<p>Last June DH and I did the Diamond Princess northbound from Vancouver to Whittier. We were in Vancouver for business trip for DH so cruise was an add-on and something I had always wanted to do. We arrived several days early to tour Vancouver which we fell in love with- beautiful city, fine dining, so much to see and do including a full day tour to Victoria. We loved the cruise and felt Princess did a fine job-there was an onboard naturalist and in Glacier Bay, U.S. park rangers board the ship so it was all really interesting. We stopped in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and then Glacier Bay and College Fjord. The ship docked in Whittier and the Princess transfer to Anchorage airport was also a nice ride and really interesting. Didn’t have the time to do land tour in Alaska but hope to go back again. We saw the Mendenhall Glacier and we also took an excursion out of Skagway on the White Pass Railway back into British Columbia.
We didn’t have our post-college kids with us but I cannot imagine anyone at any age not being awed by Glacier Bay. There is plenty of stuff to do on a cruise ship from the gym to the library to plenty of movies. We had anytime dining and that worked for us. The Diamond Princess had four dining rooms, each one with a signature dish. There is also a reservations requested steakhouse and Italian restaurant but we did not take advantage.
The other good thing about Alaska cruise is that when you are on land off the ship you are in the U.S. so no problems with cell phones.</p>
<p>My co-worker just returned from a week on the Holland America Westerdam, the same ship my parents took 2 years ago. A nice thing about that ship is that they were often the first ones into the ports, 7 or 7:30 in the morning, so they got to see the busy spots without the throngs of tourists.</p>
<p>One problem with living near Seattle and having an outdoor lifestyle is that the scenery in Alaska is similar. My parents, coming from CA and NY, were awed by the sights. My co-worker, not so much. We live near mountains, bays, big trees and glaciers.</p>
<p>A number of local people have toured Alaska by the ferry boats, an interesting and budget friendly choice.</p>
<p>My friend and her kids went to Alaska in a more active ship that included all activities, including kayaking and whatever else folks wanted to do. It was a MUCH smaller boat that got into smaller places than the larger cruise ships. Her kids were in their 20s & 30s & LOVED being able to do anything with all prices included.</p>
<p>Definitely, Magnetron. We were not awed by Alaska, except for the glaciers calving. Other people were amazed, but it was too familiar to us to be impressed. Still beautiful, though, and we’d love any cruise. If you’re from out of the area, I think you’d appreciate it more.</p>
<p>I just returned from my third Alaskan cruise. Each one was different:</p>
<p>My first was on the Celebrity Summit. We started with the land portion: Anchorage, Denali, Talkeetna, and Alyeska. LOVED it and it was great getting to know a group of people before we got on the ship. We white-water rafted in Denali and took a flight tour of Mt. McKinley from Talkeetna. The cruise was the standard Seward to Vancouver with stops in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and an Inuit village (can’t remember the name) and well as a day at Hubbard Glacier where we got quite close and was spectacular. Loved the ship, had a balcony on the rear which was huge - we had lounge chairs and wrapped ourselves in wool blankets and let the scenery sail by! This would be a great cruise for a family group - lots to do at all times. Lots of kids of all ages. </p>
<p>My second was on Regent Seven Seas. Smaller ship - 700 people. All the cabins are the same - large and gorgeous, some with butlers which I can live without. Open seating for all meals - very good food. This cruise was from Vancouver to Seward and we didn’t do a land portion. This cruise stopped in Sitka which wasn’t as interesting as I had hoped. Did see lots of otters there! Did a helicopter dogsledding tour in Juneau - fantastic!! </p>
<p>This last cruise was on the Oceania Regatta - round trip from Seattle. Although we didn’t stop in as many places as the other cruises, I loved it. Our ports were Ketchican (we did a Misty Fjords boat trip which was great), Wrangell (we did a jet boat trip up the Stakine River to the Shake’s Glacier), and Prince Rupert BC (went grizzly bear watching). We also spent a day in Tracy Arm which was gorgeous. The ship (also 700 passengers) was very nice and the food was fabulous! </p>
<p>If you’re going with a family group and have kids with you, I’d go on a larger ship. If it’s just adults, I’d opt for a smaller ship. </p>
<p>As you can probably tell, I love Alaska. It’s beautiful and cooler than most of the US in the summer. Living in the South, I want cool!!!</p>
<p>Must be the old familiarity breeds contempt thing. I used to go to all parts of AK a lot on business–enough that I have seen most of it. It is about the last place I’d want to go on a cruise. Outside Homer and Denali there is nothing I’d pay to see. I quit taking jobs up there due to the long flights and bad weather resulting in too many scary flights. Now Europe…making up for lost time.</p>
<p>Cruise is for family relaxation and get together type of activities. I do enjoy the Alaska cruises other than the scenery. I do enjoy LOOKING at those shore lines and the mountains. But I’d rather to ski on it. One of those days I will get up Denali and ski down those 45 degree slopes, or if you can call it.</p>
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A cruise was probably the wrong kind of trip. It would make more sense to fly in and then spend the bulk of the time touring the Interior, rather than coastal areas similar to home.</p>
<p>wife and D are leaving this Sat for Alaskan cruise on NCL…all girls trip, meeting up with sisters and their daughters…plus MIL and SIL</p>
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<p>They loved the cruise, an early 40th anniversary trip for him and his wife. They just ended up spending more time at the buffet and listening to the bands. She would have hated the interior - he would have loaded her luggage with guns and fishing gear.</p>
<p>You can do similar cruises on the Alaska Ferry. It’s not fancy, but you can book private rooms, hop on and off at the cities that most interest you and see the inside passage.</p>
<p>We did the Seattle r/t tour 8 years ago on Princess and it was wonderful: Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Victoria, Seattle.</p>
<p>I don’t think college kids would be bored. We went in September so there were very few, if any youngsters. I think we saw one little girl although perhaps there were more. We went with Princess. The only drawback to September is that it gets darker earlier so on a cruise you miss some of the scenery, but we had a full moon which was fun. We loved our cruise and we’ve done one every five years as an anniversary present to each other and this one gave us a “taste” of Alaska. In Skagway we rented a car and spent the day driving aimlessly and loved that day the best. I think we’ll return in a couple years but by plane and hopefully get to Kodiak Island for a vacation and to visit some friends of mine that live in Alaska. I’ve got a few other bucket list items to complete before I return to Alaska.</p>
<p>We went sea kayaking in Ketchikan (in the rain - had hot chocolate & smoked salmon in a nice, warm boat afterwards), flew in a helicopter to a glacier in Juneau, rented a car in Skagway & drove to the Yukon Territory (lots of fun!). We loved all of it!</p>
<p>We had a balcony cabin, and it was worth it. It was great to hang out & watch the sea life (and wildlife on the shore). </p>
<p>The glaciers were amazing! We got a lot closer than the other cruise lines’ ships.</p>
<p>You guys are making me want to cruise. So much fun!</p>
<p>We took the Celebrity Millennium last year and loved it and I second having a balcony. If you go and you find yourself in Ketchikan, try to find a tour operator (you will not find this on a cruise tour offering) who has tickets to the Anan Creek Observatory. You have to go by float plane and you land on the beach and are greeted by a Park Ranger. There is about a 3/4 mile walk to the observation platform but you do share the trail with bears. (we didn’t see any but did see their poop…lol) We spent 3 hours on the platform watching them fish in Anan Creek (we went late July during the Salmon run) and it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Not cheap but 150% worth it. Use Island Wings or Family Air. We booked 9 months out and I booked the cruise around their available dates. People on trip advisor, etc ALL give it 5 stars. The place is remarkable. I also believe Celebrity is sailing one of their Solstice Class ships to Alaska now and that is hands down my favorite ship of any line and we have sailed alot.</p>
<p>I’m relatively new here, so please forgive me. Can someone please fill me in on what OTHER CC forum the OP is referring to? I don’t want to miss out on any great advice from all of you wonderful people. Thanks!!</p>
<p>We kayaked in Juneau, went on a fabulous whale watching tour in Ketchikan and saw tons of whales, including Orcas and panned for gold in Sitka. It was a wonderful cruise.</p>
<p>Other CC = Cruise Critic, the discussion forum for cruises</p>
<p>when is the ideal month to cruise to Alaska?</p>
<p>It’s cheaper in May & September. But the best weather is July. We got lucky though. We went in early August and it was dry and 70 degrees!</p>