Alaska Oceania (Regatta) compared to Princess

I just compared the voyages and prices of Regatta and Princess and saw that a lot of Princess cruises in May are fully booked. In contrary to this I can get a cabin at nearly every Regatta cruise in May at a very low price (starting at 1000 Euro/Person for an insight cabin without flight). Can anybody explain it to me ?

I just compared the voyages and prices of Regatta and Princess and saw that a lot of Princess cruises in May are fully booked. In contrary to this I can get a cabin at nearly every Regatta cruise in May at a very low price (starting at 1000 Euro/Person for an insight cabin without flight). Can anybody explain it to me ?

The Princess ships are 2000+ and they market heavily to all levels. Too they have a system in Alaska of shore trips. Regatta is only 600, much higher class in food and fellow passengers...NO kids... much higher quality in everything.

Princess is a mass market line with extra costs hidden in every day in every way.... You can easily spend double your fare on Princess.

Regatta is pretty all inclusive.... its more laid back for people who like low key rather than "fasching " every nigh...... I go with an Inside on Regatta excellent for Alaska deck 7-8 your in the best position In 2017 there is a great 11 day from SFO to Vancouver, which can be connected to a 16 day sailing from Miami.... saving a lot for flying time and $$$

Gute risen und tssuch......

Gute risen und tssuch......

Actually, Gute Reise und tschuss.

My theory: More people know Princess and Princess includes a land trip as part of a package. Whenever newcomers ask on cruise critic which line to take for Alaska, a discussion starts on whether Princess or Holland America is better. It's never about the upscale lines.

I have cruised on all three lines and have no plans to return to Princess or HAL.

We’re looking forward to our first trip on Oceania’s Regatta to Alaska in June this year. We normally travel on Princess but wanted to try the Oceania experience. The bottom line is that it is less expensive to travel on Princess, and many other main lines, than it is on Oceania. We expect the food and service to be much better on Oceania.

The two things that can really add to the expense on Princess are drinks and excursions, both also need to be paid for on Oceania. Any freebies Oceania provides are minimal in the big picture.

Alaska is much less about the ship than it is the itinerary, for most. Princess and several others have permits to access Glacier Bay which, based on posts, is the number 1 cruise attraction although Oceania does not have a permit to enter the bay. As mentioned, Princess also has a comprehensive land package that has been very appealing.

So far I haven’t been able to find that the Regatta will have a naturalist onboard. Princess has them and they are a wealth of information as to wildlife sites along the way including known humpback whale feeding areas that you pass through and behaviors. Maybe Oceania has something similar?

If the ship is the primary reason for visiting Alaska, Oceania wins over Princess although based on availability, most choose the destination over the ship.

We have fallen deeply in love with Oceania, but chose Princess for Alaska last year - the reasons being Glacier Bay and the VIP escorted land portion, the string of Princess lodges. Flew into Fairbanks, and got the ship 9 days later in Whittier. The land portion and Glacier Bay were the highlights. The ship - the Grand Princess - was definitely meh, although we'd sailed her once before to Hawaii. Service, food, etc were all much less enjoyable than couple of years ago. Feel strongly that if all you experience in Alaska are a ship and a few day excursions, you haven't really done Alaska. It's definitely not about the ship.

We’re looking forward to our first trip on Oceania’s Regatta to Alaska in June this year. We normally travel on Princess but wanted to try the Oceania experience. The bottom line is that it is less expensive to travel on Princess, and many other main lines, than it is on Oceania. We expect the food and service to be much better on Oceania.

 

 

 

The two things that can really add to the expense on Princess are drinks and excursions, both also need to be paid for on Oceania. Any freebies Oceania provides are minimal in the big picture.

 

 

 

Alaska is much less about the ship than it is the itinerary, for most. Princess and several others have permits to access Glacier Bay which, based on posts, is the number 1 cruise attraction although Oceania does not have a permit to enter the bay. As mentioned, Princess also has a comprehensive land package that has been very appealing.

 

 

 

So far I haven’t been able to find that the Regatta will have a naturalist onboard. Princess has them and they are a wealth of information as to wildlife sites along the way including known humpback whale feeding areas that you pass through and behaviors. Maybe Oceania has something similar?

 

 

 

If the ship is the primary reason for visiting Alaska, Oceania wins over Princess although based on availability, most choose the destination over the ship.

Some wrong info in the above post.

Alcohol or excursion package can be chosen as the O Life perk. Included airfare is not "minimal" for folks flying in from a distance. Add TA provided gratuities and OBC, as well as O's far better food (including complimentary beverages and specialty restaurants) and free internet and Princess pales in comparison.

Don't forget Hubbard Glacier as it is awesome. It may be on an O itinerary. https://www.google.ca/search?q=hubbard+glacier&rlz=1I7ACGW_en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7vtW4wbLMAhUGwmMKHeceB-QQsAQIKA&biw=1164&bih=541

Some wrong info in the above post.

 

Alcohol or excursion package can be chosen as the O Life perk. Included airfare is not "minimal" for folks flying in from a distance. Add TA provided gratuities and OBC, as well as O's far better food (including complimentary beverages and specialty restaurants) and free internet and Princess pales in comparison.

Did I mention how much we’re looking forward to experiencing Oceania?

When we first compared prices, there was quite a difference in price between Princess and Oceania. I do see now that they are making offers that weren’t available when we first booked that bring similar trips into line although O is still more expensive.

So, to answer kroeni’s question why, Flatbush Flyer, are the Princess cruises fully booked when they can get a cabin on “nearly every Regatta cruise in May”? Particularly when Princess “pales in comparison”. Why?

Did I mention how much we’re looking forward to experiencing Oceania?

 

 

 

When we first compared prices, there was quite a difference in price between Princess and Oceania. I do see now that they are making offers that weren’t available when we first booked that bring similar trips into line although O is still more expensive.

 

 

 

So, to answer kroeni’s question why, Flatbush Flyer, are the Princess cruises fully booked when they can get a cabin on “nearly every Regatta cruise in May”? Particularly when Princess “pales in comparison”. Why?

Oceania is not particularly suited to families with kids (though you will find them on shorter cruises over summer and holidays.

O is not preferred by smokers nor is it known for entertainment.

Many cruisers never look past initial cabin costs (rather than "net daily rate") and do no further research (including checking back for "close to sailing date" discounts) into the value that O provides.

Also, for many O cruisers, the itineraries are basically "scouting trips" looking for extended vacations at a later date. One Alaska trip may be enough.

The list goes on...

We’re looking forward to our first trip on Oceania’s Regatta to Alaska in June this year. We normally travel on Princess but wanted to try the Oceania experience. The bottom line is that it is less expensive to travel on Princess, and many other main lines, than it is on Oceania. We expect the food and service to be much better on Oceania.

 

The two things that can really add to the expense on Princess are drinks and excursions, both also need to be paid for on Oceania. Any freebies Oceania provides are minimal in the big picture.

 

Alaska is much less about the ship than it is the itinerary, for most. Princess and several others have permits to access Glacier Bay which, based on posts, is the number 1 cruise attraction although Oceania does not have a permit to enter the bay. As mentioned, Princess also has a comprehensive land package that has been very appealing.

 

So far I haven’t been able to find that the Regatta will have a naturalist onboard. Princess has them and they are a wealth of information as to wildlife sites along the way including known humpback whale feeding areas that you pass through and behaviors. Maybe Oceania has something similar?

 

If the ship is the primary reason for visiting Alaska, Oceania wins over Princess although based on availability, most choose the destination over the ship.

as someone who went twice to AK -once on Princess and once on Celel=brity I would pick Princess for Glacier bay and land tour over HAL.. The draw is the land over the cabin and the food. shows- to tired after dinner.. go for the land not the ship.

as someone who went twice to AK -once on Princess and once on Celel=brity I would pick Princess for Glacier bay and land tour over HAL.. The draw is the land over the cabin and the food. shows- to tired after dinner.. go for the land not the ship.

Those land tours are spectacular because Alaska is spectacular, and both HAL and Princess have long standing machines that push thousands of people per week through their lodges and scenic train deals, but I would hesitate to promote those trips on this board because the caliber of their hotels is literally sub Motel Six. Ripped linens, stained carpets, chipped veneers........the absolute worst. I've been assigned to military bases with better accommodations.

Apparently they doll up the lobbies for the brochures, because the photo's look lovely, but those Alaska lodges remain the biggest disappointment of my traveling life, particularly the bedrooms...and we had a full Suite on the Coral Princess, God knows where they put the people who had paid less than we did. :eek:

Those land tours are spectacular because Alaska is spectacular, and both HAL and Princess have long standing machines that push thousands of people per week through their lodges and scenic train deals, but I would hesitate to promote those trips on this board because the caliber of their hotels is literally sub Motel Six. Ripped linens, stained carpets, chipped veneers........the absolute worst. I've been assigned to military bases with better accommodations.

 

Apparently they doll up the lobbies for the brochures, because the photo's look lovely, but those Alaska lodges remain the biggest disappointment of my traveling life, particularly the bedrooms...and we had a full Suite on the Coral Princess, God knows where they put the people who had paid less than we did. :eek:

I have been to Alaska 5 times on everything from NCL-HAL and Regatta.. Having ir getting to see Alaska in relative calm on a ship with space and passengers who arn't pushing and shoving every day in every way is a BIG ship consideration. SO....the ship IS a big factor. The mass market lines set out very seductive and trick laden prices. They do not include tax,port, air,specialty meals, tips, and have no OBC/ tour / or Liquor

So, the little $599 special deal... becomes $about $2300.00 by the time you add up the TOTAL cost of your cruise door-to-door for an inside. Factor in the density and demographics of Princess and Holland's monster ships and you need to consider that. In Glacier Bay the people are 6-10 deep on the rail.....view what view and a constant shoving match.

All in all what you get for the cheap price ends up costing you way more, and delivers a much poorer overall experience......

O dosent have a naturalist and dosent visit Glacier Bay and Preserve... however Hubbard Glacier is about as good and in many ways more spectacular. I say this as a former NPS Ranger naturalist.. Both are good and different, neither is better. The NPS does put a Ranger on board ships entering Glacier bay for the day....but its not for the cruise.

You need to use the any cruise to Alaska as a recon to gather personal likes for a future land trip. NO cruise-land package will be worth it.

I use the cruise for fishing.... because I can get in 3 days of world class salmon/halibut fishing in that would have cost me $4000.00 were I to have to fly up and stay on shore.... So thats my Alaska... And after 30 years sailing most all Lines....I cant find a better value when you consider everything.......

As to weigh popularity to judge quality.....have you noticed there are more Honda civic and Chevrolets than Mercedes Benz's Does that make Hondas and Chevys better?

I have been to Alaska 5 times on everything from NCL-HAL and Regatta.. Having ir getting to see Alaska in relative calm on a ship with space and passengers who arn't pushing and shoving every day in every way is a BIG ship consideration. SO....the ship IS a big factor. The mass market lines set out very seductive and trick laden prices. They do not include tax,port, air,specialty meals, tips, and have no OBC/ tour / or Liquor

 

So, the little $599 special deal... becomes $about $2300.00 by the time you add up the TOTAL cost of your cruise door-to-door for an inside. Factor in the density and demographics of Princess and Holland's monster ships and you need to consider that. In Glacier Bay the people are 6-10 deep on the rail.....view what view and a constant shoving match.

 

All in all what you get for the cheap price ends up costing you way more, and delivers a much poorer overall experience......

 

 

O dosent have a naturalist and dosent visit Glacier Bay and Preserve... however Hubbard Glacier is about as good and in many ways more spectacular. I say this as a former NPS Ranger naturalist.. Both are good and different, neither is better. The NPS does put a Ranger on board ships entering Glacier bay for the day....but its not for the cruise.

 

You need to use the any cruise to Alaska as a recon to gather personal likes for a future land trip. NO cruise-land package will be worth it.

I use the cruise for fishing.... because I can get in 3 days of world class salmon/halibut fishing in that would have cost me $4000.00 were I to have to fly up and stay on shore.... So thats my Alaska... And after 30 years sailing most all Lines....I cant find a better value when you consider everything.......

 

As to weigh popularity to judge quality.....have you noticed there are more Honda civic and Chevrolets than Mercedes Benz's Does that make Hondas and Chevys better?

What the heck does this mean? :confused:

Seemed to me that all Dan was saying was that just because more people select a cheaper option (as in the car comparison), doesn't make the choice "better".

Some will prefer HAL or Princess, some will prefer Oceania (or name your pick).

Pick the one that appeals to you the most. For DH and myself, that is Oceania. But we don't say it's perfect, and certainly not perfect for everyone.

We did Alaska on Princess in June 1990. We hadn't cruised much at that time and enjoyed the cruise very much. If we were to repeat that cruise today (even in a higher cabin than we were in back then, because back then we had bunk beds and a porthole for the view) I don't think we'd be as pleased.

Doesn't mean we were wrong to enjoy it the first time.

Mura

Have you considered HALs smaller ships? We're cruising on the Volendam very soon. $899 pp for a balcony. Plus taxes ( not exactly sure on the amount, but <200). Shipboard credits will more than pay for tipping and a couple nights in their specialty restaurants, and a few drinks. I watched availability and called at the right time about a paid upgrade. Now we have a Neptune Suite for <$300 more. HAL does a great job cruising Alaska. Sure the Volendam has more passengers than the Regatta. But we have a large balcony to soak up the views when Glacier Bay gets too crowded on deck. I'm sure HALS food doesn't even come close to Oceanias. But we always seem to find something to our liking and we certainly don't starve. Also love their walk-around decks. Some day we will cruise Oceania. We love Azamara too. But right now, balcony rates on either are prohibitive. I'll keep checking,however. So, do give Holland America some thought. And I also suggest finding ships that leave from Vancouver, rather than Seattle.

Don't forget Hubbard Glacier as it is awesome. It may be on an O itinerary. https://www.google.ca/search?q=hubbard+glacier&rlz=1I7ACGW_en&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj7vtW4wbLMAhUGwmMKHeceB-QQsAQIKA&biw=1164&bih=541

Being the largest tidewater glacier in North America, Hubbard is something to behold. The face is about 400' tall and stretches 7 miles wide. We were once onboard with an elderly woman who was in wonder of Hubbard Glacier. Her quote resonates: "I have been all over the world and seen many things, but I've never seen anything like this". It is a life changing (or life affirming) experience!

We're big fans of Alaska, six trips so far. Princess owns Alaska, they have amazing infrastructure. Holland America is second in their Alaskan presence but they use third party hotels for lodging and some are right in the cities. I believe they just opened their own lodge at Denali.

Five of our trips were on Princess and all were terrific because of the destination and the opportunity to explore the land side. We've explored both independently and with the Princess cruise tour package. We love the wilderness lodges, we've been to all five. Each lodge offers gorgeous scenery, a speakers program, naturalist and cultural programs, etc.

The lodge room quality varies quite a bit. The Copper river lodge has accommodations equal to a Marriott Courtyard, updated and nicely appointed. Accommodations at the Denali lodge were Spartan, rustic, Formica type appointments. We were there for the third time last summer and were pleased that the cheap room carpet had been replaced with a cleaner wooden laminate flooring.

To do a land tour you need a one way north or southbound cruise, Oceania round trips out if Seattle or Vancouver do not work.

We feel Glacier Bay is one of the greatest travel experiences of our lives. Hubbard glacier is also very impressive.

Even though we love the Princess Alaska program we strongly prefer Oceania as our cruise line. O offers a family friendly program in Alaska so we just priced a ten day for next July for an extended family trip. We concluded our grandkids are probably too young but we haven't ruled it out. We are going to investigate Disney or we may go with Princess.

The Alaska boards have a wealth of information on the pros and cons of everything Alaska.

Being the largest tidewater glacier in North America, Hubbard is something to behold. The face is about 400' tall and stretches 7 miles wide. We were once onboard with an elderly woman who was in wonder of Hubbard Glacier. Her quote resonates: "I have been all over the world and seen many things, but I've never seen anything like this". It is a life changing (or life affirming) experience!

I have been around a lot of glaciers...climbed on them, even lived on them on Mt Rainier as a Ranger, Been to Patigonia ice cap , Antarctica, Greenland the Alps,...The Hubbard is un like anywhere I have seen in terms of size and its active calving and motion....

The Hubbard ,because it is actualy , where it joins the sea, the product of 5 different massive glaciers creating this awe inspiring mass that is 400 ft ( 40 stories tall) and dwarfs the ship with towering 16,000 ft St Elias and Logan 18000 ft in the back drop.

What makes this so unique is the speed of the Hubbard it can move 7 ft in a day and the USGS current records show its on of the few Glaciers in Alaska that are growing!!! Glacier bay is shrinking.

This speed, also creates massive calving unlike anything you will see in North America.... far more than anything in Glacier Bay.... On my last Regatta trip we spent 4 hours within 1000 ft of the 9 mile wide face. We observed a 400 ft by 600-700 ft massive ice walls calving ...not once but 4 times creating 40 ft tall house size icebergs.... Not little chunk here or there... but massive ice falls with thundering roars...huge activity that was pretty impressive . The Regatta was able to gently float in, I was told far closer than the mega ships that must keep 1/2 to 3/4 mile out.

And all the time there was plenty of space at the rail no crowds no shoving......... Im going back next year just to observe it

The discussion here about glaciers makes it sound like you have to choose between Hubbard and Glacier Bay. Princess southbound itineraries do BOTH. If you book that itinerary on Coral Princess you will at least get the best possible Princess experience [smaller ship, lots of outside viewing areas, and the ship never feels crowded]. As far as the land portion, the alternative to the Princess packages is DIY which gives you more flexibility and gets you away from the crowds at the Princess lodges. Be warned: although you can find friendly and charming B&Bs, you won't find any lodging or restaurants equal to the Oceania onboard experience. Still, Denali is worth "roughing it" for a few days!

The discussion here about glaciers makes it sound like you have to choose between Hubbard and Glacier Bay. Princess southbound itineraries do BOTH. If you book that itinerary on Coral Princess you will at least get the best possible Princess experience [smaller ship, lots of outside viewing areas, and the ship never feels crowded]. As far as the land portion, the alternative to the Princess packages is DIY which gives you more flexibility and gets you away from the crowds at the Princess lodges. Be warned: although you can find friendly and charming B&Bs, you won't find any lodging or restaurants equal to the Oceania onboard experience. Still, Denali is worth "roughing it" for a few days!

Yes, the Princess itineraries are full of glacier viewing and you see more than one glacial area on most cruises. Some cruises also visit College Fiord.

The Coral Princess is their best ship, we've sailed it multiple times. Great space per passenger ratio.

There are many classes of Princess ships and overall they have a nice product.

Being the largest tidewater glacier in North America, Hubbard is something to behold. The face is about 400' tall and stretches 7 miles wide. We were once onboard with an elderly woman who was in wonder of Hubbard Glacier. Her quote resonates: "I have been all over the world and seen many things, but I've never seen anything like this". It is a life changing (or life affirming) experience!

Could not agree with you more. We have been to glaciers in Norway, New Zealand and Alaska -- Hubbard is our favorite by far. Smaller ships can get quite close to the glacier. The sound of the calving is like thunder - absolutely amazing!

We would not go to Alaska on a mainstream cruise line -- full of kids on summer vacation. In fact, we love visiting Alaska in May because there are fewer ships, way fewer children and a calmer environment when you go ashore. We would not hesitate to book an Alaska cruise on Oceania (have already sailed on Silversea and Regent in that area).

I think that an itinerary should include both Hubbard Glacier and Icy Straight Point. ISP is the most incredible, non commercialized ed port. Built, opetated and developed by the Tlingit, it is authentic and wonderful. Only one ship at a time can port there. http://icystraitpoint.com/ We sat at the aft bar drinking wine,after a day poking around ISP and there were whales all around us!! Going back in May and can't wait!

In 4 trips to Alaska, we've cruised on 4 different lines, beginning in 1984 on a small Cunard ship, seeing Hubbard Glacier, among others. Actually, it was our very first cruise. Next was Princess in 1991, where it rained steadily every day in Alaskan waters, including Glacier Bay-it was the Alaskan cruise where we saw nothing but shapes in the mist. When Oceania offered its first Alaskan itineraries, we signed up quickly for O's inaugural sailing in May, 2011. There was a naturalist on board, and while we didn't go to Glacier Bay, we sailed into Tracy Arm, and stepped from the tender deck onto a pontoon boat for what was our best shorex ever. We sailed into what looked like impenetrable ice to anchor very close to Sawyer Glacier, which treated us to a fantastic calving show, which we could see, hear and feel. Along Tracy Arm we saw many waterfalls, some brown bears, quite a few bald eagles posing on a log, and even a whale or two. It was just a magical experience.

Our last trip was on Celebrity in May, 2014, with my sister and BIL, where the Tracy Arm experience wasn't as wonderful. The pontoon boat we hoped to experience again did not start service until June. We noted that Celebrity had the poorest mooring locations, especially in Juneau and Skagway, meaning very long walks or paying for a shuttle bus.

All in all, things have changed greatly over our Alaskan cruising years. Maybe we'll go back to this gorgeous state again, and we might choose Princess just because of the land tour aspect, because we have not done that before. Marlene