A Few Questions About Alaska Cruises and Cruisetours

[Celandine]

Hey everyone,

 

I have a few questions and know this is a place that will help me out greatly!

 

I currently cannot access the Princess website fully, and don't have a TA to turn to, so I came here.

 

A few questions:

 

Looking for Alaska summer 2014 (know they aren't out yet) Looking for a cruisetour - that starts in Alaska and then the 7 day cruie to Vancouver.

 

1) what are some of the differences between a mini-suite and full suite? Do both have balconies? Looking to sleep 3 adults comfortably - we usually travel 2 to a cabin but want to go together.

 

2) Price difference between a suite and mini-suite (even samples for this summer would help, as I mentioned I cannot access the website)

 

3) is there a specific cruise tour you reccomend (I think there are 2-5 days? not sure)

 

4) is there a specific ship/itinerary you reccomend?

 

 

Any help is appreciated. This is to be considered the Alaska trip of a lifetime - I want to do it once and do it as best and fully as I can

[Pia1913]

Hey everyone,

 

I have a few questions and know this is a place that will help me out greatly!

 

I currently cannot access the Princess website fully, and don't have a TA to turn to, so I came here.

 

A few questions:

 

Looking for Alaska summer 2014 (know they aren't out yet) Looking for a cruisetour - that starts in Alaska and then the 7 day cruie to Vancouver.

 

1) what are some of the differences between a mini-suite and full suite? Do both have balconies? Looking to sleep 3 adults comfortably - we usually travel 2 to a cabin but want to go together.

Yes, both have balconies. Difference is vast, and so is the price.

 

2) Price difference between a suite and mini-suite (even samples for this summer would help, as I mentioned I cannot access the website)

A lot of money.

 

3) is there a specific cruise tour you reccomend (I think there are 2-5 days? not sure)

We took the one for eight days starting in Fairbanks; four different lodges.

 

4) is there a specific ship/itinerary you reccomend?

We were very happy with the Coral.

 

 

Any help is appreciated. This is to be considered the Alaska trip of a lifetime - I want to do it once and do it as best and fully as I can

 

If you consider this once in a lifetime, I definitely recommend the precruise tour be as many days as you can afford. We also did the fully escorted one, so had no bother of when or where to find meals. Costs a bit more, but worth it.

[WVBill]

 

2) Price difference between a suite and mini-suite (even samples for this summer would help, as I mentioned I cannot access the website)

 

 

From the Princess website:

 

August 6 2012 - 7Days Voyage of the Glaciers with Glacier Bay (Northbound)

 

 

Save $200.00 per person

 

Suite Launch Fare:

$3,149.00*

 

MiniSuite

Launch Fare:

$2,249.00*

Your Fare:

$2,099.00*

[Potstech]

Also please check but I think you must pay for the food in the lodges. Princess has a package now but not sure how much it costs.

 

I think it is a great idea what you are doing so enjoy yourself. You will not be sorry.

[2little time]

Hey everyone,

 

I have a few questions and know this is a place that will help me out greatly!

 

I currently cannot access the Princess website fully, and don't have a TA to turn to, so I came here.

 

A few questions:

 

Looking for Alaska summer 2014 (know they aren't out yet) Looking for a cruisetour - that starts in Alaska and then the 7 day cruie to Vancouver.

 

1) what are some of the differences between a mini-suite and full suite? Do both have balconies? Looking to sleep 3 adults comfortably - we usually travel 2 to a cabin but want to go together.

 

2) Price difference between a suite and mini-suite (even samples for this summer would help, as I mentioned I cannot access the website)

 

3) is there a specific cruise tour you reccomend (I think there are 2-5 days? not sure)

 

4) is there a specific ship/itinerary you reccomend?

 

 

Any help is appreciated. This is to be considered the Alaska trip of a lifetime - I want to do it once and do it as best and fully as I can

For a "cruise of a lifetime" I would pay the extra and get a suite. There are so many nice little extras that come with it. We absolutely loved the Island Princess. You don't want to miss Denali Park. It is fabulous. We took the "Denali Explorer" and had a wonderful experience. Alaska is so beautiful.

[sunluva7]

Before we traded our summer Alaska cruise tour for a cruise to the British Isles, we were booked on Island Princess, north to south. Coral or Island seemed appealing to us - the perfect size and very pretty ships.

 

We were going to do a Denali tour with 2 nights Fairbanks, 2 nights at Denali, and a night in Anchorage. Another way of touring, which we were looking into - and for you, if you are the adventuresome type - is to rent a car for a certain number of days and make up your own tour, pre-cruise, perhaps start in Fairbanks and make your way down to Anchorage. If the one-way drop off car fee is too much, rent in Achorage and drive up to Denali and book a lodge or see some of the other beautiful sites.

 

Your decision might depend on airfare as well, to Anchorage or Fairbanks and out of Vancouver.

 

As for the ship, we were set on a balcony cabin as the mini suites were outrageously priced, never mind a full suite.:rolleyes: But the extra room would be nice for a third person, so a mini suite, at the least.

 

I am hoping to make it to Alaska on a future cruise.:). Good luck with your planning!

[PennyB]

Hey everyone,

 

I have a few questions and know this is a place that will help me out greatly!

 

I currently cannot access the Princess website fully, and don't have a TA to turn to, so I came here.

 

A few questions:

 

Looking for Alaska summer 2014 (know they aren't out yet) Looking for a cruisetour - that starts in Alaska and then the 7 day cruie to Vancouver.

 

I am doing a cruistour this August and chose MB6. From what I've read on this great board, land tour first and then cruise is the best especially coming from the east coast. Get the long flight over in the beginning.

 

1) what are some of the differences between a mini-suite and full suite? Do both have balconies? Looking to sleep 3 adults comfortably - we usually travel 2 to a cabin but want to go together.

 

Never looked into the suite, way out of my price range!

 

2) Price difference between a suite and mini-suite (even samples for this summer would help, as I mentioned I cannot access the website)

 

We chose a mini-suite, cabin D712 to be exact. It was only about $200 more per person for a mini-suite over a balcony cabin when we booked, so we felt that was a no brainer. Also felt that a balcony that was covered was an absolute must for Alaska. Read several posts that said many people were unable to use their uncovered balconies because of rain. Here is a GREAT website that will give you information on Coral/Island.

 

http://mysite.verizon.net/res76zxu/princessbalconies/index.

 

3) is there a specific cruise tour you reccomend (I think there are 2-5 days? not sure)

 

MB6 (Off the Beaten Path). Wanted to take in the Copper River and Denali for 2 days. Again from what I've read here, Denali is a must.

 

4) is there a specific ship/itinerary you reccomend?

 

Coral/Island. This is the first cruise for my friend going with me. He wanted a fewer passenger ship.

 

Any help is appreciated. This is to be considered the Alaska trip of a lifetime - I want to do it once and do it as best and fully as I can

 

Hope this helps. I can't wait for August!!!

[Kirsten T]

We really enjoyed the Northbound Voyage of the Glaciers last summer on Island. The mini-suites at the aft end of Dolphin deck have covered verandas and cost a fraction of a full suite (although I'd love to try one someday.) The cruise was spectacular; we enjoyed College Fjord just as much as, if not a little more than, than Glacier Bay - amazing scenery, loads of wildlife. The southbound cruises substitute Hubbard Glacier for College Fjord but are otherwise the same - just in reverse. I'd definitely do the 7 day Voyage of the Glaciers for the itinerary, and we're partial to Coral/Island. Love the size of those ships.

 

We did Denali on our own after the cruise (booked through Alaska Railroad) so can't comment on the cruisetours. Call the folks at Alaska Rail if you're interested in perhaps booking the land tour separately; they were really great to deal with. The Princess (and other cruise lines) rail cars simply get tacked onto AK Rail trains, so they can provide a similar experience with a better choice of options.

 

You will have heart failure when you see how much this costs, but I'm telling you - it is COMPLETELY worth it. :)

Enjoy!

Kirsten

[paul929207]

Celandine,

 

I thought your Asian cruise last winter on the Ocean Princess was the cruise of a lifetime. Glad you are planning another. For us every trip is the trip of a lifeime.

[neverenoughtime]

Does it matter which side of the ship you book a room on? I've read different things. One said the ship turns around in the bays so you can see from either side. But it just seems to me that you would want to be starboard for going north and port for going south. Your thoughts??

[Pam in CA]

I agree with the land tour first and southbound premise to get the long flights over before the cruise. Renting a car and creating your own land tour is an option but IMHO, the poor driver doesn't get to see much, the distances are vast so there's a lot of driving, and you don't have the benefit of a guide to point out the eagles in the trees as you're driving along, the history of the area you're driving through, etc.

 

We had port-side cabins on our southbound cruise and even though the ship turns, the PA announcements about what you're seeing seemed fresher and newer before the turn.

 

Mini-suites are essentially balcony cabins with a larger sitting area, couch, 2nd TV and larger bathroom. No perks other than a glass of (bad) champagne at sailaway. On other cruiselines, this cabin type would be designated something like a "superior verandah" cabin with no mention of a suite, because it isn't really a suite. A full suite is much larger than a mini and you get a long list of amenities, including unlimited Internet, unlimited laundry, full breakfast menu as room service, breakfast in Sabatini's, priority embarkation, priority tender tickets, etc.

[Celandine]

Celandine,

 

I thought your Asian cruise last winter on the Ocean Princess was the cruise of a lifetime. Glad you are planning another. For us every trip is the trip of a lifeime.

 

That was my trip of a lifetime, but I went alone. (also calling it that helped me justify paying for solo cruise fare)

 

This time I am going with my parents, it's something we've been talking about for a few years now, and it's the only reason I haven't gone to Alaska yet.

 

Truth be told, my ultimate trip of a lifetime will be a world cruise... on Princess, and I am hoping to do that in about 7 years... maybe a bit more.

[Celandine]

Thank you all for this wonderful information.

 

I will be going through this in more detail when I am not knee-deep in school work.

 

 

I bet doing it yourself would be great for planning exactly what you wanted - but that won't really be an option for us. We would definitely be looking for the cruisetour. :)

 

Thank you for the information on the ships and mini-suites vs. suites.... just that bit of extra room is really all we would need (the perks of a full suite would be great, but I am really just thinking of space).

 

Great tip of the covered balcony too, I know my mum and I are pushing my dad to get one, so I'll have to make sure we get a covered one or he might be 'right' about his anti-balcony protests!!

[MimiOhio]

I think we were always able to use our balcony on our trip last summer. If possible, add a few days on the Kenai Penninsula to your land tour. We took the most amazing boat tour while there. It was at Kenai Fijords National Park I believe. The whales, the dolphins, the otters, the eagles--spectacular!! I froze but it was wonderful.

If you go to Fairbanks, you may want to skip that gold mine trip. There is an incredible museum at University of Fairbanks--Museum of the North, I believe. I am not a big museum person but this one was worth it. The gold mine excursion was mostly irritating.

We cruised first and then did land tour which we really liked. Everyone talks about the long plane ride...well due to unusual circumstances it took us 24 hours to get from Ohio to Vancouver!