Sun to Alaska southbound from Seward 2017

[katfer]

Getting ready to book for 2017. Any tips on inside cabins? Time to book excursions? Not to miss pre cruise in Anchorage? Post cruise in Vancouver. Would appreciate your input..newbie to Alaska. Going in August 2017. Thanks Will also post in Alaska forums.

[zqvol]

Getting ready to book for 2017. Any tips on inside cabins? Time to book excursions? Not to miss pre cruise in Anchorage? Post cruise in Vancouver. Would appreciate your input..newbie to Alaska. Going in August 2017. Thanks Will also post in Alaska forums.

 

Unless you plan to go back multiple times, don't book an inside. Lots of information about ports on the Alaska board.

 

Plan on spending at least 4 or 5 days pre cruise in the interior and going to Denali National Park. Post cruise you should spend a couple of days in Vancouver.

 

You are not going to get your monies worth if you try to make it a quick trip.

[ShipsandDipper]

We just got off the Sun from Seward-Vancouver a couple of weeks ago.

 

We were in 8132 and thought it was fine. It certainly was quiet, and very convenient to the aft stairwell. Some concerns about the temperature (hard to keep it consistent).

 

Unfortunately, I didn't think the Sun was a great ship for Alaska. There's a lot of outdoor space, which wasn't particularly usable a lot of the time given the Alaska climate (same gamble with a balcony). I had a bit of trouble finding indoor space with a view that wasn't already being used for activities (I just wanted to read a book).

 

We went to Seward a couple of days early and did an all-day kayaking trip to Aialik Glacier. A wonderful two-hour water taxi ride (one-way) gave us lots of wildlife viewing opportunities and the kayak portion itself was great too. We also visited Ididaride (the Seavey family's kennels) and the SeaLife Center.

[AryMay]

I second the suggestion of spending time in Seward...such a beautiful area and lots to do.

 

We visited the Sea Life Center and hiked at Exit Glacier but by far the highlight was taking one of the all day Kenai Fjords Tours. Seeing the glacier and all of the wildlife was truly amazing!

[JohnChiang]

Getting ready to book for 2017. Any tips on inside cabins? Time to book excursions? Not to miss pre cruise in Anchorage? Post cruise in Vancouver. Would appreciate your input..newbie to Alaska. Going in August 2017. Thanks Will also post in Alaska forums.

 

On the Sun, book a big inside cabin (the sideways ones). They have much more room than even a regular balcony cabin.

 

Reserve your Icy Strait independent whale watching tour at least several months early. The boats are small and usually sell out quickly.

 

In Anchorage, Simon & Seafort's has very good seafood.

 

For Vancouver, go to the Chinese restaurants in the Richmond area. The Chinese food here is better than San Francisco.

[craftygrandma]

We have done 5 AK cruises, don't waste your money on the cabin, even balcony, you only see a limited area. Better to splurge on shore excursions. Google AK shore excursions, there are so many options, use trip adviser or viator for reviews. NCL has a large indoor lounge to see the great views, and some one else may see the whales first.

[ShipsandDipper]

On the Sun, book a big inside cabin (the sideways ones). They have much more room than even a regular balcony cabin.

 

 

That must be what we had. It was our first time on Norwegian and we were surprised that the inside room seemed rather spacious!

[katfer]

Thank you everyone...soo excited..keep those tips coming!

[AquaMarineFerret]

We have done 5 AK cruises, don't waste your money on the cabin, even balcony, you only see a limited area. Better to splurge on shore excursions. Google AK shore excursions, there are so many options, use trip adviser or viator for reviews. NCL has a large indoor lounge to see the great views, and some one else may see the whales first.

 

I agree. We had an inside cabin (0324 on deck 10 toward aft) and the two of us were comfortable with it despite others advising to upgrade and saying an outside view was so important. We slept in the cabin, we showered and changed in there, for everything else there was a whole ship to go at! Spend your money on the excursions - they are so much more important.

 

If you want to have a an outside view, turn your cabin TV to the bridge cam channel (21 I think).

 

Despite advice to use the Observation Lounge and its outer deck for the glacier viewing (which we did on our first leg of the trip) I would like to suggest an alternative: use deck 6 instead. We did this for the return visit to the Hubbard and thought it much, much better. Why? More room (and the option to switch sides quite quickly) as the ship is gradually spun on its axis. Along the sides of deck 6 you get much more time viewing the glaciers without jostling to maintain that view. OK, so you have to dress up warm and dry if the weather is inclement but it beats the crowd at the front and rear locations! :)

[don't-use-real-name]

I agree. We had an inside cabin (0324 on deck 10 toward aft) and the two of us were comfortable with it despite others advising to upgrade and saying an outside view was so important. We slept in the cabin, we showered and changed in there, for everything else there was a whole ship to go at! Spend your money on the excursions - they are so much more important.

 

If you want to have a an outside view, turn your cabin TV to the bridge cam channel (21 I think).

 

Despite advice to use the Observation Lounge and its outer deck for the glacier viewing (which we did on our first leg of the trip) I would like to suggest an alternative: use deck 6 instead. We did this for the return visit to the Hubbard and thought it much, much better. Why? More room (and the option to switch sides quite quickly) as the ship is gradually spun on its axis. Along the sides of deck 6 you get much more time viewing the glaciers without jostling to maintain that view. OK, so you have to dress up warm and dry if the weather is inclement but it beats the crowd at the front and rear locations! :)

 

A lot of good advice above.

 

Deck 6 is the Promenade Deck with a complete transit of the ship (jogging track) only the bow portion going thru a tunnel is void of view -

the stern is fantastic for seeing the wake.

Deck 6 is sheltered by the life boats hanging from Deck 7 and as noted lots of room for most everyone to view points of interest.

Initially from Seward to Vancouver the port side is favored to see land but further south the inside passage presents views of land equally either side.

The views in port can be varied but generally Ketchikan and Skagway are port side docking while Juneau is starboard and Icy Straight Point was tendering

but now with the new pier will have to have a feedback from a recent visitor.

If your ship port calls at Sitka this port tenders.

A stop at Victoria the ship is generally docked on the port side.

YMMV depending on the itinerary !

 

The glacier visits the Captain pilots his ship to a point in front of the glacier and then rotates the ship in a 360 turn for everyone to get a view. Time and

conditions permitting he may turn one 360 and go back and do it in reverse.

 

The bridge cam is fixed in one direction facing forward not so good but if using the in cabin TV and watching the speed and direction stats change a clue to

get out on deck to either view the docking or other interesting feature. When viewing the glaciers frequently there will be a National Parks representative

narrating over the ships intercom about the features to be on the alert for and

camera ready.

 

The NCL SUN is a small enough ship that it is very easy to move about quickly and grab those photo opts even if in a IC below the Main Deck (6).

Leaving Seward one will have ample opportunity to locate the best locations for those photo opts not only from the Observation Lounge forward and the

Great Outdoors aft but the Promenade Jogging/Walking deck (6) - find those

short cuts through the ship to quickly seize the moment on the opposite side.

Arrival at Vancouver the starboard side is the preferred side on arrival but often one has to be up quite early for the passage under the Lions Gate Bridge

and see the city come to life.