Sorting through ship options....HELP PLEASE!!!

[missotis]

I am trying to select a ship for my June 2007 cruise to Alaska.

Could someone offer some advice and personal reflection on my choices. Right now I am debating the pros and cons of going round trip from either Seattle or Vancouver. Is it worth the extra effort to go on to Vancouver or is it pretty much the same as leaving from Seattle? Any input on this decision would be appreciated.

 

Next...I am looking at the following 3 ships and itineraries. I will list some of my questions after each ship.

 

Holland America's MS. Zuiderdam: Tracy Arm/ Sawyer Glaciers, Juneau, skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan (Seems like a great Itinerary, Nice Size rooms?, but is it worth the extra day to go from Seattle to Vancouver on the train???? I was told by a friend that there is absolutely no nightlife on HA Alaska ships?)

 

Norwegian Pearl: Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan (leaves from Seattle, good itinerary, BRAND NEW SHIP, not sure about "freestyle cruising")

 

Golden Princess: Juneau, Skagway, Ketchican, Tracy Arm (Seems like a good ship? Good itinerary, R/T Seattle, How is the entertainment?)

 

I want the best Alaska experience that I can get. We really love nature and wildlife, but a comfortable and fun ship is also desirable. I am going to have to have an inside room so...public space will be important for us.

 

So what do you think????

[wrp96]

The Zuiderdam itinerary is really superior to the other two, especially when you add that it leaves from Vancouver rather than Seattle. The scenery when leaving from Vancouver is much more spectacular than when leaving from Seattle.

[agabbymama]

I chose Zuiderdam, but I'm doing a cruisetour. We only cruise (3 days)from Vancouver to Juneau, Tracy Arm/Sawyer Glaciers, Skagway, then leave the ship and go overland (for 8 days) on the rail to Whitehorse, Dawson City, riverboat on the Yukon River to Eagle, coach to Tok, on to Fairbanks, train to Denali, then on to Anchorage. I liked the idea of seeing more of the inland Yukon and Alaska. We did the Inside Passage in '99 and thoroughly loved it. Also thought by doing the cruisetour, wouldn't have to pay so much for excursions. I'm not a party person anyway, so I never noticed if there was no night life on HAL. There was shows and the casino and the bars playing music. 10:00 or 11:00 is late enough for me anyway. It really comes down to what you want to do more. Make a list of what's important to you, then see which line/itinerary does more of what you want to see/do. Then make your selection from that. Have fun planning/then taking your cruise, whatever you choose, you'll love Alaska!:p

[cwestbrook]

Have you considered going all the way to Anchorage (Seward or Whittier)? I thought some of the best scenery was from Glacier Bay north. A lot of people like to fly to Anchorage and cruise south. Then at the end of the trip, when you're ready to get home, your flight is much shorter. I was so glad we did it this way.

 

We did a land tour first so we could see interior Alaska, which I find more interesting than I did the Inside Passage.

 

We used Princess and loved everything about it.

[NancyIL]

Just wanted to say that HAL's Zaandam has the same itinerary as the Zuiderdam, although it cruises Wednesday to Wednesday. It is older and smaller than the Zuiderdam, but HAL "purists" seem to prefer the older style to the newer Vista-class ships. My very first cruise was on the Zaandam in 2004. It's a very pretty ship - with the exception of that gaudy "organ" in the atrium. :)

 

Btw - the cabins on HAL ships are almost always larger than comparable cabins on other ships - at least the insides.

[Budget Queen]

I chose Zuiderdam, but I'm doing a cruisetour. We only cruise (3 days)from Vancouver to Juneau, Tracy Arm/Sawyer Glaciers, Skagway, then leave the ship and go overland (for 8 days) on the rail to Whitehorse, Dawson City, riverboat on the Yukon River to Eagle, coach to Tok, on to Fairbanks, train to Denali, then on to Anchorage. I liked the idea of seeing more of the inland Yukon and Alaska. We did the Inside Passage in '99 and thoroughly loved it. Also thought by doing the cruisetour, wouldn't have to pay so much for excursions. I'm not a party person anyway, so I never noticed if there was no night life on HAL. There was shows and the casino and the bars playing music. 10:00 or 11:00 is late enough for me anyway. It really comes down to what you want to do more. Make a list of what's important to you, then see which line/itinerary does more of what you want to see/do. Then make your selection from that. Have fun planning/then taking your cruise, whatever you choose, you'll love Alaska!:p

 

 

For clairfication you are not on a rail to Whitehorse, most of the trip is via bus. The White Pass Railroad is only about the first 25 miles.

[Budget Queen]

Of your 3 choices, definately HAL is way superior. Frankly, nightlife isn't all that great on any Alaska cruise. :) Only you can decide HOW important that will be for you, you may want to consider if you want to take advantage of FANTASTIC opportunities early morning of Alaska??

 

A significant factor with any choice including Tracy Arm, You will NEVER get within view of the Sawyers before June, and it's iffy overall. The Pearl, does have wonderful Glacier Bay, but no ship naturalist, a big plus for first time Alaska visitors- HAL wins here too.

 

I greatly like Freestyle, but it isn't for everyone. My opinion, it is greatly superior for scenery to be sailing out of Vancouver. It is well worth the extra day, which again frankly, is best for ANY Alaska sailing.

 

So make a list perhaps, why are you going to Alaska?? And fit in the best itinerary and ship for that choice.

[agabbymama]

BudgetQueen,

 

Yes, I know the Whitepass Rail doesn't go all the way to Whitehorse. It's a combination rail/coach to Whitehorse, then on to Dawson City. I think that's where we get on the boat to Eagle. Then again back on a coach to TOK, then Fairbanks. Then rail again from Fairbanks to Denali to Anchorage. It's was just easier to try and condense the itinerary a little.

Thanks for the info though.:p