Carnival's Alaskan cruise....

[CRocks]

I'm confused, I thought the Alaskan cruises were always northern or southern passage. We're thinkin about one + I see now they sail roundtrip from Seattle in 7 days. Is this really enough time to get up there, see anything, + return? What's the weather like? Hate to spend good money to go somewhere colder than it is at home. really confused :(

[jimbo5544]

They used to be one ways, but changed about 5 years ago when Carnival made Seattle their Alaskan cruise homeport. The logistics of this meant that the would all have to be round trip. By law, all non US flagged ships must made a foreign stop, so these cruises now make a pit stop in Canada.

It used to be one ways, south from Anchorage to Vancouver and the reverse on the north bound trip.

[billfish]

We did the legend first cruise last year on May 18th. The weather was outstanding . Being the first cruise of the year it went out of Vancouver and returned to Seattle. Would not hesitate to do it again. Friends did the same trip in July weather just so so

[SadieN]

No predicting the weather.

Done Alaska twice. 2007 & 2008 both over the summer solstice.

 

First year it was T-shirt and shorts weather. The second it was 40F and wet.

[jimbo5544]

We did the legend first cruise last year on May 18th. The weather was outstanding . Being the first cruise of the year it went out of Vancouver and returned to Seattle. Would not hesitate to do it again. Friends did the same trip in July weather just so so

Best chances to see wildlife are early (May) and late (September) as well.

Edited December 31, 2015 by jimbo5544

[Missileer]

We have done a half dozen Alaska cruises--four of them on Carnival. All were round trip Seattle through the inside passage. They were all wonderful. Weather is a crap shoot. We have cruised in every month (May to Sept) and have experienced a range of weather. But if dressed in layers it is quite easy to deal with. Every CCL cruise had a Naturalist on board who made the cruise very interesting as she pointed out glaciers, wildlife on shore and whales.

We never tire of the beautiful scenery and fun ports.

Enjoy.

[CRocks]

We're thinkin balcony for Alaska, any advantage to which side of ship we book now that it's RT?

[cruiseonthebrain]

We're thinkin balcony for Alaska, any advantage to which side of ship we book now that it's RT?

 

We wondered the same thing- so we went with an aft wrap:-)

[jimbo5544]

We wondered the same thing- so we went with an aft wrap:-)

 

 

Smart move!

[cruiseonthebrain]

Smart move!

 

I hope you are right!- (says my bank account:-)

[patrice1]

Just booked Sept. 2017 in the aft wrap. We were in that cabin on the Miracle and decided it was the perfect cabin for an Alaskan cruise, as a much wider range can be seen at all times. Hope we have warmer weather (being from Key West, cold is hard on us!) because of the need to buy all new clothes, but a cold experience would also be unique for us. Just want to see the wildlife and scenery. Let me know if there's anything I need to know. I'm open to suggestions.:)

[Budget Queen]

Best chances to see wildlife are early (May) and late (September) as well.

 

I disagree. I see wildlife every cruise, no matter when I've gone. Key is, you have to know the wildlife trends, be willing to invest the time, and take tours. And frankly- late Sept, is a poor time to make this claim due to the significant lack of daylight with it being dark by 7pm.

[A&Jfamily]

It is enough time to see SE Alaska - which pretty much has to be done by water anyway. You get 3 ports of call, plus a day sailing a fjord.

 

When we chose to make this round trip from Seattle, we did it to give our kids a taste, knowing that we would return, just hubby and I someday. When we go, it will be a flight to Anchorage, with plenty of time to spend in Denali as well as make it to see the northern lights.

 

It is a beautiful trip, but it is certainly not going to be all encompassing Alaska.

[Budget Queen]

Just booked Sept. 2017 in the aft wrap. We were in that cabin on the Miracle and decided it was the perfect cabin for an Alaskan cruise, as a much wider range can be seen at all times. Hope we have warmer weather (being from Key West, cold is hard on us!) because of the need to buy all new clothes, but a cold experience would also be unique for us. Just want to see the wildlife and scenery. Let me know if there's anything I need to know. I'm open to suggestions.:)

 

Depends when in Sept. I don't recommend past the first week. Significant disadvantage is the lack of daylight, dark by 7pm the second week. Also the worse potential weather of the Alaska cruise season. Expect rain and be well prepared in your attire. Average temps 40-60.

 

If you are going in Sept, make sure you are going when Glacier Bay is on the itinerary. Only reason, I would consider that time frame (or when they give them away late booking :) )

[Budget Queen]

For general information. Carnival, has who I consider one of the top 3 Alaska ship naturalists- Michelle. I've sailed with her for years, and she gets better and better. (Celebrity has the other 2).

 

With Tracy Arm- in my opinion, especially for first timers- it is "necessary" to purchase the add on ship- Tracy Arm boat tour. Otherwise, plan on NOT getting past Sawyer Island, and getting only a distant, partial view of the South Sawyer Glacier. The boat tour is a grossly superior transit, compared to the cruise ship.

[jimbo5544]

For general information. Carnival, has who I consider one of the top 3 Alaska ship naturalists- Michelle. I've sailed with her for years, and she gets better and better. (Celebrity has the other 2).

 

 

 

With Tracy Arm- in my opinion, especially for first timers- it is "necessary" to purchase the add on ship- Tracy Arm boat tour. Otherwise, plan on NOT getting past Sawyer Island, and getting only a distant, partial view of the South Sawyer Glacier. The boat tour is a grossly superior transit, compared to the cruise ship.

 

 

I agree about Michelle, she is very good.

[SadieN]

For something a bit unique try snorkeling in Ketchikan. Full wetsuits.

[CRocks]

Thanx for the help, think I've decided, this ain't for me. We freeze all winter. For us (always cruise around Jan), a cruise is a break in the long nasty weather. To spend good money sailing somewhere it's 20 degrees colder than home after freezin all winter, makes no sense to me. Think I'll visit Alaska via the Discovery Channel :rolleyes:

[BigB0882]

This is a bummer for us because we are doing an Alaskan cruise summer 2017 and we want one that either stops or begins in Canada so we can spend a few days there. May have to cruise another line or give up the chance to see more of Canada.

[cruiseonthebrain]

For something a bit unique try snorkeling in Ketchikan. Full wetsuits.

 

We just booked this!!!!

[picomullet]

This is a bummer for us because we are doing an Alaskan cruise summer 2017 and we want one that either stops or begins in Canada so we can spend a few days there. May have to cruise another line or give up the chance to see more of Canada.

 

Sept and May Carnival cruises stops or begins in Vancouver!! They also include Glacier Bay!!!

 

We cruised Sept Sea to Sea and the weather was beautiful. Hoping for that the next time too..

[Hendricks Clan]

I'm confused, I thought the Alaskan cruises were always northern or southern passage. We're thinkin about one + I see now they sail roundtrip from Seattle in 7 days. Is this really enough time to get up there, see anything, + return? What's the weather like? Hate to spend good money to go somewhere colder than it is at home. really confused :(

 

While Carnival offers a great product, your doing yourself an injustice if you sail with Carnival to Alaska unless your looking at one of the few cruises they have that goes to Glacier Bay. Princess, HAL, and NCL are by far and away the best when it comes to Alaska cruises. Those three have it down to a science and have just about all the permits for Glacier Bay. This is in no way disrespectful to Carnival. I have sailed them to Alaska but the cruise was no way comparable to my NCL Alaska cruises.

[Hendricks Clan]

For general information. Carnival, has who I consider one of the top 3 Alaska ship naturalists- Michelle. I've sailed with her for years, and she gets better and better. (Celebrity has the other 2).

 

With Tracy Arm- in my opinion, especially for first timers- it is "necessary" to purchase the add on ship- Tracy Arm boat tour. Otherwise, plan on NOT getting past Sawyer Island, and getting only a distant, partial view of the South Sawyer Glacier. The boat tour is a grossly superior transit, compared to the cruise ship.

 

I agree she is very, very good. Although she can go a bit overboard with some of her announcements. NCL uses park rangers from Glacier Bay National Park and they are also very good.

[Normal 1]

We did the last 2 sailings of the season in 2013 on Carnival Miracle and got both Tracy Arm and Glacier Bay. first week was round trip Seattle and the 2nd week was Seattle to Vancouver. We did 4 nights pre cruise in Seattle and 3 post cruise in Vancouver.

 

Agree with others on doing the small boat tour for Tracy Arm. That was amazing. I actually preferred the South Sawyer Glacier to the one in Glacier Bay. More Blue ice in South Sawyer. The day cruising in Glacier Bay was a full day of fabulous, breath taking scenery. Hard to look away was so great.

 

We had unusual fantastic weather for the 3 weeks we were in the area. All the locals were commenting on this. Mornings were cool but warming tot shirts most afternoons. Layers were a must.

 

For us, the 2 cruises worked. Husband is a home body. was not sure I would ever get him to agree to another cruise so we wanted to be sure we saw as much as possible. Being in each port twice allowed for that. we knew we wanted to salmon fish and did so twice. Even late in the season we did well and shipped a lot of fish home.

 

can't predict weather so just be prepared. My favorite excursion was Carnivals Railway and Laughton Glacier hike in Skagway. when we do Alaska again, I will repeat this excursion!

[Budget Queen]

I agree she is very, very good. Although she can go a bit overboard with some of her announcements. NCL uses park rangers from Glacier Bay National Park and they are also very good.

 

EVERY ship entering Glacier Bay, is escorted by Park Service Rangers and usually an Alaska Geographic employee. They are based out of Bartlett Cove.