Alaska: Holland America vs Diamond Princess?
 

I've checked on nine- day cruise from Vancouver to Anchorage (one way) on either HAL or Diamond Princess. Regent Seven Seas is also intriguing but seems pricey for me from what I see on their website at around $5K per person. I'm 66 and my wife is 56 so we don't need late night amenities. I'm leaning toward HAL because their ships seem smaller and seem to cater to an older crowd. But seeking advice on others on this forum who have used HAL on this Alaska route and whether the food, rooms, service, extras, were good quality. Is a verandah or balcony worth the extra cost? Am I right to lean more to HAL for our needs? Any other advice? Thank you for your help

I chose HAL for an upcoming Alaskan cruise because of the smaller ship even though we have cruised several times on Princess. Smaller is better I think.

Thanks Jane. Did you have a balcony?

We don't go until June but, yes, we have a balcony.

We went on HAL to Alaska and thoroughly enjoyed our trip. We have been on two other HAL cruises. If I were going to Alaska again I would go HAL. We have been on other lines and have liked them, but HAL seems more comfortable, overall. I would get a verandah for sure. Otherwise, with any cruise line, keep your expectations reasonable.

Look at the ports they stop at, do they both go to the same ones? Do they go to Glacier Bay or Hubbard Glacier? Do you plan on side trips in port?

Before you decide, please keep in mind that Regent is ALL-INCLUSIVE - that $5,000 per person includes all of your meals, all of your beverages including wine and cocktails, several shore excursion choices in each port, all gratuities, all port charges, taxes and fees. You pay for your entire cruise upfront, instead of paying for the basic cruise + basic meals + basic non-alcoholic beverages + port charges, taxes and fees on HAL and Princess. I've cruised to Alaska on Regent - all balcony suite accommodations, smaller ships, naturalists, academics, cultural lecturers and it is a fantastic experience. There are classical groups, a Broadway-style show, small bars, movies, but it isn't a hopping nightlife atmosphere. My recommendation - add up the costs of buying everything on the Princess and HAL ala carte, look at the included items on Regent and compare prices. Often, I find that Regent is less expensive in the end comparison.

Best Regards,
Julia

Thanks to everyone for your fen feedback.

*fine* feedback. Thanks again.

If you spend a lot of money drinks and other stuff, and likes the excursions they included, then the Regent all inclusive price is good. Other wise, count on $10 per day per person for tip, $7 average for drink (beer/wine) and about $600 for shore excursions per person. Regent is more luxury and extremely good. We are not heavy drinker and we like to go outside the box for excursions so the cookie-cutter excursions from regent doesn't work for us. If you like the more exotic excursions, add another $300 to $400 per person for excursions.

The Diamond is a nice ship, older now and was built in Japan, (not Italy). A lot of oriental influence, especially the tile work at the pool area. We were on that ship alomst 5 years ago and loved it.

A typically Alaska cruise doesn't seem to have a lot of "night life" comapre to your Mexican, Carribbean or even European cruises. The passengers seems to be more lay back, and you will see dome family, regardless of ships.

No questions that HAL has a slightly older crowd but I thought the Princess ship is more for your age group. The last Pricness cruise we were on and they featured shows with music from Abba, Beatles and some Broadway hits from that era.

I think we are in the same age group as you and although we still enjoy the odd Dean Martin, Paul Anka, Buddy Holly and Elvis, but the music that we "party" back then were the Beatles, Seones, bubble gum music and the like. And if you are another 5 to 10 years younger, ABBA in the mid-70's.

Just to let you know how "old" we are, we grew up during the folk era with PPM, Joan Baez, & the Beatles, and later on with the leisure suits! I might still have one hanging somewhere in the closet for Halloween :D