Cruise Talk: ALASKA

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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » ALASKA

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Topic: ALASKA

lise henault
Just Boarded
Member # 1795

posted 10-05-2002 04:33 PM

WHAT IS THE BEST ROUTE : INTERIOR PASSAGE, NORTHBOUND OR SOUTHBOUND?
WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO GO?
THANK YOU!

Posts: 4 | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

cruiseny
First Class Passenger
Member # 2928

posted 10-05-2002 09:06 PM

Regarding route: depends on what you want.

If you are going on a land tour in Alaska before or after your cruise, Northbound or Southbound Gulf route is the only choice. I was on a N.bound cruise but I don't know if one would be preferable than the other.

On the other hand, if you are going cruise-only, the roundtrip Inside Passage route is likely the best choice. It is more convenient (avoids the very difficult flight schedules from Anchorage) and you miss nothing. All a Northbound Gulf cruise does is, upon reaching the northernmost point visited by the Iniside Passage cruise, rather than going back south, it takes a day at sea in the Gulf, which features the lovely scenery of... Water! Yep, that's it. The only reason for taking that itinerary is so that you don't go back down south, but rather are able to take the Alaskan land tour should you be so inclined. If you aren't taking an Alsakan land tour, there is no reason to take the Gulf route (unless it is cheaper or more convenient, in which case - go ahead).

Whatever you do spending some time in Vancouver before or after your cruise comes highly recommended.

Posts: 4730 | From: New York, USA | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Tim Agg
First Class Passenger
Member # 3185

posted 10-06-2002 10:43 PM

We've done four Alaska cruises, and expect to do more in the coming years - it's the easiest close-to-home option. Both the northbound/southbound and the inside passage routes have their strengths - mostly related to whether you are including a land package in Alaska, and ports. For a first-timer, just assume that one Alasak cruise will lead to another! My first recommendation is to book a ship that is visiting Glacier Bay. My second recommendation is to sail out of Vancouver rather than Seattle - you'll get the advantage of the BC as well as the ALaskan insidew passgae - calmer waters and much, much prettier. Beyond that, there are so many good choices to make - just pick the ones that seem right for you, and you will not go wrong.

Posts: 365 | From: Vancouver BC | Registered: Jul 2002 | IP: Logged

glasslin
Just Boarded
Member # 3414

posted 10-17-2002 04:24 PM

We cruised to Alaska from Vancouver years ago on a North bound route for 7 days. I've always said when we go again, we'll go for longer trip and also include the land trip to Denali to see Mount McKinley. If you can't do the land trip, then there is not a huge difference except where you choose to board the ship.

The trip we took was in the first week of August and it was cold at Glacier Bay, as it always is. We wore jackets and gloves while watching the glaciers calve!! What a sight! But, it's worth wearing your winter clothes for a week!

The early weeks and later weeks (April- May & September) are rainy and colder. But the prices are significantly lower than July and August.

Posts: 3 | From: Pennsylvania | Registered: Oct 2002 | IP: Logged

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