Advice on Alaska cruise 2016

[cairokid]

We're beginning to plan a cruise in Alaska for spring 2016. What we'd like to do is combine this with spending a few days each in Seattle, Vancouver, and possibly Anchorage. We're thinking of a one-way cruise starting or ending in Vancouver and we'll travel to or from Seattle by train. Will be my husband and I. We live in southern Europe and will book our own flights.

 

We were thinking of going mid May. Can anyone advise how cold it would be in N.America then (in centigrade if possible)?

 

Also, when are the school holidays? We'd like to avoid them if possible.

 

We've only cruised once before, on Royal Caribbean to the Baltic. We're open as to which company we use so any recommendations would be nice. I don't think we'd like to be on a huge ship and can't afford to go on a very small one so something in the middle would be desirable.

 

All tips and hints gratefully received. Thank you.

[xlxo]

Some thoughts....

• school is generally out mid June to August.
  
• you want 3 days in Vancouver to catch all the sights
  
• late May means tourist attractions will in full operations. Sunset will be around 9:30pm to maximize daylight.
  
• in addition to the twice daily train... there are several buses. Quick Shuttle can get you from SeaTac to Vancouver for $50 with 5 to 6 daily departures. You can even Orca whale watch your way between Vancouver and Seattle with a pitstop in Victoria.
  
• here's the temperatures of Vancouver May 2015 as a comparison...
  http://www.accuweather.com/en/ca/vancouver/v5y/may-weather/53286
  

[YOUTUBE]ZLL6du--lQA[/YOUTUBE] [YOUTUBE]txO8VK4LaLQ[/YOUTUBE]

Edited April 5, 2015 by xlxo

[Flatbush Flyer]

We're beginning to plan a cruise in Alaska for spring 2016. What we'd like to do is combine this with spending a few days each in Seattle, Vancouver, and possibly Anchorage. We're thinking of a one-way cruise starting or ending in Vancouver and we'll travel to or from Seattle by train. Will be my husband and I. We live in southern Europe and will book our own flights.

 

 

 

We were thinking of going mid May. Can anyone advise how cold it would be in N.America then (in centigrade if possible)?

 

 

 

Also, when are the school holidays? We'd like to avoid them if possible.

 

 

 

We've only cruised once before, on Royal Caribbean to the Baltic. We're open as to which company we use so any recommendations would be nice. I don't think we'd like to be on a huge ship and can't afford to go on a very small one so something in the middle would be desirable.

 

 

 

All tips and hints gratefully received. Thank you.

 

 

Check out Oceania Regatta. Take the $ credit instead of free airfare. With other O perks and a good TA, including his/her perks, as well as not getting nickel dimed for beverages, specialty restaurants, etc., you may find the bottom line daily cost to be most reasonable for a superior product on a 700 passenger ship.

US K-12 schools as well as many colleges generally/officially finish at some point in June. Late May is generally not bad weatherwise in Alaska. I'd opt for early June Because prices generally start rising as you get further into the summer. If you need degrees Celsius, look it up.

[CowPrincess]

We're beginning to plan a cruise in Alaska for spring 2016. What we'd like to do is combine this with spending a few days each in Seattle, Vancouver, and possibly Anchorage. We're thinking of a one-way cruise starting or ending in Vancouver and we'll travel to or from Seattle by train. Will be my husband and I. We live in southern Europe and will book our own flights.

 

We were thinking of going mid May. Can anyone advise how cold it would be in N.America then (in centigrade if possible)?

 

Also, when are the school holidays? We'd like to avoid them if possible.

 

We've only cruised once before, on Royal Caribbean to the Baltic. We're open as to which company we use so any recommendations would be nice. I don't think we'd like to be on a huge ship and can't afford to go on a very small one so something in the middle would be desirable.

 

All tips and hints gratefully received. Thank you.

 

What do you consider a huge ship? What do you consider a small ship? (Sorry, not trying to be silly, but my idea of huge may not be your idea of huge :D )

 

I went to Alaska last year at the end of May and it was around 20ishC in Juneau and Ketchikan, I think. In Skagway the day was mostly around 15C, but the temperature dropped as a weather system moved in, in the middle of the afternoon. In Vancouver the day we boarded our cruise it was 7C with rain. But weather is not a for-certain thing.

 

Definitely do some reading on the Alaska forum here:

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

 

Where I live school is over the 3rd week of June, but many parents take their kids out of school early to start summer vacation.

Edited April 5, 2015 by CowPrincess

[SuiteTraveler]

I think you should probably do a cruise plus land tour of Alaska to Denali. Princess has probably been doing it the longest but lots of other cruise lines do this as well, so it's all a matter of what cruise line best suits your budget. I would look for shore excursions like flight plane over the Misty Fjords, dog sledding, whale watching and helicopter onto a glacier. Also, I highly recommend those cruises that go through glacier bay - later in the season is best - when the ice bergs have melted more and the ships can get further in. I think you will have a wonderful time. We've been twice and each time it was a completely new adventure!

[cairokid]

Thank you so much for all your helpful replies. I'll check out what you have suggested.

 

Those temperatures are higher than I anticipated so that's great. I don't know if we can go much later in the year than May as we're involved in a summer seasonal business here.

 

As for ship size, our only other cruise was on Brilliance of the Seas to the Baltic. We enjoyed it but there were a lot of people on board. It was absolutely full. I wouldn't want to go on a bigger ship than that, if possible. One with less than 1000 passengers would be great but they all seem to be over our budget.

[cairokid]

Check out Oceania Regatta. Take the $ credit instead of free airfare. With other O perks and a good TA, including his/her perks

 

I'll look into this but (sorry if I am being dumb here) what is 0 perks, TA, and his /her perks?

[Flatbush Flyer]

I'll look into this but (sorry if I am being dumb here) what is 0 perks, TA, and his /her perks?

 

 

Perk is short for perquisite- basically, a free add-on.

 

O = Oceania, a premium cruise line sandwiched in a family of lines between mass market NCL and luxury Regent of the Seven Seas. O is known for mid sized ships and arguably the best food at sea. It is mostly inclusive though alcohol and excursions cost extra (Regent is all-inclusive at a much higher price while NCL charges extra for every little thing and has lower quality food and amenities).

 

Perks are things like included airfare (O provides air transport or you can opt for a $ credit. We always take the credit and buy our own air along with using FF miles to upgrade to Business Class on long hauls).

 

On select sailings, O may include perks like free internet, gratuities, on board credit (OBC). Of course, all non-alcoholic beverages and specialty restaurants are always at no additional charge. Travel agents on their own, or in cooperation with O, will provide perks as well, most usually in the form of "special sales" with discounted cabin fares and/or additional OBC.

At the bottom line, a top producing TA (selling many many O cruises) can work $ wonders with the right itinerary. How do you find these TAs? Start with "best of ..." Lists from well respected publications like Conde Nast Traveler. For O specifically, consider "cruise specialist" TAs who advertise their membership in O's " Connoisseurs' Club."

 

When we compare O to the "better" mass market lines (Celebrity, Disney, etc.) at the "bottom line," i.e., ALL vacation expenses reduced to a daily rate (cruise, air, extras like specialty restaurants, et al.), choosing O is a no-brainer.

And then there is what you don't get: hordes of people, Olive Garden or Chili's type mediocre food, bothersome photogs, nickel/diming charges for everything, etc.

[xlxo]

Those temperatures are higher than I anticipated so that's great. I don't know if we can go much later in the year than May as we're involved in a summer seasonal business here.

Here's the Anchorage temperatures in comparison...

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/anchorage-ak/99501/may-weather/346835

[CowPrincess]

xlxo thanks for that link!

 

cairokid, the chilliest I've experienced on the Inside Passage cruise was in early May, around the start of the 2nd week of the month, in Ketchikan. It was about +6C, with enough blasting wind to drive the rain parallel to the ground. Some people were soaked to the skin (bad clothing choices) and certain they were never ever going to get warm again.

[cairokid]

Thanks. Have looked at the Oceania website and am very attracted by what they offer. There's an enormous difference between the 'brochure price' they quote and the offer prices they have up to June 30th.

 

I think we'd enjoy a smaller ship like this. Do the prices go up to the brochure price? I notice the prices for this May/June are much the same as for next year; also much less than the brochure price.

[cairokid]

xlxo thanks for that link!

 

cairokid, the chilliest I've experienced on the Inside Passage cruise was in early May, around the start of the 2nd week of the month, in Ketchikan. It was about +6C, with enough blasting wind to drive the rain parallel to the ground. Some people were soaked to the skin (bad clothing choices) and certain they were never ever going to get warm again.

 

Brrr ... We are ( or possibly now I should say were) skiers and have lived in the Scottish Highlands so I know what 6 degrees with rain and high wind-chill feels like. That's the sort of weather I was worried about ...

[CowPrincess]

Brrr ... We are ( or possibly now I should say were) skiers and have lived in the Scottish Highlands so I know what 6 degrees with rain and high wind-chill feels like. That's the sort of weather I was worried about ...

 

On that particular trip, 2008, Ketchikan and area was not great :eek: There was a weather system that rolled in and kept other ships from docking. The night leaving Ketchikan DH and I were part of the small group that didn't take to their beds with seasickness before dinner. But in Juneau we did a whale watch and it was warm enough. And in Skagway we just walked to the Gold Rush Cemetery and Reid Falls, starting out with jackets over fleecy tops, and peeling down to our t-shirts by the time we got to the cemetery.

 

Did the same trip in 2009 and the weather was fine if you were dressed for it. A friend that traveled with me found 6:30 am outside Juneau watching for whales on the aft deck to be too cold, but she wasn't dressed for it. Juneau itself was sunny, I think. I'll check my pictures. That time, though, Ketchikan was lovely. Skagway was blasting wind but sunny and warm enough that a t-shirt and jacket sufficed.

 

You just never know.... ;) Just be prepared and bring the clothes you need to layer effectively.

 

We choose May trips to Alaska because they fit reasonably well with our work schedules, and like the weather most of the time :D Lousy weather can happen any time, right?

 

I'm sure others will have suggestions for cruise lines. I sail on Holland America, and you might be interested in their smaller ships in Alaska. It looks like the Zaandam is doing 7 day one-way trips from Vancouver and Seward in 2016. I think the capacity is about 1400 pax.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Thanks. Have looked at the Oceania website and am very attracted by what they offer. There's an enormous difference between the 'brochure price' they quote and the offer prices they have up to June 30th.

 

 

 

I think we'd enjoy a smaller ship like this. Do the prices go up to the brochure price? I notice the prices for this May/June are much the same as for next year; also much less than the brochure price.

 

 

Disregard the "full brochure fare." It will never be that price. Up to certain dates, there is the "early booking fare." That may or may not go up somewhat depending on bookings. Also, look for specials on the website for various sailing dates. Some will have perks like free gratuities, OBC, etc.

Zero in on a few doable dates and then get a good TA, who will add perks like more OBC. In looking at these web prices note that you should be able to find two fares - one with and one without airfare built in.

I can't stress enough how important a TA is. Also, since you are not in the US, all sorts of particulars may be different (including the perks).

Good luck.

[cairokid]

Great information, thanks.

 

I'll investigate the smaller HAL ship as well. Definitely think I would enjoy a ship with less than 2000 people. I'm not a city-dweller and find that many people all in one place a bit overcrowded :)

 

I never find it difficult to entertain myself so masses of activities aren't a priority.

 

Reassured to know it wasn't horizontal rain all the trip. I'm prepared for some inclement weather; I doubt anyone goes to Alaska in May expecting much sunshine ...

 

Points about having good clothing noted. I read somewhere that it's easy to buy additional fleeces in some of the ports. Is that correct?

 

Will research travel agents as well. I've already looked at flights and will probably have to go via the UK.