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VANCOUVER – Disney has become the most recent entrant within the popular Vancouver-to-Alaska cruise route, offering cruises along the Inside Passage.

The business’s 2,400-passenger Disney Wonder set sail Tuesday from Vancouver to begin its first Alaska cruise season after being re-deployed from LA. Disney joins other cruise companies concentrating on the same itineraries, including Oceania, Celebrity, Holland America, Princess and Royal Caribbean.

Read the full story here http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5i9b0-WTppUPes9B6_o6WQqADHgXA?docId=6756248

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Technorati Tags: Alaska, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Wonder, Holland America Line, Inside Passage, Seattle, The Walt Disney Company, Vancouver

I’m going on a Princess cruise to Alaska and All my cousins are coming. So we all are pretty much teens and we all want to know what the dating game in the teen’s club is.

Well, we played the dating game in our French class a few times, and I’m not sure if this is exactly what it is, but I think that it is when there are two rows filled with people that are facing each other, and one of these rows will be the "listener" and the other row with be the "answerer." Someone will make up a question that the "answerer," will have to answer, talking to the person in front of them in the other row. These will be random, sometimes personal questions so that other people will know who you are. After one question has been answered, everyone in one row will move to the right one spot, and another question will be asked, which they will then answer to the new person/"listener" in front of them. This game was created so that people will get to know each other better; perhaps an opening portal for meeting other teens on the ship and maybe even beginning relationships. lol
HAVE FUN ON YOUR PRINCESS CRUISE! You’re soo lucky…

My family is planning on going on one in the summer or something. We don’t want to go on one that is bad quality or cheezy. And we don’t wan’t a cruise to Alaska! THANKS!

Royal Caribbean! They have tons of activities. (ice skating, rock climbing, miniature golf, just to name a few) The service is good. I love cruising with our family. We can do things together, and when the kids get sick of us they can go do there own thing. Most all of the cruise lines have kids clubs. These clubs offer many age appropriate activities. I suggest any part of the Caribbean for a cruise! Happy Sailing!

Alaska Frequently Asked Questions

Whens the best time to see whales?

Whales begin their Northbound migration Alaska in February with the the cows and calves beginning around April and continue their trek through May. If you visit Alaska between June and early September, you may see Humpback and Minke Whales, Orcas, Pacific White-Sided Dolphins, Dall’s and Harbour Porpoises. Between June and July, you have your best chance of seeing bubble-netting Humpbacks.

When you’re cruising in Alaska, it’s not uncommon to see whales right from the deck of the ship or your private balcony. To increase your chances of seeing whales, you may want to take an optional whale watching tour that will take you and group of other passengers on a small boat in search of whale pods. This a very exciting especially when the captain of your boat starts following a pod and getting close to a whale as it makes a terminal dive or comes up for air.

Whales will begin their Southbound trek in late October and continue through December

Much more at web page

We wanted to book two back to back cruises starting in Vancouver to Seward and Seward to Vancouver. Should we book our cabin on opposite sides of the ship?

i went on that exact cruise two summers ago and there is land on both sides during some parts. at other parts you can see no land. at one point our captain did a 360 degree turn so both sides of the ship could see everything. it doesn’t really matter what side of the ship you go on.

Is it ok to cruise from Seattle to Alaska and back to Seattle ( a closed loop cruise ) if you have 19 year old DUI’s.The ship will stop 1 time at a Canadian port. I don’t care if I go see Victoria or not I just want to make sure it is ok before I book the cruise…Thanks

Yes you can and you do not need a passport for a closed loop cruise either, especially if you stay on the ship when you go to Canada. You do need some good ID though, so call the cruise company to see exactly what you need.

He has been telling me lately he really wants to go to Alaska and I thought it would be a nice father and son trip but I dont know if a kid his age would enjoy doing it on a cruise. If someone has experienced an Alaskan cruise I would appreciate your thoughts.

If you can take the time I would suggest a cruisetour. 11 days on Princess would show you both Alaska & then some. There is plenty of things to & see in each port. If you both like nature, wildlife, open land, friendly people & a trip you both will always remember then go. You will see whales from the ship, sea lions plus possible many more. The train ride from Whitter to Denali National Park is full of changes to see wild life as the train will stop at each sighting. The Dull Sheep are on just about every mountain side. In Fairbanks you will take a cruise on a real paddle boat where you will see how they train the dogs, go a native Indian Village where you will see more animals. Plus, the tour threw Denali is something you must see.
The only thing I would suggest is that you take a good camera so your son can take the pictures to school to share with others.

We are planning a cruise wedding for next year! So hard to make a decision which cruise companies to go with. Is it better to book on your own? or via a travel agent, and why? Thanks!

I am an environmental engineer. You should employ me to plan your trip. (No, not really, just a cheap shot at the blatant self-promotion of that travel agent above). Ain’t that against the rules?

The two biggest choices I’d see are:

1) Big ship or small ship. It can be a 2000 passanger, Love Boat sort of ship with 5 pools, stage shows, and 7 square meals a day. Or a small ship where you get to know everyone on the boat and they can get closer into shore for wildlife viewing and shore trips. Kind of the difference between Las Vegas and backpacking. No right or wrong, but different people like different things.

Most of the small ships tend to do even more wildlife / natural scenery. The big ships give you more chances to dress up and kick up your heels.

2) Route? Inside Passage through SE Alaska and those port cities along the way? Or all the to Seward or Whittier to connect to Anchorage for the return flight and/or a land-based portion to the package? SE only is maybe more relaxed, you’re on the same boat, in the same bed every night. On my honeymoon, I tried to minimize the number of times we packed up and moved so it would be more relaxed. But if this is your one, big Alaskan trip before returning for work, parenthood, whatever, maybe you want to sample more of the state. Then the land/sea packages will give you wider sampling.

Once you know your preferred route and ship size, you can narrow your options to particular companies.

I always book my own trips, because if something changes or there’s a problem, there is a one less layer to go through. I don’t mind (kind of enjoy) plotting out the different options. If the service charges are worth it, the travel agent can save you some time. And take care of airfare, hotels, etc for getting to the departure point. That’d take me 50 minutes, but that’s with a lot of practice.

If timing is flexible and finances are a concern, consider a "repositioning trip" when the move the boats to and from the state. Definitely not the full-on luxury cruise, but you see places off the beaten path and the other passangers tend to be the more adventurous and experienced travelers.

I’ve been on a cruise to the Caribbean and was 17 so I couldn’t do all the more fun 18+ stuff. Now I’m going on another one to Alaska and was wondering if the age limit is still 21 since its US
I know its 21 AT Alaska but what about while you are in the ocean. Is it the same?

Yes, it is the US, so it is still 21 as long as you are in US waters. Drinking in US is always 21 – but in a few places like Wisconsin Dells they do have places (like Hochunk) that are casino’s where you can gamble if you are 18. All Alaskan cruises I’ve heard of are still age limit of 21 though to gamble or drink alcohol.

are there warm viewing areas on board if you have an inside cabin

durring the summer alaska is at a good temperature not to hot and not too cold, but sometimes it has those rainy days. the water is not too rough, sometimes it is, but for only about a day. by the end of september and in may the weather is not the best, going there. there will be rough water and it will be raining in alaska. so yes it would be too cold in sept and may, summer time is the best time to go!