I'm Planning an Alaskan Cruise
This year I hit the big 5-0. To honor this milestone, my wife has agreed to indulge me in one of my longtime wishes: Were planning an '06 cruise to Alaska.
This morning I called a travel agent who informed me that some cruise lines are already booking 06 sailings -- and that theyre going fast. So I need to get my butt in gear.
Here are some of the decisions to be made...
Expect the unexpected - a massive glacier calves, a bald eagle soars above, a humpback whale clears the water and the night sky awakens to waves of color. - Holland America
- What time of year? Which could impact weather, potential to see certain wildlife, crowds, and price.
- Ship Size: Do we want large with all the amenities? Or possibly smaller for a more intimate experience? Might smaller ships gain better access to the glacial fields?
- Land Tours: We plan to extend the trip a few days with a land excursion. Do we target the renowned Denali National Park for a peek at Mt. McKinley, or is there something else that might catch our eye?
- Do we sail North, or possibly start with the land excursion, then relax on a Southbound return trip?
- Cruise Line: Which line offers the itinerary, amenities and a price that best suits our needs?
- Cabin: Where on the ship? And is it worth the extra cost to upgrade to a small suite with a balcony?
- Excursions: From the ports of call, are there any tours that well need to book in advance?
If you've been or have any suggestions, I'd love to hear from you.
In future posts, Ill keep you abreast of our progress and let you know what we finally decide.
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This post lists the reasons behind my choice of ship, along with detailed cost. Let me start by saying that my wife and I are pretty frugal in most aspects of our lives: We dont have cell phones or premium cable, and my wife is ... Read
I've now spent several hours researching my upcoming Alaskan cruise. If you happen to be planning a similar trip, this post highlights a helpful book from Frommer's... Alaska offers a vast array of travel experiences. With so many options -- and given that a cruise ... Read
I've never been on a cruise, but my semi-retired father-in-law takes at least two cruises a year. He swears by Costco. They did an Alaskan cruise last year. If I speak to him this weekend, I'll ask some questions.
Thanks. I appreciate the lead on Costco. 1stMill.
I turned the big 5-0 last year and decided to do the same thing. After researching, I decided to do the land only tour and am extremely glad I did. After talking with others who did a land/cruise option, I belive it was the right decision. We did do a day cruise from Seward which was great. Also, take the extra funds you would have spent and splurge on something great. We did a helicopter tour of Mt. McKinley and were so glad we did. It was the highlight.
Hi. I took a 7 day cruise from Vancouver up the Alaskan Inside Passage in August of 2003. They say that July or August is the time to go b/c it is almost warm in Alaksa. ;-)
I highly recommend this trip. I took the cruise on Royal Carribean. I suggest you get a room with a window. I went on this trip w/ a big group. Some were too cheap to get a window. We splurged and were very please. You get the opportunity to see all sorts of wildlife and glaciers from your bedroom window!
We kept our excursions pretty low budget. We did two different bike tours. One was a Bike and Brew tour that was tons of fun.
Good luck,
jaybew99
