Which cruise lines do you recommend? Any other helpful advice would be greatly appreciated! THANKS!

First of all, I think that you should contact a cruise specialist/travel agent to help you with this booking. If you have never cruised they will give you all the information you will need and help you plan the best possible trip. There is just too much risk involved if you don’t book with an agent, and it could end up ruining your honeymoon.

Second, Alaska is a great place to go and the cruises are amazing. I recommend doing the inner passage that will stop at the major ports. Some lines even offer tours at each port, which is great.

Holland America and Princess have the best cruises to Alaska in my opinion, they are wonderful. But they are going to be a little more pricey. Also, Holland tends to attract more seniors, not sure of what age group you would want onboard.

Most cruise lines that go to Alaska have a very nice cruise. It mostly depends on what you are looking for as far as crowds, entertainment, price, length, etc.

What I would recommend doing is going to http://cruisecritic.com/ This is a great resource. It has lots of information on different destinations, as well as member reviews of cruise ships. You can go in and read about cruises to Alaska, cruises for honeymoons, romance, etc. You can find a lot of information here. So what I would do is read the site and get some information. Find the cruise/cruises that interests you the most, then find a good travel agent that specializes in cruises. They can price your different options and help you to pick the best lines and help you with all the planning.

In my experience I prefer Royal Caribbean over Carnival for familes. The service is much better, and it is a lot cleaner. However, food on Carnival is less expensive, the food is somewhat better and rooms are a little larger. The shows on RCL are a little better, especially for kids, Carnival is more Las Vegas style shows. Carnival is known as the party boat, which in my opinion isn’t always good for kids. On RCL you have a lot more choices as to what you want to do for entertainment. Also with Carnival, you may pay a lower cost up front, but often times when you get on board you will find a lot things aren’t included and you may end up spending more.

I suggest looking over the activities for both cruise lines and pick the one you think suits your kids best. You know aht they like, so it will be easier for you to decide. Both are pretty nice cruises, it also depends what boat you are taking. In my opinion, Royal Caribbean is a better cruise line, Carnival is more budget friendly and has more activities for kids.

Princess and Holland America are both well known for their Alaska cruises. However, these may not be as age appropriate for your kids, it tends to be older couples.

If you think that your kids would like the Activities on Royal Caribbean I would try that line. Overall, I have had much better experience with them over Carnival. But your kids will probably find more to do on Carnival. Again, they are both great ships, but it just depends on what you think your kids will enjoy most.

I’ve also included some links for the activites for kids on Royal Caribbean and Carnival.

Hope this helps!

I am considering taking a cruise trip to Alaska and what I have in mind is: "7 Day Alaska Cruise, Roundtrip from Vancouver aboard ms Volendam"

Someone said Volendam is a pretty old ship and should avoid. Is that true? Or there is no big difference between Volendam and a newer ship?
Thansk for your advice.

Shan, the MS Volendam is a great ship. You will enjoy a cruise on her. She does not have some of the newer things that you will find on some cruise ships, like climbing walls, etc. The food will be wonderful as will the service. My wife and I are going on the MS Veendam this October, and have been on the Volendam, too.

Regards,
Dan

Most of us think that cruise lines are way out of our price range. We envision formal dining and entertainment, rich couples drinking expensive champagne and handsomely appointed staterooms that cost thousands of dollars a night. And while there are expensive luxuries offered on cruise voyages, finding a cheap cruise adventure is well within reach of most people. To find a cheap cruise adventure, the first thing that you need to do is shop around. Important considerations such as departure and destination points need to be considered as well.

The best places to start gathering research for a cheap cruise adventure are on the Internet. Check out traveling websites such as Travelocity and Orbitz and the like and start printing out information. Where do you want to go? Alaska or Hawaii? Somewhere more exotic, like South America, or Australia or the Far East? First decide where you want to go and then start pricing different cruise lines. Cruise lines are in the business of taking passengers to wonderful locations, and if they weren’t affordable, they’d soon go out of business. Passengers can find luxurious shipboard appointments if they have a bottomless wallet, but so can the average tourist on a budget.

Take, for example a cruise line in the United States. Carnival and Pacific cruise lines offer passenger accommodations at around $200 a night for three to four day journeys to the Bahamas, Baja California and the Caribbean. This ‘cheap cruise’ fare is not cheap in the sense that you won’t be able to access the perks that other passengers are receiving. Far from it. This price includes just as many amenities and perks as any other passenger enjoys. Of course, the longer the journey, the more expensive it can get, but also keep in mind that most passenger voyage tickets include everything from room and board, dining, onboard entertainment, use of fitness rooms, swimming pools and any other activities provided while on board, and even may include tickets to any sightseeing venues off the ship while in certain ports of call. When looking for a cheap cruise ticket, make sure that you know what is included and what isn’t in the price of a per person ticket.

No matter which kind of a cheap cruise line ticket you’re looking for, remember to read the fine print. Many cruise lines require double occupancy for the prices quoted. Some also require that anyone under the age of 21 must share a room with someone who is at least 21 years of age. Comparison shopping for a cheap cruise line ticket won’t take very long, and you’ll more than likely be surprised at the number of good deals you can find. Just remember that a cheap cruise doesn’t mean that you’ll be bunking down in the boiler room. Do be advised however, that the cheaper your ticket, the lower in the ship your room will be located, so keep that in mind when booking rooms. A cheap cruise find is a rewarding payoff to a little homework.

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Chonticha Marijne
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/how-to-find-your-cheap-cruise-adventure-105844.html

We have three boys who will be 6,9, and 11 next summer. We’d love to take them on an Alaska cruise, but we’re not sure which one is best for kids and families. Also, what excursions would you recommend most for us?

For a family cruise to Alaska, I would recommend Royal Caribbean. In particular look at Radiance of the Seas which is extremely family friendly. Vision of the Seas is a smaller ship, and while the programs onboard are good, the kids area has the tendency to be small compared to the number of kids on board.

If you are on a tight budget, look to Carnival which is also a very family friendly line.

Princess is also very good for families, and they have one of the strongest programs to Alaska. However, they are a little more expensive.

As for excursions it depends on the ports – but they would probably enjoy a ride on the Mount Roberts tramway in Juneau (just steps from the cruise ship pier) and the lumberjack show in Ketchikan.

It’s also not a bad idea to speak with a travel agent that specializes in cruises. I recommend Cruise Planners at 888-286-9827 www.mycruiseplanner.net. They’re knowledgeable, offer the same prices as the online sites and the cruise lines, plus they don’t charge any service fees.

No matter which cruise line you sail on, you can find a luxury cruise experience. Most cruise lines offer some luxuries for just about any budget, so you don’t necessarily have to spend millions of dollars or be rich to enjoy one. Of course, every cruise has various pricing packages and if you want a larger stateroom rather than a cabin, you’re going to pay more. The same goes for amenities.

Some cruise lines offer an around the world luxury cruise. Now, these can cost twenty thousand dollars or more, but for many people who’ve saved up all their lives for the experience of a lifetime, money’s no object. Several different cruise lines offer more luxurious appointments than others, and cost will also depend on your departure and destination points, as well as your length of journey options. The Carnival Cruise luxury cruise line has very nicely appointed and offers fine services for the budget minded traveler, though some of their cruises aren’t much cheaper than those charged by a more elegant line. Holland-America and Crystal Cruise lines offer longer journeys and more exotic destinations, and sightseeing packages, and so are higher priced. But if you’re in the mood to be spoiled and pampered, remember that you get what you pay for.

A luxury cruise line sets sail to just about anywhere in the world. A popular luxury cruise line like Crystal Cruise and Holland-America offer passengers luxury accommodations both at sea and on land. Passengers can enjoy four-course dinners, highbrow entertainment and plush staterooms if they wish. This type of luxury cruise line also offers the causal traveler the option to hop aboard from a number of ports of call, and for a few thousands dollars, about the same that one would pay to sail from Los Angeles, California to Alaska, a passenger can enjoy the luxury not available to them otherwise while enjoying a week or so on one of the pricier luxury lines.

A luxury cruise line such as Cunard, which has been around since the early 1900’s, offers just as many amenities as the Crystal and Holland-America lines. Other popular luxury cruise lines include the Princess, Celebrity, Regent and Princess cruises. Passengers are able to choose exotic as well as more local destinations, such as Hawaii and Alaska for moderately priced voyages that don’t skimp on luxury. If you want high-class service, exotic destinations and ports of call that many cruise lines can’t access, check out the prices for various luxury cruise lines. They’re not really much more expensive than others.

When considering a luxury cruise, shop around for sailing destinations and schedules and then determine how much money you want to spend. There are over a dozen luxury cruise lines with reputations of excellent service to choose from. Remember that luxury is more than a soft bed and a fancy dinner. Luxury is an ideal, and everyone has his or her own idea of what luxury is. Taking a luxury cruise adventure to Alaska or Hong Kong can be the experience of a lifetime, and one that shouldn’t be missed if at all possible.

Chonticha Marijne
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/let-yourself-be-pampered-on-luxury-cruise-lines-109662.html

What cruise line would be the best to take for alaska? Money is no problem.

If money is no problem, then you would probably want to take one of the "luxury" lines – Seaborn, Radisson, etc – because they have smaller ships and can go into smaller ports and cruise closer to icebergs, etc. I don’t know which of the luxury lines sail to Alaska, but if you go to VacationsToGo.com, you can looks up cruises by destination.

If you want to have an upscale cruise without spending megabucks, go for one of the "premium" lines – Celebrity or Holland America. Princess is also sometimes classified as a "premium" line. Those lines offer a calmer, classier experience than the "mass-market" lines like Carnival or Royal or Norwegian.

To get a feel for what the different lines are like, there are books on cruising at your library or bookstore, or you could go to travel websites like Fodor’s or Frommer’s. Also, try CruiseCritic.com, click on "Reviews", and then you can choose either professional reviews or member reviews [definitely gives you a range of opinions, which you can match with what you are looking for].

On most cruises, I’d advise going for an inside or ocean-view cabin, to save money. But many people recommend a balcony cabin in Alaska because you can sit in private and watch the scenery go by – if you’re on the side of the ship that’s passing scenery.

Hope you find just the cruise you want!

which best date to visit Alaska by cruise?
Best low cost from Europe/Portugal?

The best time to visit Alaska is during the summer (June, July, August). The weather is beautiful and the temperature can range anywhere from 50 to 80 degrees, depending on the time of day and where you are (most cruises stay in the inside passage on the border of Canada, but some also dock in Seward/Anchorage).

Some cruises have extra tour packages, meaning you can get to the port a day or two early and tour there (like in Seattle or Vancouver, I even did a land tour from Fairbanks to Seward and then got on the ship in Seward).

I love Norwegian Cruise Lines, I’ve sailed with them 4 times (twice in Alaska, once in the Bahamas, and once in Europe) and I’ve been on Holland America once (also in Alaska). I liked Norwegian better but Holland America was also fantastic and I would definitely recommend both.

As far as low cost from Europe/Portugal, I’m assuming you mean the plane flight? Sometimes the cruise lines have good deals on plane tickets, especially if you’re doing an extra tour package. Check out Expedia, Travelocity, and Orbitz too for cheap fares. You could also see a travel agent.

Celebrity Infinity 7N Alaska inside passage roundtrip Vancouver cruise – Which shore excursion should I not miss : Best of Alaska Package (2hrs – all 3 ports at once?), Juneau Alaskan Whale Watch or Helicopter & dogsled Adventure (3.5 hrs). If I select more than one; can the timing for both excursions be met as both are in Juneau? Is Heli ride safe? Will I see whales on the cruise without taking the s.excursions?

Went on a Princess cruise to Alaska in 2005, stopped in ketchican, Juneau and Skagway. ketchican is very small, we went to the lumberjack show which was very fun. Others in our group went salmon fishing and they had a good time. In Juneau I took a sea-plane through the ice fields, amazing! Great time and would definately recommend it. Others took a helicopter and glacier hike, no dogs. In Skagway we took a 3 mile hike followed by a raft float trip down a river, again, great time. Wish we could have done more but many of these trips are time consuming and you want to leave time to explore and grab some Alaskan Ale.

Which is better North bound or south bound alaska cruise?

As a former cruise line employee, I can tell you that the northbound and southbound Alaska cruises are the same cruise, just done in reverse. So, it all comes down to your preference, would you rather be in northern Alaska at the beginning or end of your trip. Also, if doing a pre or post cruisetour, would you prefer to do that before or after your cruise?

I believe I have exhausted all the resources out there. Sunday to Satuday is our time limit. Particularly, July 30th to August 5th, 2006. Please help.

Unfortunately, you will need to change some of your plans in order to get what you want. Actually, a 7 day cruise is even short for an inside passage to Alaska, they are usually two weeks.

You can get an Alaska cruise that is shorter, but they likely won’t offer the inside passage. I know princess offersw shorter cruises, but it usually goes down to a 4 day cruise. You may consider doing a smaller cruise lines cruise that just goes to the inside passage, I believe there are some that offer 3 and four day cruise tours.

So you may consider look into either some longer/shorter cruises, or possibly a cruise other than an inside passage. It may be easier to contact a travel agent to help you with the booking. They know what is and isn’t available and you won’t have to do the research. Since you are so close to your travel dates, prices are going to be higher than if you booked in advance.

Hope this helps!