens on closed-loop cruises (cruises that begin and end at the same port in the U.S.) will be able to enter or depart the country with proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate and laminated government issued picture ID, denoting photo, name and date of birth. A U.S. citizen under the age of 16 will be able to present either an original or a certified copy of his or her birth certificate, a Consular Report of Birth Abroad issues by DOS, or Certificate of Naturalization issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "

All I know is that I took a cruise out of Seattle last year on Holland America (with a stop in Victoria, British Columbia) and we were told we needed a passport or a passport card to sail on that ship. All of the cruises out of Seattle stop in Canada.

 

[mrsklamc]

There's some weird rule about being required to stop in a foreign port....Only exception I am aware of is NCL America that circles Hawaii.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I have one more obstacle...how to surprise him. Here is some info... cruise is Sept 13 2011. We do not have passports but I know we will want them to be able to participate in the ports of call. DH's birthday is at the end of Jan and our anniversary is in Oct...neither are convenient to give him this gift. How would you surprise your SO in this situation?

 

[Vijoge]

All I know is that I took a cruise out of Seattle last year on Holland America (with a stop in Victoria, British Columbia) and we were told we needed a passport or a passport card to sail on that ship. All of the cruises out of Seattle stop in Canada.

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1139/kw/cruise to hawaii/session/L3NpZC8yczdHOFM2aw==

This may help.

We are sailing to Hawaii, round trip from Los Angeles, next month. We have one foreign port stop, Ensenada, Mexico. A passport is not required for our cruise. All that is needed is a certified copy of a birth certificate and a valid DL or state ID in order to sail.

 

[Vijoge]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I have one more obstacle...how to surprise him. Here is some info... cruise is Sept 13 2011. We do not have passports but I know we will want them to be able to participate in the ports of call. DH's birthday is at the end of Jan and our anniversary is in Oct...neither are convenient to give him this gift. How would you surprise your SO in this situation?

I'm a little slow this morning. . do you want to give him the cruise, the passport, or both as a gift/surprise?

 

[Inigo]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I have one more obstacle...how to surprise him. Here is some info... cruise is Sept 13 2011. We do not have passports but I know we will want them to be able to participate in the ports of call. DH's birthday is at the end of Jan and our anniversary is in Oct...neither are convenient to give him this gift. How would you surprise your SO in this situation?

I don't have any ideas about the surprise of the cruise, but you could fib to him to get him to apply for the passport. 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. Or tell him you want the two of you to get enhanced more secure driver's licenses, and having a passport will help in that process.

 

[crjack]

All I know is that I took a cruise out of Seattle last year on Holland America (with a stop in Victoria, British Columbia) and we were told we needed a passport or a passport card to sail on that ship. All of the cruises out of Seattle stop in Canada.

We sailed to Alaska out of Seattle last year on the NCL Pearl and we stopped in Victoria, BC and definitely needed our passport.

Also, our stop in Skagway included many excursions that cross over into the Yukon in Canada so we used it there as well. The train is a popular trip and it definitely goes into Canada.

Truly, you risk missing a great deal if you skip the passport on a trip like this. It's something worth getting and for adults it is valid for 10 years.

 

[wdwfan16]

Thanks to everyone that replied. I have one more obstacle...how to surprise him. Here is some info... cruise is Sept 13 2011. We do not have passports but I know we will want them to be able to participate in the ports of call. DH's birthday is at the end of Jan and our anniversary is in Oct...neither are convenient to give him this gift. How would you surprise your SO in this situation?

I would surprise him with the need for a passport for your anniversary (can wait to actually get it until after his birthday) and tell him on his birthday about the cruise.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

I would surprise him with the need for a passport for your anniversary (can wait to actually get it until after his birthday) and tell him on his birthday about the cruise.

I was thinking about giving the cruise to him on his birthday. It will be 7 months before the cruise... and that is a long time... but we will have to apply for the passports and he may need to do some juggling to get his vacation at that time.