Alaska cruise recommendations

A place for members to talk about things outside of Virgin Islands travel.
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Ron in South Texas
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Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:15 pm
Location: Skidmore, Texas

Alaska cruise recommendations

Post by Ron in South Texas »

Thinking about an Alaska cruise next summer...any recommendations on cruise lines and excursions would be appreciated...Thanks!!
It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere!
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mbw1024
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Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 4:54 pm
Location: The Garden State

Post by mbw1024 »

My opinion is that Celebrity is the best of the BIG lines. That being said I don't love their Alaska itineraries. I did Alaska on Princess. It was my 1st cruise and I loved it but I had nothing to compare.

Do you know yet if you want to take a round trip or a one way sailing? Round trip starts and ends in the same port. A one way is just that and then you need to consider flying in to one city and back from another.
PA Girl
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Post by PA Girl »

I am sorry I don't know more details but we know a couple that did a cruise one way and took a train back through Canada. They travel all over and thought it was a great way to see Alaska and Canada. Something tells me they originated in Vancover.
JJShaw
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Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 7:11 pm
Location: NC

Post by JJShaw »

Hi,
I book for Expedia Cruiseship Centers...so I gotta chime in...I would suggest either Princess or Holland America. Also,If you leave from Vancouver rather than Seattle you will go abt 500 more miles further into Alaska. They have north bound and south bound Schedules as well as Cruisetours where you ride the train and stay at their resorts...Its really a nice way to see it all...There are lumber jack shows in Ketchikan or you can go mushing on a Dog sled. Whale watching as well as taking a sea plane. There are lots to see and do..I can tell you I never have any desire to go there until I started booknig cruises and took the Alaska course that Princess has. It has since moved pretty far up on the bucket list.
They also have round trip cruises from San Francisco, Seattle as well as Vancouver. There are 5 to 10 days cruises...hotels can be added as well as the cruisetours. If you would like, I would be happy to mail you some information catalogs and pamlets..if you would PM me your mailing address. No strings to buy at all...just happy to pass along some information here I have to you..:)
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EagleRayLover
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Location: St. John -WooHoo!!

Post by EagleRayLover »

Augie and I cruised from Seattle with Princess for a seven day cruise and had an amazing time. We planned many of our own excursions and got to do so much more than many folks that do stuff with the excursions through the cruiseline for less money. Princess was wonderful. We also spent a couple extra days in Seattle which was great since we are from the East and have a couple hotels we absolutely loved. happy to share details if you need/ want them !!
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loria
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Location: NY

Post by loria »

friends of mine ust got back from a princess cruise in alaska aboard princess diamond (i think that was the name) they had an amazing trip--hiking in Denali, helicopter to a glacier, mushing on the glacier ,horseback riding, hanging with one of the boats from deadliest catch (season 2) whales, sea lions, you name it-- I was really impressed by all that they saw and did --I can ask them precisely what the itinerary was if you like
< leaving on the 22nd of march...but too lame to figure out the ticker thing again!>
Knolmom
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Alaska Cruise

Post by Knolmom »

They say that Princess'owns Alaska" as far as cruising goes and I tend to agree. We are very loyal RC/Celebrity cruisers but we selected Princess for our 13 day cruiseyour a few years ago and it was an amazing experience on an amazing ship--the Island Princess. We flew NY to Fairbanks, rented a car and drove up to the beginning of the Artic Circle, then joined the cruisetour the next day for I think 3 days in Fairbanks, 2 days in Denali, the train to Whittier and the the ship south through Glacier Bay with stops in Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.We ended up in Vancouver, where we stayed for 3 days afterward.
Princess did a magnificent job with land lodging and land excursions, the Island Princess was beautiful in the sense that it had a true"Ocean Liner" feel, and the food was very nice. ( Not nearly as good as Celebrity, but VG) We had lousey weather in Denali, Skagway and Juneau but great sunshine for our Flaot Plane Trip with Island Wings in Ketchikan, and the weather and sightseeing in Vancouver was gorgeous. Would do Alaska again with Princess in a heartbeat. Doing the Med on Celebrity one month from today!
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