What's the best cruiseline for a honeymoon to Alaska?

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tech_fanatic

Alaska is a beautiful cruise, one of my favorites. There are tons of sites online with lots of info, so you shouldn't have any problem finding what you need to know in your planning stages. I've included a link to Cruise Critic, they are a great site, really good info that is accurate and it is all wrapped into one site, so a lot less time spent researching.

There are a few different options for cruises. You have inside passage (my favorite), you have one way cruises (allows you to have more ports, generally they are just as long as a roundtrip cruise, you just fly back from Alaska) you have cruise tours, etc. So, there are a lot of different options.

There are two seasons for Alaska the Shoulder Season and Peak Season. Shoulder Season is May, the first week of June, the last week of August and all of September. Peak Season is most of June, July and August.

Peak Season tends to cost more because the weather is better and that is when more people can travel. The This is the most likely time for families to take cruises, etc. More people are able to go and more people can go, so prices are higher. During shoulder season you will be able to save some money because the cruise lines are trying to get more people on board. Both seasons are great and just as beautiful as the next. You go at different times and it just a different type of beauty.

As far as when to go anytime between May and September is good. Obviously to save money you would be better going during shoulder season. Spring is absolutely beautiful because all the flowers are blooming, but Fall is also a great time because of the foliage.

If you go in June and July you will have the warmest weather and the longest days. So really, all the months have good points for why you would want to go, so you can pretty much schedule when you are available to go.

If you can, try to do an inside passage cruise. This is my favorite way to go. You will go to more ports this way and see a lot more. There are also cruises where they include a tour at each port, which is a really fun way to go, especially for your first visit. You will learn and see a lot by taking the cruise.

I think the two best lines for Alaska cruises are Princess and Holland America. Both are also great lines for seniors with fewer families and children onboard, so it tends to be a little more relaxing and a little more quiet. They are a little more expensive, not sure of your budget, but Alaska can run a little higher anyway.

Carnival is an okay line, but not for everyone. Personally, I don't like Carnival. It is the least expensive line and therefore lacks in many areas. There are just so many better options for a cruise and so many better lines for Alaska. I think that you will find Royal Caribbean is a little better for your age group, but also is not one of the better lines, nor do I feel they offer some of the better cruises to Alaska. I personally feel that Princess would be the best line for you. The age group is going to be a little older, but you will still find some people your age, the cruise itself will be a little better as far as food and service and they offer really great cruises to Alaska. Just be sure to look at some of their onboard activities to make sure they offer things that will interest both of you, for some people it is a little too "old" as far as activities. Be sure to look into some reviews and do some research and you will have a great time.

I've included a link to Cruise Critic about Alaska. It will give you really great info on Alaska. You can also go to their main page and from there get reviews on all the ships, as well as go to the message board. It is a great tool for researching cruises.

TINKERTOY ..... the 1 & only

You need to forget about Carnival for two reasons, cheap cruise line (you get what you pay for) and too many roudy people. Holland America would be good but you will find that they do have mostly old (and I do mean old) folks. I recommend Princess or Royal Caribbean. Both are quality cruise lines and both have a mixture of people. But` more importantly, they both do the cruise-tour itinerary where they will take you by train all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska, with a stopover if you want, in Denali National Park.

We took Princess for our honeymoon several years ago and did the train tour part. It was great and yoiu get to see more of Alaska and more wildlife. Plus you may as well spend a few dollars more and see as much as you can after traveling all that distance. RC, Holland America and Princess are the only ones who use the train.. They each have special coaches attached to the same train.

I have done many RC, Princess and Norwegian cruises and they all have a good mixture of events for people of various ages. They all havea a disco that starts late and continues into the wee hours. The major difference between these and Carnival is like I said the better quality of food and service and a more reserved crowd of people. The tours from the ship at port stops are virtually identical.

hotdoggiegirl

You're going to be some of the youngest people on the cruise, regardless of which line because the Alaskan ones attract mostly retireed folks. That being said, Carnival will attract most of the kids (ie. grandkids), so maybe you should stay away. I worked in Alaskan tourism for 7 years and heard the best things about Princess.

beachgirl5628

I have cruised Royal Caribbean and it was very nice. Not many colleg age kids/partiers, it was more of a sophisticated older crowd for the most. The Radiance is a beautiful ship that goes to Alaska frequently. Check them out at www.royalcaribbean.com.

rick d

All the lines that offer cruises to Alaska offer different forms of nightlife. And no matter what line you will get a mixed group of ages. They all go pretty much the same route just may stop at different ports. Norwegian & Princess offer the best rates but, excellent services & food. Which ever line you will see some great scenry and meet people from all over. Been on 19 cruises there & going 3 times this year.
ENJOY.

stella39

Holland American or Princess would be good.

Sherrie

I would choose Princess. Not too many old and not too many young, and besides that Princess is just such a class act.

They all do about the same thing in the same places unless you book the smaller ships.

Have a wonderful time, this is a special place to travel to.

cheer123

I'm only in the 6th grade but I took a cruise through the Hawaiian islands last Christmas. We did the Norwegian cruise line. It does cater to kids, but all cruise lines will. Try Norwegian, they have great service, great food, and luxorious rooms!!!

T. W

Don't forget about Celebrity. RCCL's upper line. Best food ratings on the Mercury of any cruise ship. I booked my relatives on it for late August for their anniversary. Celebrity has a great activities staff and there should be plenty to do. Majority of all Alaska cruises are retirees, so expect to be the exception. My recommendations, Celebrity Infinity or Mercury.

Eileen R

We have been on Alaska on both Royal Caribbean and Celebrity. We return next year on Royal Caribbean. We were on Holland American this January to Caribbean. The average age was 79! The food was so bad we lost weight -- what does that tell you? I definitely recommend Celebrity or Royal Caribbean over all the others.

devildeb89

i heard from a friend who took holland america to alaska and had a lot of old people.
i've been on the princess cruise line (www.princess.com) to alaska and it was a good mixture of people. the sapphire princess (ship) had many night clubs.

free_to_dream27

You choose what you want to book and get up to 58% off, so I recommend you view the RTA package on this site: http://www.earnvacations.com/Freedom

flightpillow

The problem with Alaska is it tends to attract older people, I would try Royal Caribbean they have a 7 night Southbound Glacier on the Radiance of the Sea's......

=)

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