Need help in planning our first Alasak cruise!!!

[hlhgxu]

Our family of five with two girls (age 14 and 10) and a senior plan to have a round trip Alaska cruise out of Vancouver in early August of 08 (fairly fixed schedule). There are so many different cruise lines and itineraries to choose from when I checked on line and I am all confused.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated on a good choice of cruise line and itinerary that can get the most experience and the best value if possible.

Thanks!

Hong

[Kamloops Cruiser]

Originally Posted by hlhgxu

Our family of five with two girls (age 14 and 10) and a senior plan to have a round trip Alaska cruise out of Vancouver in early August of 08 (fairly fixed schedule). There are so many different cruise lines and itineraries to choose from when I checked on line and I am all confused.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated on a good choice of cruise line and itinerary that can get the most experience and the best value if possible.

Thanks!

Hong

Most of the cruiselines are OK. Not one will do for the whole group.
Example Holland America/Celebrity have a higher age average approx 55
Carnival is probably is probably about 20 yes lower. It is also considered a party ship.Cabins on most Alaska cruises are filling up or are close to full for Aug 08

[thinfool1]

Originally Posted by hlhgxu

Our family of five with two girls (age 14 and 10) and a senior plan to have a round trip Alaska cruise out of Vancouver in early August of 08 (fairly fixed schedule).

1. You need to book something immediately for any kind of cabin selection. July and August are the most popular months and fill quickly.

2. There are only a handful of round trips out of Vancouver. Check Holland America and Royal Caribbean.

3. I suggest Holland America. Holland America and Princess have the most experience in Alaska, but Princess has no round trips out of Vancouver. Holland America has a reputation for having an older crowd. This is not true in Alaska. They have a nice mix of ages.

4. There are many more round trips out of Seattle, but they spend a lot of time on the open ocean compared to the round trips out of Vancouver, which sail most of the Inside Passage.

5. Finally, you cannot really make a bad choice for an Alaskan cruise. All of the cruise lines take you to some of the most wonderful places on earth.

[Kamloops Cruiser]

Most Seattle trips have one less stop in Alaska. This because the
"Jones Act" requires non US flagged ships to stop in a foreign port (Victoria or Prince Rupert) for a min time.

[CanCanCase]

Originally Posted by doopydozer

Most Seattle trips have one less stop in Alaska. This because the
"Jones Act" requires non US flagged ships to stop in a foreign port (Victoria or Prince Rupert) for a min time.

Have you heard anything recent regarding the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA)? A week or two ago, I had good, albeit unsubstantiated, information that a compromise had nearly been reached and DHS had found a way to exempt the cruises in the PacNW...

-Case

[Kamloops Cruiser]

Haven't heard of any changes or compromise yet. If there is a change it probably doesn't affect the 2008 season.

[Cruze Lover]

We are cruising Alaska R/T Vancouver on Celebrity this summer. Might want to check their rates out. We love Celebrity, our favorite line. Fabulous service and food, refined but not stuffy.

[PeterC]

IMHO find a cruise that visits Glacier Bay. That will limit your choices of itineraries and lines as well. Celebrity for example doesn't go to Glacier Bay. We sailed Celebrity in Alaska and loved it FYI.....but no Glacier bay was a negative, in spite of Hubbard being awsome.

Last year HAL had some cruises that visited both Glacier Bay and Tracy arm. I haven't checked to see if they're doing that this year but if they are that's my suggestion for the best round trip itinerary.

We've said in August 3 times to Alaska on round trips. HAL, Celebrity, NCL (out of Seattle). Honestly I didn't notice any real difference in average age. There were passengers of all ages including many kids. Every time we walked by the teen area it was crowded so your 14 yr old should be able to meet and make friends, with any luck.
My son was 10 at the time of our last trip and there were also plenty of kids in his age group and when he decided to partake in the activities for kids he really enjoyed.

I suggest go to one of the web travel sites like Yahoo travel and compare trips. But I also would find a good cruise travel agent to actually book the cruise.

You're going to love it no matter what choice you make.....including the girls.

[Got2Cruise]

If you haven't booked yet, I noticed that NCL is having a Spring sale if you book this week, they are throwing in an OBC. I know the Pearl is RT from Seattle and offers 4 ports as well as cruising Glacier Bay. I am not too sure that the ships are all booked already. . .I know that my sailing in July, the fares have gone down since February.

[Nurse Debra]

Originally Posted by hlhgxu

Our family of five with two girls (age 14 and 10) and a senior plan to have a round trip Alaska cruise out of Vancouver in early August of 08 (fairly fixed schedule). There are so many different cruise lines and itineraries to choose from when I checked on line and I am all confused.

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated on a good choice of cruise line and itinerary that can get the most experience and the best value if possible.

Thanks!

Hong

Hi hlhgxu:

I would also recommend a cruise that goes to Glacier Bay. Glacier Bay has always been the highlight of any Alaskan cruise for us. If you can find some round trip cruises that go to Glacier Bay that would be my choice for any round trip cruise. I believe Holland America, which would be my first choice, may have some round trips that stop at Glacier Bay. I have not sailed on the Pearl yet, but have read many good reports about that ship. Several cruise lines do go to Glacier Bay but Celebrity and RCCI cruise lines are not allowed into Glacier Bay.

[Karen16]

[quote="doopydozer

Most of the cruiselines are OK. Not one will do for the whole group.
Example Holland America/Celebrity have a higher age average approx 55
Carnival is probably is probably about 20 yes lower. It is also considered a party ship.Cabins on most Alaska cruises are filling up or are close to full for Aug 08
[/quote]

This is completely not true for Alaska, I've sailed 5 different lines in ALASKA and demographics are about the SAME on them all with middle aged and above the bulk. There are NO party ships yet, and I've sailed Carnival 3 times there.

There is no comparism with the Caribbean and Alaska sailings.