Coral Princess or Norwegian Sun or Ms Nieuw Amsterdam

Hi fellow cruisers,

Please help me with your expert opinion here. I'm having a really hard time deciding between which cruise line to choose for my 1st time Alaska cruise with my wife. We are in our early 30s with no kids. We plan to go in June 2016.

We have cruised with RCCL on Liberty of the Sea and Allure of the Sea to the western caribbean and Bahamas before and we loved it. We particularly enjoyed their diverse on board activities. However, we don't really like their itinerary on Alaska route and we would like to explore other cruise line as well.

I wanted to see both Glacier bay and hubbard glacier and it seems that there are only 2 cruises that offer that specific itinerary - Norwegian and Princess.

I have narrowed it down to either Star Princess/Coral Princess (Whittier, Yakutat Bay, Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Vancouver) or Norwegian Sun (Vancouver, Cruise Inside Passage, Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Seward)

Has anyone ever been to both ship or on these routes? Any recommendation would be highly appreciated.

My mom cruised with HAL 2 years ago on Ms Nieuw Amsterdam and she really loved it but it skips Hubbard glacier (Vancouver, Cruise Inside Passage, Tracy Arm, Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Cruise Inside Passage, Vancouver). Plus to my understanding, it is more for an older crowd? However, It seems like a very nice ship with the largest suite among the 3 (which is a big plus for my wife), so I don't want to exclude it just yet. What do you guys think?

Thank you very much:)

ALL Alaska ships are "older", pretty much the same demographics on all of them, with the bulk being middle aged and above, but all ages sailing. No comparison to your other cruises however. Also you are going to find, very different "activities". Princess and HAL are the winners with Alaska programs by professionals.

Which ever cruise you choose it will be a compromise of some sort. I suggest you determine FIRST, your activities in each port, compare port times of the itineraries. Costs? Alaska isn't the place to skimp on tours, outside the ship. I'm a bottom feeder with cabins, and don't care as long as I'm on the ship. :) You'll need to figure what YOUR choices are going to be. Doesn't matter what anyone else claims is "best". There is a whole BIG list. :)

You are ahead with your claim of 2 glaciers and Glacier Bay, as you've found it's only 2 itineraries. You are adding time for mainland touring? depending on that schedule- and YOUR interests, either Whittier or Seward may be the superior choice? I'm a firm advocate of taking advantage of every opportunity in Alaska. I think it's a poor choice- to rely on the thinking "oh I'll just have to return" and compromise.

Yes, I have been on both those itineraries, multiple times. Both can offer a great vacation.

Thank you BQ. I appreciate your advice. I will start looking into the shore excursions on each port then.

Unfortunately, I won't have time for the mainland touring. I will have only 1 day before and after the cruise. I figure I can do something in Vancouver during that one day but it will probably be tough at Seward since I have to spare some time to travel to Anchorage for my return flight.

Any comments on the ship herself? I was leaning toward Norwegian Sun regarding the ship and cabin but Princess' Alaska program is a bit more interesting so, I'm having that second thought again. Like you said, I'll have to compromise on something.

Thank you BQ. I appreciate your advice. I will start looking into the shore excursions on each port then.

 

Unfortunately, I won't have time for the mainland touring. I will have only 1 day before and after the cruise. I figure I can do something in Vancouver during that one day but it will probably be tough at Seward since I have to spare some time to travel to Anchorage for my return flight.

 

Any comments on the ship herself? I was leaning toward Norwegian Sun regarding the ship and cabin but Princess' Alaska program is a bit more interesting so, I'm having that second thought again. Like you said, I'll have to compromise on something.

You have one night in mainland Alaska? What time is your flight out of Anchorage? I would suggest you do enjoy Seward. :) See if you have any priority interests there. http://www.seward.com IF your interested in wildlife, a Kenai Fjords boat tour- is the jackpot. :) You could then take the Alaska RR that pm to Anchorage, overnight, then pack the day with any touring you can, especially a good opportunity if you have an overnight flight out. In that case, it could be very valuable to rent a car.

As for the Sun- I will say- it's a basic ship. I don't care anything about ships, for me, they are just meals, lodging and transportation- the cheaper the better. :) I go for what is outside the ship- Alaska. :) So, take a look at ship reports, on another board on Cruise Critic, if you think it is important to you.

If you are flying from the south or the east coast you might also want to check on possible airline schedules and costs to help you decide. As far as the actual cruise experience I personally don't think a northbound cruise vs a southbound cruise really matters however the airline schedules can make a big difference to me. I believe the NCL cruise that includes both hubbard and glacier bay is a northbound cruise and the Princess cruise that includes both is a southbound cruise. Either way as stated in an earlier post you should be able to experience some of the area between whittier and anchorage since you would either be flying into Anchorage the day before your cruise or usually flying out of Anchorage at night. So either way you have enough time to at least experience some of the area. As you stated the neither N. Amsterdam or any other HAL cruise that I know of provides both the glacier areas you have mentioned. The other big difference to look for are the times you are in each port so you can make sure any excursion times you plan match your port time.

Thank you BQ and cruisin2018! My vacation will be 10 days from from Saturday to Tuesday. I think I will do a Northbound cruise with NCL from Monday to Monday (hope I made the right choice). That will leave me with only 1 day in mainland Alaska (cruise docks at 7 AM Monday, my flight leaves from Anchorage 5.40 AM Tuesday).

I'll definitely do Kenai Fjord tour and will take the train to Anchorage afterward on Monday evening. Thanks for the suggestion! I wish the cruise leaves sooner so that I have more time in mainland Alaska rather than in Vancouver (I think 3 days in Vancouver is a bit much). Really want to explore Denali National Park too but like BQ said, I have to compromise on something.

Feeling pumped about this cruise already! Thank you guys :)

Thank you BQ and cruisin2018! My vacation will be 10 days from from Saturday to Tuesday. I think I will do a Northbound cruise with NCL from Monday to Monday (hope I made the right choice). That will leave me with only 1 day in mainland Alaska (cruise docks at 7 AM Monday, my flight leaves from Anchorage 5.40 AM Tuesday).

 

I'll definitely do Kenai Fjord tour and will take the train to Anchorage afterward on Monday evening. Thanks for the suggestion! I wish the cruise leaves sooner so that I have more time in mainland Alaska rather than in Vancouver (I think 3 days in Vancouver is a bit much). Really want to explore Denali National Park too but like BQ said, I have to compromise on something.

 

Feeling pumped about this cruise already! Thank you guys :)

You may want to consider Major Marines, longer Kenai fjords park tour- that includes both Aialik and Holgate glaciers. I think they do an excellent job. Try and drop off your luggage direct at the Seward depot before any boat tour. You should be able to pick up your tickets as well, as they do check every id. These are two extremely great touring opportunities. On the train, you are assigned seats. I book the cheap seats- and use the dome car. From Seward, your scenic side is the glaciers on the right, once past Portage, it switches to the Arm on the left. So, maybe be receptive to switching your areas. I often like standing in the vestibules as well. :)

You may want to consider Major Marines, longer Kenai fjords park tour- that includes both Aialik and Holgate glaciers. I think they do an excellent job. Try and drop off your luggage direct at the Seward depot before any boat tour. You should be able to pick up your tickets as well, as they do check every id. These are two extremely great touring opportunities. On the train, you are assigned seats. I book the cheap seats- and use the dome car. From Seward, your scenic side is the glaciers on the right, once past Portage, it switches to the Arm on the left. So, maybe be receptive to switching your areas. I often like standing in the vestibules as well. :)

Budget Queen Major Marines has a 6 hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise, it's from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. The train back to Anchorage leaves at 6:00 pm, will I have time to catch the train back to Anchorage?

Budget Queen Major Marines has a 6 hour Kenai Fjords National Park Cruise, it's from 11:30 am to 5:30 pm. The train back to Anchorage leaves at 6:00 pm, will I have time to catch the train back to Anchorage?

Yes, you can make the train. Also consider Major Marines- double glacier, Aialik and Holgate trip. :)

Yes, you can make the train. Also consider Major Marines- double glacier, Aialik and Holgate trip. :)

I wanted to that tour and was thinking of staying overnight in Seward but we are going late this time and won't be in Seward until 09/12. They only offer Aialk and Holgate trip up until 08/21. Do you have any recommendations for cheap places to stay? I am not looking for fancy just a place to sleep.

I wanted to that tour and was thinking of staying overnight in Seward but we are going late this time and won't be in Seward until 09/12. They only offer Aialk and Holgate trip up until 08/21. Do you have any recommendations for cheap places to stay? I am not looking for fancy just a place to sleep.

I like the Marina. There is also the Harborview, and Breeze Inn that are usually pretty reasonable. Those don't need a car and are walkable to the the boat tours.

http://www.seward.com has lodging listings

I like the Marina. There is also the Harborview, and Breeze Inn that are usually pretty reasonable. Those don't need a car and are walkable to the the boat tours.

 

http://www.seward.com has lodging listings

Budget Queen I have never been to this side of Alaska before. I have done the drive to Denali three times. If I stay on the Seward side besides the 6 hour boat tour to Kenal Fjords is there anything else you can recommend. We will be in Alaska from 09/12 - 09/17. I have seen a lot of Anchorage and was looking for something else. I like site seeing mostly looking for wild life. I was going to rent a car. I can't do any long hikes as I have my mom with me. I was reading that it's a short hike to exit Glacier and there is the Sea-life center. Is there anything else that will be worth my wild.

One place that we enjoyed staying very much was at Red Fish Lodge in Sterling. We were traveling with a group of friends and the people that operate the place were very accomodating and could make arrangements for sightseeing tours or fishing tours in the area. It is located right on the Kenai river. We thought they were very reasonable. They made arrangements for us to tour the Seavy's Iditarod location in Sterling which we really enjoyed. Most people that do the tour with Seavys go to their location near Exit glacier. We loved the Sterling location because it is located at their home in Sterling. We all said that we would have enjoyed staying there more than the 2 nights that we spent.

IMO I would go with Princess over NCL - much better crusie line.

I would compare NCL to Walmart while Princess is more Nordstrom's

Info on Vancouver from a local!

My favorite must do attractions are

1) Grouse Mountain – http://www.grousemountain.com – this is a wonderful scenic mountain only about 15 mins from downtown Vancouver. Ride the airtram to the top for lots of fun activities that include a loggers show, birds of prey show, 2 movies (1 about the Vancouver area and 1 about the 2 Grizzly Bears who make their home on Grouse Mtn) ride a chair lift higher up the mountain to visit the wind turbine that generates approximately 30% of the power required for Grouse Mountain Resort and visit with 2 live Grizzly Bears. Thrill to a 2 hour Zip Line Tour. Enjoy a meal in any of the restaurants. Caveat only spend the money to go up on a clear day.

2) Capilano Suspension Bridge – http://www.capbridge.com – this is Vancouver’s oldest tourist attraction and I still enjoy visiting it! Located on Capilano Road just before you reach the Grouse Mountain parking lot. Walk across a suspension Bridge originally erected in 1889 over the Capilano Gorge. This bridge stretches 450’ end to end and hovers 230’ above Capilano River. Wonder the trails thru the rain forest, walk thru the treetops on the new Tree Top Adventure, traverse a Cliff Top walk, visit the trading post for a huge selection of souvenirs, watch native weavers and/or carvers at work.

3) Capilano Fish Hatchery is also located on Capilano Road and is a great place to view salmon jumping up the fish ladders to get around the Cleveland Dam. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capilano_River_Regional_Park

4) Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge – http://www.lynncanyon.ca - is also located in North Vancouver and is much less touristy than Capilano but it also is not as spectacular. The bridge is slightly higher above the water but much shorter in span. Located in a Provincial Park this bridge comes with some nice hiking trails and you will find an ecology centre in the park as well as picnic tables and a food concession outlet. Should you choose to enjoy the Lynn Valley Suspension Bridge always cross the suspension bridge first and then hike down the trail to the lower (Twin Falls wooden) bridge to cross back over the Lynn Valley River and return to your car – that way you are hiking downhill rather than uphill. It is also free to visit this suspension bridge!

5) Stanley Park – http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/ - is the crown jewel of Vancouver's parks. As one of North America's largest urban parks, covering over a 1000 acres and offering an abundance of activities. Enjoy the totem pole collection near the Brockton Point Light House, hiking trails, beaches, water parks for the kids (young & old), rose gardens, miniature train, aquarium –http://www.vanaqua.org – many view points, and several restaurants.

6) Vancouver Aquarium – http://www.vanaqua.org – is Canada’s largest aquarium and is committed to the conservation of marine life and education. Located in Stanley Park this is a fun place for the family to visit.

7) Fly Over Canada incorporates state of the art technology in an Imax theatre to show you supernatural Canada, Fly from coast to coast taking in breath stealing views of Niagara Falls, Lake Louise, The Rockies & more. Spectacular! http://www.flyovercanada.com

8) Gas Town – the location where Vancouver originated. The name is derived from a very colorful character named Gassy Jack who was one of the first settlers in the area and a salon keeper – while in Gas Town don’t miss your photo op with the statue of Gassy Jack and by the Steam Clock.

9) At the start of Gas Town is the Harbor Centre Tower http://www.vancouverlookout.com a great spot to start your tour of Vancouver with a birds eye view of the city. Either take the elevator up to the lookout level or go to the top and enjoy a meal in the revolving restaurant.

10) China Town is only about 6 blocks over from Gas Town and is the largest China Town north of San Francisco. While in China Town enjoy a visit to the Dr Sun Yat Sen Classical Gardens http://www.vancouverchinesegarden.com and also make sure you visit the world’s thinnest building it is only 6’ wide!

11) Granville Island – http://www.granvilleisland.com – is a huge public market area which not only sells fruit & veggies but you can also buy frozen fish to be shipped to your home. Many artists make this their home and you can watch them at work in their studios – making this a great place to buy unique souvenirs. The Granville Island Brewery is also located here and you can stop in for a free tour & tastes. There are theatres for live performances and many fine restaurants. A fun way to get to Granville Island is via the Aquabus – http://www.theaquabus.com

12) Burnaby Village Museum – http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca – is an open air museum with over 30 restored homes, shops, school, church and a 1912 carousel situated on 10 acres

13) Gulf of Georgia Cannery – http://www.gulfofgeorgiacannery.com – is a restored fishing cannery located in the historic fishing village of Steveston (part of Richmond). Here you see exhibits that showcase the history of the fishing industry in British Columbia. Once finished in the museum it is great fun to walk along the fishing docks and see the fishing boats which are selling their catch. There are also some excellent restaurants located here.

14) The Vancouver Maritime Museum located on the shore of English Bay is fun for the whole family with lots of hands on exhibits for the kid in all of us. Here to you will find the ship St Roch which the RCMP sailed from Vancouver to Halifax via the Northwest Passage and then completed the return journey in 1944. You actually get to tour this ship. http://www.vancouvermaritimemuseum.com

15) Queen Elizabeth Park http://www.vancouver.ca/parks/parks/queenelizabeth The 130 acre (52 hectare) park is one of the most beautifully maintained public parks in the world. Second only to Stanley Park in annual visitations, it receives nearly 6 million people a year who marvel at its superior standard of garden plantings.

The park was originally quarried for its rock which served to build Vancouver's first roadways. In 1929 the Board proceeded to acquire the property which had become an abandoned eyesore but still served as the site for two holding reservoirs for the City's drinking water. Dedicated as a park by King George VI and his consort, Queen Elizabeth (the present Queen's mother) on their much lauded visit to Vancouver in 1939.

16) Fort Langley is the restored wooden fort built by the Hudson’s Bay Company as a trading post. It is the origin of British Columbia and was the first capital. This Fort is operated by the Federal Parks Board. http://www.fortlangley.org

17) If you are a wine lover you might want to rent a car and spend a day visiting a few of the many (23 Licensed) excellent wineries located in the Fraser Valley only about a 1 hour drive from your hotel. Almost all of the wineries offer free tastes & tours. Two of the wineries have excellent restaurants on the premises. This makes for a very fun and relaxing day. http://www.bcwine.com (click on the Fraser Valley button)

18) VanDusen Botanical Garden is a scenic 55- acre garden of international renown – a living museum of plants collected from around the world and artistically displayed amidst rolling lawns, woodlands and five tranquil lakes, all in the heart of Vancouver and just 15 minutes from downtown.

Due to Vancouver’s mild climate, plants bloom at the Garden year-round. This same climate creates a unique environment where plants from varying climate regions thrive and grow – at VanDusen you will see plants from the southern hemisphere, tropical areas and the high Arctic tundra along side native species. The Elizabethan Maze (one of only six in North America) provides year-round fun.

19) UBC Botanical Garden located at the University of British Columbia covers 110 acres and includes an Alpine, Asian, Native, Food, and Japanese Gardens. http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org There is also a treetop walk which is great for “fit” explorers who are not afraid of heights – however I would not recommend it for anyone who has any mobility issues. Also these gardens are not as well maintained as I would expect a botanical garden to be!

20) Enjoy a FREE walking tour of Vancouver. The Gastown tour starts in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the statue of Gassy Jack in Gastown. The Downtown tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Olympic Cauldron. The China Town tour starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery and ends at the Chinese memorial statue. All of these tours start at 11am. The Granville Island Tour starts at 3pm at the bus stop just at the entrance to Granville Island. Check these tours out at http://www.tourguys.ca The Tour Guys have added an afternoon walking tour of Granville Island and 2 evening tours….

21) For the FOODIES in the gang! Check out 2 companies that offer food tasting tours http://www.foodietours.ca and http://www.offtheeatentrack.ca – both offer an excellent tour!

http://www.foodietours.ca visit much more high end restaurants in the heart of the west end of Vancouver (tourist/hotel district)

while http://www.offtheeatentrack.ca concentrates on more casual independently owned eateries in various areas of Vancouver! (Gastown, Main Street Area, Vancouver East)

I just enjoyed Foodietours “Guilty Pleasures Gourmet Tour” and was very impressed with the organization, quality of restaurants & refreshments, guides knowledge of foods and the eateries we were visiting as well as the area we were walking in. Felt it was excellent value for the money provided you did not spend the extra $20. For the alcohol! This company also offers a tasting tour on Granville Island Public Market and of the Vancouver Street Food Carts.

As for Off the Eaten Track - this company offers culinary tasting tours of various areas of Vancouver. The brunch tour visits local establishments in East Vancouver while the dinner tour concentrates on the Main Street area and the Railtown Urban Eats tour is an area adjacent to GasTown. All are Fabulous! The Railtown Urban Eats tour would blend well with the free walking tour offered by http://www.tourguys.ca … you could easily do the free walking tour of GasTown and then meet up with this tour company for your lunch - the food is plentiful & wonderful you will not leave any of the tours hungry!

For the tourist in town you actually meet at Waterfront Station and the company drives you to the tour location and then of course back at the end. Just to give you a hint of what to expect - the Gems of Main Street tour started in a Chocolate Shoppe – how can it be anything but wonderful when one starts out with chocolate…. And of course we must mention the rum cocktail concoction at the Tiki Lounge paired with a pork slider & the Pizza Joint owned and run by a chef who actually worked at the Vatican making pizza for the Pope – now if it is good enough for the Pope it has to be good enough for us! After 5 great stops with the history of the area being shared by our guide Bonnie we were all absolutely stuffed! Great job Bonnie!

22) A new addition to the Vancouver scene. The Richmond Olympic Experience located at the Richmond Olympic Oval. Visitors are welcomed by a sculpture paying tribute to the volunteers who made the 2010 Vancouver Games possible. You will then be whisked away on an interactive journey that celebrates the Olympic spirit. A multimedia theatre takes you to the heart of the Olympic dream through a series of multimedia galleries evoking the triumphs, tragedies, controversies and celebrations of Olympic history. Thrilling interactive sport simulations including a virtual ski jump will get your heart racing. Outside the Oval, you can follow the incredible journey of the Olympic torch across Canada via a commemorative torch relay trail through the outdoor plazas.

23) Rogers Arena Get a behind-the-scenes look at one of the premier sports and entertainment facilities in North America with a Rogers Arena tour. See where, for over 15 years, we’ve thrilled and entertained fans from all over the world, staged the best of the best in entertainment and sports, and welcomed over 25 million fans through our doors. Experience first-hand the “cathedral of hockey” that brings in millions of fans coming to see the Vancouver Canucks live (Hockey), and where history was made when the Canadian women's and men's hockey teams marked their moments in history during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Stadium behind the scenes tours are Wed – Sat at 10;30am, 12 (noon) and 1:30pm!

24) BC Place is BC’s Premier multipurpose stadium, hosting sport, exhibitions and live entertainment, right in the heart of Downtown Vancouver. Home of the BC Lions Football Club, Vancouver Whitecaps FC (Soccer) and the BC Sports Hall of Fame. This state of the art facility intrigues with its retractable roof, 800 WIFI ports and 1,100 digital screens. The 36’ façade is lit up by thousands of individually- addressable LED lights that create colour animations bringing life to the Vancouver skyline.

Vancouver has a bunch of hop-on hop-off buses

http://www.vancouverpinkbustours.com/

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/tours/hop-on-hop-off

http://bigbus.ca/home/