Extended Cruise: Seabourn v Crystal v other?

[chrisaus]

Hi

 

I am hoping to get some advice from the experts on here :)

 

We are looking do an extended Alaska Cruise in 2017.

 

In 2015 we did the 7 night cruise on celebrity solstice which was awesome - we totally loved it! We would like go back to Alaska and have bit more time.

 

About us: I am 31 travelling with my 80+ year old grandmother so a "adventure" cruise is not us. The longer duration is better for her to be able to settle and really enjoy.

 

I think I have narrowed it down to:

Seabourn Sojourn - "14-DAY ULTIMATE GLACIER & FJORD ADVENTURE"

0 12 Jun 2017 Seward (Anchorage), Alaska, US 06:00 PM

1 13 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Aialik Glacier CO RT

1 13 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Chiswell Islands CO WC

1 13 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Kenai Fjords CO WC

2 14 Jun 2017 At Sea

3 15 Jun 2017 Icy Strait Point, Alaska, US TR 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

4 16 Jun 2017 Juneau, Alaska, US 08:00 AM 11:00 PM

5 17 Jun 2017 Haines, Alaska, US 08:00 AM 06:00 PM

6 18 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Tracy Arm & Endicott Arm CO RT 07:00 AM 07:00 PM

7 19 Jun 2017 Sitka, Alaska, US TR 10:00 AM 06:00 PM

7 19 Jun 2017 Transit Decision Passage CO

8 20 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Sumner Strait CO

8 20 Jun 2017 Wrangell, Alaska, US 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

9 21 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Behm Narrows CO WC

9 21 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Misty Fjords CO WC

9 21 Jun 2017 Rudyerd Bay (Misty Fjords), AK, United States CO WC 10:00 AM 08:00 PM

10 22 Jun 2017 Ketchikan, Alaska, US 08:00 AM 10:00 PM

11 23 Jun 2017 Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada 08:00 AM 06:00 PM

11 23 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Grenville Channel CO WC

11 23 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Princess Royal Channel CO

12 24 Jun 2017 Klemtu, British Columbia, Canada TR 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

12 24 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Bella Bella CO

13 25 Jun 2017 Alert Bay, British Columbia, Canada TR TC 08:00 AM 03:00 PM

13 25 Jun 2017 Scenic cruising Johnstone Strait CO

13 25 Jun 2017 Transit the Seymour Narrows CO

14 26 Jun 2017 Vancouver, B.C., CA 07:00 AM

 

or the

Crystal Cruises Crystal Serenity - "Klondike Adventure"

Jul 29, Saturday Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada » 11 pm

Jul 30, Sunday Cruising Queen Charlotte Sound »

Jul 31, Monday Ketchikan, Alaska, USA » 8 am 5 pm

Aug 1, Tuesday Sitka, Alaska, USA » 8 am 6 pm

Aug 2, Wednesday Juneau, Alaska, USA » 9 am 10:30 pm

Aug 3, Thursday Skagway, Alaska, USA » 8 am 6 pm

Aug 4, Friday Cruising Glacier Bay »

Aug 5, Saturday Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada » 2 pm 8 pm

Aug 6, Sunday Cruising the Inside Passage »

Aug 7, Monday Victoria, British Columbia, Canada » 8 am 6 pm

Aug 8, Tuesday Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada » 8 am

 

Or possible the 7 night "Vancouver to Anchorage" as it visits both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier.

 

From my readings here on cruise critic it seems that Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier are real Alaska Highlights and we did not visit them on the Celebrity Solstice.

 

My concern with the Seabourn is that it does not visit Glacier Bay or the Hubbard Glacier - would we be missing out?

Also many of the places the boat visits do not have much information on them - any feedback would be much appreciated. It looks like some interesting places?

 

The pros for Seabourn are that we get to visit Anchorage/Alaska etc before departing on the cruise and also it visits many places we did not visit on Celebrity.

 

The con for Crystal itinerary visits many of the same places we visited on celebrity.

 

Or is there another option I am missing?

 

Apologies for so many questions -but the complexity of the Seabourn itinerary has got me a bit confused.

 

Thank you for your assistance,

 

Chris

[txwriter]

Do you enjoy lots of sea days? If you do, then you would probably enjoy the Seabourn itinerary. If you don't, then maybe the Crystal cruises would work better. HAL has a 14 day itinerary as well with a good mix of sea and port days. Did you check out that one and already dismiss them for some reason? If we were to change our plans from a DIY land tour followed by 7 day SB cruise to just a straight cruise, I think we'd pick the HAL 14 day cruise. But that's purely a matter of personal preferences as I like the fact they go all the way north to Anchorage and actually dock there.

Edited April 11, 2016 by txwriter

[NancyIL]

I really like the Seabourn itinerary, although I wouldn't want to pay for it! :D

 

Here's one more for you to consider on HAL Amsterdam: http://www.hollandamerica.com/find-cruise-vacation/CruiseDetails.action?destCode=A&portCode=&shipCodeSearch=&dateCode=&flexibleMonths=false&noOfFlexibleMonths=1&pageNumber=0&voyageCode=A721&directionCode=L&tabName=ItineraryDetails&fromSearchVacation=true

 

Day Date Port Arrive Depart

0 28 May 2017 Seattle, Washington, US 04:00 PM

1 29 May 2017 Vancouver Island - Cruising CO

2 30 May 2017 Ketchikan, Alaska, US 08:00 AM 05:00 PM

3 31 May 2017 Scenic Cruising Tracy Arm CO Noon 05:00 PM

4 01 Jun 2017 Juneau, Alaska, US 08:00 AM 10:00 PM

5 02 Jun 2017 Icy Strait Point, Alaska, US TR 07:00 AM 02:00 PM

6 03 Jun 2017 At Sea

7 04 Jun 2017 Anchorage, Alaska, US 08:00 AM 11:00 PM

8 05 Jun 2017 Homer, Alaska, US 10:00 AM 06:00 PM

9 06 Jun 2017 Kodiak, Alaska, US 07:00 AM 02:00 PM

10 07 Jun 2017 Hubbard Glacier CO 02:00 PM 06:00 PM

11 08 Jun 2017 Sitka, Alaska, US TR 08:00 AM 04:00 PM

12 09 Jun 2017 At Sea

13 10 Jun 2017 Victoria, British Columbia, Canada 01:00 PM 11:00 PM

14 11 Jun 2017 Seattle, Washington, US 07:00 AM

 

14-DAY GREAT LAND EXPLORER

 

The Amsterdam also does this itinerary on July 23, 2017 and August 20, 2017.

[Coral]

Honestly - you can't go wrong with either one. The first one has very unique ports.

 

Whichever you choose, you will love.

 

I have gone on one Crystal cruise and it was amazing but the Seabourn itinerary has ports I have never been to but would love to go.

Edited April 12, 2016 by Coral

[chrisaus]

Great lead on the HAL - will check it out.

[chrisaus]

My Grandmother is not keen on HAL as she had an unenjoyable experience on them a few years ago....

 

Do you think the intreating destinations on the Seabourn make up for not visiting the Glacier Bay or the Hubbard Glacier?

[Coral]

My Grandmother is not keen on HAL as she had an unenjoyable experience on them a few years ago....

 

Do you think the intreating destinations on the Seabourn make up for not visiting the Glacier Bay or the Hubbard Glacier?

 

It all depends on what she wants to see. Does she want to see ports that are less traveled or glaciers? For me, I have to say the destination does make up for missing those 2 glaciers. You have both Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm on your itinerary - hopefully Seabourn takes the time to see the glaciers there. They are both accessible but many ships miss them due to time constraints as it takes too much time to navigate around the ice.

 

Is your Grandmother the one who likes the real Alaska as opposed to less touristy ports (though you get those also) or does she prefer glaciers. If she doesn't like small ports, go with Crystal.

 

IMO - you can always do a 7 night with Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. That first itinerary is definitely very unique and is a rare cruise.

Edited April 12, 2016 by Coral

[Coral]

It all depends on what she wants to see. Does she want to see ports that are less traveled or glaciers? For me, I have to say the destination does make up for missing those 2 glaciers. You have both Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm on your itinerary - hopefully Seabourn takes the time to see the glaciers there. They are both accessible but many ships miss them due to time constraints as it takes too much time to navigate around the ice.

 

 

Just to clarify Endicott Arm always seems accessible, Tracy Arm is if the ship makes time. The fact that this is a small ship, I think they probably would make the time.

[NancyIL]

My Grandmother is not keen on HAL as she had an unenjoyable experience on them a few years ago....

 

Do you think the intreating destinations on the Seabourn make up for not visiting the Glacier Bay or the Hubbard Glacier?

 

My first cruise was on HAL in the Caribbean, and it wasn't a good first cruise experience. However, 4 years later - HAL had the Alaska itinerary I wanted, so I gave them another chance. They did a great job in Alaska, and 3 years later I went to Alaska with them again - on the 14-night itinerary above.

 

I agree with Coral that the Seabourn itinerary is very unique. However, it's a bit tedious to read, as they mention every channel and passage they sail through. Leaving that out - here's what your itinerary looks like:

 

June 12 Seward 6:00 p.m.

June 13 Scenic cruising (Kenai Fjords area)

June 14 At sea

June 15 Icy Strait Point 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

June 16 Juneau 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.

June 17 Haines 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

June 18 Scenic cruising Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

June 19 Sitka 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

June 20 Wrangell 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

June 21 Scenic cruising (Misty Fiords area) 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

June 22 Ketchikan 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

June 23 Prince Rupert, BC 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

June 24 Klemtu, BC 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

June 25 Alert Bay, BC 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

June 26 Vancouver 7:00 a.m.

 

Seabourn goes to 6 Alaska ports (Wrangell isn't on most Alaska itineraries), 3 ports in British Columbia, Aialk Glacier, Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm, and scenic cruising in Misty Fiords and elsewhere. It's a very nice itinerary. If you're willing to spend almost $11,000 pp (including taxes) or more - go for it! http://www.seabourn.com/find-luxury-cruise-vacation/CruiseDetails.action?voyageCode=5733&webItineraryIdForAudit=A7S14S&destList=A&noOfFlexibleMonths=1