Alaska Cruise! Best time to go? Best line?

Len · #1 07-13-2011, 10:41 PM

I'm not into cruises. But my long-suffering wife is. In six months it's her 50th B-Day, and I'd like to take her on a cruise to Alaska.

I've heard nothing but good things about the trip, but need some help if you all have any experience.

What is a good cruise line/company to go with? There's a bunch of different companies that offer the trip, but I have no clue....

And, what is the best time of year to go? We're not locked into her actual birthday, so any time of year is do-able.

Thanks for the help....and....don't tell her, it's a surprise!

Len

rayb · #2 07-13-2011, 10:58 PM

Went up the inside passage in Mid-May. Fantastic trip.
rayb

max · #3 07-13-2011, 11:12 PM

My wife and daughter went on Princess and they had a very good time.

crsides · #4 07-13-2011, 11:18 PM

we went last summer. Great trip. Princess Cruise lines "owns" the Alaska experience. They own the glass top trains, the Hotels in Denali Wilderness, and ALL THOSE shops in port. They have been doing it longer than anyone.

We flew into Fairbanks and spent a couple days in Denali. The rail line to the coast and cruised down the coast to Van C.

I hear the later you go toward Sept, the more likely it will be raining. Once we got on the boat, the sun came out 20 mins in 7 days. and this was late June. The salmon run is around july 10. we missed it by 10 days. The salmon run is neat, but the biggie is it brings in the bears and eagles and wolfs, etc.

Charlie

Jebus35745 · #5 07-13-2011, 11:19 PM

I leave Fri morn to Seattle to take a Royal Caribbean cruise up the coast of Alaska. We like the RC line and have taken 6 cruises with them. Its a 7 day voyage. ONE MORE day of work, YES. Larry

27145 · #6 07-14-2011, 01:02 AM

If I were to go to Alaska, I would go in the dead of winter. This way you beat that summer crowd.

Kidding aside, that is a trip of a lifetime, you are a good man for treating your wife to an ultimate vacation.

therevjay · #7 07-14-2011, 01:19 AM

I'm in Wasilla now visiting relatives. Best time of year for Alaska is July-Aug. Warm not hot, almost 24 hr.daylight. Never been on any cruise other then day cruise so don't know about that.

Haven't seen Sarah Palin either although she lives just up the road from my wifes niece. (defenatly not a "uppity" area)