One more thing-You've cruised before so probably know to ask about/look for various discounts. You h

I'm planning an Alaskan Cruise July 2013 for a multi-generational group of 8-10, ages 11, 16, 18, 40's and 70's. In my hodge podge research I've heard of some pointers and tips. Before I start narrowing down choices based on these, luxury hotel paris I wanted to get a sense from you what is true and what is not.
What do you think? I know that because our budget luxury hotel paris is not limitless not all of these will work out. None of us have ever been to Alaska, though most have enjoyed cruises in the past. The group ranges from the uber active luxury hotel paris to those who would happily spend days looking at the scenery and playing bingo. Would love to know the opinions of trusted Fodorites.
1. Never used Holland America. We found that Carnival has the best prices. 2. If you're footing the bill, then book the catagory of cabin you can afford. If others are paying their own way, then they should do the same. We've cruised a lot and have never booked a balcony, and have been very happy cruisers. 3.The only Glacier Ntl. Park I know about is in Montana/Canada, and not part of any cruise I've ever heard about. Could be I just never heard about the one to which you're referring. 4.We've done the Inside luxury hotel paris Passage twice and did it one way both times. 6.On our 1st we spent over $1000 due to me wanting to helicopter over a glacier and into a mushing camp and get to mush. That was expensive. The 2nd cruise we spent $0 on excursions. 7. We sailed out of Vancouver both times.Ended in Seattle luxury hotel paris on the 2nd cruise.Did not get seasick. Whatever luxury hotel paris you choose, You're luxury hotel paris gonna' have a wonderful time. Alaska is fantastic.
One more thing-You've cruised before so probably know to ask about/look for various discounts. You have a diverse group, so someone may qualify for discounts as a senior,past passenger,resident of a particular state, etc. Many cruiselines offer a whole host of discounts. Carnival has some pretty good early saver fares. We usually do that.
1. Hal has the reputation for older, more mature passengers. Personally for me, I would book with them since when we cruise we try to avoid children as much as possible. It seems to get the least (from research). luxury hotel paris Carnival's reputation is being the least expensive cruise line and filled with families luxury hotel paris and partiers. luxury hotel paris We have done Carnival twice in the Caribbean and it's a line I would never, ever get on again even for free. Princess has the reputation luxury hotel paris for being the best line for Alaska. We did the Seattle round trip with Princess in Sept. 2011 and loved it. Since school had already started, they were only a handful of children on board.
2.It really depends luxury hotel paris on you. It's controversial subject. I personally will not book a cruise anywhere without a balcony. We do has caustrophobia issues. I also hate having to go up and down to get to the outside areas.
3. I was told this also when we were researching and did pick an iteniary with Glacier Bay. When we got there, I thought luxury hotel paris "What is really all the hype"? I just didn't see it. It was very nice, but I just I expected so much more based on the thousands of recommendations. luxury hotel paris Again, I think it's a personal decision.
4. Again, it depends on you and what you are looking to get out of the cruise. We choose the Seattle round trip based on price. This was one of the most expensive luxury hotel paris vacations we have ever taken (we travel to Mexico and the Caribbean at least once or twice a year. We had Rewards with Southwest to get to Seattle. My brother and his wife did the Vancouver luxury hotel paris one way 2 months before us on Princess and they ended up paying more due to airfare.
luxury hotel paris We also spent 4 1/2 days in Seattle. I would have loved to have added on the Denali cruise tour also, but there just came a point we had to stop spending. We also cut our ship's cost down tremendously. No specialty restaurants, watched our bar bill like a hawk, just a select few pictures and none of the other cost features that cruise lines offer.
6. Again, it depends on you and what excursions you are wanting to do. Alaska excursions are going to more expensive than excursions in the Caribbean. If you pick the dog sledding, luxury hotel paris helicopter landing, float plane excursions, then yes these are quite pricey. But, there are other things to see and do that don't cost that much. One myth to me is that going with an independant luxury hotel paris operator luxury hotel paris is better than the cruise line. In the Caribbean I would say that is a truer statement. In Alaska, not so much. I found the price difference to be about $50. The independant operators book up faster and the excursion must be paid immeidatly on booking. We booked Junea and Skagway with Princess and it was charged to our ship account. We paid for them on the last day of the cruise. We booked luxury hotel paris Chilkhoot Charters for the train/bus excursion in Skagway. We did not have any issues with the Princess shore excursions.
Whatever line you book with go to their excursions and see what they offer and their prices. luxury hotel paris Then go to CruiseCritic.com and check the independant operators. You won't find much of a difference. At least I didn't. We booked our excursion in January, 2011 for September, 2011 and most of the Independants were booked up anyway. So, not like we had a choice. luxury hotel paris I also noticed that closer to the cruise departure date, Princess kept hiking up their shore excursion prices. Up to $100 difference in what I booked in Janaury.
7. I don't know. We didn't have too much of a issue with the Seattle return trip. I remember one night, we felt a bunch of jerking, but we didn't get sick. I took Dramamine every morning no matter what. DH didn't take anything and was fine. We had much worse on our last Caribbean cruise, luxury hotel paris but we had a very forward cabin. I made sure this cruise we had a cabin directly in the middle of the ship.
I researched our Alaska cruise for about 5 years on and off before we ever booked. We booked in November 2010 and I think I spent most everyday reading cruisecritic until our departure. We loved our cruise and I would happily do it again.
Oh, one other thing, if the iteniary you pick has Victoria, Canada, try to NOT get the one that arrives at 7pm and leaves at midnight. We felt it was a wasted port as it was too dark to see or do anthing. I so wanted to go to the Bontanical Gardens there, but it was closed before we ever arrived.
1) Do not travel with Holland America if you have teens: HALF TRUTH. They do have teens and children on board for Alaskan cruises. There maybe less suitable (or choices) of activites/entertainment for that age group when compared to other cruise line.
2) A balcony room is really a must for at least some in the party: FALSE. TRUE if you can afford it. If you sail northbound, take a balcony on the starboard side (right). If you travel southbound or round trip, take a balcony on the port side (left). This is has nothing to do with viewing the Glaciers up close as the captain will turn the ship around so both sides will have equal time. This has everything to do with viewing the distant glacier luxury hotel paris on the continent side. You can always go to the front of the ship or on the promenade deck, or any other open deck for viewing. It is just not as private as your own balcony.
3)It's critical to make sure Glacier National Park is on your itinerary. TRUE. Glacier luxury hotel paris Bay National Park is probably "the" stop. It is an ecological protected area and the National Park Services only allow a few ships per day to travel into Glacier Bay and the ships must meet certain standards. They have a quota systems and the cruise line bid on them. (That also explains the cruises that has Glacier Bay is slightly more expensive). The Park Rangers also board the ship and set up an information center on the ship. They sell books etc. and will have a few Park Rangers roaming around and answering questions. This is in addition to the naturalist luxury hotel paris on board.
4) Ideally you would do a one way cruise even though air will be higher: HALF TRUTH. Round trip, north bound, south bound all have tehir advanatges. One way cruises are cheaper (and maybe discounted) where you won't see much discounting on the round trip. If you want to see Alaska, luxury hotel paris then you want a pre-cruise or post-cruise trip (tour) so the one way cruise makes a lot of sense. If you just want to be on the cruise, and have no time (or budget) for a land portion, what you save on the one waay cruise won't make up for the extra airfare.
5) Second best is round trip from Vancouver (versus Seattle)HALF TRUTH (see above) If you live in the US, airfare is definitely cheaper to Seattle. Vancouver is a very nice place to vist but more expensive comparing to Seattle. Hotels by the cruise terminal are not cheap. Sales Tax is also higher.
6) You will spend thousands of dollars on excursions: FALSE. I have spent thousands on excursions and have also spend nothing or very little. It is true that excursion luxury hotel paris is more expensive for Alaska compare to Caribbean or Mexico as the operators and staff are all American (or Canadian) making decent wages and typically have higher standards. A typical excursion is about $100 to $150 per person.
Here is an example: Ketchikan: Misty Fjord float plane (IMHO best excursion at this port) is around $500+ per person luxury hotel paris for less than 3 hours. You can also walk around the old town, take in local sights like the historic Creek Street and so on for $0. There are also hiking trail that can take you up to scenic view point or pay $2 to take the "tram/elevator" to the Cape Fox Lodge, located on a hill overlooking the bay. You can spend hours in Ketchikan without spending money on excursion. This is also your best shopping port for cheap t-shirts and jackets.
Another example: Juneau, the Tramway terminal to Mount Roberts is walking distance ($29 for a round trip on the tram) but there is a trail that you can hike up if you wish. The town is just a bit further down and defintely walking distance. Buses to Mendenhall Glacier is about $12 so you can just take the bus there and back.
7) Unless you travel out of Seattle, sailing will be quite smooth and you won't get sea sick. FALSE. The inside passage