Celebrity Vs Princess Vs Holland in Alaska?

[ACoupleAtSea]

We have posted the same question on the Celebrity and Princess Boards. We are trying to figure out which line to use for our next Alaska cruise in 2017. We have only been to Alaska once on Princess in 2012 (Glacier Bay). We absolutely loved it and want to try something different. Any comments? Or thoughts?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Princess and HAL have been in the Alaskan business the longest.

Since you have been to Glacier Bay -- look for an itinerary that goes to Hubbard Glacier -- the ice there is very blue.

[Roz]

I would base my choice on itinerary more than anything else. I've been to Alaska 3 times and have a 4th one coming up at the end of the month. My 1st 2 were on HAL and my 3rd was on Carnival - guess which one I like the best? Carnival! That said, the one coming up is on HAL.

 

Roz

[OCruisers]

Even if you've already been to Glacier Bay, my pick would still be either Princess or HAL because both have a longtime reputation of doing wonderful Alaskan cruises. :)

[CowPrincess]

Personally I think you should decide based on itinerary and port times. The ship is just to get you there imho :)

[Old As Dirt Mom]

All Alaska/Yukon land operations for HAL and Princess are owned by them jointly as part of the Holland America Group. That means they share hotels, rail services, buses, shore services, and tour operations for the land portions of the land/cruise itineraries.

[paremata2]

I have only cruised on Azamara and Celebrity too and are looking at cruises from Montreal to New York. From what I can see Holland America seem to dominate in the area and someone has told me that Holland America allow smoking on the balconies. Can someone who travels regularly on the line, please confirm whether that is correct or incorrect.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[Adoptionmsw]

I have only cruised on Azamara and Celebrity too and are looking at cruises from Montreal to New York. From what I can see Holland America seem to dominate in the area and someone has told me that Holland America allow smoking on the balconies. Can someone who travels regularly on the line, please confirm whether that is correct or incorrect.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

 

 

 

HAL unfortunately does allow smoking on balconies.

[paremata2]

HAL unfortunately does allow smoking on balconies.

Oh well, I guess that is a point of difference for some people.

Thank you for such a quick response.

[Christine Frances]

All Alaska/Yukon land operations for HAL and Princess are owned by them jointly as part of the Holland America Group. That means they share hotels, rail services, buses, shore services, and tour operations for the land portions of the land/cruise itineraries.

 

That's funny. Celebrity, Luxury lines, NCL, Oceania etc also offer wonderful land tours of Alaska using hotels, coaches and beautiful, not too shabby trains https://www.alaskacruises.com/cruise-lines/alaska-celebrity-cruisetour-trains.html All the cruise lines can offer spectacular cruises and tours. Just decide what you want to see and then decide how to get there. Lots and lots of homework if you are deciding to do a land tour but cruise only is all about the ports.

Edited May 7, 2016 by Christine Frances

[Old As Dirt Mom]

All Alaska/Yukon land operations for HAL and Princess are owned by them jointly as part of the Holland America Group. That means they share hotels, rail services, buses, shore services, and tour operations for the land portions of the land/cruise itineraries.

 

That's funny. Celebrity, Luxury lines, NCL, Oceania etc also offer wonderful land tours of Alaska using hotels, coaches and beautiful, not too shabby trains https://www.alaskacruises.com/cruise-lines/alaska-celebrity-cruisetour-trains.html All the cruise lines can offer spectacular cruises and tours. Just decide what you want to see and then decide how to get there. Lots and lots of homework if you are deciding to do a land tour but cruise only is all about the ports.

 

I was merely providing information regarding Alaska land operations for the original poster, A Couple At Sea, to assist them with their question regarding the difference between HAL, Princess, and Celebrity. I was NOT denigrating the land-based infrastructure of other cruise lines. I was stating that there is essentially no difference between the land operations of HAL and Princess, because they are the same operation. I said this to aid the OP in any decision-making process which might involve possible land/sea itineraries with either HAL or Princess. The OP did not ask any questions regarding the many other cruise lines that offer Alaska itineraries.

[Christine Frances]

I was merely providing information regarding Alaska land operations for the original poster, A Couple At Sea, to assist them with their question regarding the difference between HAL, Princess, and Celebrity. I was NOT denigrating the land-based infrastructure of other cruise lines. I was stating that there is essentially no difference between the land operations of HAL and Princess, because they are the same operation. I said this to aid the OP in any decision-making process which might involve possible land/sea itineraries with either HAL or Princess. The OP did not ask any questions regarding the many other cruise lines that offer Alaska itineraries.

 

Sorry:( Didn't mean it to sound that way:o I was replying and adding to your comment as the OP did ask as the thread title was "Celebrity vs Princess vs Holland America"

[Old As Dirt Mom]

Sorry:( Didn't mean it to sound that way:o I was replying and adding to your comment as the OP did ask as the thread title was "Celebrity vs Princess vs Holland America"

 

Ah, sorry. I think we had a semantic misunderstanding. Darn internet makes conversation difficult:D :)

 

I have cruised both HAL and Celebrity to Alaska, and they are both great. There are about five other cruise lines I would like to try. It's those little things like time and money that get in the way:D

[Christine Frances]

Ah, sorry. I think we had a semantic misunderstanding. Darn internet makes conversation difficult:D :)

 

I have cruised both HAL and Celebrity to Alaska, and they are both great. There are about five other cruise lines I would like to try. It's those little things like time and money that get in the way:D

 

Well we have the time but the money.............lol I think a lot of us give up other stuff just so we can keep cruising:)

[catl331]

since these cruises are port intensive, it would seem that the ports and glaciers would be important. I have never been in Juneau without rain. Never saw the mountains around Sitka (fog), never saw Ketchikan without a crowd of ships. The only animals I saw were at a wildlife refuge. It snowed when we were at Denali. The actual ships are used for sleeping and eating. I find night life unimportant here for me as I am exhausted from the ports.

 

If I could order sun and animal sightings, I would go again. BUT.....it ain't gonna happen!:):)

[ACoupleAtSea]

Our only concern on Holland would be the Smoking. We like how restrictive Princess is. Plus, I am curiouse how young kids do on Holland Alaska Cruises. I know Princess has a junior ranger program

[Roz]

HAL has Club HAL. Don't know if there is anything special in Alaska. I'm a non-smoker, and have never been bothered by smoke on HAL. It's limited to certain areas. I'm not allergic to smoke, but I can understand is someone is it would be a deal breaker. There are very few actual smokers on HAL, in my experience.

 

Roz

[ACoupleAtSea]

I guess the other thing to consider is if u do a roundtrip from Vancouver. You wont be able to stop in Victoria.

[ACoupleAtSea]

It looks like Holland might be the most economical because we may be able go book on a deal where the 3rd person would be frew

[Aquahound]

We have posted the same question on the Celebrity and Princess Boards. We are trying to figure out which line to use for our next Alaska cruise in 2017. We have only been to Alaska once on Princess in 2012 (Glacier Bay). We absolutely loved it and want to try something different. Any comments? Or thoughts?

 

I've cruised all 3 lines multiple times (at least 3 each) and have cruised Alaska on Celebrity and HAL. All things considered, I recommend Celebrity. Balcony smoking is a big issue for me, so that really hurts HAL in my eyes. On Celebrity, there is zero smoking on balconies and inside the ship...not even in the casino. It's even more restrictive than Princess. I highly recommend the one way Celebrity cruise between Seward and Vancouver. I cruised Glacier Bay on HAL and it was a great cruise but all in all, I liked my one-way Celebrity cruise better. Spending the extra time in mainland Alaska was an unforgettable experience. Plus, I just think HAL is one step behind Celebrity in many areas. Not that HAL is bad....I just like Celebrity a little better.

 

And don't fall for the Princess/HAL propaganda line that some on this site have fallen for...."we've been there the longest." That makes no difference whatsoever.

Edited May 8, 2016 by Aquahound

[Itasca]

I guess the other thing to consider is if u do a roundtrip from Vancouver. You wont be able to stop in Victoria.

 

You could always add an extra day in Vancouver and do a daytrip to Victoria.

On a R/T Seattle, the stop in Victoria is mandated by law (PVSA) and can be at odd times, rg. 6PM to midnight the day before disembarkation.

[ACoupleAtSea]

If we didnt do the one way, Would the roundtrip from Vancouver be the next recommended?

[RuthC]

If we didnt do the one way, Would the roundtrip from Vancouver be the next recommended?

My first choice would be the HAL 14-day round trip from Seattle. Longer, more ports, with the advantage that some are ports most cruises never get to.

 

If I were doing only 7-days, then I would do the round trip out of Vancouver. it goes up (and back down) more of the true Inside Passage. Cruises out of Seattle head west of Vancouver Island, missing some of the prettiest scenery of an Alaska cruise.

[ACoupleAtSea]

So the inside passage out of Vancouver is really that good huh?

[Roz]

Yes, it is. See for yourself.

 

Roz