Back to Back to Alaska - Which Ship?

[NancyIL]

I probably should say - I have done the majority of my cruises for $3XX - $4XX pp to Alaska. The trick is I go in May and book last minute (Pacific is not sailing in May to Alaska). The thought of paying regular fares for Alaska just doesn't appeal to me. When I looked at the fares and realized I could easily go to Europe for less - after going to Alaska on 6 cruises the last 4 years - I am not willing to pay a lot of money to see something I know I can see for far less. I would have loved to see Alaska on a small ship but I am not going to pay a premium to do so. The early booking rates are pretty high IMO. My TA does discount, heavily.

 

I agree the rates are similiar to the going rates for the other lines. The difference is that the rates for the Pacific probably won't be reduced while the other ships will likely get a price reduction. The Pacific Princess sailings will probably just sell out.

 

I think you will have a fantastic time on the Pacific Princess. If Alaska was a one time cruise for me, I would jump on the ship because I really think this will be the best ship in Alaska next summer. Have a great trip!

 

OK - I understand now, and thanks for your good wishes! I know that there are some great last-minute deals to Alaska, but we use frequent-flyer miles, and those seats are hard to come by unless you book very early. I also enjoy the planning, and I think I'd be a wreck if I had to wait until just a month or two before to know if I would have a cruise.

[Coral]

OK - I understand now, and thanks for your good wishes! I know that there are some great last-minute deals to Alaska, but we use frequent-flyer miles, and those seats are hard to come by unless you book very early. I also enjoy the planning, and I think I'd be a wreck if I had to wait until just a month or two before to know if I would have a cruise.

 

Nancy - I just looked at the prices. When I had my TA look at them, it was the pre-release prices before the ship was open for booking (they posted the prices before they open the bookings). The prices come in less then I thought it would and is reasonable. It is still higher then what I would pay having been there a lot but reasonable.

[Casey12]

We also looked at the prices with our agent before they opened the bookings and there was about a $500 price difference for BA cabins before they opened the bookings and then after they opened them. My agent was surprised on this. She also said that Princess is not allowing groups bookings on the Pacific Princess ---is that true?

[NancyIL]

We also looked at the prices with our agent before they opened the bookings and there was about a $500 price difference for BA cabins before they opened the bookings and then after they opened them. My agent was surprised on this. She also said that Princess is not allowing groups bookings on the Pacific Princess ---is that true?

 

I don't know about group bookings, but I booked our Pacific Princess cruise with a discounter and saved ~ $300 (for 2 people) off the price quoted on the Princess web site for an inside category I cabin.

[Coral]

It must have been the Southbound cruises that I priced - Princess retail is $2100 plus for a balcony. Way too pricey. The Northbound onces are priced realistically. I still think the larger ships will come down a little in price.

[Host Caroline]

We are paying 1300 for a Cat BB aft (or maybe it's a BC) on the Sapphire on June 9 southbound next year.. that is sticker shock for me but for my new DH it's worth it.. as often as I have been to Alaska it's first aft balcony .. when I asked it was one of those "I'll ask but know it's not there" type things.. but it was... would never book this far out but there's a group of us that wanted to sail together again and the week just worked.. if it was just DH and I we'd be waiting and taking advantage of cheaper air and May rates!

[Stevesan]

lol.....I looked at HAL ships because I heard the itineraries were really good BUT they require you to dress up even for the buffet which defeats the purpose of having an alternative dining room to those who don't want to dress up every night....that is unless their web site is wrong.

 

HAL's dress code is enforced (sometimes loosely) only in the main dining room. Casual attire is accepted and frequently seen throughout the ship during formal and informal nights in all other areas, including the Lido Buffet.

 

HAL's dress code requests thatguests adhere to the dress code in public venues.

 

However, Princess states without condition what the dress codes are.

 

In practice, there's really no difference between the two.:)

 

HAL's dress code (emphasis mine)

 

Evening dress falls into three distinct categories. Each night a daily program will be delivered to your stateroom announcing the suggested dress for the following evening. Comfortable, relaxed clothing is fine for evenings designated as casual; however, T-shirts, jeans, swimsuits, tank tops and shorts are not allowed in the dining room, Lido restaurant, or public areas during the evening hours.

On festive formal evenings, women usually wear cocktail dresses or gowns and men usually wear business suits or tuxedos. There are approximately two formal nights per week. (Gentlemen: Although business suits or tuxedos are suggested attire for formal evenings, they are certainly not required. You are welcome to wear a jacket and tie on formal nights.) In order to complement your fellow guests, Holland America asks that you observe the suggested dress code throughout the entire evening.

 

Princess' dress code:

 

ONBOARD ATTIRE

Princess makes it easy to know what to pack and what to wear when you're dining onboard. There are two designations for dress codes: Smart Casual and Formal.

Smart Casual Evenings:

Passengers dress as they would for a fine restaurant at home.

• Skirts/dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies

• Pants and open-neck shirts for men

In the dining room, items such as cutoff T-shirts, shorts, halter tops, and jeans are not permitted; shoes must be worn at all times.

Formal Evenings:

• Evening gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies

• Tuxedo, slacks with dinner jackets, or suits for men

[JohnLauben]

Keep one thing in mind, if it matters to you. If you do back-to-back on the same ship (PACIFIC PRINCESS probably excluded), you are very likely to have the same production shows (and cast) and cabaret entertainers on both cruises. On different ships, you may have the same shows, but with a different cast. Cabaret entertainers move from ship to ship (and line to line), so these may repeat, but are less likely to do so. The cruise staff (and director) will also be different.

 

Also, dining room menus will be the same no matter what. However, the kitchen staff will be different from ship to ship. So, if you don't care for the food preparation on one leg, it may be different on the next.

 

You could try sailing a DIAMOND-class ship one way, spend a few nights ashore in Alaska, and return in a CORAL-class ship! Get to experience both.

[Sailfish]

Keep one thing in mind, if it matters to you. If you do back-to-back on the same ship (PACIFIC PRINCESS probably excluded), you are very likely to have the same production shows (and cast) and cabaret entertainers on both cruises. On different ships, you may have the same shows, but with a different cast. Cabaret entertainers move from ship to ship (and line to line), so these may repeat, but are less likely to do so. The cruise staff (and director) will also be different.

 

Also, dining room menus will be the same no matter what. However, the kitchen staff will be different from ship to ship. So, if you don't care for the food preparation on one leg, it may be different on the next.

 

You could try sailing a DIAMOND-class ship one way, spend a few nights ashore in Alaska, and return in a CORAL-class ship! Get to experience both.

 

We found there was enough to do at night that split between two weeks wasn't an issue. We didn't go to a production show every night; rather we spaced out the shows between the two weeks, went to music venues and movies the rest of the time. We also paid a visit to the casino and did our own thing some nights. I for one was extremly concerned about the length of time on board the ship and having enough to do.

 

What we thought was going to be an issue really wasn't. We simply made a little effort to do two weeks worth of different activitieis, both during the day and night and for us, it worked out well.

 

Food wasn't an issue either, as we took advantage of personal choice dining and the alternative restaurants.

[Richard Stein]

I like the Diamond and Sapphire as I sailed them doing inside passage.

[Nymue]

We sailed the Regal last year out of SF to Alaska...she truely *IS* Regal!!!!

She does sail under the Golden Gate, a delight in itself! The Regal is a beautiful very smooth sailing ship! We loved it ;)

 

Anne

And on the Regal do their balconies or mini suites have a divider curtain or not? Does it sail under the Golden Gate? Might even consider leaving out of SF if the Regal is as good as you say it is.

[snowblower]

We sailed the Regal last year out of SF to Alaska...she truely *IS* Regal!!!!

She does sail under the Golden Gate, a delight in itself! The Regal is a beautiful very smooth sailing ship! We loved it ;)

 

Anne

 

The Regal is going down under next year and will not be sailing Alaska. If you want Alaska out of San Francisco on Princess it will have to be the Dawn. Very nice ship.

 

My choice would be the Diamond/Sapphire doing the inside passage. Waist too many days (4) getting to/from SF to the northwest and you don't see much on those sea days. Don't do much different than the Seattle RT sailings.....