Alaska on the Serenade?

Anyone been on the Serenade of the Seas to Alaska? We are thinking of taking this cruise in May 2005 and would like any comments on the ship or the cruise in general.

Serenade will make her Alaska debut next weekend, May 30th. We can let you know all about it when we get back!

Nanci

until we Serenade Alaska!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;5;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Thanks! I realized that after I sent the message.
I will be looking forward to hearing from you when you get back.

[email]kbult@esu1.org[/email] Please email me when you have time!

We recently booked for 6/19/2005 and are going to have a hard time waiting. We took the Radiance to Alaska 2 years ogo and had a great time.

1999 Grandeur-Eastern
2000 Dawn Princess-Southern
2001 Grandeur-Southern
2001 Majesty-Bahamas
2002 Radiance-Southern
2002 Radiance-Alaska
2003 Conquest-Western
2004 Adventure-Southern
2005 Until Serenade to Alaska

I'll be on the same cruise as Nanci........

I'll make sure she tells you all about it.. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;5;30;14;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000[/img] RCCL Serenade--5/30--Alaska
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;10;28;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] RCCL Jewel--10/28--repositioning

Hey PH! I said "WE". [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

Nanci

until we Serenade Alaska!
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;5;30;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img]

Oh,I thought you meant you and your family..that WE!!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]


[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=111111&cdt=2004;5;30;14;00;00&timezone=GMT-1000[/img] RCCL Serenade--5/30--Alaska
[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=ff0000&cdt=2004;10;28;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0500[/img] RCCL Jewel--10/28--repositioning

We were on Radiance last year, which is the same blueprint, and loved it so much we're going on Serenade in July!

[img]http://escati.linkopp.net/cgi-bin/countdown.cgi?trgb=000000&srgb=00ff00&prgb=800080&cdt=2004;7;11;17;00;00&timezone=GMT-0800[/img] [url="http://www.escati.com"][img]http://escati.linkopp.net/logos/time98.gif[/img][/url]
Until we sail Serenade of the Seas (Alaska) - July 11-18, 2004
Meet and Mingle [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&s=927093444&a=tpc&m=18910122&f=1683059817"]HERE[/url]

Radiance of the Seas (Alaska) - June 21-28, 2003
Pictures here: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/gregjtx"]http://community.webshots.com/user/gregjtx[/url]
Nordic Empress (Caribbean)- June, 1993

Can you let me know what different excursion that you are booking and how did you like them?

Marc

Voyager Of The Sea 7-1-01
Explorer Of The Sea 7-27-02
Carnival Destiny 6-22-03
Serenade Of The Sea 7-27-04
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We're doing the Yukon Experience (Bus/Train combo), Mendenhall Glacier and Wildlife Quest, Guard Island Lighthouse Tour. Probably do the Lumberjack Show, but can't book it online due to conflicting times.

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Until we sail Serenade of the Seas (Alaska) - July 11-18, 2004
Meet and Mingle [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&s=927093444&a=tpc&m=18910122&f=1683059817"]HERE[/url]

Radiance of the Seas (Alaska) - June 21-28, 2003
Pictures here: [url="http://community.webshots.com/user/gregjtx"]http://community.webshots.com/user/gregjtx[/url]
Nordic Empress (Caribbean)- June, 1993

We were thinking about taking the Serenade in August of 2005. We loved the Radiance so much we thought we would stay with that class. The Vision is too small and lacks some of the extras that the bigger ships have. But don't get me wrong, I wouldn't turn her down if the price was right for a sunny sailing. Alaska? You need a Radiance class ship to take it all in. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Misty


Roll Call for the Diamond Princess 09/20/04. Anyone coming along for the ride? [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=379107202"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=379107202[/url]

Roll Call for the Grandeur 12/18/04. Come join us in New Orleans for the Christmas Season!! [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=389105961&r=699105961#699105961"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=389105961&r=699105961#699105961[/url]
Grandeur of the Seas / W. Caribbean / 12-18-04
Diamond / Pac. Northwest / 09-20-04
Vision of the Seas / Mexico / 04-04-04
Radiance of the Seas /Alaska /07-05-03

Having been on the Serenade for it's inaugural 7 night New England/Canada cruise and ALSO having been on a 15 day Princess Alaska cruise/tour I think the Serenade is probably one of (if not the absolute) best ships to experience and see Alaska.
[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

Serenading in Hawaii 9-26-04 (Patty's retirement cruise)
Explored Western Caribbean 2-14-04
Serenaded around New England/Canada 8-25-03
Sailed Radiance 2-15-03 almost tipped it over

We were on the Serenade in March and enjoyed it so much that we booked a trip to Alaska while on board. We got the same cabin (aft deck 10) and one for my MIL who has wanted to go to Alaska for as long as she can remember. We leave on July 2 and booked Captain Larry's whale tour for Juneau, Island Wings/Michelle's Misty Fiords float plane tour for Ketchikan and rented a car in Skayway so we can drive to Emerald Lake. Might do the gold dredge in Skagway for our son, too. I will be happy to report on our experiences when we get back.

-Laurie

So good, we're doing it again!

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Serenade of the Seas 03/06/04

We are intrested in Alaska also. What is the weather like this time of year?

Stacey

Serenade of the Seas 2004

The weather can vary. When we went in July of last year it was warm enough that my husband wore shorts most of the trip. My aunt has gone twice and has been covered in jackets and layers. I am hoping when we go next year to get the weather we had last time. The best thing to do is dress in layers and bring both warm & cold clothes.

Misty


Roll Call for the Diamond Princess 09/20/04. Anyone coming along for the ride? [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=379107202"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=4763056957&m=379107202[/url]

Roll Call for the Grandeur 12/18/04. Come join us in New Orleans for the Christmas Season!! [url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=389105961&r=699105961#699105961"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=927093444&f=1683059817&m=389105961&r=699105961#699105961[/url]
Grandeur of the Seas / W. Caribbean / 12-18-04
Diamond / Pac. Northwest / 09-20-04
Vision of the Seas / Mexico / 04-04-04
Radiance of the Seas /Alaska /07-05-03

scbutler... what time of year are you referring to?

i think the original poster asked about going in May of next year ... the Alaska weather in May will still be a bit on the cool side. Also there is more chance of rain and fog in May and September than there is during June/July/August.

the key to go to Alaska is to dress in layers. temps can vary dramatically from city to city so you have to be prepared to layer it on and peel it off as you go along. when i went in July of last year we had 2 days of misty weather and then Ketchikan was "hot" literally. they said that was the warmest weather they'd experienced all season and we were sweating.

finally, i beleive the one real drawback of cruising to Alaska so early in the season such as in May is the chance that you might not see as much wildlife as you would later in the season. in may some of the humpback whales are still migrating up to alaska from hawaii. although i am sure that if you do any of the wildlife/whale watching excursions in juneau that guarantee a whale, you'll probably see at least a few, but later on in the season, you can see a bigger variety, including killer whales, and you can see them in greater quantity.

but regardless of when you decide to go to alaska, just go. its a trip you'll never forget!

jstducky!
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...til 9/04 - Jewel of the Seas - Canada / New England

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...til 7/04 - Zuiderdam - Western Caribbean

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7/03 - Zaandam - Alaska
4/03 - Norweigan Star - Hawaii
7/96 - Noordam - Alaska
7/96 - Golden Princess - Alaska
8/94 - Jubilee - Mexican Riviera

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Jstducky-
I saw that you sailed Alaska on the Golden Princess in 96. Are you sure it was the Golden Princess?
We were on the Golden Princess 2001 which was its inaugural(spell?) year. In fact, we were on its 5th voyage.
Just curious!

Yes, we sailed the Serenade on its repositioning cruise from Philadelpia to San Juan.

We were a little disappointed as the cabins are back to being smaller than on some of RCI's other ships. We were also a little disappointed after being on the Voyager class of ships.