The 2011 Alaskan Thread--Cruise Tips and Planning

[smb6]

We are on the Alaska sailing next month and I know when I first booked I really wished they departed out of Seattle. It would have saved $$ plus I would have enjoyed a few days in Seattle rather than Vancouver. But at this point the non-refundable plane tickets have been purchased and even if I hadn't we are so excited at this point, I can't imagine putting it off another year.... But I could see how folks cruising later in the season may consider this option...

 

[jlwhitney]

I am personally glad to be going out of Vancouver instead of seattle. From any reading I have done they are better cruises than out of seattle. Plus Out of seattle has rougher oceans since they have to go out in the open ocean. Yes, it will be cheaper to get to seattle but that is the only real advantage to the that route. Though they are smart for not going as early in May as they are going this year. It is defiantly still off season for Alaska then.

 

[poohj80]

From the dates listed, the Alaska cruises out of Seattle will be Monday to Monday which is only a little better than Tuesday to Tuesday for taking time off work.

 

[3Mickeys]

Lurking over here even though we haven't officially booked. We booked a dummy cruise onboard the Magic in early March waiting for the summer 2012 Alaska dates. I was shocked last night to hear things were switching to Seattle as I had wrapped my brain around a Vancouver departure. We are wrapping this trip in with a visit to see family in Oregon.

The positives - transportation will be cheaper, less stressful not crossing the border, family in Seattle we can stay with for free.

The negatives - we've done Seattle, DH has been wanting to show me Vancouver for 15 years, the kids no longer can "go to another country".

If I had known it was Seattle from the get go, I probably wouldn't care, but I'm a little disappointed. I'll get over it though. Will be happy to finally have a date to look forward to and start planning. Hope everyone going to Alaska this year has a wonderful time and brings back lots of useful information for the rest of us!!

 

[mellers]

Lurking over here even though we haven't officially booked. We booked a dummy cruise onboard the Magic in early March waiting for the summer 2012 Alaska dates. I was shocked last night to hear things were switching to Seattle as I had wrapped my brain around a Vancouver departure. We are wrapping this trip in with a visit to see family in Oregon.

The positives - transportation will be cheaper, less stressful not crossing the border, family in Seattle we can stay with for free.

The negatives - we've done Seattle, DH has been wanting to show me Vancouver for 15 years, the kids no longer can "go to another country".

If I had known it was Seattle from the get go, I probably wouldn't care, but I'm a little disappointed. I'll get over it though. Will be happy to finally have a date to look forward to and start planning. Hope everyone going to Alaska this year has a wonderful time and brings back lots of useful information for the rest of us!!

Seriously, it's not difficult to go to Vancouver from Seattle--we live on the Eastside, and we go to Vancouver at least once a year. It's an easy Quick Shuttle ride from the Best Western Executive Inn to the Vancouver airport, or the nicer, downtown hotels. I'd just plan in a few extra days for a Vancouver trip.

 

[3Mickeys]

Seriously, it's not difficult to go to Vancouver from Seattle--we live on the Eastside, and we go to Vancouver at least once a year. It's an easy Quick Shuttle ride from the Best Western Executive Inn to the Vancouver airport, or the nicer, downtown hotels. I'd just plan in a few extra days for a Vancouver trip.

I know it isn't too far, and have thought about it, but with the obligatory trip to see family in Oregon before the cruise, a day or two in Seattle to see family, the 7 day cruise, and roundtrip travel from New Hampshire to the west coast.... DH will miss too much work to pay for it all!

Not ruling it out, just not sure how to fit more days in.

 

["Got Disney"]

HOW DID I NOT SEE THIS THREAD BEFORE TODAY!!!
Guess I've got my reading planned for this weekend!!!

lol...same here..

I am personally glad to be going out of Vancouver instead of seattle. From any reading I have done they are better cruises than out of seattle. Plus Out of seattle has rougher oceans since they have to go out in the open ocean. Yes, it will be cheaper to get to seattle but that is the only real advantage to the that route. Though they are smart for not going as early in May as they are going this year. It is defiantly still off season for Alaska then.

I'm glad they are going out of Vancouver this year....we are stopping for 5 days in whistler and would not have done that otherwise. Also 3 days in Vancouver site seeing. But agreed it is much easier going out of Seattle.

 

[willful]

I would save time off from work if we were to sail out of Seattle than Vancouver (and money) but who knows when we'd get to Vancouver. So I don't much mind cruising out of there this year. Adds to the overall adventure!

It is interesting that they are switching ports for next year.

 

[mmmears]

I think there was pressure for them to switch to Seattle since the airfare to Vancouver is ridiculously expensive compared to Seattle.

I'm glad we're going through Vancouver, though. From my research, the sailings through Seattle are considered quite rough and the ones from Vancouver are said to be the smoothest. And that makes a BIG difference to me and my family (but I know not everyone is sensitive to the ship rocking).

 

[geffric]

Wonder if some folks who have Alaska this year (later in the summer) will move to next year for just that reason?

.

nope not us..

 

[NWmom]

I live an hour north of Seattle, WA
an hour south of Bellingham,WA
About 3 hours more or less from Vancouver.

I think the first and last cruises for 2012 are nice as they give you both cities Seattle and Vancouver. It is really not that hard to get from one to the other.

I will make it a point to be by the port on disembarkation day just for fun in 2012.

I will heartily enjoy my Vanoucer trip to Alaska next month. We're on the May 24th sailing so I will report back with my experiences.
NW

 

[poohj80]

We too will be flying into Seattle before our Alaskan cruise and are looking for recommendations for a car service from the airport to hotels downtown. I know we can take a cab but there will be 5 of us including one elderly and one 5 yr old so would prefer to have someone waiting for us. Can any locals recommend someone or anyone else cruising soon who may have already looked into this?

Thanks!

 

[mellers]

We too will be flying into Seattle before our Alaskan cruise and are looking for recommendations for a car service from the airport to hotels downtown. I know we can take a cab but there will be 5 of us including one elderly and one 5 yr old so would prefer to have someone waiting for us. Can any locals recommend someone or anyone else cruising soon who may have already looked into this?

Thanks!

I like Seattle Green Limo, http://www.seattlegreenlimo.com

 

[poohj80]

I like Seattle Green Limo, http://www.seattlegreenlimo.com

Thanks so much! I like their green philosophy!

 

[littleprince]

just booked my alaska cruise. can't wait!!

 

[disneymath]

Wonder if some folks who have Alaska this year (later in the summer) will move to next year for just that reason?

.

Actually, we were contemplating cancelling this summer for next UNTIL they indicated that Seattle would be home port instead of Vancouver. Being Canadian, the chance to explore a distant-from-where-I-live part of my own country before heading out of the cruise was just not worth losing out on.

 

[Pocahantas]

Just bumping this up a bit.

 

[staffieri]

Has anyone found a good price of Dog sledding in Juneau? And anyone done this and have good info about it. So much $$ is it worth it? or maybe go to one of the summer dog sled places and do a helicopter/glacier instead.

 

[jlwhitney]

Has anyone found a good price of Dog sledding in Juneau? And anyone done this and have good info about it. So much $$ is it worth it? or maybe go to one of the summer dog sled places and do a helicopter/glacier instead.

we are going through coastal helicopters, they came out 100 dollars cheaper per person!!!

Disney is way overcharging the the dog sled/heli tours.

 

[poohj80]

Anyone found a good deal on helicopter rides to the glaciers in Skagway or maybe a tour which combines the glaciers and White Pass Railway? Thanks!