Gnuthad

1. Weather/climate: our last visit was 2013 (20 July) that we selected more for convenience and hopes for large proportion of families/children for our then three grandsons: the highs were pretty much in the low 70s

We live in the far south of New Zealand (Dunedin) so we like the colder temperatures. Our Summers are often too hot for us with typical temperatures in the low 30's (mid-high 80's). Low-mid 70's is ideal for us :-) I deliberately booked a guarantee rather than a specific suite as a number of places advise that the guarantees are more likely to receive upgrades. If we get an upgrade to a Neptune suite then we will be very happy but if not then we will not be disappointed.

At 40M and 31F, I suspect that we will be some of the youngest on the cruise (and Rocky Mountaineer trips afterward) but neither of us is really into the all-night parties and binge drinking of the 20-30 age group.

At any rate, the basic rule will be to bring layers of outerwear, at least a good windbreaker and something warm to wear underneath that can be left behind

We're spending a couple of months in Canada (BC & AB only) so this is already planned to ensure we enjoy ourselves on our holiday. With the diversity of British Columbia, Alberta and Alaska we need to allow for some rather variable climates.

2. Port experiences: strongly suggest you consider whale watching at Juneau, a train ride at Skagway, and a trip into Misty Fjords at Ketchican. We tend to use a private company at Juneau and Skagway.

I have been looking at various options in the ports and locations we will be staying over the whole holiday. We are planning to take a whale watching cruise from Vancouver Island but we may try in Juneau as well. In Skagway we have found a glass-blowing lesson which sounds very interesting. In our various travels over the past years I have always taken the time to organise things rather than get a travel agent to do the work. Part of the enjoyment of the holiday is finding out what's around before you even get there.

3. Vancouver: we love Canada and hope you will have planned for some days in Vancouver/Victoria. (Although Seattle is great, we plan to return to Vancouver on our next Alaska trip to include Denali National Park.) Consider the Aquarium and Beluga whales at Stanley Park and the Anthropology Museum, as well as time or at least the ferry to Victoria with visits to Natural History Museum and the wonderful Butchart Gardens!

We have planned almost a week in Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton and a few days in Victoria. We are planning on a day or two in a couple of other places as well.

Hope to experience New Zealand (Princess or Holland America) within the next couple of our winters (all advice as well as ways to cope with air travel most welcome!). Feel free to drop a note for any specifics I might offer (balticports@yahoo.com). DJ:)

New Zealand is a lovely country as is surprisingly bigger than many believe. We have allowed a full day in Vancouver when we land so that we can cure any jet-lag we have. We want our holiday to be relaxing rather than rushing to cram in as much as we can possibly do.

Depending on how we enjoy the cruise we may well take another in a few years; mortgage permitting.

I realise that this post was almost a year ago but I feel that a reply is deserved to point out the other side of things.

so here is what I realize I do to save money :

 

I don't get my mani or pedis on the ship.....I can get them at home prior to boarding!

My cousin was employed by a particular cruise line (it will not be named) as a beautician in the on-board spa/health room. As part of her employment she only got paid when passengers paid for a beauty treatment. The rest of the time, while the travel and meals were paid for by the company, she earned no money, not even a share of the tips (HSC). Naturally, she didn't receive the full amount of the beauty treatment. From memory, she received 50% of the cost.

When she was first employed the cruise line indicated that she would make lots of money and see the world with up to a dozen treatments each day (depending on the treatment). Her season saw her employed on a cruise ship which sailed around the Scandinavian area and was predominantly retirees. As a result she performed, on average, 7 treatments a week.

To say that she was extremely disappointed was an understatement and she refused another season with the company. I do not know if all cruise lines provide the same conditions and certainly on some other ships she may well have made a lot of money.

In short, without passengers paying for these extra services some of the employees on the ship might be making absolutely nothing for that day, week or even cruise. Please do not be too harsh on those passengers who do pay for the spa treatments, cooking lessons etc; they are likely to be giving someone else an income.

If your cruise is northbound, the better views are landward (starboard). If you have the luck of a day at Glacier Bay, the captain will go out of his/her way to give all sides of the ship good views (although you will be so excited and probably out on public decks anyway!)

The cruise is the 7-day round-trip so we get to see the coast from both sides of the ship, weather permitting. The specific cruise is at http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/CruiseDetails.action?webItineraryIdForAudit=A6G07S&fromSearchVacation=true&destList=landSeaJourneys,cruises,A&dateCode=6_2016&flexibleMonths=false&noOfFlexibleMonths=1&portCode=&shipCodeSearch=&voyageCode=I646 for the 25th of June.

Alaska cruises useful to look at calendar options (early, middle season, late). Sometimes better weather, options as to fishing and wildlife views.

 

Enjoy, DJ:)

We've never been the the northern hemisphere before but I would expect that late June would be pretty close to the height of Summer but before it gets really hot. In New Zealand it's cold but still getting towards the coldest parts of Winter which tends to be mid July through to mid August.

While we expect to be in the public areas a fair amount of the time, we decided on the signature suite to give us some alone time where we can still enjoy the outside environment on the verandah without the crowds.

My wife and I have booked an Alaskan cruise on the Nieuw Amsterdam out of Vancouver in June next year. So far we have booked a signature suite but not actually chosen a cabin. Is there any particular cabin(s) we should avoid when making our selection? This will be our very first cruise.

Thanks in advance.