Which cruise line to Alaska?

I envy you BIG TIME! I did the inlet passage two years ago. It was the best trip I have ever went on! Booked it on Royal Carib and the boat and the service was AWESOME! STAY AWAY FROM CARNIVAL....Total ghetto cruise line that caters to those on the tightest of tight budgets.

A must have is a balcony room, it's worth every penny. For food, the ship I was on fed us very well! Ate dinner at the main dining room only once and the rest of the dinners were at the two restaurants ( A chop house and Italian) at only $20 per person. Five star all the way and was the only way to eat! Must brings are binoculars and a good digital camera. For off-ship activities, book ONLY the ones that the cruise offers. When you do so and if the outing runs late, the boat waits for you to come back. Book with a non-approved source and if they are late, you'll miss the boat!

Don't know where to start to cover all the details because there were so many! All I can say is that it will be the best vacation ever!

BTW, if you book your trip during the last two weeks of the Alaska sailing season, the port shopping is at it's best, as all the stores are done and EVERYTHING is deeply discounted. At a furrier in Ketchican, I bought a $1200 fur coat for Melodie for $300! Also, don't miss out on a float plane trip. Have the pilot take you to some lake in the middle of nowhere. Did this on my trip. The lake we landed on was SO quiet, it hurt my ears!

I'll post a few pic's when at my other computer.

PS: Plan on gaining about 15 pounds on the ship!

 

I just got back from an Alaskan cruise and it was amazing! I was on Princess, and for me, the ship didn't have much "nightlife" (I'm 19), but there were plenty of shows and things to go to, and of course the casino and 15+ bars if you're over 21. The food was crappy though.
As far as side trips go, my favorite was in Juneau, where we took a helicopter to a glacier and went dog sledding. I think it was one of the more expensive side trips, but it was the most amazing thing I have ever done. Just the helicopter ride over the glaciers was amazing by itself.
Other than that, just pray for good weather and have fun!

 

OK, I few pics....
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

.
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Thanks! (Oh, great pic of me at 240....Mow 190!). Anyway, you will not regret it. I was 47 two years ago on that trip. I was probably the youngest guest on the ship! The comon thread among most all the people I spoke with was the fact that they all had wished they had taken the trip years ago. Here's people in their 70's and 80's that realized they missed years of class travel. If my business sells in the next month, I'll try to get another inlet cruise in the top of September, as I'll have teh cash. $2K for the room and $2-3K to gamble on (The last night on the ship I banged a dollar Wheel of Fortune slot machine for $3K! It paid for teh prior six days I spent in the casino!). If you do not gamble but do cocktail, factor $500 a day for spending money. You need to buy your own drinks and they are pricey (My buddy who I went with [it was his 70th Birday gift] snuck two large bottles of VO in his suitcase which saved him about $300 in drinks!). The $500 will cover off-ship activities, shopping and gratuities.

Stressed again, when you book, spend the extra $$$ for a room with a balcony. Also, if you are a coffee freak like me, bring your own small coffee maker, filters and a pound of your favorite grounds. You can't get good coffee delivered to your room, but there are starbucks types of kiosks on the ship which you have to walk to. Also, if you do not have a passport, better apply now!

 

The Inlet Cruise is the main one.....and probably the only one to do! If you are lucky to be awake at the time and looking outside the ship (If it's light out), there is one section the ship has to sqweeze through that I swear, you can drill a 9-iron to the shore!

As for the 'Formal Night', blow it off unless you are into that sort of thing. I left the dinner jacket and tie at home. That was a good call, because I only ate one dinner at the main dinning - assigned seating. As stated prior, I ate the rest of the dinners at the two restaurants, in which kahki's (sp?) and a polo / button down was apropose. I had no reason to hang with a snooty dressed-up crowd! About the casino, they are VERY fun and you pay no taxes on the open waters. When I won the $3K, it was paid in cash. Now here's the BAD thing if you have no will-power.....The Sea Pass card you get can be used in the casino for ASAP cash! You can be at the tables or a slot machine (or at the cashiers booth), hand them your card and with a quick swipe, they hand you cash. My limit was $2K a day as it was tied to my AMX (Which is probably the best card to associate your Sea Pass card to, as their is no limit).

 

Here'sa few other pics. The dinner shot was at the chop house. Awesome food and service. The floor shot was a tile in the elevator. It's about the only way you know what day it is! The other pic is a good look for the 13th floor (I believe it was). There are two such on the ship we were on. The newer ships have even more bling!
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

If you look on a map, it's the narrowest point about three sailing hours (I beleive) north of Vancouver, BC. I 'think' it's called Endicott Arm. I remembering getting out of the shower and looking out the window saying HOLY CRAP! Went out to the balcony and waived back at some people on the shore.

 

if you get the chance take the train from anchorage to fairbanks and back, it will be the best part of your trip

 

Carnival and Princess are under the same brand name of companies. I'd stay away from all of them, at least carnival. Went on one Carnival cruise and never again. They cater to lower income travelers ( and there is nothing wrong with that marketing angle) and their staff reflects that. I live in a hick town and don't want to see any of it when I travel, especially on a ship! I want a porter with at least three or four teeth when they bring my room service order! Stay with RC and you'll be simply pleased!

 

I've done Alaska 3x, all with Princess. I'm happy with them, but everyone has their own opinions. Carnival is the parent company of Princess. Only really outstanding thing I liked about Carnival is the 24-hour soft-serve ice cream, and the cabin stewards make towel animals. I love Princess's anytime dining, you just go to the dining room whenever you want like a restaurant. Sometimes you might have to wait, but at least you're not tied to the clock. ('traditional' dining is also available)

If you can afford it, definitely splurge for a balcony. You won't regret it. Great private spot to watch scenery, look for whales & other wildlife. However when the ship is going full speed between ports the wind chill can get to ya.

It would be good to have a set of binoculars for everyone in your party. If you spot a whale or bear it's hard to share!! You can borrow some from friends instead of buying...

If you're trying to take pictures of wildlife, it's hard without a good optical zoom. My first trip I took a 6x digital zoom, I keep telling people that that black rock on the shore is a bear! I have a Panasonic Lumix with 12x optical, it's great!

If you like whale watching, I highly recommend a company called Orca Enterprises in Juneau. You have to book them yourself instead of the cruise line. Done 2 trips with them. Love the water-jet powered boats, they really move. Unless you're sea-sick prone, then the cruise line's larger charter boats might be better.

DON'T buy the Juneau Mt Roberts tram tickets through the cruise line. You pay slightly extra, if the top is fogged in you don't see anything, AND you walk right by the tram station walking into town.

If you're looking for bargains, definitely early-mid Sept, all the stores are trying to clear out merchandise!

Check out cruisecritic.com, they have an Alaska section that has a lot of info.

I'd go back to Alaska in a heartbeat!! It's beautiful.

 

Bear & Orca
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Mendenhall Glacier near Juneau

Kick'n back on the balcony in College Fjord
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Hit up YouTube - Hubbard Glacier for a ton of video's of ice falling. You can sit there for an hour and be in awe of what you are watching!

 

I have traveled twice with large family groups on Princess, and they are top notch. The big boats (try for their newest), have a tone of stuff to do for all ages, and the side trips have something for everyone. I would book side trips before, as they can get booked up before you get on board, leaving only bad times, etc. We sailed out of Seattle on a 7 day that hit Ketchican, and several other ports before a great last day in Victoria. I was a cruise skeptic, but now after 2 on Princess (Alaska and Caribbean) I am a true convert.

Hope you have a great trip!
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login
Image Unavailable, Please Login