Alaskan Cruise?

Question

We are thinking about purchasing an alaskan cruise for my mother-in-law. What is the best one?

Answer 1

WE did our Alaska cruise on Princess and it was lovely and I think your relative would enjoy it. I have also been on many cruises with NCL, Royal Caribbean and Celebrity and they are all great lines to go on too. I would recommend any of these four, plus Holland America. I have observed that Princess, RC, and Celebrity tend to have older passengers, like people in their 50's and up. They do however, still have a great time and you will find them in the bars and discos in the evenings. So they will be fun.

If you want a different type Alaska experience look for an Alaska cruise-tour and Princess, Holland America and Royal Caribbean all do these. On these itineraries the ship does the inside passage but there is also a land portion by train from Anchorage to Denali National Park and on to Fairbanks. Princess and RC have special domed cars for the train. Any of these three would be great whether you do the tour part or not.

The best time to go is when you can get the best price. The Alaska cruise season is from May to Sept. The weather is generally warmer in June, July and Aug, but it can also be pleasant in May and Sept. When we went a few years ago in May it was shirt sleeve weather (70's) in Anchorage and Fairbanks. The odd thing was, it was cooler further south in Juneau and Skagway than it was up north. It was rainy and cloudy in Ketchkan. It will be cold, like coat, hat and gloves weather, when you get close to the Glaciers.

The best prices will be in May and Sept but you will see the same things as other times. The port stops will be the same but may be in a different order. Some cruises ship itineraries are run in reverse order, North to South vs starting in Seattle or Vancouver. Check the cruise line web sites for variations by date, itinerary and price.

Answer 2

I just got back yesterday on my cruise. I sailed on the Sun Princess, had a awesome time. The food, entertainment, choice of ports were fabulous. the crew members were very helpful and courteous. What ever cruise you decide on will be an adventure of a life time. The beauty of Alaska is breathtaking. Wish I could go back. Your mother-in-law is very lucky. It cost me around 1400 but I booked the cruise last Jan:)

Answer 3

It really depends on what kind of activities & what your age group is going to be to choose a cruise. Holland America tends to be geared toward an older, more sophisticated crowd, where as Carnival is usually a lower priced option & caters to a younger, more vibrant crowd of people. Price also tends to dictate what line you would use. Take a look at cruisecritic.com for info on all cruise lines & destinations. It will also tell you about different ports in Alaska that you may visit.