HELP - 1st Cruise to Alaska May 08
 

We're in our late 30's with an 18-month old boy and we're planning to do an Alaskan Cruise mid-May of 2008. We narrowed our choice to RT from Vancouver via HAL Statendam or RT from Seattle via NCL Pearl. Much as we would like to do one-way cruise to Alaska and venture out, our schedule and budget is limited (not to mention carrying a baby). Pls help in deciding which cruise to take (both will take us to Glacier Bay). Is it ok to do a roundtrip at all? Thanks for the help!

Been to Alaska both ways and don't recommend round trip. Most round trips are just inside passage cruises. For inside passages, you might as well go to Vancouver and take BC ferry on their longest route North. Much cheaper, and without the excess food (and luxury).
The question is why do you want to cruise? For the scenery? Or a get-a-way? If it is for just to get away, any cruise is fine. For scenery and stops, take a one way trip.

I totally disagree with the above response, The BC ferry is the same as a round trip Alaska cruise??? You've got to be kidding.

Round trip Alaska cruises are excellent packing a lot into 7 days. Round trip Vancouver offers more scenic sailing of cruising inside Vancouver Island, but your Pearl itinerary offers Glacier Bay which is a highlight and going mid May has excellent humpback sighting potential due to the migration. NCL has freestyle, that may give you more flexability in dining- can easiy get a table by your selves with you toddler, and hopefully an easy exit, if he becomes disruptive. HAL is another story. Frankly, fixed dining times and extensive courses and time, probably aren't going to work well for you. It's rare to get a private table, and there is no guarantee your child will be able to tolerate this.

If your plans have you eating in the buffet every night, HAL does have the edge of excellent ship naturalists.

HAL is introducing open dining on many of it's ships. I noticed Volendam for Alaska 08 is one. If HAL is your prefernce you might want to check if open seating is a priority for you with a toddler.

Thank you all for your responses! We appreciate it. We wanted to go for the scenery and thought Alaska will be a great option! We will probably go with the NCL Pearl due to freestyle - BudgetQueen thanks for this info!

The only thing is that the Pearl will come from Seattle and not Vancouver - I hope it will be ok...

You will have 2 ddays [going and coming] with open ocean sailing with Seattle itinerary...missing much scenic cruising that you would get out of Vancouver. You can take the train or shuttle from Seattle to Vancouver if flying into Seattle is cheaper. That is what we plan to do.
NCL did not have a naturalist onboard when we sailed the Dream ..a negative for us..Maybe that has changed since 2005.

I would definitely go with HAL. As Robin said you will lose some of the scenic cruising if you start in Seattle. HAL is bringing in free style dining in the new year. They are planning on having a certain percentage with the old set times but the balance will be open. You can also go to the other dining area in the Lido at your convenience as well. I have done several dozen cruises and I personally don't think there is any comparison between NCL and HAL if those are your two options.

There is significantly less scenic sailing round trip Seattle cruises compared to all other routes. Essentially you have 2 sea days.

But with going mid May, you can get some excellent looks at the humpback migration. I went this timeframe this past season, and saw them just about the entire days. BUT I also sailed the Sun round trip Vancouver in July and was far superior for scenic sailing.

Thanks again for more info - now we're rethinking of the RT Seattle and might go with the RT from Vancouver.
My husband thinks its "mandatory" to have a balcony but I'm more interested in the land tours - any suggestion on "must see, must do" itineraries?

You are right, BudgetQueen, BC Ferry is not the same as a cruise. The point I am trying to make is there is no comparison between round trip and one way to Alaska. Without shore excursion on an inside passage round trip, you might as well go BC Ferry and stop at every port. Don't knock it till you try it.

I have been on the BC Ferries, several times, including this past summer. So I have "tried it".

I would strongly recommend doing the one way, you will see much more. The only way , in my opinion, to see Alaska is with Princess Cruises. They are the only ones that can get into Hubbard Glacier. Princess, in Canada anyway, includes airfare back to Vancouver from Seward and vice versa in their cruise price..

" would strongly recommend doing the one way, you will see much more. The only way , in my opinion, to see Alaska is with Princess Cruises. They are the only ones that can get into Hubbard Glacier. Princess, in Canada anyway, includes airfare back to Vancouver from Seward and vice versa in their cruise price.."


This post is loaded with errors. Princess does NOT go to Hubbard Glacier, it goes to Glacier Bay, College Fjords on the one ways, and Tracy Arm on the round trip Seattle. The one ways do NOT go to Seward and haven't for YEARS, they sail Whittier. You also do NOT fly back to Vancouver from Seward, It's Anchorage, and it would NOT be Vancouver, unless, you live there.

Between the two my preference and lets be aware we all have preferences would be the HAL ship. The NCL reviews overall are not up to par and HAL has been in Alaska since the ice age :D I do agree with others about getting a balcony. And bring a good pair of binoculars. Cheers, Larry. PS avoid the reindeer sausage. :S-