What would you choose? Alaska

[KantLose]

C, with connecting rooms. We picked this option for Alaska last summer for our family of 5 and loved it, especially having two bathrooms. It was our first time not having a verandah but we didn’t miss it. The large port holes were great for viewing the scenery and with the cooler temperatures and occasional rain we probably wouldn’t have been out on a verandah much even if we had one.
I know many will say to pick a different cruise line for Alaska based on the price but we spent as much time on ship as off (2 sea days plus glacier day) so we enjoyed having the Disney characters and shows and other programming.

 

[Cheburashka]

I know many will say to pick a different cruise line for Alaska based on the price but we spent as much time on ship as off (2 sea days plus glacier day) so we enjoyed having the Disney characters and shows and other programming.

We felt this way, too. The standard 7-night Alaska cruise has 3 days at ports and 3 days on the water (though one of those is a glacier-viewing day). And of course, every evening is onboard, as well, as Alaska port days don't last until late evening. So unlike the way some people describe Alaska cruises as "port heavy", you are onboard a lot. The Disney activities and characters (especially in their Alaska gear- very memorable) helped make our Alaska cruise special.

 

[DCLMP]

I’m not the OP but I looked at NCL for Alaska and their port times are terrible. The stop in Victoria makes it such a squeeze elsewhere. I assume it would be the same for all ships leaving Seattle vs Vancouver.

I guess the trade off Seattle is easier to get too.

 

[Cheburashka]

Although both our Alaska cruises were in June during "heat waves" when daytime temperatures were in the low 70s. I was wearing shorts outside.

You definitely can't count on that for an Alaska cruise. We cruised in June and it was cold and windy on deck. Did a few hours of viewing up there among the crowds on glacier day, then were quite happy to retreat to our warm stateroom and go out to our wind-protected Navigator's Verandah for more viewing. It's easy to take pictures from the verandah- one reason I recommend that over a window, as well as just the much better view. We had a nice view of the glacier even from the bed of our stateroom. Having the verandah also gave us the chance for late evening and early morning views, when we weren't yet up to leaving the stateroom.

 

[holula]

I guess the trade off Seattle is easier to get too.

Not for me - I live in the U.K.

 

[tvguy]

You definitely can't count on that for an Alaska cruise. We cruised in June and it was cold and windy on deck. Did a few hours of viewing up there on glacier day, then were quite happy to retreat to our warm stateroom and go out to our wind-protected Navigator's Verandah for more viewing. It's easy to take pictures from the verandah- one reason I recommend that over a window, as well as just the much better view. We had a nice view of the glacier even from the bed of our stateroom. Having the verandah also gave us the chance for late evening and early morning views, when we weren't yet up to leaving the stateroom. Being stuck out on deck in the cold and crowds whenever we wanted a view would not have been nearly as nice.

My kids were 11 and 15 on our first Alaska cruise and their favorite memory of that cruise was spending hours on the top deck looking for seals, bears, moose and other wildlife as we cruised by. And we got an amazing photo of both kids and I in the pool, steaming rising off the water, with the Hubbard Glacier in the background. Our second Alaska cruise, our friends had a balcony and they used it a couple times to say at least they used it, but their best viewing was from the top deck.

 

[mlayman7]

What date in May are you looking at? We are sailing in May to Alaska as well, 29th I think? We have 3 kids, 13, 12, and 7 at time of travel. We have booked a verandah room and an inside stateroom directly across from us. Booked the inside stateroom for 3 and the verandah room for 2.

 

[Pens Fan]

I assume it would be the same for all ships leaving Seattle vs Vancouver.

The one year DCL based their Alaska cruises out of Seattle was the year we decided to go. And yes, the port times were not great. The Victoria one was a joke - we had about 3 or 4 hours during dinner time. I've noticed the Seattle cruises, in general, seem to be that way and it's why I'd never do one again. The next time we took an Alaska cruise we made sure it was out of Vancouver. We ended up with a one way cruise that ended in Seward, AK, which honestly is the best way to do it if you have the time. We had great port times and spent a week in mainland Alaska after the cruise.

 

[Rachel6236]

What date in May are you looking at? We are sailing in May to Alaska as well, 29th I think? We have 3 kids, 13, 12, and 7 at time of travel. We have booked a verandah room and an inside stateroom directly across from us. Booked the inside stateroom for 3 and the verandah room for 2.

We are likely booking 5/22. I saw there are guarantee rates for 5/29 that just posted yesterday - maybe you could save some $

 

[blabbermouth]

What date in May are you looking at? We are sailing in May to Alaska as well, 29th I think? We have 3 kids, 13, 12, and 7 at time of travel. We have booked a verandah room and an inside stateroom directly across from us. Booked the inside stateroom for 3 and the verandah room for 2.

We'll be on the 29th sailing. Only one child, 5 years old, and we're going with an inside stateroom. I'm actually feeling a lot better about it after this thread and a lot of people saying a verandah isn't required as I've read a lot of otherwise!

 

[cmph]

We'll be on the 29th sailing. Only one child, 5 years old, and we're going with an inside stateroom. I'm actually feeling a lot better about it after this thread and a lot of people saying a verandah isn't required as I've read a lot of otherwise!

I think it totally depends on your cruising style and Disney-specific interests. Glacier viewing day is a great example. Some people love having their own quiet verandah, away from people and noise. But if you want photos with characters dressed up in their Alaska outfits (or good photos of your family in general), you'll need to be up on deck. It has a quiet-deck-party feel outside, with servers walking around with hot chocolate etc. The other factor is whether your child is the type to go-go-go and do stuff (crafts, shows, movies, and such), in which case you aren't going to be in the room much anyway.

FWIW, my kids are now teens, and I tossed around the idea of getting a verandah for an upcoming mother/daughter cruise with my oldest, and she said no. She doesn't want to feel like she has to spend time in the room.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

I got an interior state room as well - I HAVE to take photos with all of the Disney characters in Alaska gear plus I can go to any other floor to look at the port hole if I don't want / need the 360 view that I'll have on deck.

 

[DCLMP]

I’d go with either option C or D, or almost certainly another cruise line lol. It’s soooo much cheaper for a family of 5 to Alaska!

I wouldn’t break the bank to go to Alaska. The best part about an Alaskan cruise is the excursions. The actual cruise was probably my least favorite cruise. Maybe if I hadn’t done Iceland and Norway first I would have been more impressed.

 

[mlayman7]

We are likely booking 5/22. I saw there are guarantee rates for 5/29 that just posted yesterday - maybe you could save some $

I like having the kids room being right near ours, if we did the gty rates who knows where we'd each be. We did get a navigator verandah and booked as soon as it opened so happy with the prices we got. 5/22 will be cheaper because schools are still in session so that'll help you.