mandyla

Want to go on a cruise to Alaska. We haven't cruised in many years and am wondering what is the best cruise line to use. Also, does anyone know if any of the lines offer last minute deals as we can go anytime on short notice..

Eschew

Princess has the most ships and choices. HAL, RCL, Celebrity and even Disney are all there this year. To get a best last minute deal, check the net or with the cruise line direct. Subscribe to the newsletter of each cruise line and you will be notified of all deals offered.

KVR

Alaska is so different than other destinations and tend to sell out quickly. We are booked for the Golden Princess in Sept. and our cruise is already full. We booked back in November 2010.

You can still sign up to be on the waiting list, which means if someone cancels or doesn't make their final payment and their cabin becomes available, you'll have the opportunity to purchase it. The offer will be made available to the first person on the wait list and go down until it's purchased.

I would get with a travel agent or on-line booking company since the season has already started. They will be able to let you know if any lines have any cabins available in your budget and for what dates.

Eschew

Just received an email from Princess. $1,100 for 11 days. 7 days at sea plus 4 days land tour. Aug 23 departure from Anchorage & finishes in Vancouver. Outside obscructed view cabin. There are still plenty of last minute deal if you "subscribed" to the right newsletters.

As an example, our June 2007 trip on Diamond Princess, booked one week prior to deparure, $599 for outside cabin. 7 days north bound. July 2009 on Celebrity, booked 2 weeks prior to departure, $800 for balcony, inside passage return. Not great rates, but not expensive either.

The subscription gets you more info and choices much quicker.
Mid August and beyond will give the best discount & last minute deals as it is near the end of the season. I have seen fares as low as $499 for inside cabin, typically on one way passage, eitehr north or south bound. The round trips are seldom on sale or offer deals.

BudgetQueen

There is still plenty of space for Alaska cruises this season. Look at several cruise discounter sites.

It will make a significant difference IF you do your homework and find out about Alaska. Read up on ports, and activies they offer you- look over shore excursion lists. Look at the itinereary- time in port, route, glacier. Budget for costly excursions, you get only half a trip without them in my opinion.

There are differences to be well aware of. Will then make your selection easier.

muskegmike

There are at least 23 large and small cruiselines offering a rich variety of cruises to Alaska this year. The Alaska-based website www.AlaskaCruisingReport.com lists 45 vessels ranging from mega liners to small yacht-size vessels. Holland America Line has the most – seven ships – sailing to Alaska in 2011; Princess has six. Others have from one to three ships embarking from Seattle, Vancouver, and San Francisco as well as from Alaska ports including Seward, Whittier, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Sitka plus Prince Rupert, B.C.. The listings contain basic itinerary information for each line as well as contacts and website URLs. This is Disney Cruise Line's first year in Alaska. The line has already announced it intention to return in 2012, home porting in Seattle instead of Vancouver as it is doing this year.

katybird

Consider last minute airfare as well...if you need it. We have found some good deals at times but the cost of flying from the east coast was prohibitive.

brenda_t

We leave August 21, 2011 for a 7 night cruise from Vancouver BC through the inside passage to Alaska. This is our first cruise and I need all the tips you can offer as to what to pack. If we were going to the beach it would be simple. We will probably not be taking any hiking trips, just want to be a tourist. We've hunted in Alaska several times, so not so eager to walk all day long. BTW, our ship is the Celebrity Century, if anyone has been on that ship I'd love to hear all about it.

Margie_Tinney

My husband and I just recently booked our first cruise to ALaska, leaving van cover august 24 .We got great deal on the island princess called off the beaten path 7 days cruise and 5 days land tour Have mini suite on Bahia deck all 1600. Each now trying to figure out how to pack and how to eat comfortably. . My hubby does not like to dress up so, formal nights we Might do pizza or dine in our room any suggestions really excited can't wait

musictub

We just got back from an Island Princess cruise in Alaska. We fist decided to skip formal night dinners and have the buffet or pizza/hambergers instead. Too much trouble to pack formal clothes.
WRONG!
Do you really want to eat a cheeseburger instead of a magnificent 5 course top rate meal? The dining room food quality and selection is amazing! You can always eat a cheeseburger for lunch!
My family and I decided at the last minute to do the formal nights, and we are really glad we did. We also got a formal portrait of the four of us that came is beautiful. For $44 we got an 8 x 10 and three 5 x 7s. We've been wanting to have a picture taken, but never seemed to actually plan it. This was an unexpected plus.
Enjoy your trip.

musictub

Oh, and as for packing, the key is to layer. That way you are set for whatever weather comes along. Don't forget rain ponchos and winter gloves and hats. Comfortable shoes with warm woolen socks won't hurt either.