Alaska Cruises About This Page:

[duck addict]

I know it will be a shock to my passporter buds, but I am NOT planning a 2010 WDW trip


I want to take an Alaska Cruise/Tour and have several questions:

1. Do I need an ocean view or verandah room, or will an inside stateroom suffice (I pay the super high single traveler rates so each higher class room raise the price a bunch !) In asking this, are there enclosed viewing areas on the public decks in the event of inclement or just plain cold weather.
2. I am planning on a Vancouver BC or Victoria departure. Can I beat the cruises rates for the pre-nights, after adding the cost of airport transfers and transfer from hotel to cruise ship.
3. Cheaper to book my own air (I am pretty sure the answer is yes).
4. Last, what is you preference Holland America, Royal Carribean, or Princess for Alaska cruises (Wish there was a Disney one )
5. I realize that prices are currently low. When should I be looking to book and get the best rate for a May/June 2010 cruise.

Thanks

[statelady01]

1. Do I need an ocean view or verandah room, or will an inside stateroom suffice (I pay the super high single traveler rates so each higher class room raise the price a bunch !) In asking this, are there enclosed viewing areas on the public decks in the event of inclement or just plain cold weather. I would not take this cruise without the balcony. In areas like the Fjords and some other passage times, top decks got super crowded. Enclosed viewing areas would depend on the ship- but on Serenade, I found the indoor areas to be kind of dark. Balcony was our best viewing point.
2. I am planning on a Vancouver BC or Victoria departure. Can I beat the cruises rates for the pre-nights, after adding the cost of airport transfers and transfer from hotel to cruise ship. Yes- I got the Pan Pacific, a 5 ** hotel for $100 per night. 3 and 4 ** were double, sometimes triple that when booked with the cruise line for pre and post nights. You'd have to look at transfer costs with the cruise line- but a cab was about $40 CAD to and from the aiport.
3. Cheaper to book my own air (I am pretty sure the answer is yes). In our experience, much cheaper.
4. Last, what is you preference Holland America, Royal Carribean, or Princess for Alaska cruises (Wish there was a Disney one ) I highly recommend RCCL. NCL is also a heavy competitor there. The Princess ships I saw in ports looked on the older side, however her passengers we met seemed very happy with it. I found RCCL to be the most price competitive and it was a fantastic ship.
5. I realize that prices are currently low. When should I be looking to book and get the best rate for a May/June 2010 cruise. We booked about 6 months in advance, and kept checking the price which went down even more- we called RCCL on it and they lowered it for us.

You will love it!......................
Thanks

[mickey0823]

1.I know that you have to pay the single occupancy rate on a cruise, but I really feel that to get the best experience a balcony is the way to go! You may want to check with the cruise line for specials such as past guest, if you're 55+, if you've served in the military or sometimes they have special residency rates depending on what state you live in. Also, the most scenic cruises are the one-way voyages, commonly known as "voyage of the glaciers". If you choose an itinerary like this and you get a balcony or an oceanview, make sure that your cabin is on the "viewing" side of the ship. If it's a northbound itinerary, your room should be starboard (right side), and southbound should be portside (left side).
2. I'm sure that either yourself or your TA can find a much better hotel rate than what the cruise line quotes. Often times, a cab works out to be cheaper that the cruise lines' transfers. Have your TA ask the hotel for a cab fare quote.
3. Unless the cruise line is having a special on airfare, (which isn't too often), it's cheaper to book air on your own.
4. IMO, Princess and HAL are the leaders in Alaska! Princess will have a park ranger come on board and give a commentary and Q&A session while sailing in Glacier Bay National Park. They also have other guest speakers come aboard in different ports, this really enhances the experience! Both Princess and HAL offers excellent Cruisetours with their own Wilderness Lodges!
5. Now is a great time to book for May/June 2010, especially if you decide to stay in a balcony or oceanview...they fill up very quickly.