Has anyone been to Alaska? If so is it expensive to go on a cruise?

Question

i am planning to go to alaska with my family in march but i need help on prices

Answer 1

Yes I have been to Alaska on a cruise. We took a Princess cruise to Alaska for our honeymoon several years ago. I have also been to Alaska on business and also did some tours while up there for two weeks. Here's what you need to know.

You cannot do a cruise to Alaska in March. The Alaska cruise season for ALL cruise lines is from May to September each year and the best time to go is when you can get the best price. The best prices will be in May and Sept but you will see the same things as other times. 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.

An Alaska cruise will cost between about $800 per person (for an inside cabin) to $1500 per person (for a balcony cabin), or up to $2500 per person for a suite. These prices will vary somewhat by cruise line, and depending upon the month that you select to go with May and September almost always being cheaper. Fares will also be cheaper if you book early; like right now for next May or September. When you look at the fares ask for (or look for) rates for both May and September and you will probably find that next Sept is cheaper because its further in the future.

The port stops for most cruises 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. Also, some cruises are round trip and return to the same port while others are one way. So you may fly to Anchorage, Alaska and then fly back home from Seattle or Vancouver. Check the cruise line web sites for variations by date, itinerary and price.

The best Alaska cruise experience is the CRUISE-TOUR. Princess, Holland America, and Royal Caribbean all run cruise tours which take you by train all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska. Princess and RC have special domed train cars for this. Your best chance to see wild animals will be if you do a cruise-tour where you go further north after cruising the inside passage. The only animals you are likely to see in the inside passage is seals. On these tours You can arrange to stop for a night or two in Taketna, or Denali National Park. This will be your best opportunity to see Moose, Caribou, eagle, wolf, and bear. But you really need two days at Denali so that you have time to get one of the Park Service's buses that go deep into the park. Regular tour buses , cars and campers can only go about 3 or 4 miles into the park. The Park Service runs buses about 17 miles into the park, but you must get to the visitor center very early to reserve a spot on one of their buses. The train stops going north and south do not get you to Denali in time or allow enough time for the deep back country buses. With Princess, Holland America, and RC you can do the tour part first and then go to Seward or Whittier to get on ship for the inside passage part.

Answer 2

I am a travel agent, and it is simple. There is a shorter season(April/May to September), more taxes and fees, special permits the lines need for Glacier Bay itineraries, which only so many are permitted for, more fuel required for a longer journey(Alaska is the largest state in area overall), fewer passengers since it is mostly older, smaller ships that go up to Alaska, and Alaska is part of the US, so it is not going to be as cheap as the Caribbean. That said, there are also Caribbean cruises that will cost the same as an Alaska cruise, but those are luxury cruise lines. I don't specialize in Alaska, but you should find a good travel agent that does specialize in Alaska. I also should mention that Princess and Holland America tend to be the best lines for Alaska, but Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and NCL has some good itineraries as well, so maybe you should check those, but again, I do encourage you to use a travel agent.

Answer 3

It's already been said but I think some people may have missed it so I'm repeating for the sake of the poster...

YOU CANNOT CRUISE ALASKA IN MARCH.

Cruise lines run from the first or second week of May until the end of September.

Suggestions of getting a deal are:

1. Book Early. Prices will most likely continue to rise and if there is a last minute deal, you will probably have a hard time getting flights, or there will be limited room selection. If these don't apply to you, then by all means book last minute!
2. When you book, if your parents are 55 years or older, put them in separate rooms. By this I mean when you book put their names in separate rooms because if a senior discount comes available, you need only one person per stateroom to get the discounted price. This happened to me last May with Royal Caribbean. (They don't actually have to stay in separate rooms, it's just for the discount.)
3. If you have to fly in/out book your flights early and fly in a day ahead of time. So many people have had issues with flights and being bumped!
4. Think about how you will use your room. If you have sea days you are likely to spend a little more time in there. We got a balcony last minute (there was a balcony deal and with the money we saved from the senior discount we upgraded) and it was amazing. Mind you at times it was so cold out there but it was priceless for the wildlife we saw from the ship and just having that little extra personal space.


As always, I suggest this website for all the detailed questions you must have. It's the best place on the web for everything cruise-related. Check out the v e r y active boards. There are so many people there that can give you first hand experience and insider tips.

http://www.cruisecritic.com
http://boards.cruisecritic.com

Answer 4

NO IT IS NOT EXPENSIVE. I have been on 18 cruises & cruisetours there. I live in upstate New York & for 2 adults including airfare ( coach & inside cabin) trip cost $2735.00. Spending money depends on what you buy either on the ship or in port. In port is less expensive. On our first cruise we bougth t-shirts & gifts for family & friends so we spent around $600.00 And of course money if you decide to go to the casino on the ship.
May & Sept. have the best fares. Sept. all stores have 50% off sales.
If you decide to eat at one of the ports of call it will cost you no more than going out to eat at home at a place like Apple Bee's, Texas Road House or Ruby Tusedays.
Now a cruisetour is higher for 11 day ( Princess) cost $3745.00. Now you will need alittle more money for food because not all meals on the land tour are included.
If you take the time to compare what it would cost for everything on a regular vacation with everything included it is not EXPENSIVE at all.
Hope this helps.
Also you can go to Alaska year round and either rent a car or motorhome & get package deals which include cruises on small ships. See Greyline of Alaska. They run the major bus line & tours there. They will also send you all the free brouchures you will ever need for which ever vacation you want.
Enjoy.

Answer 5

If you are not planning to go until March, you have plenty of time to do your research.
Go to a travel agent and get an armful of cruise brochures that cover Alaska. You could even enquire at the travel agents about ships, dates, itineraries and costs.
Have a look at your literature and find a ship, cruise itinerary, and cabin that you like.
Research on the web, the are loads of cruise forums whose users will offer excellent advice.
Try pricing your preferred cruise on-line, you may be able to pick up a great deal. You will have an idea of price from your TA and the brochures.

Answer 6

i know many people who have went on cruises in alaska. They have been known as the most expensive cruises out there. Maybe Not THE most but be expecting to pay for a whole trip well into the thousands if not over $10,000 (not including ur flight there). But It is said to be the Most Beautiful of all the cruises that are available. if u got the money it is suppose to be the cruise to go on if u can afford it.

Answer 7

I lived there for about 7 years, I loved it. Princess tours do alot of cruises in Alaska, you can look up the prices here~

http://www.princess.com/find/index.jsp

Answer 8

Try vacationstogo.com.

Answer 9

this site has good info
http://allcruiselines.info