7 day itinerary -- looks like Princess?

[joanna111]

Looking for a 7 day Alaska cruise with the best glacier viewing. I've done one cruise before -- a HAL cruisetour that went to Glacier Bay and College Fjord. This upcoming trip is with a friend who's never seen Alaska so seeing something new isn't a priority for me -- I just want the most spectacular glacier viewing.

 

Here's my thinking:

That would mean 2 out of 3 of: Glacier Bay, College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier.

 

The only 7 day cruises that seem to offer that itinerary are the one-way Princess cruises between Vancouver and Anchorage: that's the Coral, Island, Sapphire or Diamond.

 

So my questions are:

 

Am I overlooking something or would more experienced cruisers have other ideas?

 

Which ship would you recommend out of those four?

 

We're on a tight budget but flying into Vancouver and out of Anchorage isn't a factor because we're using frequent flyer miles. But the budget does preclude getting a cabin with a balcony so we'll need good on-deck viewing.

 

What do you experienced cruisers think?

[mr green]

IMO go Coral or Island, North to South. This way you will get Hubbard, and Glacier Bay, the best of the three glaciers.

 

john

[Budget Queen]

Do you have any time before leaving Alaska or prior to a cruise out of Alaska??? Adding a Prince William sound boat tour, would trump all the cruiseship glacier viewing. Easily can be done embarkment/disembarkment day- IF you have enough time- which I suggest you plan for.

[oratheeexplorer]

IMO go Coral or Island, North to South. This way you will get Hubbard, and Glacier Bay, the best of the three glaciers.

 

john

 

 

Can I jump in here and ask why you recommend Island or Coral? We are booked on the Sapphire for August and you've got me curious.....

[TallinnGirl]

Can I jump in here and ask why you recommend Island or Coral? We are booked on the Sapphire for August and you've got me curious.....

 

Ora! I think we were on the same cruise on the Crown! :) Left FFL Feb 5, 2011 visiting Grand Cayman, Roatan, Cozumel and Princess Cays? :)

[oratheeexplorer]

Ora! I think we were on the same cruise on the Crown! :) Left FFL Feb 5, 2011 visiting Grand Cayman, Roatan, Cozumel and Princess Cays? :)

 

 

Really? Yes, we were on that one! How do you remember that?

 

Laura

[TallinnGirl]

Really? Yes, we were on that one! How do you remember that?

 

Laura

 

Well, I saw it in your signature as a past cruise...

 

That was our first cruise and we loved it! Never thought we would enjoy cruising, always been more of a land traveler.

[mr green]

Can I jump in here and ask why you recommend Island or Coral? We are booked on the Sapphire for August and you've got me curious.....

 

Size. I was on the Star once, [similar to Saphhire, and it took for ever and a day at two ports to get off the ship. Princess had in mind filling 35 full sized busses in 15 minutes, well, it took an hour and a half.

Dining? Three dining rooms, only one for fixed seating, so if you want, [as we do], early seating its tough to get it. On sea days with only one dining room open at lunch time it will take a good half hour to get seated if you don't want the buffet, we were in fact lined up into the casino one time. Cruisers who line up early have the same half hour wait, as those who get there when the doors open.

Island and Coral have only 1,970 passengers, [92,000 tons]as against 2,670 [116,000 tons].

Theaters. Apart from the main theater, Coral and Island each have a 'Universe Lounge' which may be unique to cruise ships. For a full production show, the center revolving stage can go to five different layers at the same time, like a flatish pyramid, while the two outer revolving stages can each carry four dancers, each one a separate level, or four massive TV monitors, [stationary].

I could go on but I think that those are the main highlights.

 

john

[reney313]

We took Diamond southbound. Absolutely loved it! I really don't think you can go wrong on any of their ships sailing that itinerary.

[dread_pirate]

Dining? Three dining rooms, only one for fixed seating, so if you want, [as we do], early seating its tough to get it. On sea days with only one dining room open at lunch time it will take a good half hour to get seated if you don't want the buffet, we were in fact lined up into the casino one time. Cruisers who line up early have the same half hour wait, as those who get there when the doors open.

Island and Coral have only 1,970 passengers, [92,000 tons]as against 2,670 [116,000 tons].

So there wasn't that wait for the dining room on the Coral or Island?

[mr green]

So there wasn't that wait for the dining room on the Coral or Island?

 

No wait at all, get to the dining room at five to the hour, and you are close to being first in line.:)

 

john