Alaskan Cruise Info Please

I know this is way off topic but there is a great deal of travelers out there.

The family is planning an Alaskan cruise for this summer in Aug. I was wondering a few things. We are planning on leaving from Seattle. The questions I have are:

- What were your fav cruise lines? We are looking at Princess and NCL right now.
- What was your fav port?
- What Glaciers did you like Best?

I really appreciate any input, good or bad.
Thanks all….

We enjoyed Skagway and Juneau the most. Ketchikan was decent. We also stopped at Prince Edwards Island which we did not like at all.

I was a bit disenchanted with modern cruising. Everything is extra. If you want to eat in the steakhouse or partake in the Sunday jazz brunch, expect to pay a surcharge. When I cruised in the 80s, there was no such up charge.

We took NCL to Alaska. I honestly didn't think there was much to do on board.

If you go on land adventures, those expenses can really add up. Read reviews!

I liked my earlt experience on Royal Caribbean better than NCL. Just my opinion.

Joy

We went with Princess and enjoyed it a bunch. Picked the cruise ship up in Vancouver and sailed up the inside passage to Anchorage. Got off and then took the week on land with a bus. If you go to Alaska you just have to do this part!!!!!!!!!!! Seeing the Alaska pipeline, Denali park, etc. It just isn't Alaska unless you get off the boat and sightsee on land!!!

Skagway was one of our favorites and Ketchakan was good for shopping!

Enjoy your trip!!

Also went on Princess. We flew to Fairbanks then took the train to Anchorage. Stopping at Denali on the way down. Played golf in the Yukon (great). Shows on the boat were very good. Lots of eagles in Juneau, liked the lumberjack show in Ketchikan. The glaciers in Glacier Bay were great and breathtaking. A bit expensive, but we were glad we did it.

I went top shelf and took Regent. I had a suite with a balcony. All booze, steak houses, and shore trips were included in one single price.

The train from Anchorage.




View of my room.






I went salmon fishing. This guy is an orthopedic surgeon, and used to be a team doctor for the University of Texas football team. He caught a halibut.



A whale who was a show off.



This was a fun picture.



Our ship, the Seven Seas Mariner.



Old brothel.



This was an old snow clearing locomotive.



We had a Carnival Cruise shadowing us at every port. Whatever you do, don't take Carnival.

Here is a picture of a sea plane taking off, taken from the balcony of my room.



This was cruising the passage on the next to last day before we dock at Vancouver.



Sorry I don't remember many of the ports we stopped in.

WOw, thank you for the info. The pics are great!!!!!!!!

We did the inside passage cruise with Princess from Seattle. The Cruise up the Tracy Arm Fiord was the highlight, it was just crazy cool. Try to set aside extra funds for some side trips, we did the whale watching, and the drive up to the White Pass / Salmon feast.
Make sure you bring proper rain gear , with waterproof boots or shoes. You could get seven straight days of rain, or sun, or any combination.
Stay the night before and after in Seattle , and see the sights . Lots of good food and beer to be had. Many of the hotels have free shuttles to the ships. Have a great time, I know we did ! Bob

We took Princess out of Seattle and loved it. I'd stay away from NCL.

Although Princess is our preferred cruise line, we did take Royal Caribbean out of Vancouver up the inland passage.
We did this in July a few years back and it was cool enough that we kept adding to our wardrobe at each port.

We took the White Pass and Yukon Railroad trip out of Skagway- great trip, saw the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, ate lots of King Crab and Salmon, and resisted buying a knife called a Ulu sold everywhere.

Great cruise in our opinion although thorough research is advised. Sign up for a free account on cruise critic and read reviews about the particular cruise and lines you are considering.

Bon Voyage!

Makes me want to go to Alaska (next summer)