Which line, Princess or RCCL???

[oceanlovinmama]

We are planning a cruise next September and combining it with a land tour. From what I've read on these boards and the prices I've been quoted, it seems best to do it independantly....my question is more about cruiselines. We have cruised both RCCL and Princess and liked them both. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which line and why?? I have heard Princess does it up a little nicer because they have been doing it longer. Also, if Princess..any suggestions for which ship? Diamond, Emerald, Coral or Island??? Thank you for any suggestions.

[Keith1010]

If you are looking at just these two lines I would go with Princess. You are correct that Princess has been doing this longer so I would go with them for this Alaska specific cruise. You may also want to look at Celebrity and Holland as well.

 

Keith

[Budget Queen]

Of your 2 choices, Princess is the winner, for Glacier Bay and College Fjords, which are must dos on a one way in my opinion. Their ship naturalists are top notch which RCI does not usually have.

[CruisinLynette]

This is our first Alaskan Cruise. We LOVE RCCL but Princess gave us a good price on the SUN so we are going with them Sept 16, 2007. Wish it was closer.

[NancyIL]

We are planning a cruise next September and combining it with a land tour. From what I've read on these boards and the prices I've been quoted, it seems best to do it independantly....my question is more about cruiselines. We have cruised both RCCL and Princess and liked them both. Does anyone have any suggestions as to which line and why?? I have heard Princess does it up a little nicer because they have been doing it longer. Also, if Princess..any suggestions for which ship? Diamond, Emerald, Coral or Island??? Thank you for any suggestions

 

The Diamond and Sapphire (not Emerald) cruise on Saturdays, going in opposite directions, and are the largest Princess ships cruising in Alaska. The Coral and Island sail on Mondays and are smaller than the Diamond/Sapphire. Their itineraries are identical, so pick a date and a port of embarkation, and see which ships sail then.

[oceanlovinmama]

Thanks for your opinions. I'm taking by 2 of your responses that we should also be looking at other ships?? Here is our problem...We have a son who gets out of college May 12 or so...the beginning of the season, and he goes back August 20th or so...however, he comes home for labor day. Now granted, he will be 20 but we like to be home with him. So Sept 1st is out because he'll be home. The 3rd would work, he would be going back that day....and the 8th is good, but because we want to do a combo land tour, I'm afraid we're getting kinda late into the season....we also have a nieces wedding Sept. 22.... I've been on Princess and RCCL that's why I asked about those two ships.....any other suggestions, please speak up!!! I am also curious if you can take the train all the way to Denali or do you have to book that through a cruise line? My husband is kinda nervous about driving now, in case of an early snow. He will be 52, I'll be 49 and it will be our 28th Wedding anniversary. We are also hoping to go with 2 other couples. Wildlife is very high on our list to see.

[Coral]

I have done both to Alaska and Princess did a much better job - better times in port, a naturalist on the ship, College Fiords and Glacier Bay and Anytime dining.

[cruisevacationsrock]

We are going in May, 2007 and using RCCL. The trips offered thru RCCL that we wanted to do were better than the ones offered on Princess, for us. One big point for me is that RCCL is one of the few cruise ships around that go to Icy Strait Point, which sounds beautiful. That was the biggest selling point for us. I don't think Princess stops there, but I could be wrong!

C

[NancyIL]

We are going in May, 2007 and using RCCL. The trips offered thru RCCL that we wanted to do were better than the ones offered on Princess, for us. One big point for me is that RCCL is one of the few cruise ships around that go to Icy Strait Point, which sounds beautiful. That was the biggest selling point for us. I don't think Princess stops there, but I could be wrong!

C

 

Ships that don't go to Glacier Bay often go to Icy Strait Point and Hubbard Glacier instead.

[Coral]

One big point for me is that RCCL is one of the few cruise ships around that go to Icy Strait Point, which sounds beautiful. I don't think Princess stops there, but I could be wrong!

C

 

Princess has a few sailings that stop there. So does Holland America.

[Budget Queen]

I am also curious if you can take the train all the way to Denali or do you have to book that through a cruise line? My husband is kinda nervous about driving now, in case of an early snow. He will be 52, I'll be 49 and it will be our 28th Wedding anniversary. We are also hoping to go with 2 other couples. Wildlife is very high on our list to see.

 

 

If you are looking at going in Sept. I suggest you consider a northbound Vancouver trip. Denali Park is open with the shuttles until about the 15th.

 

You have the wrong idea about driving. EXTREMELY simple and unlikely any snow that early on the roads. I've gone in this timeframe several times, never had any snow with driving. But snow in Denali Park is a whole different story. :)