Celebrity Millennium in Alaska with age 17-68

[Travel Travel Travel]

Hello cruising experts!

 

We have been researching a multi generational trip to Alaska for some time. After a great deal of agony we have settled on a southbound trip from the Anchorage area to Vancouver. Our group ranges from several extremely active folk to my FIL who will be happy to stay on the ship with his beverage package.

 

We have narrowed the field to the Island/Coral Princes or the Celebrity Millennium. The Celebrity has a slight advantage because my extremely active father is convinced he'll go stir crazy on a cruise ship and Celebrity has an extra port stop, allowing him to get off the ship. (Icy Strait Point) Of course, that means giving up Glacier Bay, which is a bummer.

 

My concern is that Celebrity ship will be more geared toward adults, and that my 22 year old DS may not find much to do when not in port. He is personable and doesn't need non-stop parties or rock climbing walls, but I am wondering if there will be places where other people his age might hang out? A bar or other place that attracts the younger folk, and maybe stays open until midnight or so? If anyone has done Alaska on Celebrity with a young adult, your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

 

It sure is hard to please everyone! Personally, I'll be thrilled with either choice. :)

[LeftcoastBC]

Summer in Alaska on X we have always seen a number of kids in that mid teen age. Although I have never actively been involved personally with a 20 + on such a trip the ones that I have seen around the ship always seem to be occupied and happy.

There is night life after the oldies disappear but not like say RCL or Carnival :).

 

You need not fear any difference between Glacier Bay and I assume Hubbard. Both are remarkable.

 

M class ships are very family friendly.

 

I have no experience with Princess at all.

[timkins42]

My wife and 2 sisters with their husbands recently (Sep 2011) completed a cruise on the Celebrity Millenium. I did not see that many younger people on the cruise. During our entire cruise I saw only one child. Maybe that was because we were the last cruise of the year for the Millenium and most of the youger people were in school. As far as Icy Strait Point is concerned, I was extremely disappointed in that stop. It is a relatively new stop for Celebrity and the excursions that were schedlued from there seemed awfully disorganized to me. We were 1 1/2 hours late for the whale watching excursion which forced us to go directly to the bear watching without the time for lunch or a breather.

[LeftcoastBC]

I must comment just a bit on the Icy Point stop. It is to us one of the many different things that you can see and experience on an Alaska Trip..

 

The Cannery Set up is excellent. There usually is just one ship there. There is the Longest Zip line ever if you are into that sort of thing and the small village associated with the stop, Hoonah several k's away is "Real"

 

If the weather is good a walkable area near the Cannery at a minimum is a great break from the ship.

[Assateague Island Princes]

Off topic...but agree w/previous poster about ISP. Some fantastic bear viewing and whale watching there!!! Sure, Hoonah isn't jam packed with shops, Diamonds International, or restaurants out the kazoo like Ketchikan or even Juneau, but rather a nice, quiet real Alaska town with amazing scenery, interesting history, and plentiful wildlife.

 

To the OP - as far as your 22 year old, he'll be just fine on either ship. Alaska cruises are not like warm weather cruises where its party, party, party all night long. Its very port intensive, but the time you are back on board you just want to eat, stare at the amazing scenery, and hit the hay early. On sea days, we've always found plenty of interest - mainly gazing at the sea for marine wildlife, finding a quiet cozy nook to read, perhaps participating in a shipboard activity like Bingo, a pub crawl, trivia contest, or relaxing with a massage. You will find all ages on all cruise lines. The trip will be what your son makes of it - get him to participate in the planning of in port excursions, get him involved. Sounds like a good...no, scratch that.... GREAT time will be had by all!:p

[vbmom87]

Since going to Alaska is all about scenery and glaciers to me, I would choose the SB Princess itinerary as it has been including both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay, the two premier glacier areas in Alaska.

 

You will get varying opinions on Icy Strait. I enjoyed our whale watch there and then just strolling around the neighborhoods of Hoonah, which gives you that real Alaskan town feel. However, many people I spoke with on our cruise said they could have done without that port. Until you experience it, you won't know for sure what your feeling is. However, if I had to pick between Skagway and Icy Strait, I would go for Skagway if you are able to take advantage of the White Pass Railroad/Bus tour. To save money, you can rent a car and drive the Klondike Highway, but taking the train/bus combo will get you into some beautiful areas on the train that you will not see from the highway. We went on the longest tour that took us to Carcross with a stop at Bennett Lake. I long to see that scenery again some day. So much wilderness and beauty around you. What a day it was!!!

 

Just remember that my opinions are based on someone who loves scenery and glaciers. I am not that big into cities, shopping, restaurants, etc. I went to Alaska both times to see the wonders of nature. You will have to decide what your group's priorities are. On my first Alaska trip we only had three ports, but I have to say the sea days were so scenic that I never had time to get bored. Like AIP said above, so much of going to Alaska is being out on deck looking for wildlife or taking in the beautiful scenery. If your group has the ship as the priority, then you will perhaps want to look at some other choices.

[infoprof56]

We did Millennium southbound in Alaska this summer. Icy Straight is a nice quiet stop with a real Alaskan town to visit less than a mile from the tender area. We choose to go on a whale watch which was thrilling. I arranged the whale watch independently ahead of time. They also have the worlds longest zip line ride and bear watching excursions. There should be things for the various people in your group to do. Hubbard glacier was amazing. Since I have never been to Glacier Bay I can’t say if you are missing anything.

Yes there is night life on the ship for those like me that go ahead and burn the candle at both ends while on vacation. We had great days of seeing nature and still got in some evening activity. There is a night club on an upper deck that has music and dancing until at least 1 am every night. The dance floor was busy until at least midnight both nights that we were up there. The casino was also hoping most nights until after midnight. I saw plenty of young adults around. The piano bar was fairly active in the evenings, but that crowd seemed on the older side.

[Budget Queen]

Demographics are similar on all lines, including Carnival, no party ships. Demographics sailing Alaska are skewed to middle aged and above the majority with ALL ages sailing, so your son should find some. Your son needs to make this decision. There isn't a lot of "nightlife" on any Alaska cruise, if comparing it to Caribbean.

 

Both itineraries are excellent. Depends on how YOU wish to spend your time. I would suggest a group vote, on the differences. They are signfication and with one selecton aviable to you, you are going to miss the other.

 

Frankly a "group" is going to have to be open to significant compromises on a first trip to Alaska. There are just way too many options. There are benefits to both cruises, also add to the mix, IF you are touring interior Alaska? At the very least take advantage of Whittier or Seward and don't just pass through. You are already all the way there. :)

[Travel Travel Travel]

Thank you everyone for your insights! I really appreciate it. This will be a HUGE event for our family and I want to make it the best possible. I have to admit, researching is a lot of fun but a person can really become obsessed. :)

 

Budget Queen: Yes, most members of our group do plan to spend three days in Seward pre-cruise hiking and kayaking. That might be the part I'm looking forward to the most; it looks like an amazing destination in and of itself!