Alaskan Cruise

Looking to take a cruise to Alaska next summer and need some recommendations - land/sea cruise, just cruise - Southbound, Northbound????

Looking to take a cruise to Alaska next summer and need some recommendations - land/sea cruise, just cruise - Southbound, Northbound????

Also post on the Alaska Ports of Call forum:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

Definitely do the land and sea cruise. Make certain that your ship will have 1 day in Glacier Bay - that is one of the most awesome sights in all of Alaska. For the land portion, be sure to schedule some activities such as white water rafting, fishing for Salmon - things that are very Alaskan to get the most out of your land portion. Otherwise, the land portion can feel like you took a train to stay in a hotel.

I think it is nice to go North on the cruise portion and then fly back from Alaska.

Fly into your port of departure at least one day ahead. These cruises typically leave from Seattle or Vancouver, both of which are amazing cities and well worth taking a couple of extra days to visit prior to your cruise if you have the time.

If your cruise leaves from Vancouver, stay at the Pan Pacific Hotel which is right next door to the port - you can literally walk with your rolling luggage to the port, plus the Pan Pacific is a gorgeous hotel with great food and a magnificent view. It is also well located for sight seeing in Vancouver.

If your cruise leaves from Seattle, stay anywhere downtown. I especially love the Seattle Marriott Water Front or the Sheraton, but there are so many great hotels it is hard to choose. There are so many things to do and see in Seattle: Pike Place Market, Sci-Fi Museum, Space Needle and the food there is fantastic! Lots of Salmon and crab!

Do post on the Alaska Ports Of Call Board.

My recommendation is to think about whether or not you want to do a pre cruise or land cruise land program. If you do, then go with a Northbound or Southbound Sailing. If you do not have an interest in doing this then I would highly recommend you consider a R/T Inside Passage Cruise out of Vancouver.

If you can find an itinerary that includes Glacier Bay that is a nice plus. It's not imperative but it can make for a wonderful day of cruising

Keith

We are doing Alaska in May :D We booked in '14 to get a desired aft cabin for the magnificent views. We are doing north bound from Vancouver to Seward and then a 6 night post cruise tour ending in Fairbanks.

You really can't see Alaska from a ship - so either do a pre or post cruise tour - on your own or through the ship. Enjoy! Having traveled through much of the world - it is one of the most beautiful places on earth!!!

You should do both land and sea and allow at least 2 weeks. We prefer southbound because the land portion can be very tiring so we get the last part of the vacation to relax.

On your cruise make sure you go to Hubbard glacier. Some people will say Glacier Bay but we prefer Hubbard, and most one way cruises go there, not Glacier Bay.

If you can afford it Regent or Silversea are your best bet, and if you can go to Sitka as a port stop it is not to be missed. Probably the best port in all of SE AK.

Thoughts....

• 7 round trip? North/South one ways? Also check Holland America's Yukon Denali option where you travel halfway to Skagway and then go over land via the Yukon to Anchorage to return to Cascadia on another boat. http://www.hollandamerica.com/YukonDoubleDenali
  
• If you are departing/arriving in Vancouver.... budget extra days as Vancouver is bigger than all the Alaskan ports combined.
  
• Vancouver cruise hotels are premium priced, but hotels a few blocks away offer significant savings.
  
• In addition to itinery... have you thought about which month/week?
  
• May and September is cheaper, but colder and some excursions are not running
  
  
• May can mean ice congestion to some glacier viewing sites like Tracy Arm/Sawyer
  
  
• May to July is dryer in Alaska, August will see more rain and September will be wettest. If too stormy to dock.... cruise ships will skip the port.
  
  
• July to August will be dryer in Cascadia
  
  
• May to August will give you more day light
  
  
• August and September offer better wildlife opportunities
  
  
• I like late-July for weather compromise and wildlife. It's also priced higher.
  
  
• some ports offer seasonal opportunities like fireworks and pride celebrations, but can also mean congestion.
  
  
• http://www.alaska.org/advice/best-time-to-visit-alaska
  => it recommends mid-June to mid-July!

  
  

• Alaskan mosquitos are Zika free!