Need Alaska Cruise Advice
 

Hello - we are two couples looking for an alaskan cruise to celebrate a 50th birthday. The longest we can take is a 4-6 day cruise with a travel day on each end (due to kids' schedules back home). Don't know much about cruising or the alaskan options. Any input, ideas,etc will be most appreciated. This would be for late may, mid-June of this year. Thx

You really need a 7 night cruise. You really can't do anything with less time then that.

You need 7 days for an Alaskan cruise PLUS travel days. Also if looking for this year- you need to book NOW.

You really can't do much with 4-6 days. My suggestion would be to celebrate the 50th birthday doing something else. You just can't do Alaska with your time frame.

Hi,

Since it is a special occasion and you have some time constraints, check into Cruise West for Alaska. They are a bit more expensive, but the ships have naturalists onboard, bring cultural representatives to talk and perform to their guests and it is a more casual atmosphere onboard. The neat part about Cruise West is that they have smaller ships and can get close into see wildlife and other things that the bigger ships can't reach.

Cruise West has shorter cruise options available with more regional itineraries for an up-close visit to Alaska.

It would definitely be a memorable trip for a special birthday!

Best Regards,
Julia

I've been to Alaska several times and I would suggest that you do it when you can make the time. This is one place you don't want to short change.

With your time constraints,have you considered seeing Alaska without a cruise? Flying to Anchorage and booking a tour with Alaska Railroad,Gray Line or some other operator can take you to some of the parks,glaciers and cities with stays in some really nice lodges or hotels. Then, if you like,you can go back for a cruise when your time allows,having already done the typical pre-cruise land portion. Most of these land tours are by rail,in fancy dome cars,and are,in fact,"rail cruises".

You will get to cover more ground and see more of your interests if you go independent, in interior Alaska and not do the above suggested tours. The rail in Alaska requires time in my opinion and there is plenty in between that you just miss.