My 1st time to Alaska so far, and I say so far because I WILL be back, was the 8-day Vancouver to Seattle on Ovation May 11th thru May 19th, 2023. It was everything I dreamed of and more! Out of Ten cruises that was my favorite! Three weeks later while at work, I would daydream about the entire experience. We also had amazing weather with the exception of Sitka, which had some rain. From the two days spent prior in Vancouver, to the day we spent in Seattle, just gorgeous weather! We got so lucky and I'm forever grateful! The one terrible part of the cruise was embarkation at Canada Place. It was an absolute chaotic mess!! I understand that has happened in the past and still goes on there today. I saw this year's May 9th sailing had to deal with the same nonsense. I don't understand why that port can't get it together. Perhaps it has to do with customs? We did not get to see the glacier due to ice, but after having been on a glacier at Skagway dog sledding, I was ok with us not passing by. I really feel for the people on the sailing for May 9th with the itinerary changes, but hopefully it works out well and I'm sure they will still have a blast.
I've not cruised out of Vancouver yet, but that's the general experience it seems. Seattle is pretty smooth though - with a few options depending on what cruise line. - It's always a bummer when something changes, particularly when it's as big as the May 9th sailing was! Thanks for watching and the comments!!!
We take Brilliance of the sea 7 days cruise to Alaska last May 19 will be back at Alaska by Sep. taking Ovation of the sea we love cruising every other month we take a cruise and its free from casino
For us that have done Alaska 6+ times, no glacier and only 3 port stops is just fine. The 8-day is probably sold out because there is alot of Ausie that are doing b2b2b. I am on the Hawaii- Vancouver leg.
Canceled Sitka & shortened time in Ketchikan…. Replaced Sitka with Victoria. It was just a few weeks ago they announced… too late to make any changes but probably wouldn’t have if we could … NCL had an itinerary we liked (were originally booked on) but it was almost $2000 more so were giving RC a shot.
Thinking of doing Alaskan cruise next May (last week of May)…not sure if Royal or NCL Encore would be better…we’ll have a 15 year old son with us. Also, is balcony is “must”? Thanks!
Norwegian vs Royal is a tough one. Here's my take. First, it depends on the RCL ship for comparison... but let's assume you're looking at a newer one (the older ones aren't aging well). RCL has better ships, and (IMO) overall better service. NCL may be a bit less expensive, with very good service, and will have better places to view the scenery outside your stateroom. BOTH will be great for your son - no worries there. (I have some good friends who took their three teenage sons on NCL to Alaska two years ago and reported back it was a trip of a lifetime for them.) I'd honestly consider the itineraries + cost over which line. More stops are better. Make sure you're getting a glacier or two. IF the cost is the same, AND the stops were the same AND it wasn't an older RCL ship - I'd go Royal, but otherwise your experience will be great either way. Now, the Balcony. For us, we almost never book a balcony. This is a cost consideration. We want to bring all four of my family (adult-size kids. :-) ) - so we usually get two inside rooms (which often ends up being less than one balcony). Even when we travel just the two of us, we usually get an interior room. This is because I'd rather cruise more often, and to do that, we need to keep our expenses reasonable. Viewing the glaciers (or even inside passage) from your balcony will be the same as seeing it from an observation deck or exterior promenade (NCL is better in this regard). One more consideration - I truly believe that Holland America cruises Alaska better than anyone else. If your son is an introvert (or doesn't need a lot of "teen activities"), and you're looking for a more "Alaska enrichment experience" - I'd consider HAL over the other two. We took my 16yr son (my older one was in college) at the time on HAL and he absolutely loved it. He's an extravert, but was completely enamored by the enrichment activities on board. PLUS you get to visit Glacier Bay - and HAL has that pretty much locked up. (Princess visits Glacier Bay regularly - and sometimes, just sometimes you can find it on an NCL itinerary - but they're very rare). That was a lot - but I hope it helped! Let me know what you decide - I don't think you can go wrong, but there are nuances that may make one better for you and your family than others. :-D
@@ThisistheCruise omg, sooooo helpful!!! We’re looking at RCL Quantum sailing on 5/26/25 or NCL Encore 5/25/25, both RT Seattle and both 5 ports. I keep hearing Glacier Bay is a must (NCL only). Pricing looks about the same for interior, but Royal is much less for balcony. NCL interior cabins are smaller. Never sailed on HAL before, not sure what “enrichment” entails….son usually plays computer games 😅…not an extrovert..he enjoyed FlowRider and Lazer tags on Royal’s mega ships. Just booked HAL Eurodam 5 nights Caribbean this December. Thank you so much your insight!
@icedteamama176 glad to help. Holland often brings on guest speakers and does port presentations. You won't get that much on a shorter cruise, but on Alaskan cruises visiting glacier Bay, they have to bring on park rangers. They do talks and spend time with passengers while cruising the national park. It's the kind of cruise where you leave feeling like you were more immersed in nature and the local culture.
This is always the challenge, right? What's the right cruise for you? The one that's the right price, right time and with the right people. I'm guessing y'all are going to have an amazing time!!! I hope you'll let me know how it was when you get back! I love hearing from everyone!
My 1st time to Alaska so far, and I say so far because I WILL be back, was the 8-day Vancouver to Seattle on Ovation May 11th thru May 19th, 2023. It was everything I dreamed of and more! Out of Ten cruises that was my favorite! Three weeks later while at work, I would daydream about the entire experience. We also had amazing weather with the exception of Sitka, which had some rain. From the two days spent prior in Vancouver, to the day we spent in Seattle, just gorgeous weather! We got so lucky and I'm forever grateful! The one terrible part of the cruise was embarkation at Canada Place. It was an absolute chaotic mess!! I understand that has happened in the past and still goes on there today. I saw this year's May 9th sailing had to deal with the same nonsense. I don't understand why that port can't get it together. Perhaps it has to do with customs?
We did not get to see the glacier due to ice, but after having been on a glacier at Skagway dog sledding, I was ok with us not passing by. I really feel for the people on the sailing for May 9th with the itinerary changes, but hopefully it works out well and I'm sure they will still have a blast.
I've not cruised out of Vancouver yet, but that's the general experience it seems. Seattle is pretty smooth though - with a few options depending on what cruise line. - It's always a bummer when something changes, particularly when it's as big as the May 9th sailing was! Thanks for watching and the comments!!!
We take Brilliance of the sea 7 days cruise to Alaska last May 19 will be back at Alaska by Sep. taking Ovation of the sea we love cruising every other month we take a cruise and its free from casino
Very nice!
I’m booked for the cruise leaving May 9 from Vancouver. I can’t wait!!
Awesome! Let me know how it goes!
Same!
Me too
Have a great time!
Im on the May 9th cruise as well. Most complicated planning ive had to do lol. Cant wait.
Have a blast! Keep me posted on how it goes!
Same!
Booked for September 27th
Nice! I know you'll have an amazing time!
For us that have done Alaska 6+ times, no glacier and only 3 port stops is just fine. The 8-day is probably sold out because there is alot of Ausie that are doing b2b2b. I am on the Hawaii- Vancouver leg.
Makes perfect sense!
I’m on the May 9 sailing. I got a recent email that Sitka is being skipped and replaced by Victoria.
ahh shoot. Well, It will still be a good trip - just gotta make the most of it, right? Let me know how it went when you get back!
It will still be a great cruise!
You were so right about May 9th sailing being the best …. We had booked it & they changed it at the last minute 😩😩
Well bummer! I'm sorry to hear that... What did they change it to? Are you still going?
Canceled Sitka & shortened time in Ketchikan…. Replaced Sitka with Victoria. It was just a few weeks ago they announced… too late to make any changes but probably wouldn’t have if we could … NCL had an itinerary we liked (were originally booked on) but it was almost $2000 more so were giving RC a shot.
Gotcha, yeah, those aren't really upgrades to the itinerary. But I'm sure it will still be a nice cruise... Alaska is so amazing!
Thinking of doing Alaskan cruise next May (last week of May)…not sure if Royal or NCL Encore would be better…we’ll have a 15 year old son with us. Also, is balcony is “must”? Thanks!
Norwegian vs Royal is a tough one. Here's my take.
First, it depends on the RCL ship for comparison... but let's assume you're looking at a newer one (the older ones aren't aging well).
RCL has better ships, and (IMO) overall better service.
NCL may be a bit less expensive, with very good service, and will have better places to view the scenery outside your stateroom.
BOTH will be great for your son - no worries there.
(I have some good friends who took their three teenage sons on NCL to Alaska two years ago and reported back it was a trip of a lifetime for them.)
I'd honestly consider the itineraries + cost over which line.
More stops are better. Make sure you're getting a glacier or two.
IF the cost is the same, AND the stops were the same AND it wasn't an older RCL ship - I'd go Royal, but otherwise your experience will be great either way.
Now, the Balcony. For us, we almost never book a balcony. This is a cost consideration. We want to bring all four of my family (adult-size kids. :-) ) - so we usually get two inside rooms (which often ends up being less than one balcony). Even when we travel just the two of us, we usually get an interior room. This is because I'd rather cruise more often, and to do that, we need to keep our expenses reasonable. Viewing the glaciers (or even inside passage) from your balcony will be the same as seeing it from an observation deck or exterior promenade (NCL is better in this regard).
One more consideration - I truly believe that Holland America cruises Alaska better than anyone else. If your son is an introvert (or doesn't need a lot of "teen activities"), and you're looking for a more "Alaska enrichment experience" - I'd consider HAL over the other two. We took my 16yr son (my older one was in college) at the time on HAL and he absolutely loved it. He's an extravert, but was completely enamored by the enrichment activities on board. PLUS you get to visit Glacier Bay - and HAL has that pretty much locked up. (Princess visits Glacier Bay regularly - and sometimes, just sometimes you can find it on an NCL itinerary - but they're very rare).
That was a lot - but I hope it helped!
Let me know what you decide - I don't think you can go wrong, but there are nuances that may make one better for you and your family than others. :-D
@@ThisistheCruise omg, sooooo helpful!!! We’re looking at RCL Quantum sailing on 5/26/25 or NCL Encore 5/25/25, both RT Seattle and both 5 ports. I keep hearing Glacier Bay is a must (NCL only). Pricing looks about the same for interior, but Royal is much less for balcony. NCL interior cabins are smaller. Never sailed on HAL before, not sure what “enrichment” entails….son usually plays computer games 😅…not an extrovert..he enjoyed FlowRider and Lazer tags on Royal’s mega ships. Just booked HAL Eurodam 5 nights Caribbean this December. Thank you so much your insight!
@icedteamama176 glad to help. Holland often brings on guest speakers and does port presentations. You won't get that much on a shorter cruise, but on Alaskan cruises visiting glacier Bay, they have to bring on park rangers. They do talks and spend time with passengers while cruising the national park. It's the kind of cruise where you leave feeling like you were more immersed in nature and the local culture.
The record scratch? LOL funny.
I thought so. :-D
Thanks. We are on July 19th. I guess we will cancel all 18 people since this is the worst one.
This is always the challenge, right? What's the right cruise for you? The one that's the right price, right time and with the right people. I'm guessing y'all are going to have an amazing time!!! I hope you'll let me know how it was when you get back! I love hearing from everyone!