Which cruise one to use??

Old Sep 3rd, 2014, 09:07 PM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Which cruise one to use??

Hello,
I know this is a hugely open-ended question: based on my 'criteria' what is the best cruise line match for us?
1. Celebrating milestone bday of boyfriend with cruise to Alaska
2. Live on west coast, an hour from San Francisco
3. Passengers - bday boy, his girlfriend, 3 adult children - 25-28
4. Would like fishing opportunity for bday boy
5. Looking for 9-10 day cruise
6. Don't want Cadillac or Volswagon style cruise, looking for something in the middle (we're on a budget and in the early research stages)
7. Would like to travel fall 2015 - is this considered off season?

I know the answers are endless to this, question, and any perspective is welcome.
Cheers!
Faloola is offline  
Old Sep 4th, 2014, 07:52 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 72,640
Likes: 0
Received 50 Likes on 7 Posts
I'll let others suggest which line . . .

But one of your criteria really needs to change - unless by Fall you mean early September. The cruise season basically ends then. (Winter comes early in Alaska)

Also - most cruises are either 7 (one way) or 14 days (RT) so to do 9-10 days you'd probably do a 7 day cruise and a couple of days on land in Alaska.
janisj is online now  
Old Sep 4th, 2014, 09:09 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,974
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Princess and Holland American have the most experience with cruising Alaska. I would check those out first. You may want a 7 days cruise and than spend 2 or 3 days in Denali, all booked through the cruise line. Check out cruisecritic.com for more indepth info.
Frank is offline  
Old Sep 4th, 2014, 11:09 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Loved Holland America and it sounds as if it could be a fit for you. Agree even July can be cold.
Reme is offline  
Old Sep 4th, 2014, 07:56 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,996
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
Best weather is late June, early to mid July.
HappyTrvlr is online now  
Old Sep 4th, 2014, 08:38 PM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks to each of you. From the cruise line suggestions to the length of time and time of year. All very helpful, and a great start for my research! I'm excited to start the planning.
Faloola is offline  
Old Sep 5th, 2014, 06:14 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
We took Princess to Alaska a few years ago (roundtrip out of Seattle) and I highly recommend it. Princess is reputed to be one of the best in Alaska because it's been doing it for so long. We took the itinerary through Glacier Bay, which was stupendous, with scenery that you'll never forget (snow-peaked mountains the whole way, blue-ice glaciers, water covered in broken hunks of ice...).

Some of the special features of taking Princess:
* There was a very interesting naturalist who had lived in Alaska who gave a number of lectures, and narrated the trip into Glacier Bay
* The cruise line put on a special seafood buffet (with salmon as the star)
* There were several other lectures that were great-one by a woman who won the Iditarod
* They offered (for a fee) a champagne breakfast the morning we sailed through Glacier Bay

In a nutshell, Princess added to the specialness of the destination with all kinds of things like this. And if I remember correctly, there were some fishing excursions you could sign up for (with a cost, of course).

If you're interested, I have a few postings on my blog about Alaska. It's at http://musingaboutcruising.blogspot.com.
rjgdjg is offline  
Old Sep 7th, 2014, 01:16 PM
  #8  
ira
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hey Fal,

I think that you are old enough to prefer HAL or Princess.

Sept is definitely the end of the season for AK.

ira is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
oldygo
Cruises
9
Mar 21st, 2010 04:23 PM
HannahHall
United States
8
Jan 29th, 2007 04:24 PM
cmeyer54
Cruises
7
Mar 25th, 2005 03:16 PM
Irv
United States
8
Oct 18th, 2003 01:13 PM
Laura
United States
5
Sep 11th, 2002 10:45 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -