Jump to content

Alaska vs. Europe


poona1
 Share

Recommended Posts

I know this is a very broad and subjective question but considering Alaska's Glaciers are slowly melting away while the cruise fair for Europe has reached its lowest, If I am sailing in the fall, where do experienced cruisers suggest I go?

 

Also, What does one do in Alaska besides admire the majestic scenery...please advise me

thanks in advance

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We have done Alaska; Southern Norway and the Baltic. They are all so different and excellent in their own way.

Personally I would choose in that order but a choice like that is so subjective. Alaska would be a one off with a large land portion too.

Do the other two B2B.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know this is a very broad and subjective question but considering Alaska's Glaciers are slowly melting away while the cruise fair for Europe has reached its lowest, If I am sailing in the fall, where do experienced cruisers suggest I go?

 

Also, What does one do in Alaska besides admire the majestic scenery...please advise me

thanks in advance

Thoughts....

  • Fall???? Alaska is not year round.... things start to shut down in late-August.
  • September is discounted for storm chasers..... it statistically gets wet and you lose daylight.
  • May to July is best for dry Alaskan port weather.
  • Look for Glacier Bay when going to Alaska..... Tracy's Arm's Sawyer has retreated over 31 miles and is so tiny compared to Glacier Bay.
  • Alaska welcomes the US dollar

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You might want to do Europe first just because the politics involved seem to be narrowing the choices. So glad we went when NCL still stopped in Istanbul (not Constantinople), some African ports also disappeared, but you might want to wait for a smaller ship if you are thinking about the Baltic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you plan to eventually do both, I'd pick Europe now because of the low fares and potential political changes. We did an 11 night med cruise last year for less than we would have paid for a 7 night alaska one. As of now, the glaciers are SLOWLY melting, so if you wait a couple years they won't look that much different.

 

That being said, it also depends on the type of things you find interesting. In Alaska, the draw is the scenery and wildlife. My experience on a land trip there was you looked at scenery, did sporting activities related to looking at the scenery, did touristy things like panning for gold in a trough (which WAS fun), and ate a lot of salmon. The European cruises I've been on (Mediterranean) had a lot more diverse activities, with some nature but more museum/ancient ruins/cultural experiences. We like both types of trips, but our current plan is to ride out the cheaper trips to Europe while they last.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We did Alaska last Fall and loved it. Also, we have done cruises in the MED, Black Sea, North Sea, British Isles, Caribbean, Transatlantics, Singapore to Dubai, Japan and China as well as Australia, Around the Horn of South America and the Panama Canal down to Chile.

 

All were great cruises. Alaska is primarily for the scenery and wildlife. It is awesome, but so is Norway, Iceland and Around the Horn of South America.

 

Europe is more about history, culture and art. It is great for a different reason. Those glaciers in Alaska are not melting that fast.

 

My advice is to go where ever you want to go.

 

I have written extensive reviews for all our ocean and river cruises. Perhaps they can assist you.

 

Alaska, Vancouver and the Canadian Rockies

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=547125&et_cid=2764671&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards

Japan and a little bit of China

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=518503&et_cid=2531924&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards

Singapore to Dubai

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=501167

South America

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=248878

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=94024

Black Sea and E. Med

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=228545

British Isles

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=221137

Transatlantic

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=221136

Australia

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=216863

W. Med NCL Epic

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=103808

AMA Rhone River

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=103733

Southern Caribbean

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=99934

Spain, Canary Islands and Morocco

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=80907

E. Med and Adriatic, NCL Gem

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=70129

Russia, Kiev and Baltics

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1478384

China

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1718320

North Sea/Atl and Transatlantic

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=264272

Portugal, the Douro River and a bit of Spain

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=535267

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all this info everyone...i'm inclined to travel to Europe as thankfully the glaciers have not fully receded and when I can afford to take this trip...a special thanks to papa for all his great links

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Try to fit in both. :)

 

I am this year, actually both locations more than once. Heading to Alaska in 3 weeks, was in the Med in March, and will be there for a month (with a TA) for 4 weeks in October.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love Alaska. I have done it six times, but personally recommend going in May or early June. There is a lot of active tours in Alaska if that is something you like. The scenery is beyond beautiful. Right now I can't get enough of Europe... heading to Italy, Croatia and Greece in June and Iceland, Ireland and Scotland next year and have done the standard Med cruises in the past. I would definitely take advantage of the lower fares for Europe right now and as others stated the Euro has a good exchange rate right now. Airfares have been the lowest I've seen to Europe too. I really wouldn't pass up the opportunity to go there with all this in your favor.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have all of the Alaskan glacier truly receded? I know that if you look at Mendenhall Glacier, you can certainly make that statement. I recall that the ranger there told us that half of the Alaskan glaciers are receding, but an equal number are growing. I imagine the receding ones get the publicity.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Have all of the Alaskan glacier truly receded? I know that if you look at Mendenhall Glacier, you can certainly make that statement. I recall that the ranger there told us that half of the Alaskan glaciers are receding, but an equal number are growing. I imagine the receding ones get the publicity.

 

The USGS indicates the glaciers that could disappear within 50 years are the ones in mountains, like the ones in Montana. No one knows, because something like Yellowstone blowing up could plunge us into another cooling period like the Little Ice Age, or some unexpected trigger point could be reached the next time I start up my Prius and melt it all in 24 hours, but I think if Montana glaciers are expected to last another 50 years then Alaskan ice sheet glaciers are probable going to be around at least that long.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Check out this link to see how the melt is proceeding....

  • mid 40's.... the glacier was at the visitor center
  • mid 80's.... the glacier 0.8 miles away at Nugget falls
  • today... the glacier has melted another 0.8 miles further or 1.5 miles from the visitor center

http://www.juneaunature.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/glacier-by-bus.pdf

Edited by xlxo
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Check out this link to see how the melt is proceeding....

  • mid 40's.... the glacier was at the visitor center
  • mid 80's.... the glacier 0.8 miles away at Nugget falls
  • today... the glacier has melted another 0.8 miles further or 1.5 miles from the visitor center

http://www.juneaunature.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/glacier-by-bus.pdf

 

This is Mendenhall Glacier, right? I wonder how far it can melt before it no longer looks like a glacier (there's something under all that ice). The entire Juneau ice field is estimated to take about 130 years before it completely melts, but I don't know how soon the view from the visitor center will be of just the earth formerly under the glacier's edge as it melts away.

 

The National Park Service says a few of the glaciers in Glacier Bay are bucking the trend seen in 95% of the rest of the glaciers in Alaska and are growing, so the view is expected to remain spectacular at least until the cruise fares rise again in Europe. There is plenty of time to see glaciers up close, and the melting of the glaciers should not be the primary factor in deciding between a Euro or an Alaskan cruise.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As others have said, go to the one that appeals to you most! I'm doing my fourth Alaska cruise in 52 days! Yay! And, my fourth European cruise in 152 days. :D I'm fortunate to get to both this year, and I'm excited about each of them! I love them both for completely different reasons.

 

For me, Alaska is all about the scenery and the activity. I love salmon fishing in Ketchikan and pausing for a minute to watch a bald eagle. I love driving the Yukon Highway and lingering at Emerald Lake. I love sitting on my balcony and spotting whales and looking at the beautiful scenery.

 

Europe is the type of cruise vacation for which I need a vacation to rest up afterwards! LOL. Port-intensive, long days, little down time and amazing architecture, art, culture, and history.

 

Think about each experience and which is most exciting to you. As others have said, the glaciers aren't going away in the next year or two.

 

No matter which itinerary you pick, have a fantastic cruise!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would say do Alaska because it is beautiful. Make sure you go to Glacier National Park. NOT EVERY cruise line does this. so do your research. Also make 3-4 days for a land tour including Anchorage and Denali Park. I would say aim for August rather than September if you can. Skagway is nice quaint town with a great Railroad ride up along the Gold rush Trail. Love Juneau and make sure to do the Tram. Mendenhall Glacier has receded 30% since 2010 and I learned that last year. Also going to Sitka or Icy Strait Point are great variations of some cruise line tour. I would say DO YOUR RESEARCH and if this is to be your only trip ever to Alaska, do it right and taken 10-14 days. good luck and Glacier Bay is limited to some cruise lines so consider that too. The best part was the ride in and out. Many whales and wonderful Park guide on board. I did that on HAL..

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...