Final cruise on the O to Alaska this year

[Gunther1]

We're booked on the final (Sept 19) cruise on the Oosterdam this year.

Semi-dumb question: Are there any advantages/disadvantages/differences to being on the final run of a ship for the season ? Just curious.

Gracias :).

[IRL_Joanie]

We're booked on the final (Sept 19) cruise on the Oosterdam this year.

Semi-dumb question: Are there any advantages/disadvantages/differences to being on the final run of a ship for the season ? Just curious.

Gracias :).

Good question as we are doing the same (last 2 weeks) on the Zuiderdam next year R/T Vancouver. We have only done Alaska in early and mid May out of Seattle, so I am interested in the differences. (other than being the REAL Inside Passage)

Thanks for asking, I will be waiting to hear the answers also.

What was the weather like, the seas, the views of wildlife, scenery, etc..

Joanie

[RuthC]

Semi-dumb question: Are there any advantages/disadvantages/differences to being on the final run of a ship for the season ? Just curious.
Only an advantage if you're a shopper, but the ship will be selling off their Alaska items at a discount. The shops in Alaska may also be discounting merchandise, too, but their season won't be quite over.

Rumor has it that there's less chance of rain in September. I remember that the year I sailed from Vancouver to Seward during the first week of September, the weather was gorgeous! They said it was the best week of the season. It was warm (70-80) and sunny every day. ymmv.

[solocanadian]

We're booked on the final (Sept 19) cruise on the Oosterdam this year.

Semi-dumb question: Are there any advantages/disadvantages/differences to being on the final run of a ship for the season ? Just curious.

Gracias :).
Advantages: Onboard shops have great deals on clothing and stuff.
Disadvantage: Wet West Coast Weather
Regardless, you will love this beautiful ship.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have cruised the first week of September -- horrible weather -- cold and rainy.

Many of the shops in town were out of sizes.

[CowPrincess]

Some of the small independent tourism operators may have closed down before you get there -- heading someplace warmer. I suspect you'll not see many (or any) bears, as they will likely be heading towards their winter dens. Weather in Alaska is a crapshoot. There is no way to predict what it will be like. I've not been in Sept yet (am going this year) and am just hoping it is tolerable, though historically there's the worst chance of bad weather in Sept.

[KAYEF]

We go almost annually and prefer September...............that's been a great month..............sunshine and no rain except for one time when we disembarked in Seward and has some rain for our week on land.
And, you will need to bring a duffel bag for all your Christmas Gift Purchases! ;)
In Skagway, on that last cruise of the season, things are often 75% off and some things are 90% off. People were dragging back to the ship loaded down with the "big red bags" from the tourist shop closest to the ship.:)
One year in Juneau, almost everything was 90% off..........great fleece jackets, tee-shirts, and on and on. Of course, that's not in most of the "jewelry shops"..............they just take their goods back to the Caribbean as they do both areas. We only purchase these big items (IF we do;)) from small, local jewelers.
You should have a FANTASTIC cruise................ENJOY!!:D

[Gran1]

We did the last cruise about 4 years ago and it was great even though one of the excursions was cancelled due to fog, we found another plane which would take us up. Also one of the land excursions we did the guides were especially going out of their way since we were their last.
Weather was cold and damp most of the time as we expected. Saw a few whales, bears, and seals..Holland with the smaller ships can go so much farther up the inside passage to the glaciers. We were on one side of the ship and my brother and wife on the other, so it was great..we went from room to room to see what was announced to see always grabbing hot chocolate and munchies on the way. Ship had some rocking motion on several nights when we were "at sea".

[PumpkinPatches]

I have ALWAYS gone to Alaska at the end of the season.

The souveniers are sooo beyond cheap its crazy! Lots of good deals :)

I've experienced LOTS of rain in Ketchikan (who hasn't?), but Juneau and Skagway have been alright.

I don't think there are any down sides to being at the end of season, I've always had a great time! :)

HAVE FUNNN!!
I'll be sailing on the O right after you ;)

[Gunther1]

I live in Seattle by choice...I love the rain. Keeps us green :).

[Assateague Island Princes]

Hey Gunther - we went on the Oosterdam's last AK cruise of the season in 2006 - it was our first Alaskan cruise and we were hooked!;) Sure, we had some rain and fog, but not in all ports, and not all the time. Hubbard Glacier was SPECTACULAR that year with wall-to-wall calving, so we comfortably sat on our balcony, ordered room service and some buckets of beer, and watched the "show." It was perfect! Everyone is right - there are shopping deals galore in every port and on the ship as well. You can get lots of good buys for a steal. The disadvantage to sailing then - and only because I've since gone on two AK cruises the first and second weeks of June since then, is the early sunset.:o More daylight is so nice for Alaska because of the amazing scenery and wildlife. Not that it dampened our enthusiasm for the trip - heck, we didn't know any better on that first trip, were just thrilled beyond belief to be there!!!! We loved that cruise - and the Oosterdam! so much that we ended up booking the same ship, same itinerary for our 2008 cruise - only this time we went the first week of June. Lovely! Then, we booked the Alaskan cruise of a lifetime this past May 31st - Amsterdam's new 14 day itinerary. WOW!!!!! Truly the BEST vacation we've ever taken. Course it had something to do with two weeks in Alaska - of which we're both totally enamored! So I say yes, go, enjoy - you will be so pleased and you'll wanna go back again and again - maybe trying a different time frame the next time out. Alaska is just magical and its stolen my heart. Happy Sailing, Gunther! You're in for a treat!

[Grandmacheryl]

After cruising Alaska in 2006, my husband and I decided to drive there from Ohio in 2009 6 weeks, leaving August 16). By the time we got to the panhandle (stayed ovrtnight 2 nights in Haines, ferry to Skagway for one night), it was the middle of September. It was the peak time to see bears in the river just outside Haines because the salmon were running. Also, plan to do some shopping and walking around in Haines. The shops are owned locally, not by the mega stores like Diamonds International, and the locals really appreciate the business. Haines is one of my favorite towns, so I hope your ship stops there.
In Skagway, the Alaska Shirt Company was having an end-of-season sale. Unlike in the lower 48, where there is an end-of-season about every week, they really mean it because when the ships stop coming, they close up shop until next year. I bought a fleece shirt for $8 that I had seen in Dawson City, Yukon, for $30. Ulus were half price, etc.
The weather was still warm during the day, cool at night -- sweatshirt weather, not winter coats.
Enjoy your cruise. Enjoy Alaska. It's my favorite state by far, and I've been to all 50 of them.