Have you ever been in a cruise to Alaska ?

Question

Please, share your experiance.
In what port your cruise originated ?

Answer 1

Yes I have been on a cruise to Alaska and also have been there for a visit. The cruise we took was on Princess Cruise line and the ships in that line are great. Our package actually was a cruise-tour package in which we traveled the inside passage from Vancouver, Canada to Seward, Alaska, with stops in Sitka, Jeanue, Ketchikan, the College Fjords and the Columbia glacier.

Then in Seward we boarded a bus for a 4 hour ride to Anchorage where we toured the Alaska Native Heritage Center and then stayed the night in a nice hotel in downtown Anchorage. The next morning we boarded a bus which took us across town to the train station where Princess, Royal Caribbean and Holland America cruise lines have special sightseeing cars for the land tour. This part of the trip was as beautiful as the inside passage. The train ride in the Princess coaches are great. The coach has a dome so you can see very well and also a platform where you can go outside and stand if you like. They serve a meal on the train (lunch) and then we got off at Denali National Park and stayed overnight. The train ride was about 5 hours.

The next morning we had a brief tour of the park and then time to explore at the visitor's center. Later that day the train came again and took us the remainder of the way to Fairbanks, Alaska. Dinner was served on the train.

Our trip was a few years ago and at that time you could choose whether you wanted to start the cruise-tour in Vancouver, Canada or Fairbanks Alaska. You could also choose whether you wanted to stay in Denali for one or two nights (I recommend two) AND there was another stopover point offered.

The last time I looked at the princess site they had changed some parts of the trip but you can still take the cruise tour. I believe that Prinncess now starts its land tours in Whittier rather than Seward.

If you are going to Alaska I highly recommend the cruise-tour with one of the 3 lines mentioned. You will see so much more of Alaska on the cruise-tour; besides great sights wild animals like Moose, bear, wolf and caribou. In my opinion, the inside passage stuff is nice, but the other part was better because you see more of Alaska.

Answer 2

I've been on several cruises to Alaska. It is actually one of my favorite cruises. I love the weather, the excursions, the ships, etc. There is just so much to see and do, but yet it is still a nice relaxing vacation.

As far as which port, I like to go out of Seattle, but it doesn't matter much. As long as their is an itinerary that has the ports you want in Alaska. Unless you are wanting to do things in the area, than it can make a difference. I especially like the one-way cruises. You get to see more during the time you are gone because you don't have to return back to the port!