Alaska cruise

[michelleJ]

My sister and I are taking our first cruise in May on the Paradise , it is soooo much fun planning it all and I think we have done about all we can!!

I am now looking at a cruise to Alaska with Hubby for next year and wondered if we should book a north bound and then a south bound or if you do just one then how to work the air back to either Seattle or Vancouver?

Should we book now and do a guarentee balcony and hope we get upgrades or wait until just before to maybe get a good deal.

We want to go in July or Aug.

Thanks

Michelle

[PEB]

I have cruised Alaska multiple times and I am doing a back to back in Alaska this May.

If you wanted a land package with your cruise I would start in the north and head south. The land portion can be hectic so you could than rest on the cruise south. The air may be cheaper through the cruise line seeing it is an open jawed flight.

If you were to do a 7 day only I would go from Vancouver to Seward or Whittier depending on the cruise line. Each will get you to Ankorage. The air may be cheaper through the cruise line seeing it is an open jawed flight.

There are 7 day roundtrip from Vancouver or Seattle which would save on air however IMHO you miss the best views of Alaska from a ship if you do this. You will still see a lot of beautiful things but you will miss some of the best things. JMHO.

If you have the time cruising northbound than southbound for back to backs is great. You save on air for one thing, seeing you can fly in and out of the same airport. It is also relaxing because you do not have to try to see everything the first week. You know you will be back the following week so you can see some things the first week and than see different things the next week. The negative is that you will see the same meals and same shows. As far as the meals go you can always try something different the second week or you can enjoy again a meal you may have especially liked.

As for flying in and out of Vancouver or Seattle, I have done both. When I have flown out of Seattle I have taken one of the shuttles or Amtrak up to Vancouver to catch the ship in Vancouver and done the same to get back to Seattle for my flight home. The Shuttle can take up to 4 hours if the traffic is bad. I decide which city to use for flying by which one I get the best prices for at the time. I always book my own flights unless it is an open jawed flight.

I am not sure if this helps you but hopefully it gives you a little idea of each type of cruise. Alaska is extremely beautiful and well worth cruising.

[jbond]

We did Alaska on Legend of the Seas. We chose that cruise because it was one way, Seward to Vancouver, and gave us a better view of Alaska than the round trip out of Vancouver. We also chose the southbound trip because of the timing for Misty Fjords and the Hubbard Glacier. We felt that it would be advantageous to see them later in the day.

You can see our cruise album atLegend of the Seas

[michelleJ]

Thank you both for you advise, many things to consider!

Also thanks for the pics, my hubby and I enjoyed them . Great trip!

[sailinglisa]

My advice would be to book now, don't wiat. Usually if you book late, you will get cabins in the least desireable locations. Book now and get a cabing you will be happy with....and if you are going northbound (Vancouver to Seward, get a cabin on the starboard (right) side...if going southbound (Seward to Vancouver) get the cabin on the port (left side.) If you decide on a round trip inside passage (round trip from Seattle or Vancouver) it doesn't matter which side the cabin is on (this applies only for outside or balcony cabins.)

Otherwise, I ditto what PEB said.

[Tamara]

Make sure to spend a few days in Vancouver. I have lived in Vancouver all of my life and I love it, despite its faults. Great restaurants, scenery, outdoor stuff, shopping; we have it all. I have travelled all over the world and always love coming home, flying in seeing the mountains and the river and everything.

[michelleJ]

Thanks to all for the replies, We have never had the opportunity to travel to the far north west and want to make the most of it.

I think we will do a north bound on one ship and switch ships for the south bound, and yes we would love to spend a few extra days in Vancouver and sourounding areas.

Now we just have to dicide what time of year and what ships, LOL

Michelle

[sailinglisa]

Well, the Alaska cruise season runs from May thru mid to late September.

[dberg]

This is great information. DH and I are going on an Alaskan cruise in late May. 7 days from Whittier to Vancouver. I'm so excited!

[GottaCruz]

Welcome aboard, dberg., Tamara and michelle. It's great to see all of you posting. Remember to post your cruise dates to our CruiseCrazies calendar so we can Bon Voyage you when the time comes Please don't hesitate to ask any and all questions you may have. We have a very experienced, knowledgeable and extremely friendly and helpful group of members who will be happy to answer your questions. :cool: