points for Alaska cruise

[MMcCarthy]

My DH & I are celebrating 20 yrs in 2008. We really would like to go on an Alaskan cruise. We keep hoping DCL will add one but I am thinking I need to do some alternate planning. Has anyone used their points for the Alaskan Cruise? I am having a lot of difficulty understanding how much the rooms cost and where the rooms are. If you went, did you have a veranda? I was thinking we would not have one because of the chill in the air up there but am not sure. Also, what time of year is good to go? Thanks

 

[MDonley]

We used points for the Holland America Alaskan cruise in August, 2000. We had an outside stateroom, but no veranda. The weather varied, but was generally in the 70's. It was our first and only cruise, so far, and we'd highly recommend it. Holland America has smaller ships - we felt it made the trip more intimate ... even with DS and his buddy, both in high school at the time, along for the ride.

 

[Inkmahm]

My DH & I are celebrating 20 yrs in 2008. We really would like to go on an Alaskan cruise. We keep hoping DCL will add one but I am thinking I need to do some alternate planning. Has anyone used their points for the Alaskan Cruise? I am having a lot of difficulty understanding how much the rooms cost and where the rooms are. If you went, did you have a veranda? I was thinking we would not have one because of the chill in the air up there but am not sure. Also, what time of year is good to go? Thanks

I went to Alaska on Princess (the best!) for our honeymoon last year. I can't help you with using Disney points, but my bet would be that if you book early enough you can get better discounts paying cash.

We had a mini-suite on our cruise with a beautiful balcony and it was worth every cent. You can stay in your room when you are in Glacier Bay for the day seeing the glaciers. Much better than getting dressed warmly to stand on an upper deck to see the sights.

We went over Memorial Day weekend and had wonderful weather. It is just starting to be spring in Alaska at that point though and you won't see the bears fishing or the salmon running. I loved May because there were no bugs to irritate me yet. Next time, we will probably go at a later time in the summer so that we can see some of the things we didn't see in May.

If you go, be sure to do some of the things on land and not just the cruise. You really don't see Alaska if you do only the cruise. Denali is a wonderful park, for example.

 

[Tarheel Tink]

Just making deposits today for our 3rd Alaskan cruise (May 07); going on the Diamond Princess, in the past did Legend of the Seas (Royal Caribbean) and the Carnival Spirit.
I've done inside cabin, balcony and mini-suite this time. I really encourage a balcony for the above reason by Inkmahn- the Glacier Bay is awesome by balcony.

 

[Mary Ellen]

We've sailed to Alaska 5x on Holland America, but not using our points. Since we do also take cruise vacations, we only have 150 points and only use them for WDW. You can get a much better value paying $ than points IMHO.

We've had 'regular' outside cabins, verandah (or mini-suite) cabins and even a full suite (with a huge balcony) on our Alaskan cruises. I differ with some of the others as to whether balconys (verandahs) are worth the money. Our last time was in a plain-old outside cabin as we'd spent VERY little time on the verandah. SO much of the views are ALL around you that we found the views limited when on our own verandah.

Unlike Princess, Holland America (HAL) ships have a LOT of viewing areas, including the bow. You can come and go at will without worrying about losing your 'spot'. Your next 'spot' will be just as good.