khall

We are looking at a cruise to Alaska with 2 elderly, unrelated parents....we would like to be as inexpensive (cheap) as possible with the best trip they will ever have..... HELP thanks Karan & David (sleeping alone with old people for the first time)

Patrick

Let me get this straight. You are a couple who are going to split up to each "room" with a parent? You two deserve "role model kid of the year" awards.
Sorry, I hate cruises and can't offer any advice, but I offer you my highest praise for your efforts!

khall

Thanks, Our first cruise too and figured this would be the easiest...I know We are crazy.....But we all want to see Alaska....

cb

Suggest you go to cruisecritic.com. You'll get lots more cruise-type info. Have a wonderful trip!

Maple

When we went to Alaska (first time cruisers, too) with a family group (ages 14 - 70)we had seven rooms. Three of them had the balcony. I would recommend at least one of your rooms have the balcony. You will spend hours just sitting there watching the world go by. Also, don't try to be "too" cheap. It is probably a once-in-a-lifetime type of thing. The only additional cost would be tours on the land. Lots of people don't even take them - they just poke around the towns on their own. We enjoyed the Juneau Museum. Take advantage of all the freebies on board with the shows, on-board classes, etc. There will be MORE than enough to keep you busy! ENJOY! ENJOY!

travellyn

After an elderly family member started talking about taking an Alaska cruise, my parents mentioned to me that there is a big difference in water levels because of tides at a couple of the stops. They were concerned about this family member navigating the steps from the ship. They thought that this person would pretty much be excluded fom shore excursions, or even getting off the ship because of this problem.

I'd love to go to Alaska, but Alaska is one of the more expensive cruise destinations. I don't know how you could do it cheaply. I'd second the recommendation for Celebrity cruises over Carnival, but again, that choice will raise the price.

BarbaraS

Some ships have connecting cabins - a portion of the wall is movable. You could sleep on one side in a queen bed and the parents could sleep in twin beds on the other side. If you want to go cheap go for an inside cabin down low in the middle of the ship. The older smaller ships will also be less expensive. You can save a lot of money by not ordering lots of drinks, photos, gambling or spa treatments.

joan

Barbara has a great idea...did this with girlfriends, there was a door between cabins that we left open the whole time...makes it feel like a 2 room suite (ok I'm exagerrating but it would be much better to snuggle with your hubby, dontcha think?)

Also, please please at least get an outside room, if not a balcony. The views are incredible, and don't forget it stays light out til late at night. I think being in the dark whenever you're in your cabin was unnerving (and one ship we were on had no clock). Disorienting, especially for the elderly.

tilburg

We took the new Princess Star from Vancouver to Seward in August 2002. We loved it. You can economize by going when kids are in school and take a low floor inside cabin. Yes, an outside cabin is best, but we managed with the inside and still loved it.