Alaska Cruise

[Cruisaholic]

Thinking of doing an Alaska Cruise next year. Is it better to do the cruise only option and organise our own tours pre and after the cruise or is it easier to do the package? Thinking of Princess cruises - anyone done alaska cruise with them. ***commercial link edited ***people seem to suggest the package deal with Princess is best???

[thinfool1]

Originally Posted by Cruisaholic

Is it better to do the cruise only option and organise our own tours pre and after the cruise or is it easier to do the package?

Aaargh...I typed a reply here and then lost it.

Cruisetours are great, and independent touring is also great...you have to do the research to decide.

However you decide, don't be afraid to put a deposit down on something (you can always change it later...before final payment date). I say this as people are already making deposits for Princess Alaska cruises in 2009.

Also, please check for a 'private message' about this.

[Rev22:17]

Cruisaholic,

Originally Posted by You

Thinking of doing an Alaska Cruise next year. Is it better to do the cruise only option and organise our own tours pre and after the cruise or is it easier to do the package? Thinking of Princess cruises - anyone done alaska cruise with them. According to www.cruisegossip.co.uk people seem to suggest the package deal with Princess is best???

It really depends primarily upon how you feel about driving on the right side of the road.

Princess's cruise-tour packages are totally seamless and of high quality, with premium to luxury accommodations ashore, but the land tour portion will be relatively expensive. It certainly would be less costly to book only the cruise and a transfer from Whittier to Anchorage International Airport through Princess, to reserve a rental car at Anchorage International Airport, and to book hotels on your own. If you elect to make independent arrangements, though, I strongly recommend reserving lodging in advance so you don't encounter "no vacancy" signs in a remote area. The major attractions in Alaska are considerable distances apart, with wilderness in between, and you'll be visiting during the peak tourist season when lodging tends to be in demand.

I should also tell you that Alaska's main roads are generally in very good condition, but motorways exist only in and around the major cities. Most of the roads connecting the points of interest are two lanes, divided only by a double yellow line, with speed limits of about 60 MPH (100 km/hr) -- and if you don't maintain the speed limit, you'll have tractors hauling large lorries bearing down on you the whole way. These roads also have ordinary intersections, some signaled and some not, rather than overpasses with entrance and exit ramps.

Norm.