First Time Alaskan Cruisers

[yalesmom]

We are beginning to plan an Alaskan cruise for the summer of 2017. This will be our first Alaskan cruise. We will be booking a 7-9 night cruise. We don't have time for the longer cruise/land options. We are considering leaving from Vancouver as we'd like to see the city. I'm looking for any advice you can give before booking the cruise. What are the must go to ports? Which cruise line seems to be the best for Alaskan cruises? The worst?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Lori

[Kamloops50]

We are beginning to plan an Alaskan cruise for the summer of 2017. This will be our first Alaskan cruise. We will be booking a 7-9 night cruise. We don't have time for the longer cruise/land options. We are considering leaving from Vancouver as we'd like to see the city. I'm looking for any advice you can give before booking the cruise. What are the must go to ports? Which cruise line seems to be the best for Alaskan cruises? The worst?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Lori

Most cruises to Alaska from Vancouver are 7 days. Most cruises visit Ketchikan , Juneau and Skagway. Some stop Haines instead of Skagway. Skagway is preferred . HAL has the maximum number of ships doing 7 night cruises from Vancouver . Celebrity also has one ship doing 7 day rtn Vancouver cruises.

Some cruises visit Hubbard Glacier , Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm.

You have to read up on what you want to see and do.

Look up Anne Vipond and Frommers Alaska books for information about ports .

[xlxo]

We are beginning to plan an Alaskan cruise for the summer of 2017. This will be our first Alaskan cruise. We will be booking a 7-9 night cruise. We don't have time for the longer cruise/land options. We are considering leaving from Vancouver as we'd like to see the city. I'm looking for any advice you can give before booking the cruise. What are the must go to ports? Which cruise line seems to be the best for Alaskan cruises? The worst?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Lori

Thoughts....

• mid-July offers the driest weather for Alaska and Vancouver. August starts to get wet. Dry weather makes port excursions more enjoyable.
  
• If you are a glacier seeker... must include Glacier Bay in your itinerary. Some cruise ships offer a small boat at Tracy Arm to check out Sawyer.
  

[mapleleaves]

must-do's, must see's, best cruiseline, all very subjective.

Best to research all the options and find which are the best fit for YOU. Considerations may include: smoking on balconies? food/dining preferences? naturalist? pool? spa? kids programs? etc.

Do you have specific priorities like fishing or bear viewing? If so there are peaks periods at each location so further research is necessary.

There are less than 6 ports to research.

 

There are books specific to Alaska cruises - Fodor's "Alaska Ports of Call" and Ann Vipond's " Alaska by Cruiseship". Both discuss cruiselines, itineraries, ports, excursions, activities, etc. Maybe your library has them.

 

If you look down the page a little you'll find a thread that provides resources for research and planning.

 

There are also numerous trip reports posted in STICKYs near the top of the page. Many of them are photojournals with detailed information on the ship, rooms, and dining, as well as recommendations for excursions and activities at each port.

 

Personally I would choose early summer over later, only because the weather generally gets wetter as summer progresses. OTOH early summer means that you will miss salmon runs and bear viewing. Again, research will help you decide on priorities. Good luck and have fun with the research!