Alaskan cruise in 2009?

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rick d

I would suggest you check out Princess Or Norwegian. All cruises from Seattle are only 7 days. A cruisetour which is the Best for sight seeing & wildlife leave out of Vancouver. Also have 1 that leaves from San fran. A balcony room for taking pictures & sight seeing is a big waste of money as you would only see 1 side of things. Save your money get an inside cabin as there is plenty of room on deck and the view is much better. There is plenty of Natural Beauty to see & photo. I have taken over 20 cruises/cruisetours there. I always book threw the cruise line. I have sailed with Princess, Norwegian & Holland. Althou all lines pretty much stop at same ports of call each offers alittle something different. I have found that even in May or Sept. there is plenty of wildlife to see from the ship. Also the best rates.
ENJOY.

Due September 17th with baby #1

I would suggest taking an Alaskan Cruise with Princess Cruise Lines. They are the leading Alaskan Cruises and offer great deals too. One bonus with Princess is the Balcony dining, outdoor movies under the stars at night, and they even bring Alaska Tour Guides onboard to tell you about the history and culture and "need to knows" of Alaska. They really cater to the Alaskan experience. The best advice is to book your cruise early to ensure the best rate. Book with a Travel agent that can offer you discounted rates through a limited availability group spacing. By doing this you can take advantage of a great group rate that has been locked in, get some wonderful advice from the agent, and you will more than likely get some extra amenities for your trip like free onboard credit and complimentary champaigne for example. Travel Agents can also guarantee you the best room on the boat and can answer all of your questions. I can help if you would like. The website for Princess is listed below.

Stargatebabe

Most of the towns in S.E. Alaska served by the cruise ships are unremarkable. You go for the nature. That means you do need to get off the ship.

In Ketchikan, the local bus goes to the same places most of the ship tours go for a couple dollars round trip plus entrance fee to the totem pole park. No big deal on that. The town is easily walked and is flat.

Skagway is a dump. You can easily walk from the dock to the main street and around the few streets there without a tour. It's filled with tourist junk. The interesting tour from Skagway was the White Pass Railroad tour which I recommend. It takes you inland up through the mountains to stunning vistas. Pay for it. Skip any "salmon bake" tours. The salmon is crap compared to what you get in Costco down in the lower 48.

Juno is a dump. The Mendenhall Glacier is totally worth seeing but you need transportation. By the time you hire a taxi you could have taken the ship tour for the same money. It's worth it.

Sitka is easily accessible from the boat. Walk around yourself.

Glacier Bay is done onboard with National Park Rangers giving talks all the way along. Don't need to do anything but enjoy it from the deck or the front lounge. I did while sitting in the jacuzzi on the deck.

Victoria, BC was quaint. The Butchart Gardens are far from the ship. We shared a taxi with another couple there and back for a third of the price of the tour. Taxis are all just outside the customs shack as you disembark. With entrance fee and taxi share, it still cost us $85 and we didn't have nearly enough time.

Some ships go as far as Sewell up near Anchorage. Most don't, only cruising the "Inside Passage" of S.E. Alaska. Frankly, wandering around on your own is fine although I do recommend the White Pass RR excursion. It's a relaxing trip best done for the nature not the towns.

FYI, in Seattle, in the central district downtown, the buses are free. You can jump on and off at will for free. However to go to the Space Needle costs you a $1.25 each way. You'll live. Don't miss Pike's Place Market and the central business district. There is a coffee bar every few dozen yards. Nordstrom's is great if you forgot anything.

I recommend going in June. The days are the longest and the vegetation is all sprouted while the mosquitoes aren't deadly yet.

Tivogal

hollandamerica.com
princess.com

have a great time

also try cruisecritic.com

Stephen S

best going early june Alaska cruise is one of the best locations. you need to go ashore. When up close to the glaciers it is amazing that you can spend the best part of a day just watching ice & waiting for a bit to fall off. And enjoy it !!! Anyone who has experienced a "calving" will understand what I mean

Kirk

goto www.sixxpaktravel.com

you can see all the deals for cruise travel, just fill in the info nad you will see the many deals on how to save BIG $$$$

Albina T

All cruises are virtually the same, except the more luxurious the ship is, the better service you will receive. Also, check the mandatory "tipping" fee that you will pay at the end of your cruise. (It's their tipping system, instead of tipping your servers and house cleaners, you tip the main jar. It's usually $10/day). Alaskan cruises usually provide a few days ashore on a train. I would definitely consider it! Especially if you are interested in taking breath-taking pictures. What is it that seems overwhelming to you, if you could specify, I could give you more direction...

Tim & Diane D

There are a lot of choices for Alaska cruise tours. First suggestion is to use a well qualified cruise travel agent. Make sure this travel agent is a live person and knows cruises.
Try this web site. www.myvacationcenter.com
We are a husband wife cruise only travel agents. We do not charge a booking fee for our services.
Call us at the number listed on our web site. Also click on the blog link to see pictures of our Alaska cruise tour.

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