ckelly14

Are you stuck on veranda? When we travel with our girls we usually get 2 connecting inside rooms and leave the door open in between during the day!

Balcony or bust, according to my wife...

I usually get inside rooms too, and I love them but thats all been traveling in the Carib, Alaska may be a bit different. Going to bed and waking up with glaciers outside your windows may be once in a lifetime unless i'm mistaken, someone correct me then. I'm planning my first Alaska this summer also.

i see that you sailed the Wonder previously, as well as Princess. What line are you planning for Alaska, if you don't mind me asking...

Understood, just wondering if there was any tasty rumors or educated guesses...

Doing some early research on a family sail to Alaska in the summer of 2015. Was considering the Century but recently heard that it will be sold in 2015! Any news if there will be any other ships accompanying the Solstice and Millennium for Alaska in 2015? I have kids that will be 9 and 10 at the time, wanted to do R/T out of Vancouver. Love to see another ship with this itinerary!

I am in the exact same situation. Kids 9 and 10 when we travel to Alaska. I've been following flights for some time, and for me, flying from Charleston, SC, the difference from the most expensive option (one way to Vancouver, back from Anchorage) to the cheapest option (R/T Seattle) is only about $400 for all 4 of us. Not a big deal since I will EASILY be spending over 10K on this vacation. I started out convinced I had to do R/T Seattle but the difference in flights was negligible. Your mileage may vary.

I agree that itinerary is important, but there are many other practical considerations when traveling with children. For example, where will everyone sleep? Most Princess cruises have a goofy bunk bed configuration in the balcony rooms, so the only option for us would be a mini-suite, which increases costs. Also, if you want a balcony on an R-class HAL ship, you need to book the "deluxe" veranda Neptune suite. It's huge, but you're getting into Disney prices. Norwegian ships only have a double pull out sofa bed, so our kids would have to sleep with each other, or Mom and Dad would need to sleep on the sofa bed. Either way, NOT HAPPENING!

Suffice to say, there is more than just itinerary in play when you're bringing kids...

If you decide to do a balcony cabin I would suggest one on the Caribe deck, as you mention that you are going to be a group of 4, since they are larger and half covered. Their being half covered would be helpful in case of inclement weather.

The minisuites on the Dolphin deck are completely uncovered, which would limit the use if it rains.

The other option would be if you can get a minisuite on the Emerald deck, as they are fully covered. However there are only a few of them, and they usually get booked up quickly.

Great practical advice, thanks!

You get what you pay for. I think that answers it. If all that you want is cheep then that is what you will get

It is like buying a t shirt. All depends on the quality of cotton You get a chap thin shirt it does not last long but when

You pay for good quality it will last for years You get what you pay for

True, but there are some that think you get what you pay for in a Disney cruise, where some feel you don't quite get what you pay for. I'm still trying to figure out which group I will belong to!

Well, still looking for suggestions. Princess would require a mini-suite to get the same bed configuration an room as a base Disney veranda, still less expensive but not as much of a difference. Also, the Pacific goes to Tracy Arm, not Glacier Bay. Would have to go from Seattle to get Tracy Arm.

Norwegian has only a sofa bed, no upper bunks. Don't thin that will work for us.

That leaves HAL, Disney and Celebrity.

Still looking at HAL, but Zuiderdam ship reviews have me concerned. R-class would require me to have a suite to get a balcony, so increasing price significantly.

Celebrity has the Century from Vancouver and Solstice from Seattle. My wife has a nose like a bloodhound and hates smoking. Celebrity and Disney have great smoking policies. Not sure about HAL.

Complicated!

Thanks. Looks like the mini suite is what I need for size and bedding on any Princess. Need to keep that in mind for budgeting.

Considering an Alaska trip on Princess for Summer 2015. Looking at the 2014 offering for comparison. Interested in a roundtrip cruise out of Vancouver or Seattle. The only options I see are the Golden and Grand out of Seattle and the Pacific out of Vancouver. Absolutely must have a balcony, and I noticed the options for a family of four are limited. The Princess only has "mini-suites" and above, and the Golden and Grand has a limited number of four person balconies. Most of the configurations say "Twin/2 uppers" which I assume is the lower bed is split into twins and there are 2 upper bunks. It does not give me the option of a queen and 2 upper bunks. Anyone that stayed in these rooms please advise on what this looks like. Thanks!

I'm still leaning towards Disney, but the price difference is becoming more of an issue, and I have a pretty significant travel budget. Priced out Disney vs others for a July 2014 trip. Disney- $10,2015 vs $6000-6400 for NCL, HAL, Celebrity. Not considering Carnival or RCCL. This is for a balcony room(5c) vs veranda category on the other lines. $4000 buys a lot of soda!

I was planning to book Disney for 2015 the first day available, but especially with the complaints about price increases compared to 2014, I'm doing my due diligence!

I have been reading some pretty scathing reports on the Zuiderdam over on the HAL board here (public AND en suite bathrooms not working, lots of wear and tear, etc.). Really torn as it will save me almost 4K, and I get Glacier Bay to boot. Probably will pass on this ship but thank your for the advice, something I need to think hard about. The older smaller ships out of Vancouver seem to get better reviews, but I would be stuck without a balcony, or pay more than Disney for one of their balcony suites.

Funny you should post this, as I never looked at HAL due to the perceived demographics. They have 2 older ships out of Vancouver, neither of which fits 4 people in their cheaper "veranda suites". They have veranda suites that fit four but they are much more expensive than Disney. They have the Zudierdam out of Vancouver, and it has balcony rooms that fit 4, and it goes to Glacier Bay. Unfortunately, none of the smaller suites fit 4. I'll have to research this more closely. Thanks!

Planning a first-time Alaska cruise with my family (kids 9 and 10) and I keep coming back to Disney for a variety of reason, all of which have nothing to do with on-board characters or the Disney marketing machine, including:

1. Stateroom configuration- a majority of their balcony staterooms are configured with a pull down upper bunk to fit 4. Many of the other lines have limited 4 person staterooms, requiring me to book 2 connecting rooms or a suite.

2. For family convenience, looking for a round trip offering out of Vancouver, which limits my choices further. Considering Seattle R/T but would like Vancouver if possible.

2. Planning to come back for some low-key family entertainment after our excursion. I know there is plenty of entertainment on most cruise ships, but FAMILY entertainment is often lacking.

3. I really dislike all the additional charges on a cruise. Disney seems to be the most inclusive.

4. I like the rotating dining rooms, keeping the same wait staff.

What I don't like is the prices. If you have suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Any ships with an enclosed pool that sail Alaska? THAT would keep my kids entertained at night...