2021 Alaska SB Inside Passage- Star or Royal

[Daisygirl23]

Hi there,

 

We are looking to book a 7 day Southbound Inside passage cruise.  The 2 ships currently listed for the 2021 summer dates we are interested in are the Star or the Royal.

I am new to the boards and have tried to search the forums; i hope this post is OK.  Wondering if anyone has a preference over the Star or the Royal?

Also, we would want either a balcony or a premier balcony. From the forums I've read, it sounds like the Dolphin, Caribe, or Baja Decks would be preferable.

Any balcony recommendations for either the Dolphin, Caribe, or Baja deck?  

 

Thank you!

[BarbinMich]

We did a RT to Alaska on the Star from SF a few years ago.  Went a few days early to revisit some of our favorite SF sites.  We have also been on the Royal twice (transatlantic & Caribbean).  IMHO the Star is better suited for Alaska than the Royal.  It has the traditional wide and covered promenade deck, which was ideal for Glacier Bay.  The Royal has nothing similar.

[suekel]

Star for the reasons stated above.  Plus IMHO, I prefer the smaller ships

[voljeep]

2 hours ago, Daisygirl23 said:

preference over the Star or the Royal?

I would be surprised if even one person ( on this board ) would say the Royal over the Star for Alaska 

 

Lot's of traditionalists who prefer the 'golden days' of the smaller ships with the full promenade deck for viewing 

in Alaska

[memoak]

1 hour ago, voljeep said:

I would be surprised if even one person ( on this board ) would say the Royal over the Star for Alaska 

 

Lot's of traditionalists who prefer the 'golden days' of the smaller ships with the full promenade deck for viewing 

in Alaska

Small is better in my opinion. Star

[msmoger]

Normally I would prefer the Royal, but for Alaska I would also prefer the Star.

[skynight]

Star

[sunviking82]

Star!  Love the original Grand Class and the covered pool area.  Like the new Royal class, verses the Crown/Caribbean better space, but the original Grand (Star and now departing Golden) are some of my favs.

[Bailey2010]

Royal is lovely and newer but Star for Alaska.

[Colorado Coasty]

On the Star you will get the full inside passage to Vancouver, you won't on Royal.

[Paula_MacFan]

18 hours ago, Bailey2010 said:

Royal is lovely and newer but Star for Alaska.

 

Moot point now because Star has been pulled from Alaska.  This thread is old and since it was started the Star has been redeployed.  I had a Star Alaska cruise booked and we have been moved to the Grand by Princess.  

[CruzinNoony]

Then, I would go with the Grand.  Get a Caribe balcony because they are much larger than on the other decks.  The Royal doesn't do a true inside passage sailing.

[Thrak]

Since you asked about the balcony a Caribe balcony on Star would be a zillion times bigger than a balcony on Royal.

(Okay, a slight exaggeration but the difference in size really is phenomenal.)

 

I also agree with others here regarding the Promenade Deck on Star. Being able to utilize that deck for viewing is a big plus.

Edited October 2, 2020 by Thrak