Help me decide on a cruise line

[SweetTooth]

I am new here and realize I am in the Holland America Line forum, but my DH & I are planning an Alaskan cruise next year (July or Aug 2007) and are trying to decide which cruise line/ship to sail on? We are going to cruise for 7 days (north or south? - ideas?) and do 7 days of a land tour (any you would recommend)? I am 50 yrs and my DH is 52. We have done a couple of cruises before to the Bahamas and one cruise up to St John/Halifax.

I have no idea how to decide - HELP ?? !!

TIA
Julie

[dakrewser]

Search in this forum (and that of any other line you're considering) on the keyword "Alaska". Read the reviews of others' cruises that pop up. Then, when you have specific questions, post those.

Alternatively, tell us what you liked/didn't like about your previous cruises and we can relate that to the HAL experience.

[hammybee]

Also, let us know if you are traveling with children and/or prefer to avoid the little darlings, and when you are thinking to sailing.

[RuthC]

It would help lead you to the best line for you if you would tell us a bit about what style of cruiser you are. Are you looking for something relaxed? Or constant activity? Do you want to stay up and dance the night away?
Do you like to get dressed up? Or prefer more casual clothing? Do you like a set time/tablemates? Or do you prefer to go when/with whom you want?

I would suggest you research HAL and Princess, as they do extensive land tours in combination with a cruise. I would also suggest you do the land portion first, then relax on the cruise south.

Alaska is spectacular; you'll love it! Good luck in your research. And have a great time in The Great Land!

[SweetTooth]

Thanks everyone for the input. Can you tell I am a rookie here? ;)

We will be traveling w/o children, we have 5 wonderful grandchildren, they are wonderful! On this cruise, we don't mind have some children around, as long as we aren't responsible for them. Hopefully we can sail next July or Aug 2007. (If I can get this all put together in time!)

Ruth, lots of good questions..we are somewhere in between - we want to be relaxed, but also want to have some options if we choose to do something. We enjoy dancing, I am not sure we could "dance the night away anymore" :) , but could be fun trying. If we can get something put together, we will have at least 1, maybe several other couples to cruise with us. We would enjoy "dressing up" for dinners on a couple of nights, but dressy casual on the others would be fine with us.

Our travel agent suggested cruising south also, for the same reason, Ruth.

[Atomica]

Alaska is fantastic - I am going again in September, and taking my girlfriend with me - it will be her first time there.

I'd go to your travel agent and pick up HAL's 2007 Alaska Brochure - it's one of the nicest brochures out there, and you can see all the different options available for you. Like Ruth said, Princess also has a wide variety of North-South cruises, though I haven't personally sailed with them.

Welcome to the boards!

[lvs2crooz]

DH and I went on an Alaskan cruise aboard the Diamond Princess July '05. We loved Alaska and the ship was nice. We had a mini-suite which I highly recommend and especially enjoyed our balcony as we were going thru Tracy Arm. We turned the tv on, opened the balcony door and could hear the naturalist Michael (he was on one of the upper decks) as he poetically narrated the points of interest along the way. We can't wait to take another Alaskan Cruise, but this time with Holland America. Princess was nice, but I love the level of service and sophistication that HAL offers. Mary

[DFD1]

If you want an elegant cruise, an upscale adult experience with wonderful food and service, somewhat subdued social calendar, lovely lounges with good music, larger than normal staterooms, big arrangements of fresh flowers throughout the ship, some of the most beautiful dining rooms afloat, divine bread pudding, delicious ice cream, a wonderful staff and incredible scenery outside your window every day....TAKE A HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISE TO ALASKA!

I hope you go and have a grand time!

[Roz]

Welcome to Cruise Critic. Whatever you decide, don't wait too long, because Alaskan cruises for next year are filling up fast. I'm partial to HAL. I'm in your age group and have done 2 Alaskan cruises on the Statendama and Maasdam.

I concur with Ruth about HAL and Princess, since you want to do a land tour. I don't think you can go wrong with either one.

Roz

[Spender Nui]

From your profile I'd say you are on the right board. hHAL should suit you well.

[hammybee]

If you want an elegant cruise, an upscale adult experience with wonderful food and service, somewhat subdued social calendar, lovely lounges with good music, larger than normal staterooms, big arrangements of fresh flowers throughout the ship, some of the most beautiful dining rooms afloat, divine bread pudding, delicious ice cream, a wonderful staff and incredible scenery outside your window every day....TAKE A HOLLAND AMERICA CRUISE TO ALASKA!

I hope you go and have a grand time!

I agree.

[Hroswitha]

While we're still looking forward to our first HAL cruise (next summer), we HAVE taken an Alaskan CruiseTour with Princess. It was the Island Princess' first season, 2003, and we loved it! We were two mid-fifties couples, both with previous cruise experience, and we can recommend it without reservation.

In transferring from the ship to the land tour, and throughout the land portion, we found the Princess organization operated like a well-oiled machine. They were superbly organized!

The extra money for a balcony is well worth it, we felt, and there are gorgeous views on either side. Port or starboard didn't seem to make much difference.

A shore excursion not to be missed is the helicopter ride onto Mendenhall Glacier (out of Juneau, I think). Wonderful!

Unlike some of the other posters, we took the cruise first and followed up with the land portion. While we were tired at the end, we were by no means exhausted.

Alaska is a wonderful destination, and whichever line you choose--HAL, Princess, or even some other one--I'm sure you'll love it. :p

(As impressed as we have always been with Princess, we tried another line for our next cruise and had a great time with them, too. And now we can hardly wait to sail on HAL. Biggest appeal? Smaller ship.)

[Balliett]

see the august, 2006 edition of conde nast traveller magazine. There is a pull-out section with a brilliant comparison of the dozen or so cruise lines.

[Hafta' Cruise]

Hello Ruth, Alaska is our favorite place to cruise, we have cruised there nine times, however three of them have been back-to-back. We enjoyed the two lines we went on very much, Celebrity and Princess. We have not cruised there on HAL although we have cruised on it once to the Southern Caribbean. There is a lot going on both the Princess and the Celebrity (my favorite line). The shows are great on both lines and they both have fun games and activities. I am older than you but we still enjoy the evening events. I am sure you couldn't go wrong on either of them or even HAL of which I can't give an opinion. Which ever you choose just go and have a wonderful time and enjoy every minute.:o

[lb0103]

I agree with all the responses so far, but i WILL add my two cents worth.

We have been on 2 cruises to Alaska, on Princess which was South to North then the land.

Then on RCCL we did the land first then North to South.
That is by far the better way to go, which ever line you choose.

Doing the land is pack and go every day or so, very tiring, but well worth the effort. We found when we boarded the ship AFTER the land we were waited on and pampered and relaxed and enjoyed.

As someone stated the helicopter ride to a glacier is a must see, forget about the fears unless you know your number is up, because you can not describe the beauty. Also the whale watching in Juneau is something else if you like sea life.

I liked how diplomatic you were about being in the HAL board, I read whatever board is the next cruise we are taking, in this case the Zuiderdam in Oct. I am 54 and hubby is 56, we don't dislike kids, just the parents that don't take care of them. There were not a lot of kids on either of our Alaska crusies.

The service on all lines is excellent and there is always food available, so the entertainment is the biggest difference I noticed and it is not in HAL's favor. But that is not what we cruise for. There is always something to do so pick the schedule and itinerary you like and do it you won't be sorry.