Sailing to Alaska, what other cruise lines are as nice as Disney?

[SL6827]

What cruise line would you consider cruising to Alaska if you couldn't go with Disney?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What cruise line would you consider cruising to Alaska if you couldn't go with Disney?

I've cruised Alaska with Holland America twice. I would use them again, as well as Princess.

Now, "nice" is subjective, of course. HAL is darker decor, and limited entertainment selection. From what I've read Princess has a better kid's club than HAL, but I can't verify it one way or the other, except to say I've seen more kids on Princess than HAL.

Personally, I wouldn't do Disney for Alaska, mostly due to them not having Glacier Bay access.

 

[LAX]

I've cruised Alaska with Holland America twice. I would use them again, as well as Princess.

Now, "nice" is subjective, of course. HAL is darker decor, and limited entertainment selection. From what I've read Princess has a better kid's club than HAL, but I can't verify it one way or the other, except to say I've seen more kids on Princess than HAL.

Personally, I wouldn't do Disney for Alaska, mostly due to them not having Glacier Bay access.

I have been contemplating an Alaskan cruise for a little while and done some research on and off the last year or so. I have narrowed my research down to cruise lines that have access to Glacier Bay, which include Princess & Holland America IIRC. However, with the recent bad news on these two lines, I am having a hard time talking myself & my family into trying either one in the near future. What are the other options with Glacier Bay access?

LAX

 

[SL6827]

Good to know. Why doesn't Disney have the GB access?

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Good to know. Why doesn't Disney have the GB access?

Because it is controlled by the NPS and they didn't bid last round. Princess and HAL control the best dates and other lines bidding get the scraps. HAL and Princess have access on a legacy contract that gives them first choice of dates.

I think right now your only choices for GB are Princess, NCL and HAL. RCCL got in on the last bid but pulled back on the dates they were supposed to visit in 2020 and 2021.

Edit: Viking and Seabourne have access.
https://www.ktoo.org/2019/03/25/national-park-service-announces-glacier-bay-cruise-plan/

 

[SL6827]

Well if we ever do get to cruise Alaska it will be a me and hubby only trip, no kids what so ever. I had no idea about the GB thing. Really have no idea about it other than I know that is what you want to see on an Alaska cruise. Is there a certain time of year that is best for cruising Alaska? Weather, pricing?

 

[LAX]

Because it is controlled by the NPS and they didn't bid last round. Princess and HAL control the best dates and other lines bidding get the scraps. HAL and Princess have access on a legacy contract that gives them first choice of dates.

I think right now your only choices for GB are Princess, NCL and HAL. RCCL got in on the last bid but pulled back on the dates they were supposed to visit in 2020 and 2021.

Edit: Viking and Seabourne have access.
https://www.ktoo.org/2019/03/25/national-park-service-announces-glacier-bay-cruise-plan/

Thanks. Since it's a 10-year plan, does it mean DCL will be locked out for another 10 years or can amendments be made within that timeframe?

LAX

 

[SL6827]

So between Princess, NCL and HAL, which is the best?

 

[Kidanifan08]

We sailed on the Celebrity Solstice in June 2017 out of Seattle. Stopped at Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway with a morning at the Endicott glacier. It was a fabulous ship. We booked a Sky suite cabins with a balcony. The suite level cabins have priority boarding, private lounge (Michael’s lounge) and private dining room. The day at the glacier, suite level guest were invited to the bow of the ship for viewing and they had hot chocolate and blankets for everyone! We booked far enough in advance that we had free internet, free premium drink package for two, tips included for two and $300 shipboard credit. We’re huge DCL fans, but we didn’t feel like we needed the Disney entertainment and dining experience for the Alaskan Cruise. They had a good selection of shore tours. We traveled with our then 11 yo son, so we had to choose family friendly shore tours.

 

[tvguy]

Done HAL twice to Alaska. HAL is amazing, they have been cruising Alaska longer than any line and that is why they have some of the best access and permits. They have a naturalist on board. First cruise our kids were 11 and 15. DW and I left our mom and dad roles behind, and were our kids best friends for a week, so they had no interest in HAL kids clubs. The next year were cruised Disney and our then 12 year old went to one kids club event, a music trivial contest. She was horrified how little the Castmember running the contest knew about the Beatles! Long story to say I can't speak to kids clubs on either line.
HAL has a reputation for drawing older cruises, and while there were certainly fewer children on board than Disney, they were a lot of kids. On HAL everyone pretty much went to bed by 11:30 pm. On Disney it was 10 pm........except on New Year's Eve......and I swear the atrium on the Magic cleared out by 12:05 am.
But cruising has changed since my first cruise in 1980. On that cruise, the night club didn't even OPEN until 2 a.m.

 

[darwinsrule]

Now, "nice" is subjective, of course. HAL is darker decor, and limited entertainment selection. From what I've read Princess has a better kid's club than HAL, but I can't verify it one way or the other, except to say I've seen more kids on Princess than HAL.

Personally, I wouldn't do Disney for Alaska, mostly due to them not having Glacier Bay access.

Exception to the dark and limited entertainment options seems to Koningsdam which is doing RT from Vancouver. One of their newer ships, and it was a completely new approach for HAL, so much so that a lot of old time HAL cruisers don't like the look or size (100k GT). There is a Mighty Cruise Ships episode on her which made a great preview. We booked it on an incredible Thanksgiving sale leaving August 29th. Itinerary that week is the same as the Wonder, before that she is doing GB, which honestly I would have loved but the savings were over 1k. Still think it is 50/50 on whether the cruise happens but fingers crossed. Our final payment isn't until May 31st.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Thanks. Since it's a 10-year plan, does it mean DCL will be locked out for another 10 years or can amendments be made within that timeframe?

LAX

They are out until at least 2030.

I don't think they bid this time either.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

The Glacier Bay permits allow 153 use days in summer, and 93 in May and September combined. Princess and HAL own 73 use days on a grandfathered basis in basically perpetuity. Other lines get what is left over. There cannot be more than 2 ships in the park on any given day.

When the permits are up for consideration, potential schedule is a piece of it, as is the line's ability to support the kind of experience NPS wants. They send naturalists aboard and rangers and a science station.

I kinda suspect they don't want to be competing with Mickey in a parka for cruiser attention.

 

[China Expat]

We have done 4 HAL cruises to Alaska and one RCCL We love the "quietness" of HAL and what seems to be prime docking spots.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

There cannot be more than 2 ships in the park on any given day.

Sort of.

Princess Cruises and Holland America Line were bringing passengers into Glacier Bay before any quotas were established and therefore hold the majority of Glacier Bay's vessel use days. Norwegian, Crystal and Carnival also had contracts through 2019. Vessel use contracts are awarded every ten years.
In addition to the big ships, three small cruise ships are allowed in each day. Under the category of "tour boat," this includes companies like Un-cruise, Lindblad, Alaska Dream Cruises and American Cruise Lines.

A prospectus soliciting proposals for cruise ship services was issued in May 2018. A panel of technical experts reviewed each proposal package, and new ten-year concession contracts were awarded to seven businesses:
Princess Cruise Lines Ltd,
Holland America Line Inc.,
NCL (Bahamas) Ltd,
Carnival plc (Cunard Line),
Seabourn Cruise Line Limited,
Viking Cruises Ltd
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.

The NPS anticipated the contracts will be effective October 1, 2019.

 

[DCLCruiseFan09]

Is there a certain time of year that is best for cruising Alaska? Weather, pricing?

I've been trying to find a good time to go on an Alaska cruise and have been watching pricing a lot lately. Normally the outside dates of the season (April/May and or September) are usually far cheaper than the middle of the season (June/July/August). I would love to do Disney for an Alaska cruise, but lets be realistic... that price tag is alarming.

I think I am most likely to sail with Norwegian because I have sailed with them before. Plus, most of their newer ships that sail to Alaska were built for Alaska cruises with large panoramic areas inside to see nature around you. (Bliss, Joy, Encore are the big 3 they bring there). They also love to throw in extra perks too. Bevv package, Specialty Dining and occasionally they do a discounted or free airfare program which is a definite plus.

I would assume the earlier dates are colder just because of the time of year but its Alaska so its all relative. The cold is part of the experience!

 

[emilymad]

We are considering Celebrity for next year. An issue for us is each line's smoking policies. Not trying to start a debate at all but it is an issue for our family.

We also have an issue with Princess and HAL as they have been fined for environmental issues. Again just a personal issue for us. I am sure they offer great experiences.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

If you want to do a helicopter to a glacier or get pictures of mountains with snow, September is bad for both. Also, some excursions start shutting down around Labor Day because the seasonal labor goes back to college.

 

[OKW Lover]

Didn't see any mention of Royal Caribbean above (perhaps I missed it) but we have done 2 alaska sailings on Royal. Both 7-night RT from Seattle stopping at Juneau, Ketchikan and Victoria. We enjoyed them both and would book again.

 

[ScooterScott44]

@SL6827 if you are just starting your planning, while there some good pieces of information here, you need to step back and take a look at the bigger picture. I have been to Alaska for work 5 times and on 1 cruise. In my view the first thing is for you to consider if going to Alaska is a one time thing and if so what do you want from that trip. The cruise is only going to see a small portion of a HUGE state.

There are options that you have with cruising.
- Round trip from Seattle or Vancouver - probably the cheapest and easiest option but also the shortest, as well as most limiting on ports and sites.
- One way cruise - northbound or southbound would be essentially the same but reversed. A few more stops or sites possible and the option to do a few days at each end. More costly mainly due to the extra logistics of the start and end points.
- Land and Sea options - cruise lines operate coordinate with the trains and other to companies to often take in sites that include places like Anchorage, Fairbanks, Denali, and Kodak before or after the cruise (usually one of the one way cruises). Great way to see some of the interior places as well as the cruise.

For our personal experience, we did 11 days on Ovation of the seas and it was a great ship for Alaska (for us). (RCCL is/was planning on two of the Quantum class ships doing Alaska in the future.) Solarium and indoor pool area really were great for watching the sites. Plenty of things to do on the ship for us and our son. Also the number of dining options really helped, as the long port days did not lend to keeping a dining schedule. And most of all we got a lovely two story suite for the same price what DCL wanted for 7 days in a veranda.

Some generalities about Alaska. Expect the tours and excursions for all the cruise lines to be very similar. Port days tend to be longer, most of ours were about 11 hours so you can usually get in two excursions if you try. Weather cannot be predicted for any cruise but expect to see at least some cool and rainy days. The views from the ship while sailing can be just as nice as the excursions so enjoy that also and don’t just wait for when you are stopped.