Alaskan Cruise

Mister-Jr

Having never been on a cruise we decided to book our first next year to Alaska. I have read much but I am looking for personal experiences with cruise lines and routes. We are not too interested in stopping at a bunch of cities as much as we want to see the glaciers and wild life.

We are interested in good accommodations, reasonably good food, and lots of opportunities to explore off the ship. Cost is not a huge factor, but I not interested in Cunard either. I have looked at Holland America, they look pretty good, but I am interested to know if anyone has sailed with them before.

Your help is much appreciated.

pupraiser

Holland America attracts an older crowd. I'm talking oxygen tank old.

WaterEngineer

Junior - you have PM.

td.

Either SE AK or Kenai Fjords for glaciers/wildlife.

SouthFloridaAngler

I went on Celebrity and it was very nice. Most Alaskan cruises will have a lot of old people on them but there were many young people on ours to hang out with. You gotta go fishing and whale watching.

drkptt

I went on a Caribbean cruise once and hated being locked in a big plastic/chrome shopping mall with a bunch of tourists--never again. So for an Alaskan cruise a few years ago we took the Alaska Marine Highway--the state-run ferry--up the inside passage from Bellingham Washington to Juneau. Got the beautiful boat ride a whole lot cheaper and got to spend more time off the boat in Alaska. Had a private cabin and a cooler full of groceries and good Oregon wines. For real low-budget cruising they allowed you to duct tape a tent on one of the outside decks. There was a snack bar, lounge, and sit-down restaurant on board. Enough time at the stops to get off the boat for a meal or a taxi tour.

When we got to Juneau we spent two days at this fishing lodge on an island a few miles away:
http://www.juneaualaskafishing.com/

Then one more night in Juneau at this historic bed and breakfast/bakery/movie theater:
http://www.silverbowinn.com/

Then flew to Sitka for a few days before returning through Seattle by air.

pupraiser

drkptt wrote: »

I went on a Caribbean cruise once and hated being locked in a big plastic/chrome shopping mall with a bunch of tourists--never again.

I'd be interested in knowing the cruise line. I suspect I know.

Mister-Jr

As a note, some concessions have to be made to my girl, balcony room, decent food and probably a spa. I need the best of both.

pupraiser

Mister-Jr wrote: »

As a note, some concessions have to be made to my girl, balcony room, decent food and probably a spa. I need the best of both.

Get an aft cabin if you can.

drkptt

pupraiser wrote: »

I'd be interested in knowing the cruise line. I suspect I know.

Carnival, the Jubilee in 1986. Interestingly the ship was sold off to some Australian or New Zealand company, was renamed, and gained some internet fame with videos of people and forklifts sliding around in bad seas.

pupraiser

drkptt wrote: »

Carnival, the Jubilee in 1986. Interestingly the ship was sold off to some Australian or New Zealand company, was renamed, and gained some internet fame with videos of people and forklifts sliding around in bad seas.

That's what I suspected. My first ever cruise was on Carnival. From the moment I got on the ship I counted down the hours until it ended. I hated every minute of it. Swore I would never do it again. 15 years later I was talking into going on Celebrity. I absolutely loved it. The higher end cruise ships are really good. Some of the best food I've eaten (I'm not talking the buffet).


Cruising is a different type of vacation. I'll go every couple of years for something different.

Next Level

"The Silverbow Inn and Bakery is a gay friendly B&B that feels like grandma's house. Cozy, informal, and in the historic heart of Juneau, don't be surprised if you find yourself making fast friends with an international mix of easy-going guests around the breakfast table. One of Juneau's best values."
- Rob Dunton
Freelance Travel Author & Photographer

drkptt

Next Level wrote: »

"The Silverbow Inn and Bakery is a gay friendly B&B that feels like grandma's house. Cozy, informal, and in the historic heart of Juneau, don't be surprised if you find yourself making fast friends with an international mix of easy-going guests around the breakfast table. One of Juneau's best values."
- Rob Dunton
Freelance Travel Author & Photographer

The place was very cool, but seemed more like a small hotel than grandma's house. It's in an older commercial building in downtown Juneau. IIRC the breakfast table was an unattended Continental-style setup.

Now the B&B we stayed at in Bellingham was spectacular. Breakfast and conversation was served by the proprietor who seemed very gay-friendly. Felt like your weird uncle's house. Looks like it's no longer open:
http://www.bedbreakfasthome.com/northgardeninn/?from=listing

fishknut

We went a couple of years ago on Celebrity and it was very nice, mostly older people (>50) probably due to the cost. Make sure you go zip lining in Juneau, it is awesome. I got a stomach bug for the first three days and spent it in the bed looking out the balconey looking at the landscape, very cool. Eagles are everywhere. We disembarked in Seward and spent a couple of days there, that was very cool, if you can go Halibut fishing, we didnt but I wish we had. Very cool part of the country, I would like to go back when I retire and spend the summer there.

Mister-Jr

I'm 60, old people dont especially bother me.

pupraiser

Mister-Jr wrote: »

I'm 60, old people dont especially bother me.

You're gonna get hit on then.

fishknut

Mister-Jr wrote: »

I'm 60, old people dont especially bother me.

Well duh, you're one of them......j/k