Possible Alaska Group Cruise 2009

[AlohaPride]

If we were to put together an Alaskan 2009 group cruise, which month (or what time of year) would you prefer?

[Tinknock50]

Hi Mary.....I vote for early season, May.
The trouble is, many people can only go in high season.

I guess that's why I usually miss out on group cruises because of the higher costs.

I am predicting you get more votes for July and August.:)

[Krazy Kruizers]

I didn't vote as I know that many would want to do a round trip cruise out of Seattle. For us to fly across the country for a 7 day cruise just isn't worth it to us. Whenever we have done Alaskan cruises we have always done back-to-back cruises out of Vancouver.

But If I were to vote, I would choose to cruise in July - warmer, less rainy and the glaciers tend to calve more then.

[AlohaPride]

I didn't vote as I know that many would want to do a round trip cruise out of Seattle. For us to fly across the country for a 7 day cruise just isn't worth it to us. Whenever we have done Alaskan cruises we have always done back-to-back cruises out of Vancouver.

But If I were to vote, I would choose to cruise in July - warmer, less rainy and the glaciers tend to calve more then.

I'm actually looking at B2B or the 11 day cruises. . . Not the 7 day ones unless it's B2B ;)

And if people in the group didn't want to do a B2B they wouldn't have to. But it would be an option :)

[Krazy Kruizers]

I have a feeling that most will want to do only 7 day cruises round trip out of Seatttle.

But I have now voted and we shall see what happens.

[BCEagle78]

AlohaPride,

Thanks for doing this... We met you when we were part of the "Voyage of the Spammed". Congratulations and good luck with your pending family addition.

I am glad that you would not consider a 7-day. I agree with some of the others, if I am going all that way, I would want to go for a longer time.

We may be interested and may get to see you again!

Paul & Debbi

[RuthC]

Hi, Mary. I was able to vote in two categories---July and August. Both are listed as "mid-season" on your poll. I'd prefer to go when the weather stands the best chance of being at it's best.

But, I'm wondering what you're seeing that's 11 days? Nothing on HAL, at least not in my memory. I'd be very happy with either a north- or south-bound, and I would do a b-2-b to make it a round-trip. Those are out of Vancouver and Seward. And I'd prefer that Seattle not be the embarkation port.

However, when the time comes I'll take a long, hard look at whatever the group cruise is. :) I'd love to be the first of Hanna's "aunties" to lead her down the road to perdition. :D

[BumperII]

May we crash this party? I just voted for the July-August, but since I'm gainfully unemployed, it really doesn't matter. If you can put this together, we will happily try to arrange to join in the fun.

I agree that seven days is not enough to justify a cross continent flight. We always do b2b in Alaska, this year will be our fourth trip. As long as health holds up, we are going to try to do this cruise annually.

[AlohaPride]

My Ruthless, there are two 11 day cruises being offered. They both leave from Vancouver. One is the Zuiderdam and the other is the Volendam. The Zaandam is doing a 12 day also out of Vancouver. If HAL keeps roughly the same schedule for the next 2 years we might be able to get ourselves on a nice cruise! YAY! But these longer cruises are at the end of the season. . . That's the only problem.

Paul, Debbi, and BumperII I'm so happy that you would consider joining us!!

KK, I sure hope everything works out and you can join us too!

[RuthC]

Ooooo. 11-day Volendam? 12-day Zaandam? Both out of Vancouver?
Nice. :) My little heart is going pitty-pat. :D
Longer trumps end of season for me.

[AlohaPride]

Ooooo. 11-day Volendam? 12-day Zaandam? Both out of Vancouver?
Nice. :) My little heart is going pitty-pat. :D
Longer trumps end of season for me.

YAY!! I was hoping you would say that!! Those are my sentiments exactly. One would end in LA and the other two in San Diego (including the 12 day). What's AWESOME about these is there are about 4 or 5 sea days, and the 12 day has an extra port.

[RuthC]

That would make them 7-day Alaska cruises combined with a coastal. I did the coastal from Vancouver to San Diego then combined with the 15-day Hawaii (you've heard of that cruise ;) ) in '00.
Still sounds good.

[AlohaPride]

That would make them 7-day Alaska cruises combined with a coastal. I did the coastal from Vancouver to San Diego then combined with the 15-day Hawaii (you've heard of that cruise ;) ) in '00.
Still sounds good.

As always, you are VERY right. But it would be worth it, no?

And I think I've heard something about those pesky 15 day Hawaiian cruises...:cool:

[grannynurse]

I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade but it seems that we've had posts about the Passenger services act refusing passage on this kind of combination of cruises. Of course if HAL is offering it as one cruise there probably would be no problem. This would be a really nice trip!
GN

[AlohaPride]

I'm not trying to rain on anyone's parade but it seems that we've had posts about the Passenger services act refusing passage on this kind of combination of cruises. Of course if HAL is offering it as one cruise there probably would be no problem. This would be a really nice trip!
GN

I THINK they are offering it as one cruise. If you go to HAL's website, click fine cruises, click Alaska and 9-16 days, then view cruises the three available will pop up as one cruise. . .

And what's the passenger services act? :confused:

[Tinknock50]

Mary,
I might be interested in the late season 11, 12 day cruises.
Prices are better than in late season.
I wouldn't want just seven days either.
I wonder if I can vote for late season.....I already voted early.

Yikes!...I am being way outvoted my mid-season voters! That's what I thought would happen. :)

[RuthC]

Grannynurse, it's not a problem if the cruise originates in Vancouver. The Alaska cruise starts/ends in Vancouver, then the coastal starts in Vancouver and ends in San Diego or Los Angeles.
In either case---if the passenger does the combined, or just the coastal---they start in Canada and end in the US. The Passenger Services Act doesn't come into play.

Mary, the Passenger Services Act sets rules regarding cruises that both start and end in the US.
If a cruise has no ports (a cruise to nowhere) there's no need to stop at a foreign port. (duh)
If a cruise starts and ends at the same US port, and makes at least one port stop, it must go to a near foreign port.
If a cruise starts in one US port and ends in another US port, it must go to a distant foreign port.

[grannynurse]

Mary,
The PSA is old legislation the prevents foreign-flagged vessels from docking in consecutive US ports without a stop at a "distant" foreign port.
Several posters mentioned that they wanted to sail from Seattle to Vancouver on one leg then follow with second leg from Vancouver to San Diego and were refused. I guess the cruise line has to pay a large fine if they allow that. This is also the reason for the Ensenada stop on the way back from Hawaii.
GN

[sonocruiser]

anyone interested in combining a land tour with a cruise? my husband and i went last year to alaska and said if we go back we would want to do a land tour first.

[Bill S]

I voted for late September, but May has worked for us in the past. A 10/11/12 day cruise would be great! :)

[Sundagger]

There are all sorts of good reasons to go in mid-season ... but ... for me, the prices and adult atmosphere are more important. I just retired, so I have more time than money (for a single supplement) now. I was on the Veendam 2 or 3 years ago for the last cruise of the season. It was misty, cloudy, but no other ships in the ports and "fire-sale" prices in the shops (although they were literally in the process of packing up). I've never been on a cruise where there was even an active roll call, let alone a CC group, so that would be an attraction.

[fcorey]

A longer cruise on a smaller ship would be very nice indeed.

[Roz]

I voted for May and September. Like Sundagger, the lower prices and adult atmosphere are more important to me. Have already been to Alaska in May and July, and preferred the snow capped peaks, less crowded ports, and more adults onboard month of May. Would consider September for the same reasons, and also the end-of-season clearance sales.

Roz

[Mary Ellen]

anyone interested in combining a land tour with a cruise? my husband and i went last year to alaska and said if we go back we would want to do a land tour first.If the group does the b2b r/t out of Vancouver, you could easily join up half way during the turn around in Seward. That way you'd do your land tour and sail with the group.

[Mary Ellen]

I voted for May/June and August/September. We've gone late May/early June, late August, and mid/late September. I'd rather not go late September again (we had 40-ft seas :eek: out of Sitka), but we were quite happy with the other months. But, we're pretty flexible on the month - if the price is right.

We do not want a Seattle departure nor a Vista (particularly if we're going to be gone for 2 weeks).

The idea of a coastal added on doesn't do anything for me. It would only add to our air costs without any extra scenery. For us a r/t to Vancouver (or to Seattle with a shuttle to/from Vancouver) would most likely be better priced than the one-way to Vancouver and another back from California. Those on the east coast could probably get 'open-jaw' air, but it wouldn't work for us. In late September the odds of 'bumpyness' for those extra days in the Pacific would be pretty decent. If I'm going to risk bumpyness, there had better be a good payoff (like Antarctica or the Amazon :D ) at the other end.

So, I'd rather do a b2b for 14-days rather than the 11 or 12 days.

[AlohaPride]

If we did a b2b, would I have to plan 2 group cruises as though they were separate and then ask the TA to offer discounts for those able and willing to do the full 14 days? This would allow much more wiggle room for those who only want a 7 day or who want a land tour before/after a 7 day. . . So many options!!!

[Tinknock50]

If we did a b2b, would I have to plan 2 group cruises as though they were separate and then ask the TA to offer discounts for those able and willing to do the full 14 days? This would allow much more wiggle room for those who only want a 7 day or who want a land tour before/after a 7 day. . . So many options!!!

Mary,
I think it is a good thing you are looking at B2B. There won't be any Coastal /Alaska in either Spring and Fall in 2008. Not sure what the case will be in 2009.

If the costs were good , I would be seriously interested in joining in. But it looks like High season is winning out so not sure how good pricing will be then.

Would be nice if you succeded in getting a group rate.

[Mary Ellen]

Sean - You never know about when the great deals are going to pop up. My TA has a weekly e-mail of group offerings. The other week he had a Alaskan b2b in July for about $1000/pp. I just wish DH had the vacation time for us to have taken advantage of it.

[Tinknock50]

Sean - You never know about when the great deals are going to pop up. My TA has a weekly e-mail of group offerings. The other week he had a Alaskan b2b in July for about $1000/pp. I just wish DH had the vacation time for us to have taken advantage of it.

Yes that's true......but those specials are generally within a couple of months of the actual cruise. Not sure how it would work with a CC group since you would probably have to start lining interested people many months ahead.

Unless it could be booked way ahead and then switched to a special later on?

You make a good point about a high season special as possible.:)

[Tinknock50]

I voted for May/June and August/September. We've gone late May/early June, late August, and mid/late September. I'd rather not go late September again (we had 40-ft seas :eek: out of Sitka), but we were quite happy with the other months. But, we're pretty flexible on the month - if the price is right.

We do not want a Seattle departure nor a Vista (particularly if we're going to be gone for 2 weeks).

The idea of a coastal added on doesn't do anything for me. It would only add to our air costs without any extra scenery. For us a r/t to Vancouver (or to Seattle with a shuttle to/from Vancouver) would most likely be better priced than the one-way to Vancouver and another back from California. Those on the east coast could probably get 'open-jaw' air, but it wouldn't work for us. In late September the odds of 'bumpyness' for those extra days in the Pacific would be pretty decent. If I'm going to risk bumpyness, there had better be a good payoff (like Antarctica or the Amazon :D ) at the other end.

So, I'd rather do a b2b for 14-days rather than the 11 or 12 days.

Mary Ellen,
I have priced air from Phoenix for a possible B2B from Vancouver. I also priced air to Vancouver and then after a coastal, back home from LA. The Vancouver/LA came out cheaper.

Maybe from Colorado, it's a different story.

[AlohaPride]

Mary Ellen,
I have priced air from Phoenix for a possible B2B from Vancouver. I also priced air to Vancouver and then after a coastal, back home from LA. The Vancouver/LA came out cheaper.

Maybe from Colorado, it's a different story.

I looked at prices from Honolulu as well, and it's cheaper for us to fly into Seattle and take a train (only 4 hours) up to Vancouver than to fly in directly.

Air from Honolulu to Seattle and then from San Diego or LA is not much different. Airline companies are so desperate for passengers that lately they've been doing "round trip" going to and coming from different cities a lot.

I think, 11, 12, or 14 all of them will be fun!

[Tinknock50]

Well I certainly am going to keep an eye on this.
I know it would be fun to go with this group. I hope the pricing works out and I can go.:)