Cruise Talk: Help - Alaskan Cruise

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Topic: Help - Alaskan Cruise

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 06-15-2000 04:44 AM

We will be in Vancover for ten days in April next year. We were thinking of trying to book an Alaskan cruise and we need your help. As we have only cruised on the QE2 and Seabourn Sun, we have very limited knowledge of which ship we should book, and if indeed it is the right time to cruise Alaska.

Any help you could give us would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Elizabeth and Philip

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 06-15-2000 05:52 AM

Hi..do you want to add to the 10 days and is the time flexible, plus what month...peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

sympatico
First Class Passenger
Member # 797

posted 06-15-2000 08:28 AM

Most ships don't start sailing to Alaska until May. This year the weather was perfect, but other years is it usually, quite cool and rainy. Having sailed on the QE2 and Seabourn Sun - you are obviously used to a more upscale line - try Holland America - they and Seabourn are part of the Carnival group.

Posts: 3305 | From: Toronto, Ont. Canada | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-15-2000 11:15 AM

Elizabeth......
April is a bit early for Alaska....at least
for cruising. As mentioned above, the ships
usually arrive in May.
HAL and Crystal would be good choices for
you....although I question the rate differ-
ence between HAL and Crystal. I have experi-
enced very little with Crystal that justifies
the difference in costs.....especially with
my last Crystal cruise.....the food budget
cuts were more than obvious.
I would recommend a HAL Statendam class ship.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Winner
First Class Passenger
Member # 1188

posted 06-15-2000 02:57 PM

Hi--we saled Crystal Symphony two years ago and loved it! You might also look at Radisson Seven Seas Navigator which may be "doing" Alaska in 2001; have heard great things about. (It is expensive but practically everything is included.) Have fun!

Posts: 113 | From: Santa Rosa CA USA | Registered: Mar 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 06-15-2000 03:06 PM

Celebrity are good value and rated as five star. Alaska has a high rainfall, but you never can tell. In May 1998 I had a week of pure Alaskan sunshine!

[This message has been edited by Malcolm (edited 06-15-2000).]

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 06-15-2000 03:27 PM

Elizabeth....just had an idea. As someone else said the Alaska cruises don't really get going until mid May, and if you want to extend it for a land tour then Princess probably has the best. Plus their ships have more balconies which a good thing for viewing.
Back to the idea...the Regal Princess will be doing a repositioning from Japan to Vancouver in April going Northabout and taking in Alaska. Have a look...we did it on the Sky Princess a few years ago and really enjoyed it. Vladivostok, Muroran, Dutch Harbor, places few ships go to....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

NAL
First Class Passenger
Member # 1102

posted 06-15-2000 03:48 PM

gohaze......

Great suggestion!!!!! Didn't think of that
myself.

Posts: 2243 | From: Watsontown, PA | Registered: Feb 2000 | IP: Logged

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 06-16-2000 04:27 AM

Hi Folks

Thank you so much for the prompt replies and all the help. We cannot extend our holiday as our daughter will be with us and she has to return to Aus because of work commitments.

I am not having any luck finding a ship that sails the Alaska route in April. Gohaze, thank you for the suggestion re the repositioning of the Regal Princess. I went to their site and looked up their itineries for 2001 but unfortunately they only go up to the beginning of April. I will ring Princess and see if they can help me. It is difficult to get much information "down under" so I am very greatful for all your help.

Elizabeth

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 06-16-2000 10:10 AM

Elizabeth...Regal Princess. 19 days Osaka to Vancouver April 21st. ....Osaka, Nagasaki, Pusan, Vladivostok, Sapporo, Dutch Harbor, Anchorage, College Fjord, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, Vancouver.
It usually fills up quite quickly.....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 06-16-2000 08:46 PM

Gohaze,

Thank you very much for the information. We will be arriving Vancover around the 15th April. I think we will be too early for the Regal Princes. Do you know of any cruise lines that start cruising Alaska this early?

Elizabeth

[This message has been edited by Elizabeth (edited 06-16-2000).]

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

mitch
First Class Passenger
Member # 708

posted 06-17-2000 03:17 AM

Elizabeth I don't know of any cruise lines that go this early but try a ship called spirit of Alaska. A smaller ship that goes to the areas the bigger ships can't.
I maybe barking up the wrong tree but ist's worth a try .

good luck

Posts: 87 | From: australia | Registered: Aug 99 | IP: Logged

gohaze
First Class Passenger
Member # 586

posted 06-17-2000 07:34 AM

Elizabeth...you're a little bit early for the Alaska cruises on the big ships, however there are a couple more ideas. The Alaska State Highways run ferries from Bellingham - just South of Vancouver - up the Inside Passage and you can reach a lot of ports all the way out to the Aleutian Islands that way - www.akferry.com
Another good idea is the BC Ferries. They have a round trip you can do from Vancouver by bus, ship and train. Up to Prince Rupert, then to Prince George by train, and a different train back to Vancouver....www.bcferries.bc.ca
Have a look at those two....peter

Posts: 1909 | From: Vancouver.BC | Registered: Sep 99 | IP: Logged

bernad c. de roo
Just Boarded
Member # 1363

posted 06-17-2000 03:45 PM

Just made 7-day inside passage cruise on HAL Veendam, sailing May 24,2000. Mid-May really begins cruise season or even alittle early. We had picture perfect weather, with tops of mountains covered in snow. Awesome scenery. Ship beautifuly maintained, excellent sized cabins, good number with verandah. Ship lacks enough elevators. Was disappointed in quality of food and service in dining-room. Ship has beautiful decor without being glitzy. Ship was in ports enough time to see all that is to see. Would recommend rail trip in Skagway. If you are staing in Vancouver for a number of days, I recommend the Delta Pennicle Hotel, it was an excellent hotel and not that expensive. Vancouver is a beautiful city and there is much to see. The next time we are there (this is our 4th time) we will certainly stay longer ourselves. Enjoy both Alaska and Vancouver when you go.

Posts: 1 | From: mesquite, tx usa | Registered: Jun 2000 | IP: Logged

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 06-18-2000 01:35 AM

Hi Folks

Thank you once again. I will certainly check out all your suggestions and will let you know how we get on. We really would love to see some of the spectacular scenery and wildlife that is experienced on the Alaskan cruise.Thank you also for the information on where to stay in Vancover.

I would like to ask all my knowledgeable friends another question or two if I may. We were thinking of taking the train ride over the Rocky Mountains. Excuse my ignorance, but could anyone tell me if this train runs in April? If you have any suggestions on "must see and do" while we are in Canada we would love to hear them.

Elizabeth and Philip

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Grant
First Class Passenger
Member # 1000

posted 06-19-2000 12:31 AM

Elizabeth: It seems that you will be visiting the west coast of Canada, prior to the Alaska cruise season getting underway. There are however many interesting things to see and do while here is April. A day trip to Victoria is well worth the time, and your idea of a rail journey through the Rockies is indeed a great one. The tourist train "Rocky Mountainer" is perhaps not up and running in April, however the Via Rail "Canadian" runs 3 times a week across the country. It is possible to do the portion through the Rockies without travelling from sea to sea! The train is very similar to your "Indian Pacific", but has observation domes. Be sure to travel "Silver and Blue" class which is as first class as rail travel gets in Canada. Book two single rooms as doubles involve bunks! You could get off in Jasper which is in the heart of the Rockies, and travel down to Lake Louise, Banff and Calgary; then fly home. When you book your airfare, have an agent check out the fare for flying into Vancouver, and home from Calgary. This will save you paying the one way local fare between the Calgary and Vancouver, and the difference in the international fare will be negligable, providing you travel with Air Canada, Canadian or an American carrier which has code share rights within Canada (United). At this point Qantas no longer has any arrangements within Canada for domestic flights. While you will miss Alaska, the Rockies are spectacular in April. www.viarail.ca www.aircanada.ca

Posts: 834 | From: Victoria, BC, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000 | IP: Logged

jwine
First Class Passenger
Member # 634

posted 06-19-2000 08:12 AM

Have you tried CruiseWest? They have small ships that go to Alaska, I have their 2000 brochure and they do have some cruises in April, as early as April 8. They are very casual and up close and personal viewing of Alaska. Not anything like the QE2 or Seabourn, but a magnificent way to see Alaska. They leave from Seattle. We did the Rocky Mountaineer last May from Vancouver to Banff and it was wonderful. I'm not sure that it runs in April though. I'll check and see if I have any info on it. Also another big company in Canada is Brewster, they might have something. Both Brewster and Rocky Mountaineer have websites, you might be able to find something on them. Good Luck.

Posts: 223 | From: Cincinnati, OH USA | Registered: Apr 99 | IP: Logged

Elizabeth
First Class Passenger
Member # 142

posted 06-22-2000 05:52 AM

Folks, thank you very much for all your help.I am very busy following up on all the information you have supplied.

Elizabeth

Posts: 177 | From: New England Region N.S.W. Australia | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

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