Oldmyst

My family is thinking of going on a cruise to Alaska next summer. I don't know where to start. I want it to be special. Any advice on what cruise line to use and what side trips to book? I haven't had any cruise experience. There will be four of us, including two young adult daughters.

BayouGal

You would have much better luck if you posted this on the Cruises forum. Where it says "change forums" select "cruises."

Good luck planning your trip!

Oldmyst

Thanks, I reposted on the cruise forum.

BudgetQueen

You need to do your homework first. How much time do you have??? Are you looking for interior Alaska? Superior are the one ways into Seward in my opinion, if adding another week.

Round trip Vancouver sailings offer the best scenery, with HAL having one of the best itineraries with both Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm.

Determine this first. Then look at ports, time in ports, ship naturalist, glacier, route, price. Budget fully for costly excursions, you get only half a trip without them.

Oldmyst

Thanks, Budget Queen. I am guessing we will do a "big" vacation with a week of land tour. I want to do kind of a high end cruise (not the REALLY upperclass ones for the rich) I am figuring spending at least two weeks. I know Princess is a big Alaska cruise, my relatives are going this July and my friend used them. I heard Celebrity is a set up from Princess, and I don't know anything about HAL. I had relatives of mine who a few years ago went as a family of five and spent close to $25,000-30,0000 on their cruise as they did so many excursions and had a suite and an interior room. That is kind of not in our budget. Well the research begins!