alaska cruise

[Buster53]

That's the one we went on. Very nice ship....only carries about 100 passengers plus crew. That ship was made just for the Galapagos. There are no cruise ship terminals in the islands, so every time you get off the ship they use RIB boats with Yamaha OBs to get you to shore. The rear of the ship was designed with a special docking system to facilitate getting on/off the ship. I highly recommend it....like I said before it's not a cheap trip. But you can't take it with you, as they say.......

Yes, we’ve cruised Celebrity several times and have attended the on-ship preview of the Galapagos cruises. Up until just recently, Celebrity had 2, even smaller ships that sailed there, one that carried 48 and the other only carried 16 passengers. They are no longer in the fleet as of the past 6 months or so. Flora is now the only Celebrity ship cruising there. I know tips and internet are both included In the fair…what about drink package?

 

[tg3690]

I know tips and internet are both included In the fair…what about drink package?

It included the drink package......and that was in 2023.

 

[jlh3rd]

retired pilot here also. GA and part 135 operations accident rates not very good at all.
Cruises- all inclusives are nice. Again, cabins with balconies, especially exterior, are worth the money.

 

[Buster53]

bucket list for me, wife eh. And insights/thoughts?

Have you done any previous cruises? Where? Do you just want to do a cruise or do you want to do a land/cruise? Most land/cruises include the observation train from Anchorage to Denali. Other itineraries are available.
Do you want to do a round trip or one way? Most Alaska cruises start/end in either Seattle or Vancouver

 

[tg3690]

Again, cabins with balconies, especially exterior, are worth the money.

Agree 100%.....especially on Alaska trip, good views from your cabin. Those inside cabins are like being in a box......kind of claustrophobic anyway...lol

We did a Norway-Northern Lights cruise in January on Viking.....all cabins had balconies....no interior rooms at all.

 

[aspeck]

I didn’t see any local sight seeing flights on your list of activities and that’s a good thing. I’m a retired pilot, but still follow the industry and fly little airplanes (my roots!). The accident rate for sight seeing flights in Alaska and Hawaii is elevated for good reasons— challenging weather and terrain and time pressure to get you back to the ship on time. Two of those three affect boating safety as well.

My brother did a fly-in hunting trip there about 15 years ago. Pilot came in to check on them a couple days before they were flying out and told my brother there was a shooter moose on the next ridge and he would show him where it was ... While brother's hunting companion was back at camp making supper, they took off to see location ... not enough lift and plane got just above the trees before it came back down again in a crash. Pilot and brother walked away from it ... brother's hunting buddy came running through the trees expecting to see everyone dead! They ended up stripping the plane and carrying most of the gear to a larger lake where they were flown out of a few days later.

Yep, not real excited about a small plane in Alaska!

 

[Sprig]

My wife and I cruise a lot, at least 2 or more times a year. Cruised to Alaska 4 times. It’s our favorite but after 4 times we’re concentrating on other destinations now. As far as sight seeing it depends on what ports you are visiting. I haven’t been on a tour yet I didn’t like a lot. Rather than talk about tours I’ll give you a couple hints about cruising. But regarding the tours always book approved by the cruise line. Those tours have been checked and vetted by the cruise line. Also if those tours are late getting back they will hold the ship for you. They are also safe tours.
The very least get a stateroom with a balcony. You’ll be disappointed if you don’t. We always get a suite. They are a little larger , have a balcony and you get a lot of perks.
Get travel cancellation insurance so if you have to cancel due to illness or other reasons you get 100% refund. We were going to go on a Mexico riveira cruise a month ago and my wife broke her hand 10 days before. We received our full refund in less than a week.
if you go on a Princess cruise and the offer the 360 Dining experience just do it. Not cheap but an indescribable experience. I can’t really describe what it’s like just do it.
Be sure to take advantage of the nightly entertainment in the main theater. It’s top notch, most as good as you see in Vegas. The nightly entertainment in the smaller venues and lounges is also quite good, quite fun.
The food is top notch. The main dining room is always great but so is the buffet . The speciality dining you pay a little for but is worth it.
The best time to go to Alaska is from the end of June through the end of August. That’s when the weather is best. In any event go prepared for rain and cool weather.
Well that’s all for now, if you have questions ask . Myself or someone here can answer them.

 

[Buster53]

My wife and I cruise a lot, at least 2 or more times a year. Cruised to Alaska 4 times. It’s our favorite but after 4 times we’re concentrating on other destinations now. As far as sight seeing it depends on what ports you are visiting. I haven’t been on a tour yet I didn’t like a lot. Rather than talk about tours I’ll give you a couple hints about cruising. But regarding the tours always book approved by the cruise line. Those tours have been checked and vetted by the cruise line. Also if those tours are late getting back they will hold the ship for you. They are also safe tours.
The very least get a stateroom with a balcony. You’ll be disappointed if you don’t. We always get a suite. They are a little larger , have a balcony and you get a lot of perks.
Get travel cancellation insurance so if you have to cancel due to illness or other reasons you get 100% refund. We were going to go on a Mexico riveira cruise a month ago and my wife broke her hand 10 days before. We received our full refund in less than a week.
if you go on a Princess cruise and the offer the 360 Dining experience just do it. Not cheap but an indescribable experience. I can’t really describe what it’s like just do it.
Be sure to take advantage of the nightly entertainment in the main theater. It’s top notch, most as good as you see in Vegas. The nightly entertainment in the smaller venues and lounges is also quite good, quite fun.
The food is top notch. The main dining room is always great but so is the buffet . The speciality dining you pay a little for but is worth it.
The best time to go to Alaska is from the end of June through the end of August. That’s when the weather is best. In any event go prepared for rain and cool weather.
Well that’s all for now, if you have questions ask . Myself or someone here can answer them.

Pretty much agree with everything you said, but I’d like to add…
We’ve taken excursions, both ship sponsored and non-ship sponsored. We’ve been on busses that some passengers booked themselves and some booked through the ship. Happens quite often, so if we are late, ship is waiting for everyone on the bus and the people who booked themselves paid at least 1/3 less.
Agree that trip cancellation insurance is important, but not anywhere as important as the medical and medical evacuation part of the policy. I can afford to loose the cost of the trip, what I can’t afford is a very possible 1/4 million dollar medical and emergency evacuation. We were on a caribbean cruise once when the Jamaican Coast Guard sent a helicopter to airlift a passenger back to Jamaica where an air ambulance took the patient to Miami. Not a doubt in my mind that was nothing less than $200,000. So when you look to get travel insurance, make sure it has excellent Medical coverage

 

[tg3690]

Something to consider......according to the Medicare Handbook 2025, regular Medicare generally doesn't cover medical care outside the US. If you have a Medigap policy, it may or may not cover you. Same with an Advantage plan. Like was mentioned above, an emergency medical evacuation from a cruise ship at sea or on the ground in a foreign country could be a big hit to your portfolio. When that foreign Doctor asks you "How would you like to pay before we begin treatment?".....that is not the time to wish you had purchased a good Med-evac/trip cancellation policy. That's how I see it, anyway.

 

[rolmops]

Following along . . . We have an Alaska Cruise on our bucket list . . . Probably in a few years.

Make it sooner rather than later. Pretty soon there will be no glaciers to see anymore

 

[Buster53]

Something to consider......according to the Medicare Handbook 2025, regular Medicare generally doesn't cover medical care outside the US. If you have a Medigap policy, it may or may not cover you. Same with an Advantage plan. Like was mentioned above, an emergency medical evacuation from a cruise ship at sea or on the ground in a foreign country could be a big hit to your portfolio. When that foreign Doctor asks you "How would you like to pay before we begin treatment?".....that is not the time to wish you had purchased a good Med-evac/trip cancellation policy. That's how I see it, anyway.

Even a routine visit to the ship’s doctor will be paid for at time of service and it won’t be cheap. No mailed bill, no billing insurance, you whip out your credit card and pay on the spot and did I mention, it won’t be cheap. Save the paperwork and mail to your trip insurance carrier when you get home.

 

[rolmops]

Even a routine visit to the ship’s doctor will be paid for at time of service and it won’t be cheap. No mailed bill, no billing insurance, you whip out your credit card and pay on the spot and did I mention, it won’t be cheap. Save the paperwork and mail to your trip insurance carrier when you get home.

My mother in law (of blessed memory) broke her leg on a cruise to the Galapagos islands. She was transported from the cruise ship to Lima by helicopter to a private hospital. After 2 weeks in that hospital she was flown by private plane from Lima to Rochester,NY.
She had a good travel insurance which paid for everything, but if she would not have had that, she would have been in deep financial doodoo.

 

[Buster53]

My mother in law (of blessed memory) broke her leg on a cruise to the Galapagos islands. She was transported from the cruise ship to Lima by helicopter to a private hospital. After 2 weeks in that hospital she was flown by private plane from Lima to Rochester,NY.
She had a good travel insurance which paid for everything, but if she would not have had that, she would have been in deep financial doodoo.

Wow! Any idea what the damage would have been if not for the travel insurance?

 

[Sprig]

I 100% agree you need travel insurance that includes cancellation insurance and medical. But let’s remember we’re talking about an Alaska cruise. If you require treatment ashore you are going to a US facility either in Alaska or possibly Seattle Wa. You are obviously responsible for treatment aboard ship and transport to a facility. Unless you have significant health impairments the odds of having a serious medical emergency the one week you are cruising are minuscule. In the several dozens of cruises I’ve been on there has been only case where a patient was medevacled off the ship. What I’m trying to say is get the proper insurance and don’t worry just enjoy the cruise.
(The one person that was medivac from the ship suffered a heart attack and was taken to a facility in Alaska that had cardiac care. Yes it was an alaska cruise)

 

[Buster53]

I 100% agree you need travel insurance that includes cancellation insurance and medical. But let’s remember we’re talking about an Alaska cruise. If you require treatment ashore you are going to a US facility either in Alaska or possibly Seattle Wa. You are obviously responsible for treatment aboard ship and transport to a facility. Unless you have significant health impairments the odds of having a serious medical emergency the one week you are cruising are minuscule. In the several dozens of cruises I’ve been on there has been only case where a patient was medevacled off the ship. What I’m trying to say is get the proper insurance and don’t worry just enjoy the cruise.
(The one person that was medivac from the ship suffered a heart attack and was taken to a facility in Alaska that had cardiac care. Yes it was an alaska cruise)

Yes it is an Alaska cruise, but at least one port has to be in Canada, either leaving from or arriving to Vancouver or Some small town in British Columbia. Also consider a number of Alaskan ports are dinky little towns with less than top notch medical facilities. Any serious medical issues, the passenger is most likely medivacked to Anchorage or Seattle.
I agree, get good trip insurance and enjoy the cruise.

 

[jlh3rd]

Make it sooner rather than later. Pretty soon there will be no glaciers to see anymore

b.s....

 

[jlh3rd]

to those that have done alaska cruise:
what is the best scenic route , viewed from the ship, or the one place to make sure is included?

 

[Buster53]

to those that have done alaska cruise:
what is the best scenic route , viewed from the ship, or the one place to make sure is included?

I would say, take the scenic train to Denali. When we did it, we lucked out and had beautiful weather, but we understand, we were in the minority. Most who go can’t see the mountain for the rain/clouds.

 

[Buster53]

 

[Buster53]

Like I said, we had beautiful weather. Just an FYI, the 2 peaks you see in this photo, are 2 miles apart