Alaska cruise

[lorri111]

Am looking to do an Alaska glacier cruise on a Princess ship next year - which ship is the best to go with if given a choice, Grand or Star? Also can someone confirm that the starboard side of the ship is the best one for a northbound cruise of glaciers (ie not a return cruise)? Is it important if the stateroom (mini suite with balcony) is fore or aft or midship? Any other useful hints? Thanks :-)

[shepp]

I'd go for the Star for Skywalkers, if nothing else. Great place to watch the scenery go by. Otherwise, they're pretty comparable.

 

Also, unless the weather is lousy, being out and about on the open decks when you're in Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm will let you have a much more unrestricted view than your balcony will. In GB, the captain will turn the ship in a 180 to let both sides get the same views, and Tracy Arm is an out-and-back, so both sides see the same stuff.

 

As to other hints: what are you interested in knowing? What to eat at the International Cafe? Where to hike in Skagway? What?

Edited February 1, 2015 by shepp

[lorri111]

Hi, thanks for that. At this early stage just stuff about getting the ship booking correct, I figure I will have to do a lot more research about the ports and excursions before I can ask sensible questions on these. Over a year to go but hopefully the 2016 season will be open for booking soon and I will be sure I have the basics ready to go?

[MilliesMom]

We were on the Grand in 2013 and loved it. Had an Emerald Deck mini suite (starboard side) but we were roundtrip out of San Francisco. When we got to Glacier Bay, we had planned to stay on our balcony but soon realized we wanted to be up on deck seeing ALL of it (360 degree view). In Glacier Bay really both sides of the ship work ... same with Tracy Arm. The ship goes in, turns and comes out. Both sides see the same scenery just at different times.

 

This is the video I made of our Cabin .... Grand Princess E725 Mini Suite

[lorri111]

Thanks for the video, very useful. We had a mini suite on our Med cruise on the Regal last year and it was definitely the way to go. I guess I am a bit worried about being on an older ship though when the only other princess one we have been on was only months old!

[Colo Cruiser]

The Star for sure, we hate that Skywalkers is now gone from the Grand. :(

We do not like the venue One5 that replaced Skywalkers on the Grand, its pale in comparison.

[mek]

We were on Star in September and spent the day in Skywalkers when we sailed the Tracy Arm. Fantastic view with a front row seat! It was so much better than being out on deck in the cold and they served hot chocolate at the bar, so we didn't even have to go far for that.

[yndygo]

This is the video I made of our Cabin .... Grand Princess E725 Mini Suite

 

I think I watched your video a dozen times before booking our Minisuite on Emerald Starboard for our May Ruby Alaska trip! :) Thanks again for posting it...that was totally the clincher!

[KruzeKrazy!]

To each their own. We've been on the Caribbean Princess with Skywalkers and the Grand without and we prefer without.

 

We, like MilliesMom, did Alaska on the Grand 10-day out of SFO. It was a Tracy Arm cruise but we've also done Glacier Bay in HAL.

 

On the Grand we had an aft suite and it was a wonderful spot to see Alaska from. As MilliesMom said the ship will turn and as you cruise through Alaskan waters there will be land on both sides - it's not like you'd think if mainland on the starboard and open water on the port.

[BRANDEE]

Hi, thanks for that. At this early stage just stuff about getting the ship booking correct, I figure I will have to do a lot more research about the ports and excursions before I can ask sensible questions on these. Over a year to go but hopefully the 2016 season will be open for booking soon and I will be sure I have the basics ready to go?

 

 

Hi lorri111...

Did the Glacier Bay southbound in early August a few years ago on the Sapphire. The Sapphire, Star and Grand are similar..all have an indoor pool/conservatory with hot tubs. A plus in cold weather.

 

Don't be concerned to be on an older ship than the Regal/Royal. Actually there are some features on the older ships that Princess cut out on the newbies that many alumni cruisers miss. Both Star and Grand have a promenade deck, large Explorers Lounge and a dance floor in the Wheelhouse Bar , Star has a center staircase and as I said an indoor pool. But the newer ships have a larger Atrium.

 

Both Star and Grand also have large premium balconies on the Carib deck..standard rooms with double the deck area. Half of the deck is covered so sitting outside in windy/drizzle weather is doable. Mini Suite balconies are not covered. I was mid ship/Carib and never felt any rocking.

 

Regarding which side of the ship. I was originally booking the port side for a southern sailing..facing the land. However, when booking with my travel agent, he actually suggested the starboard side/facing waterfalls, glaciers. The reason..the sun set on the west and that gave us sun on our balcony until 10 pm. It was over 25+ degrees hotter than the other side. We ate lunch on the balcony (one day in shorts) and had pre dinner cocktails as we cruised a few hundred feet from glaciers and water/ice falls and whales. Something to think about.

 

The time in glacier bay should be up on deck..the magnitude of it all is lost on the balconies. That morning we wore layers, maybe 4, gloves, hats, earmuffs, hoods, thermal underwear..absolutely beautiful to see and experience.

 

If possible, add on the land tour. We did 7 nights on land starting in Fairbanks, going south to Denali, McKinley, and Anchorage (coach bus and train) ending with our 7 day southbound cruise. BTW, Princess did a very good job with their lodges on land. Very impressed. Meals on land are not included, unless you do an escorted tour where some meals are included. Food $$$

 

Enjoy Alaska..:)

[lorri111]

Thanks for all the helpful advice guys. yes, we plan to add on a land leg to the princess lodges in the interior afterwards, and will be doing a rocky mountain leg before. Will come back with many more questions I have no doubt once I have done more homework!

[MilliesMom]

I think I watched your video a dozen times before booking our Minisuite on Emerald Starboard for our May Ruby Alaska trip! :) Thanks again for posting it...that was totally the clincher!

 

I'm so glad you found the video helpful. Like you, I'm big on research and learning about the ship and the cabin PLUS the destination of course, before we actually book a cruise.

 

[elliair]

Am looking to do an Alaska glacier cruise on a Princess ship next year - which ship is the best to go with if given a choice, Grand or Star? Also can someone confirm that the starboard side of the ship is the best one for a northbound cruise of glaciers (ie not a return cruise)? Is it important if the stateroom (mini suite with balcony) is fore or aft or midship? Any other useful hints? Thanks :-)

 

I wouldn't do a Star cruise only because we've been on that ship 3 times and other reasons below. We're doing the Golden Princess out of San Francisco in May and looking forward to being on a new ship.

 

The Star was recently in dry dock and it sure was a fast renovating job. The carpet in our cabin was all bunched up along the edges. There's a srtip of carpet going up the wall around the cabin and that was falling off. The lock on our balcony door didn't work. This is nit picky but still bugged me, the picture on the wall was crooked. The balcony matting had food stuck inbetween the cracks. The cabin steward admitted going through the drawers looking for room service cards (so he says and I don't believe him). I reported it to his supervisor, and I took his tips off. First time we've ever done this. He made this an uncomfortable cruise for us. He yelled at me because DH threw the fruit basket order card into the garbage can. We asked him not to come into our cabin at night for a turn down, we like to play cards and have a glass of wine. He refused our request. So, end of our Star experience - no more for us on this ship.

Edited February 1, 2015 by elliair

[lake5298]

The Star for sure, we hate that Skywalkers is now gone from the Grand. :(

We do not like the venue One5 that replaced Skywalkers on the Grand, its pale in comparison.

 

I was told (by the Captain on the Grand) that the reason Skywalkers was removed was because it made the ship stern-heavy which consumed more fuel.

 

Apparently Grand is the only all-steel vessel of it's class, so the issue does not affect Star, Golden or Caribbean and they will keep their Skywalker lounges.

[yndygo]

The cabin steward admitted going through the drawers looking for room service cards (so he says and I don't believe him). I reported it to his supervisor, and I took his tips off. First time we've ever done this. He made this an uncomfortable cruise for us. He yelled at me because DH threw the fruit basket order card into the garbage can. We asked him not to come into our cabin at night for a turn down, we like to play cards and have a glass of wine. He refused our request. So, end of our Star experience - no more for us on this ship.

 

That is SO disturbing!! :eek:

Why in heaven's name would a room steward refuse someone's request not to do turndown? He sounds incredibly creepy. I think I've been incredibly lucky never to have someone of that caliber and am terribly thankful you reported him. Someone who goes through your drawers, refuses your privacy and yells at you? Should not be working in that kind of position!! :mad:

[lorri111]

yes, that story was rather worrying.

 

On another note, what is the difference in cabins fore, aft and midship? I note that cabins in the middle part of the ship are always more expensive. What are the up and downsides of various locations? I don't mind walking to stairs or escalator but would want to keep away as much as possible from noise (either ship or people) or from ship movement.

[MilliesMom]

The calmest place on the ship for movement is mid ship/mid deck. That is why you will see these cabins at a higher price.

 

We feel the worst movement is felt on the front of the ship. We LOVE the aft especially if we have an aft facing cabin.

 

You will find that not everyone will agree on which is the best location. On Princess we always book a mini suite because I want a sofa (I have major insomnia) to curl up on at night while hubby is sleeping. We love the mini-suites on the Emerald Deck (aft on port and starboard side) because of their fully covered balconies.

NOTE: Club Fusion is directly below these cabins. On a number of the older ships it means the port side mini-suites on Emerald will hear the band and the vibrations of the band/music. Everything I have read on the Ruby (newer ship) says that is not an issue. It pays to research the ship you plan to go on and the cabin.

Edited February 2, 2015 by MilliesMom

[lorri111]

I was worried that Emerald deck would be too close to the lower level public areas and pick up noise, and that the next deck up (dolphin?) might be quieter. I am confused about the references people have made to mini suites not all being covered. I thought they would all have a roof because they would have a cabin with balcony above them? Or was this just the Regal? Are some then completely open? How do I check which is which?

[MilliesMom]

Many of the ships have what was referred to as "wedding cake" style balconies.

 

http://cruises.about.com/od/princesscruises/ig/Emerald-Princess.-1wQ/Emerald-Princess-Balconies-6.htm

 

This gives a great view of the reference. The one that is completely uncovered in this photo is the Dolphin Deck and underneath (not shown and completely covered is the Emerald Deck.

 

As you move up the photo, the balconies start getting covered partially but are not as deep.

 

Another view on this link showing the balconies .... http://www.avidcruiser.com/cruise-reviews/big-ship/princess-cruises/crown-princess/

 

We have been on the Emerald Deck Aft mini (E725) and heard NO noise for 10 night cruise.

[MilliesMom]

I was worried that Emerald deck would be too close to the lower level public areas and pick up noise, and that the next deck up (dolphin?) might be quieter. I am confused about the references people have made to mini suites not all being covered. I thought they would all have a roof because they would have a cabin with balcony above them? Or was this just the Regal? Are some then completely open? How do I check which is which?

 

Many balconies on Princess are not covered. Really the only way to determine if it is covered or not is to research it.

 

On the Grand and on the Ruby ... Emerald Deck mini suites are fully covered. Dolpin Deck are fully uncovered.

 

Noise ... Emerald Deck. Grand Aft Starboard was quieter than quiet even being above Club Fusion (my personal experience) and from my research on the Ruby there is no issue on either side for the Emerald Deck Aft Minis. Ruby is a much newer ship which may be the reason for less noise.

 

When we cruise we want a fully covered balcony no matter where we cruise too. Princess (from the ships we have been on) is the only one with the wedding cake tier balcony set up.

[lorri111]

Thanks for that. I stupidly assumed that because the only other ship I have sailed on, Regal, had covered balconies, then that was standard. I guess the uncovered balconies would make them much less useful on an Alaska cruise.

[lorri111]

Just saw your other post with the links to pics of the side of the ship -VERY helpful, I just could not envisage what it would look like. So you reckon starboard aft emerald mini should be ok for noise? Thanks so much again for your help!

[MilliesMom]

Thanks for that. I stupidly assumed that because the only other ship I have sailed on, Regal, had covered balconies, then that was standard. I guess the uncovered balconies would make them much less useful on an Alaska cruise.

 

Don't feel badly. I was shocked when I discovered that too. We had cruised on the original Pacific Princess and the Dawn Princess. Neither had the tiered balconies. When I started to research the Grand for our 2013 cruise, I learned on the boards here about the tiered balconies. So for the Ruby cruise we are planning to Alaska, I knew we wanted an Emerald Deck cabin. Many people LOVE the open balconies no matter the destination. We had gorgeous weather in May 2013 for our cruise. I think we had rain one day coming back from being in town.

 

Yes, we used our balcony a great deal. But had a jacket of some sort on and leaned on the railing more so than sitting in a chair to watch the world go by. From San Franciso to Canada the seas were rough, so we didn't spend any time out on the balcony. But it was nice to look out easily from our sofa. The rest of the time, beautiful seas.

[MilliesMom]

Attached two photos.

 

1. My husband on our balcony (shows the covering overhead)

2. A beautiful Alaska sunset taken from our balcony.

[lorri111]

I have no idea how I am going to be able to wait over a year, I am so excited, especially when I see all the wonderful photos and posts of other cruisers! Do you know when the details for Alaska 2016 might come out? The person I spoke to at Princess on the phone said any time now but other information seems to indicate not till April or May.