Thread: Cruises to Alaska

Thanks for the info... I checked out Dargal and selected Anchorage, or LA or repositioning and included Sept/Oct and Any for costs, time etc but nothing! Will check out perx next.

Can't really make May... going somewhere end of this month, then country music festival + paris airshow in June, then cruise in Sept/Oct

I would gamble with booking a late Sept cruise closer to August--deals galore if you just wait. There are so many cruise lines that one will have a great price towards the end of the season. Just my opinion, but I've been watching interline sites for sooo long. Check the booking fees, tho...

take a look at interlinetravel.com, too
user interline, password nonrev
no fee outside 3 days for payment

I'd take a look at all the sites and call once for advice about timing. You cna sign up for all of their specials and get email flashes with deals every few days. dargal is canadian, perx and interline are texas, if time zone is an issue for contact

interlineone.com is a new one I've just seen recently wiht good booking engine but no experience with agents

I personally would not book anything too far in advance unless you have a certain cabin request. so many of these ships have balconies now. I just booked a short family cruise for 10 days off--many of the well-priced cabins were gone, but I had a bunch of gift certificates to use up. personal recommendations would depend on your age group--particularly Alaska. I think rankings are:
carnival
ncl
rccl
hal/princess
way up from there--azamara, seaborne, luxury lines, etc
However--each line has premium ships that may beat the pants off another line of a higher ranking.
I haven't broken down to want to cruise Alaska yet--just a warm-weather-ship-kinda-chick. But I have gold status on NCL from more than 12 cruises.
hope that helps not hinders

oh meshpo--take look at cruisecritic.com for advice from pax--go to forums by cruise line

The Alaska cruises that are out now are still for early in the season. You might want to wait a bit before you book something in September to get the best rates. Be prepared to go early September, though, as they don't go beyond the middle of the month. I have cruised with Princess, Royal Caribbean and Holland America. Each had something different to offer so you first need to decide what you are looking for in the ship since all of the lines stop in the same towns. There are so many shore excursions in Alaska that I wouldn't even know where to begin! Stop at a travel agency and pick up a brochure or two. There are tons of good ideas in those books plus they will help you visualize the ships a little better.

Meshpo, I have done an Alaska cruise in early June and I do want to warn you that it is still pretty chilly up there at that time of the year. Bring you warm coat and gloves! Layers are the key there as some areas will be warmer than others. Skagway, for example, is cooler than Ketchikan and you will want those warm clothes when the ship goes to the glaciers.

I have used Perx and Dargal to book my trips in the past. Dargal charges a booking fee but they do an excellent job of making sure you have everything you need and they have helped me make special arrangements for my anniversary, etc.

The Last Great Frontier is an amazing place and one you will never forget!

Interesting info people, thanks!

Will wait a bit longer... have 2 trips planned before this one anyhow