Best Alaskan Cruise Help/Questions

[memecakes]

My Mom will be turning 70 next year and I have been thinking of taking her on a cruise for her birthday. DH does not want to go to Alaska so I thought I might take my Mom.:D I do not know much about Alaskan cruises though so can you fellow CCers help me by telling me what is the best time to go? What is a good ship to book and what the heck is the difference between all thoughts passages they talk about? Thanks!

[gazingm42]

Memecakes,

 

Carnival only has one ship that goes to Alaska. Which is the Carnival Spirit

ship.

 

I feel that mid june is the best time to go. But you will get lots of opinions

on this.

 

We also like th northbound vs southbound trips.

 

Tell DH he will be missing out big time by not joining you to Alaska.

 

Different cruise lines go to different ports. Carnival will go to leave from

Vancouver the port in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, (Cruise Lynn canal),

Sitka, Collage Fjord (Cruising). Doc in Whittier. The southbound will reverse

you trip.

 

There two round trip in early May and late Sept. These round trips do

glacier bay and not collage fjord.

[Fergus]

We did the northbound route in late July/early August and it was WONDERFUL. We had our teenage kids with us and we all found great things to do. There are excursions to suit every age group and ability level and interest. The weather was beautiful - we had rain in only one port - and the glacier was amazing. You will never regret going!!

[choclitsnda]

I've gleaned a LOT of info from

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=&f=55