HAL or Princess to AK August 2 or 3, 2025???

[catspaw1]

Hi all, We haven't been on a HAL cruise in over 25 years but previously loved AK so much we have decided to return.

 

We are retired 66 & 70 and very active. We can hike up to 5 moderate miles a day.

 

We are doing a bear trip into the bush next July for 3 nights at a bear/fishing lodge. Than will do some inland traveling as we did before & then would like to cruise again.

 

We are looking at the Nieuw Amsterdam or  Princess Sapphire for August 2 or 3, 2025 out of Whittier.  Both have almost identical itineraries.

 

Which cruise line would you chose and why? We love Glacier bay so want to return. 

[karatemom2]

Well given this is the Princess Board my guess is that you will overwhelmingly get support for the Sapphire option. That would definitely be my choice. I love the Sapphire - one of my favorite Princess ships. 
 

We did one Alaska cruise with HAL on the Amsterdam because of the incredible itinerary. It was a great cruise because of the itinerary, but not so much the ship. It was a little too low key for us and we found the food disappointing compared to Princess. But mostly it was just so quiet in the evenings. We would walk down the hallway at 8:30 pm and see so many rooms with the breakfast cards out on the door already. 
 

We aren’t exact party animals, but we do enjoy evening activities, music, and entertainment. My DH also enjoys the casino which was quite lackluster. Thankfully they had an incredible piano player who became our go to nightly entertainment which helped make our evenings more enjoyable. 
 

Princess, in my opinion, also does a better job with the Alaska nature and cultural information which always enhances an Alaska cruise. 
 

Given how active and engaged you both seem I think you would really enjoy Alaska on the Sapphire. 
 

But I would encourage you to ask this same question on the HAL board to get a balance of opinions. 

[catspaw1]

Thanks for the response.

 

Yes I agree that HA seems to have an older crowd- mostly in 70's & 80's. We normally go to bed around 10pm but will stay up to 11pm on cruises. We do like the martini bar that Celebrity has!!!

 

We usually travel off season so are concerned with having lots of kids onboard for early August. Our TA mentioned that's why she thought we might like HAL better.

 

Any thoughts about lots of kids in August? We don't want to cruise with lots of misbehaving kids!

 

[karatemom2]

10 minutes ago, catspaw1 said:

Thanks for the response.

 

Yes I agree that HA seems to have an older crowd- mostly in 70's & 80's. We normally go to bed around 10pm but will stay up to 11pm on cruises. We do like the martini bar that Celebrity has!!!

 

We usually travel off season so are concerned with having lots of kids onboard for early August. Our TA mentioned that's why she thought we might like HAL better.

 

Any thoughts about lots of kids in August? We don't want to cruise with lots of misbehaving kids!

 

Well as someone who used to travel with my kids quite a lot, I’m not sure I’m the best person to respond. 😅 They are adults now but I always made sure they behaved. 
 

Yes, during school breaks you will find families traveling on Princess. However, they have an excellent program for children and keep them well occupied. 
 

However, if that is a big concern I will say that our HAL cruise had very few kids. My daughter was a teenager at the time and there was only one other young girl her same age and just a handful of younger kids. 
 

I will say, in general, the one way itineraries like the Sapphire is doing attract less families so you probably wouldn’t find a lot of kids, but definitely probably more than HAL. 

 

 

[Wishing on a star]

My choice would def. be Princess.  The Sapphire.   It does sound like a better fit.

About the kids.  School schedules might have changed quite a bit if you have not been familiar for some time.   Our Schools start sometime during the first week of August.  Schools start earlier in many cases, and have a Fall Break in early October.

I recently had posted a link to a really good ships tour of the Sapphire, on another thread about which Princess ship to Alaska.

[PescadoAmarillo]

We took HAL and Princess cruises in Alaska back to back right after cruising re-started. If you enjoy destination and naturalist lectures, Princess wins by a long shot. If you like small(er) ships, choose the Sapphire and Princess still wins. 

[Arizona Wildcat]

You can look at my posts elsewhere as there are multiple threads asking almost the same thing.  My answer as one that lived and worked in AK is take a cruise out of Seward.  Lots to do there including Exit Glacier.  At least 2 nights.  Nothing in Whittier.  Start in ANC and spend a week to Fairbanks via Denali and return or do the loop.thru Tok and Glenallen. 

Just my 2 cents

[TomTN]

Read reviews of both ships in Alaska. 

Do you have an itinerary you prefer?

We had a similar choice for a Canada/NEcruise and booked HAL, but our relatives will only sail on Princess, and asked us to go with them. So.........

 

 

[Wishing on a star]

My choice would def. be Princess.  The Sapphire.   It does sound like a better fit.

About the kids.  School schedules might have changed quite a bit if you have not been familiar for some time.   Our Schools start sometime during the first week of August.  Schools start earlier in many cases, and have a Fall Break in early October.

 

If you aren't as familiar with Princess, and these ships?

There is a good video tour of the Sapphire from a cruise vlogger channel, from a few weeks ago, 

Look for -   Sapphire Princess Ship Tour!    on Youtube.

[catspaw1]

37 minutes ago, karatemom2 said:

Well as someone who used to travel with my kids quite a lot, I’m not sure I’m the best person to respond. 😅 They are adults now but I always made sure they behaved. 
 

Yes, during school breaks you will find families traveling on Princess. However, they have an excellent program for children and keep them well occupied. 
 

However, if that is a big concern I will say that our HAL cruise had very few kids. My daughter was a teenager at the time and there was only one other young girl her same age and just a handful of younger kids. 
 

I will say, in general, the one way itineraries like the Sapphire is doing attract less families so you probably wouldn’t find a lot of kids, but definitely probably more than HAL. 

 

 

 

[catspaw1]

Thanks. I don't mind kids but it's the ones I have seen running crazy creaming around the ship I dislike.

 

I didn't know Princess has a kids program & that's great. That's a lot better then.

 

I guess we will try for either or- whoever has the best deals!

 

 

[catspaw1]

Thanks for the helpful hints. We went to AK before the TV show northern exposure which Talkeetna is based. Loved it then. We also went to Denali & Seward before we went on a week HAL cruise. Wish HAL still sailed our of Seward! We may just take all of your advice so a big thank you. We do like a smaller ship- we don't need bells & whistles!