Glacier bay with NCL or non glaciar bay with Celebrity

[Tropical77]

Hello everyone,

 

I am planning my first Alaska cruise with my 3 and 5 year old kids and husband. We love Celebrity but I see they do not go to Glacier Bay. I am debating if I should do Glacier Bay with NCL but reviews seem not too good about the cruise line in general

Is Glacier Bay really worth it or should we do a different Alaska with Celebrity which we like?

 

thanks!

[Coral]

I would do Glacier Bay for the first cruise because Glacier Bay is almost always guaranteed.

 

Hubbard glacier is often missed and if it will be your only glacier, you may miss it. If it is your only trip to Alaska - this is a huge miss.

[Ferry_Watcher]

I also agree with @Coral that visiting Glacier Bay would be a highlight of your cruise.  In addition, there probably would be more activities for your 3 & 5 yr olds to do on a NCL ship.

Edited January 22 by Ferry_Watcher

[1025cruise]

Perhaps look into Princess? The experience will be closer to Celebrity, and they go to Glacier Bay.

[SoloAlaska]

I’ve only cruised celebrity to Alaska so far and love their naturalist programming. NCL doesn’t offer nearly as much Alaska programming onboard. I haven’t been to Glacier Bay yet but don’t feel like I’ve missed out either. This year I’m adding a Kenai Fjords tour pre cruise which I am very much looking forward too.

 

you didn’t mention when your planning to cruise because that may impact your odds of seeing Hubbard.

[Tropical77]

We are looking to go between June and August. 

 

Any inputs on Holland America? Never used them but seems to have better reviews than Norwegian. 

 

[Aquahound]

2 hours ago, Tropical77 said:

Any inputs on Holland America? Never used them but seems to have better reviews than Norwegian. 

 

 

If Celebrity is your preferred line, I recommend looking at Princess first.  They will be most similar.  Holland America is a very nice line but if you want some decent fun time while on the ship, they fail miserably.  You can mitigate that a little by booking Koningsdam but anything older is very sleepy.  

 

[Northern Aurora]

I always find it interesting when posters are told that something is a "must do."  The only attractions which are a "must do" are those which are of particular interest to that poster.  

 

I also have been to Glacier Bay and didn't find it to be a "must do" for me.  Those glaciers are in full retreat -- they are melting.  Yes -- it is a national park -- but would it be designated a national park now?  I doubt it.

 

Our OP on this thread is traveling with 3 and 5 year old kids.  Wonder how "interesting" it would be for them to stand outside on a bow of a ship looking across the way at some rocks with snow on them.  Just a thought.

[wolfie11]

Glacier Bay is way more than just glaciers and would certainly be eligible for National Park status today.  Although many glaciers in the park are in retreat, John’s Hopkins is actually growing and Margerie has been relatively stable for the last hundred years.

 

I can see your point that not everyone would be interested in cruising all day to see rock and snow.  I’ve been on cruises where people are very upset that the casino is closed when in Glacier Bay and why didn’t anyone tell them beforehand because they wouldn’t have chosen this cruise.

 

I personally consider Glacier Bay to be a highlight of my cruises and go there at any opportunity.  I’ve also taken the day cruise from Bartlett Cove many times.  There are a few places in SE Alaska that are equal to Glacier Bay for scenery and wildlife but they are hard to get to.  I guess if you’re happy with a cruise where your glacier experience is on a ship that pretends you’re going to a glacier only to turn around before you really get to see it, that’s fine too. Everyone is different.

[Coral]

1 hour ago, wolfie11 said:

Glacier Bay is way more than just glaciers and would certainly be eligible for National Park status today.  Although many glaciers in the park are in retreat, John’s Hopkins is actually growing and Margerie has been relatively stable for the last hundred years.

 

It is a National Park. I agree - it is gorgeous all day!

[LDavi]

OP, you are in the same predicament I was in a year ago before I booked with Norwegian. Everyone kept telling me to book Princess or Holland America because "they do Alaska well." I watched a lot of YouTube videos and decided that NCL is more our vibe. We  have sailed NCL before and really enjoyed it. . Keep in mind that you do have small kids. NCL has more stuff for them to do. My daughter loved their kids clubs. You do you. Check out the ships from each line that go to Glacier Bay and look them up on youtube. See what grabs your attention. They all offer something different. Itineraries are all very similar.

[MommaK2D2]

Glacier bay is a must see!  We have gone there on princess and ncl- I preferred princess food, ambiance, and their amazing naturalist!!  Coral princess was a great ship for Alaska. But NCL did have some amazing shows in the evenings- really great entertainment compared to our Alaska princess trip.   Much more casual overall (I kinda like the fancy but the casual worked great for my dad!)
    The thing that made me enjoy the NCL more than I expected was that we bought the thermal spa pass- And the thermal

spa Is all windows in the front of the ship. So I watched every sunset from their hot tubs and heated loungers. (And part of glacier bay also after we finished the Marjorie) This was on the Jewel. (I love a balcony for Alaska!!!! But with the thermal

spa I could have endured an inside cabin as well!)

[wolfie11]

7 hours ago, MommaK2D2 said:

Glacier bay is a must see!  We have gone there on princess and ncl- I preferred princess food, ambiance, and their amazing naturalist!!  Coral princess was a great ship for Alaska. But NCL did have some amazing shows in the evenings- really great entertainment compared to our Alaska princess trip.   Much more casual overall (I kinda like the fancy but the casual worked great for my dad!)
    The thing that made me enjoy the NCL more than I expected was that we bought the thermal spa pass- And the thermal

spa Is all windows in the front of the ship. So I watched every sunset from their hot tubs and heated loungers. (And part of glacier bay also after we finished the Marjorie) This was on the Jewel. (I love a balcony for Alaska!!!! But with the thermal

spa I could have endured an inside cabin as well!)

Both NCL cruises that go to Glacier Bay have horrible port times, 2:30 to 11pm in Juneau where the late arrival time limits excursions available, and 7:30am to 1:15pm docked at the dreaded Ward Cove Dock in Ketchikan, which gives you almost no time in town.  So you get Glacier Bay but a substandard trip for most of the rest of Alaska.