Staterooms for Alaska

[5Texans]

I'm planning to book opening day for Alaska summer of 2018 and I was wondering if there was a specific location that offered better views from the Veranda. Is there a side of the ship that is better? Higher? My DDs and I are not very cold tolerant and I want to be able to sit on the balcony and then go back inside easily. TIA!

 

[Marc D]

In Alaska, I found that starboard staterooms had better views since they see the coast on the entire way up. During the day in Tracy Arm, they also get a better view of the glacier (at least on our cruise) and of the fjord on the way up.

As far as location, the only thing I look for is not having a busy public deck above me. We choose a deck with cabins above or the adult section. The problem is not really guests being noisy (but I've never been below a deck party) but workers moving chairs around at all hours of the day. Some people say that mid-ship cabins feel less movement...

 

[5Texans]

In Alaska, I found that starboard staterooms had better views since they see the coast on the entire way up. During the day in Tracy Arm, they also get a better view of the glacier (at least on our cruise) and of the fjord on the way up.

As far as location, the only thing I look for is not having a busy public deck above me. We choose a deck with cabins above or the adult section. The problem is not really guests being noisy (but I've never been below a deck party) but workers moving chairs around at all hours of the day. Some people say that mid-ship cabins feel less movement...

Thanks! that is exactly what I wanted to know!

 

[Geomom]

I don't think it matters for side of the ship as it is a round trip journey. For our trip on 8/8, the port side had the longer view of the glacier in Endicott Arm (Tracy Arm was clogged with ice the entire season). I think it partly depends on who the captain is and where the ice is.

If you only have 3 people in a room, you may want a Navigator's verandah as that will be more sheltered. Or if you're not cold tolerant, you may just want to get an oceanview. We did oceanview, deck 2, room 2116. Here's the view from our porthole on 'tracy arm' day:

 

[5Texans]

I don't think it matters for side of the ship as it is a round trip journey. For our trip on 8/8, the port side had the longer view of the glacier in Endicott Arm (Tracy Arm was clogged with ice the entire season). I think it partly depends on who the captain is and where the ice is.

If you only have 3 people in a room, you may want a Navigator's verandah as that will be more sheltered. Or if you're not cold tolerant, you may just want to get an oceanview. We did oceanview, deck 2, room 2116. Here's the view from our porthole on 'tracy arm' day:
View attachment 198667

What a beautiful view!!!

 

[HappyPeach]

It's round trip... it doesn't matter. If you don't have the view going up, your side will see it going back. In Tracy Arm, they rotate the ship around so that everyone gets views. IMO a balcony is worth it for Alaska!

 

[wombat_5606]

Personally, I say a balcony is nice, but not necessary. It depends on what is most important to you. If it is the vista, an Oceanview is adequate. If seeing wildlife is important, then the chance you are going to see a whale while sitting on your balcony is slim.

We had a suite on our cruise with HAL with an enormous balcony. We hardly ever used it because wildlife viewing was what we were interested in. It was much easier to be in the lounge and get a panoramic view of the sea than the limited view from our balcony. (In fact, this is why I would suggest not sailing DCL to Alaska. There is not an adequate inside viewing area.)

Also, on our cruise, it was cold and damp. I didn't do anything on that balcony, but stand there for a couple of minutes. I would been just as happy to save my money for excursions.

So, if you want to truly see Alaska, sail with someone else. If you want to sail Disney and you've chosen Alaska, then an Oceanview room is just as good as a balcony, in my opinion.

 

[xlxo]

My vote goes to port side....

• in Vancouver you get a great view and privacy. The Wonder loads from the Starboard side in Vancouver and the elevated public walkway is 40 feet from the cabin. Keep your curtains closed if you don't want people taking pictures of your cabin interior.
• in Ketchikan you get a great view of the town
• in Tracy Arm..... on my trip.... they got twice the Sawyer exposure time. My starboard cabin got a quick glance

some say you want to be on the public deck in tracy arm for the 360 view.

 

[saxmangeoff]

In 2014, I had an inside stateroom (and will again in 2017). Decks 4, 9 & 10 were fine for views, and then I can be on whichever side I like.

But I did want to chime in and state that on our visit to Tracy Arm it was port that got the longer view of the glacier.

Decks 9 & 10 get crowded for Tracy Arm (funnily enough, only on the trip in. For the trip out, you can have free reign up there. Once they see the glacier, most people go inside.). I did the trip in on Deck 4, port side (occasionally ducking across to starboard), and the trip out wandering decks 9 & 10.

 

[jetskigrl]

Add us to the ones that loved port side for Alaska. We loved being able to watch the float planes take off and land in Vancouver. We also enjoyed being able to see the city in Ketchikan. We also had a much longer time facing the glacier in Tracy Arm. We are going back to Alaska next year and booked port side again. We were on deck 8 aft and loved the location. The overhang from deck 9 kept us nice and dry on Tracy Arm day in the rain. If you do get rain, deck 10 will be open because not too many people want to camp out in the rain. Deck 9 can be hard to see out of the windows with the rain coming down. But deck 4 is good in the rain

We wanted a verandah because my mom was traveling with us and she needed to be able to get inside to warm up when needed. But it never got too cold so she spent hours enjoying the scenery from the verandah (she just added a couple of layers and a blanket over herself on Tracy Arm day). It was a great compromise as the kids and I would go explore up on deck and then come back (when we got too rain soaked) and hang out with my Mom on the verandah .

 

[wl1117]

Personally, I say a balcony is nice, but not necessary. It depends on what is most important to you. If it is the vista, an Oceanview is adequate. If seeing wildlife is important, then the chance you are going to see a whale while sitting on your balcony is slim.

We saw a lot of whales sitting on our balcony this past August. We enjoyed room 8000...however the smoking area was right above it, and we had to ask people to stop ashing on us a few times (embarrassed the heck out of them because most hadn't even considered there being people under them). So, I'd consider the other side if you are looking at far forward location. We like being forward because it tends to be quiet.

 

[5Texans]

Thanks so much for all of the input! now I'm studying deck plans and my family thinks I'm a lunatic.

 

[Dug720]

We saw a lot of whales sitting on our balcony this past August. We enjoyed room 8000...however the smoking area was right above it, and we had to ask people to stop ashing on us a few times (embarrassed the heck out of them because most hadn't even considered there being people under them). So, I'd consider the other side if you are looking at far forward location. We like being forward because it tends to be quiet.

Now whales sitting on a balcony I would pay good money to see!!

I know what you meant - but thanks for the smile that image put on my face!!

 

[wl1117]

Now whales sitting on a balcony I would pay good money to see!!

I know what you meant - but thanks for the smile that image put on my face!!

ROFL. darn it... "while" sitting on the balcony.

 

[Dug720]

ROFL. darn it... "while" sitting on the balcony.

It's all good! I knew what you meant. The image just made me giggle - which was very much needed today!