Alaska - which "passage"?
 

Hi All,<BR>I just love this site and have browsed many Q&A's on all different travel topics and received some excellent ideas and advice for my past travels. My latest dilemma is deciding which Alaska Cruise to book. We are planning to go in June of 2003, and would like some help deciding between the inside passage, northbound or southbound routes. What are the reasons one would book one of theses "passages" over the others? This will probably be a "once in a lifetime" trip so want to make the best choices. Thanks for your help!

All Alaskan cruises sail the Inside Passage. Typically, a cruise billed as an "Inside Passage" cruise sails round trip from Vancouver, visiting three ports, spending two days in the Inside Passage (coming and going), and spending one day at Hubbard Glacier or more infrequently, Glacier Bay. Other glaciers may be substituted for these, as well.<BR>A northbound or southbound route, typically known as the "Voyage of the Glaciers" (Princess lingo), sails from Vancouver to Seward, or conversely, from Seward to Vancouver. The only difference is instead of the second day cruising the Inside Passage, you will cruise more of Southeast Alaska, usually College Fjord. The three port days remain, as does the Glacier Bay day.<BR>Some people who are not taking land tours before or after their cruise choose the Inside Passage because of the ease of traveling round trip from Vancouver. We have done both and I would probably opt for the northbound or southbound if I thought I wouldn't get back to that area of the world.

<BR>You bet. If it is your trip of a lifetime spend the extra money and take the northbound or southbound route. You will miss quite a bit of Alaska doing the round trip.<BR><BR>Paul

Thanks for the replys - they were very helpful, and cleared up my confusion on the different routes. I've just learned that there is another choice, a repositioning cruise from Alaska to Hawaii (or vice versa). Do you -- or anyone else -- have any thoughts or experience with this type of cruise?

Hi Mary Jane,<BR><BR>Just about all cruise lines sail the Hawaiin itineraries in the spring and in the fall when they are repositioning to and from the winter Caribbean itineraries. These cruises are better than the regular cruise around the islands offered by Norwegian only because due to the Jones Act NCL must travel to Fanning Island which is no big treat and takes 3 days. Of course since the trip from the U.S. mainland takes 4 days you are on the ocean longer without a port but once you get to the Hawaiin Islands you will see more of Hawaii.<BR><BR>Paul