Which would you do: Alaska or Panama Canal

[PoppyandNana]

We have never been to Alaska or the CA - FL Panama Canal thing. Been to the Caribbean many times and Europe six times.

 

We are planning for one big trip in 2017 and it comes down to either a 14 day Alaska on HAL or a 15 day Panama on X. We are elite on X which is our go to line. However, we have previously sailed on HAL several times and always enjoyed their product.

 

Air is not an issue from NJ as we always use miles.

 

Which would You Pick?

Edited November 21, 2016 by PoppyandNana

[chefcaw]

If you have never been to Alaska, I would do Alaska. We have done both cruises

[youwash]

My vote would be the 14 night on HAL to Alaska, as we did that cruise this past July. Celebrity is our line of choice but we couldn't pass up the last minute price on this itinerary. We only had an inside cabin, and it rained at some point every day but one but we had an absolutely wonderful time.

 

We saw lots of whales right from the ship. And of course the scenery is amazing.

 

I found the music entertainment on HAL was so above Celebrity that it's not even comparable. Dance music in a lounge with a dance floor for hours!! Guitar singer in the beer bar. Grand piano with violinist in the quite side area. All at the same time -didnt know where to go first. I did enjoy the lounge with the dance band as they had 2 for 1 happy hour since we had no perks or loyalty club standing

 

Would do this again in minute.

[Gonzo70]

I felt my Alaska cruise was far more memorable than my Panama Canal cruise; enjoyed both but Alaska was really a special experience.

[JimAOk1945]

We did the 14 day Alaska cruise in August on the Maasdam. Wow! It was amazing, fantastic, wonderful, spectacular!!! We enjoyed this far more than our two 7 day Alaska cruises and our Partial Panama Canal cruise. I would do the 14 day Alaska again in a heartbeat.

 

You might enjoy seeing the pictures my wife took and posted on her website. It includes every shore excursion plus our suite, and other pictures taken around the ship.

 

14 day Alaska Cruise on Holland America Maasdam

 

Have a great cruise whatever you decide to do.

Edited November 21, 2016 by JimAOk1945

[cpayne]

Tough call! Elite status might sway me a bit. If you do one itinerary now would you some day do the other itinerary OR is this a once in a lifetime type of trip? If you could do both eventually perhaps let your wallet decide the 1st one knowing you could put the savings towards the next one? For our upcoming cruise I had it narrowed to 3 and made a spreadsheet. I listed the categories which are inportant to us such as departure port (ease of getting to/from), day of departure (we prefer Sat, headliner show, ports, price, etc. I ranked all 3 from 1-3 in each category. The ship which ranked 1st in the most categories "won". Personally I'd pick the Alaska trip. I think you will have a more diverse experience than previous cruises vs Panama while different will have some similarities to other island cruises you may have done. Either way, win win for you!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums mobile app

[PoppyandNana]

We did the 14 day Alaska cruise in August on the Maasdam. Wow! It was amazing, fantastic, wonderful, spectacular!!! We enjoyed this far more than our two 7 day Alaska cruises and our Partial Panama Canal cruise. I would do the 14 day Alaska again in a heartbeat.

 

You might enjoy seeing the pictures my wife took and posted on her website. It includes every shore excursion plus our suite, and other pictures taken around the ship.

 

14 day Alaska Cruise on Holland America Maasdam

 

Have a great cruise whatever you decide to do.

 

Thank you for for responding. Beautiful picture.

[OCruisers]

Hard Decision because either would be a good decision.

Since you've never been to either, the Panama Canal would be our choice. ;)

[Luvcrusn]

We never sailed HAL, but did Alaska and Panama Canal on Celebrity and although we loved both, our favorite cruise vacation ever was on Infinity Panama Canal. You can't make a bad choice though, it's a win, win!

[HooKares]

I have done both trips and I would recommend that you go to Alaska. The ice is melting and won't be there forever, where as the Panama Canal has not changed since it was built. :) Also Hal is a great choice for Alaska.

Enjoy whatever you choose! :)

 

Cheers!

[Doctor G]

I would definitely choose Alaska. I think it is more different than the trips you have already taken than the Panama Canal wold be. Both are great trips, but personally I love Alaska--I have been there on four cruises :)

 

Carolyn

[bobndee]

We've done both, but neither on Celebrity or HAL. Alaska in 2011 and Panama in 2014 - the 100th anniversary of the opening of the canal. Our main reason for doing the canal in 2014 was to see the construction of the new locks. We felt that was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I understand the new locks are open now.

 

Having seen the canal it's a "been there done that" feeling. On the other hand, we'd do Alaska again - there's just so much to see that one trip isn't enough.

 

If you go to the canal make sure your cruise is a thru-transit, not a go in, turn around and come back out trip.

[Caribbean Chris]

Alaska.

 

Every day seemed special on the 14 day HAL cruise in Alaska we took in August, in comparison with only one really special day on Canal cruises we've made with mostly familiar other hot weather ports.

 

I also love the mild to cool weather on Alaska cruises as a getaway during a hot summer. Fun to pack turtlenecks, hoodies, and walking shoes. I really like taking long walks in these ports, something I rarely do in hot weather ports.

[Kirsten T]

Alaska. The scenery is non-stop incredible. If you've been to the Caribbean, the Panama trip will be more of the same. We loved that trip too, but if somebody suddenly gave us a free trip to one of those areas we'd pick Alaska in a heartbeat. We never stopped saying "wow..." the entire time.

[Braveheart11]

Wildlife and Wilderness.......Alaska

[sabrefan]

My wife and I are also Elite on Celebrity. We went on our first cruise on HAL Koningsdam this past August. We came away feeling that Celebrity was much better than HAL. We have been to Alaska twice, once on Princess and once on Oceania. We have not been through the Panama Canal but have seen it on the Celebrity Equinox in 2010. We plan to transit the canal in 2018 on Oceania. Alaska is a beautiful place and this would be our favorite if you have never seen it before. You may want to consider Celebrity cruise and also a land package to get the full impact of Alaska. We would choose this option over the canal, the beauty of Alaska is fantastic.

[El Crucero]

I find it interesting that most of the comments here favor Alaska on HAL over the Canal on Celebrity. Yet the survey shows almost a 2 to 1 preference for the Canal on Celebrity.

 

In my opinion, a bad day on Celebrity is BETTER than a good day on HAL. I would take the Canal trip on Celebrity this year and the Alaska trip on Celebrity next year.

[ChucktownSteve]

I have done both trips and I would recommend that you go to Alaska. The ice is melting and won't be there forever, where as the Panama Canal has not changed since it was built. :) Also Hal is a great choice for Alaska. :)

 

We haven't been to AK yet either. How long do we have before the ice melts?

[HooKares]

We haven't been to AK yet either. How long do we have before the ice melts?

 

I suppose it depends on how many cubes are in your cocktail, and how fast you drink. :D :)

 

Cheers!

[shipshape sam]

I voted for 14 day to Alaska on HAL.

 

I have done Panama Canal 3 times, with one being a partial transit on Princess, the other 2 on Celebrity Infinity.

 

I love 14-15 cruises and 14 days in Alaska would be very interesting / appealing to me. DW has sailed on 7 day Westerdam in Alaska and loved it. I have only sailed Coral Princess in Alaska and it was a 7 day inside passage cruise starting in Seward to Vancouver.

 

I would love for Celebrity to offer a 14/15 day Alaska cruise. Would though have to see the itinerary.

Edited November 21, 2016 by shipshape sam

[Baron Barracuda]

Have done both. Alaska 13 days on Princess (7 sea + 6 land) and PC last year 21 days on Infinity. Both were great.

 

Is the Alaska on HAL 14 days aboard ship? IMO just sailing the Alaska coast on any cruise ship misses the best part of Alaska. To really appreciate the beauty you need to journey inland. Take a look at 7 day sailings with a land tour add-on. We flew into Fairbanks and took the glass- topped Alaska Railway to Denali and then down to coast. Denali Park was the absolute highlight of our vacation.

[4774Papa]

I love Alaska, but won't do HAL.

 

We prefer Celebrity and HAL's smoking policy is not so good. I know it is to change in the future, but I don't think HAL is superior to Celebrity and we are elite, with great bennies.

[TomTN]

I love Alaska, but won't do HAL.

 

We prefer Celebrity and HAL's smoking policy is not so good. I know it is to change in the future, but I don't think HAL is superior to Celebrity and we are elite, with great bennies.

 

Yep, it is that last century smoking policy that keeps us from sailing on HAL. We sailed HAL 5 times, the last being 2005, and enjoyed those cruises, but simply cannot handle the the smoke.

 

Yuk, Yuk,Yuk

 

But, our two Alaska cruises were much better than the canal cruise. Alaska is more beautiful and more interesting.

Edited November 21, 2016 by TomBeckCruise

[Travelbug750]

I'd go to Alaska in a row boat! It's our all-time favorite and have cruised 4 times - Princess twice, Celebrity and Crystal. It's different every time and always glorious. We've cruised the Canal also which is an experience not to be missed. But we're not so crazy about hot and sticky weather so that colored our opinion. Don't know much about HAL but have heard wonderful things. You can't lose!

[PoppyandNana]

Yep, it is that last century smoking policy that keeps us from sailing on HAL. We sailed HAL 5 times, the last being 2005, and enjoyed those cruises, but simply cannot handle the the smoke.

 

Yuk, Yuk,Yuk

 

But, our two Alaska cruises were much better than the canal cruise. Alaska is more beautiful and more interesting.

 

For whatever its worth HAL has revamped their smoking policy so now it is the same as X. No smoking in the casino, on balconies or staterooms.