purplepeanut6

Hi all,

I see on NCL they offer two different trips, is one more recommended or better?

One is:

Shore Excursion Details for Dogsledding On Mendenhall Glacier Via Helicopter

The other:

Is the Norris glacier Shore Excursion Details for Dogsled Adventure By Helicopter

Any input is really appreciated. thanks!

If it's your first time cruising or your first time in Alaska, I'd suggest booking through the ship. It'll help your overall comfort level with the cruise process.

 

If you're just a few months away from your cruise, I'd highly encourage you to visit your cruise's excursion website, and start doing a process of elimination. If heli+sled is a must, go through to identify which city/cities offer that (it might be only Juneau, or it might be more than that). Check the timetable for that excursion, and decide if you'd even consider doing a second excursion that day. From there, let us know which ports you'll be in and what sort of things you'd be looking for.

thanks!!

A few questions about pre-booking.

1. Are the ones listed on NCL the ones they offer? We went to the bahamas and on the nCL site there were 36 options but only about 20 once onboard to choose from

2. do you need to prepay or can it be charged once we are on the ship to our rooms?

I was told by a friend to do the glacier/dog sledding in the first place in case it gets cancelled you can go a different day somewhere else. is that accurate?

ETA: this is our third cruise, we've done 2 weekend bahamas cruises but not sure if those count ;)

Hi,

We are going on the pearl this summer and looking into excursions. Would you recommend booking before the cruise online or on the ship?

We want to take a helicopter to a glacier to go dog sledding that is our "must"

we would also do zip lining and possibly fly fishing but those are negotiable. What do u recommend and where?

Thanks!

you don't say when and where you are going. Can make a difference.

june alaska NCL pearl

we are going on NCL Pearl in the summer we are getting an inside state room

should we book on the 9,10,11th floor or the 4 or 5th....does it make a difference?

We plan on taking the Pearl to Alaska in June.

anyone have experience with the entertainment... nightly shows, daily activities, and how it the food on the ship?

I am a vegetarian is there a good selection of things that aren't necessarily meat?

thanks!

In terms of entertainment Princess wins over both HAL and Celebrity. Last Apriil the Emerald Princess offered three showings of the production shows, with alternate shows in another venue. There as alternating entertainment always available, plus ongoing entertainment in the Piazza. There were 4 production shows in 10 days compared to 2 in 14 days on the Celebrity Ecliose.

unfortunately princess is not an option. the only two cruises we can take are OOstetdam and the NCL pearl

what about the ship entertainment? do HAL have nightly shows/ entertainment.

we are leaning toward the oosterdam because we get to see the inside passage as well as Anchorage and Vancouver. However, we do enjoy good entertainment on a ship and was wondering what HAL day and night entertainment is like?

I am also told HAL has a cliental of 60+ I was wondering if that is accurate?

thanks for all your replies!

Thanks Betty for providing the link to when I did a Live from the Pearl :)

I loved the Pearl and would definitely consider sailing her again, I am actually sailing on her sister the Jewel this coming March. But a Seattle round trip Alaska cruise is definitely different than a North or South Bound leaving from Vancouver. Scenery for one will be drastically different, sailings from Seattle you will see more ocean than land. While Vancouver is scenic sailing from or coming into you will have to also consider the one way air of either arriving and departing from Anchorage and Vancouver. You will definitely need a passport book. The round trip Seattle flight cost is often far less. If you are in your mid 20's I have to admit that the Norwegian Pearl is going to have far more entertainment and activities. It does go to Skagway and Glacier Bay. Cabins sizes will be larger on the Statendam and even on the Oosterdam compared to the Norwegian Pearl. Also HAL ships open up the bow of the ship when doing scenic cruising of the Glacier, Norwegian does not and there really is limited areas for scenic viewing. If you want entertainment that keeps going into the night Norwegian is the way to go. Holland America especially the Statendam will not have much activity past 10pm.

Thanks! Going to read the reviews! We aren't typical 25 year olds. We aren't big drinkers or loud and obnoxious 😉. We enjoy schedules of activities. I loved RCL we played name that tune, played finish the lyric, the newlywed game, bingo, gambling etc. also love the comedy shows. Those are more of the things we are looking for.

Not sure if that helps with the suggestions?

The two HAL ships have Vancouver as your Your Embarkation Ports and both are doing North and South Bound cruises. This is really hard to compare to a round trip Seattle sailing. That being said the Statendam and Oosterdam are two very different ships, before I could even suggest which would be a good fit can you tell us what type of accommodations you are wanting to book. Do you want a ship with lots of entertainment or a bit more low key? Are there children involved? I have cruised on all three ships and liked them each for totally different reasons. All three have pros and cons so it really depends on what type of an Alaskan Cruise vacation you are looking for.

Hi!

so one is NB one is SB. (just wondering why you said they can't be compared to a Seattle r/t cruise?)

we will both be 25 and no kids. We are looking or something fun and enjoyable definitely entertainment.

Are you looking at doing a land portion as well ? If you the Statendam or Oosterdam there isn't much difference. Can't answer to the NCL Pearl.

My preference would be the HAL ships especially if the are doing a NB & SB cruises. Really need more information.

Hi,

so one is northbound and one is southbound. we are not doing land portion. the only major difference between the routes is:

OOsterdam starts in Anchorage ends in Vancouver stops at Haines

Statendam- starts in Vancouver ends in Anchorage stops at Stagway

looking for a ship with activities and things to do. personally, i loved all the games and shows on our previous cruise want something that has a lot going on.

THANKS!

Hi!

we are debating between 3 boats for Alaska. 2 are HAL (other is NCL pearl)

Which HAL boat do you prefer? The statendam or oosterdam?

All 3 possibilites have stops we like and we dont mind which port to leave or arrive to. So to narrow it down we need to choose the boat we like better.

What are your opinions of each? pros and cons?

Extra points if you can compare the NCL pearl too

thanks!

debating between 3 ships would like some feedback from anyone who has been on either

NCL-pearl,

Holland America-Ms. Amsterdam or

Princess- Grand Princess?

NCL:

Sun Seattle (EMBARK) --- 4:00 pm

Mon At Sea --- ---

Tue Juneau 2:00 pm 10:00 pm

Wed Skagway 7:00 am 8:15 pm

Thu Glacier Bay --- Overnight

Fri Ketchikan 6:00 am 1:30 pm

Sat Victoria, BC, Canada 6:00 pm 11:59 pm

Sun Seattle (DISEMBARK) 8:00 am ---

HA:

0 Puget Sound CO

1 At Sea

2 Scenic Cruising Tracy Arm CO 03:00 PM 08:00 PM

3 Juneau, Alaska, US 07:00 AM 06:00 PM

4 Sitka, Alaska, US TR 08:00 AM 04:00 PM

5 Ketchikan, Alaska, US 07:00 AM 01:00 PM

6 Victoria, British Columbia, CA 06:00 PM 11:59 PM

7 Seattle, Washington, US 07:00 AM

Princess:

1 Seattle, Washington 4:00 PM

2 At Sea

3 Ketchikan, Alaska 6:30 AM 4:00 PM

4 Tracy Arm Fjord, Alaska (Scenic Cruising) 6:00 AM 10:00 AM

4 Juneau, Alaska 2:00 PM 10:00 PM

5 Skagway, Alaska 6:00 AM 5:00 PM

6 At Sea

7 Victoria, British Columbia 7:00 PM 11:59 PM

8 Seattle, Washington 7:00 AM

THANKS!