Thread: How to find the best deal for an Alaskan Cruise?

Originally Posted by Lee

I will be taking my kids (ages 4 and 5), my wife, and my grandparents.

It may be mid to late May as well. So out of HAL, Princess, and RCI, what do you recommend for the 6 of us?

Also, how to go about finding the best deals?

Let's see.. you and your wife would probably be able to enoy all 3

your kids would enjoy Princess and RCI

your grandparents would LOVE HAL!

I guess the best choice would be to go with Princess or RCI.

Leaving from Seattle is generally cheaper than leaving from Vancouver. But leaving from Seattle means you see less of Alaska and also most don't sail through the Inside Passage, so the waters may be rougher and the view not as nice.

Going so early in the season, you also may not see much wildlife and you may not get very close to the glaciers, due to ice conditions. Just keep your fingers crossed

It also tends to be a bit cooler. But you will probably still see snow!

Its also a lot cheaper to go in May than in July/August.

Hard to say how to find the best deal. You need to just start pricing around or contact a TA and have them price for you.

I'd have to say, yes, get serious really quick if you plan to travel to Alaska this May. I'm cruising to Alaska on Princess the end of May, and Balcony cabins on my cruise have been virtually sold out (except for an occasional cancellation) for a month. And the price keeps going up and up.

Now, of course, I'm taking a one-way, so those may sell out earlier than round-trips.

Don't know if this is OK or not (Feel free to edit, mods, if not) but if you PM me, I know a couple of sites that have had some deals on Alaska round-trips recently.

sayhello

sayhello,

thanks for the info. I remember when I took my alaska cruise last year, that it sold out pretty quickly. i beleive that by january only inside cabins were left.

waiting til very last minute, especially to a very hot cruise destination makes it tough to get a great deal, let alone get a cabin.

in general though, roundtrips tend to sell faster than one ways since most people don't want to hassle with multi city flights, etc.

A couple minor corrections.


Whittier is also use as a northern port as well as Seward.

There are no ships doing one-way Seattle to Alaska.

Now back to the original question..
The ships will start sailing out of Seattle May 5.

MAYVESSELTERMINAL
05 MAYZAANDAM30
05 MAYRYNDAM66
06 MAYOOSTERDAM30
07 MAYWESTERDAM30
07 MAYNORWEGIAN STAR66
12 MAYZAANDAM30
12 MAYVEENDAM66
13 MAYOOSTERDAM30
3 MAYDAWN PRINCESS30
13 MAYNORWEGIAN SUN66
14 MAYWESTERDAM30
14 MAYSUN PRINCESS30
14 MAYNORWEGIAN STAR66
19 MAYZAANDAM30
19 MAYVISION OF THE SEAS30
19 MAYMERCURY66
20 MAYOOSTERDAM30
20 MAYDAWN PRINCESS30
20 MAYNORWEGIAN SUN66
21 MAYWESTERDAM30
21 MAYSUN PRINCESS30
21 MAYNORWEGIAN STAR66
26 MAYZAANDAM30
26 MAYVISION OF THE SEAS30
26 MAYMERCURY66
27 MAYOOSTERDAM30
27 MAYDAWN PRINCESS30
27 MAYNORWEGIAN SUN66
28 MAYWESTERDAM30
28 MAYSUN PRINCESS30
28 MAYNORWEGIAN STAR66
There may still be some good pricing but it is a little late for booking these. I will see what I can find and report back.

We aren't stuck on any date, so it could be June as well.

Originally Posted by Lee

We aren't stuck on any date, so it could be June as well.

I have not had a chance to do much research yet.
I spent yesterday doing my DD's taxes.... and starting mine.

Here are some Royal Caribbean Links for May-June 2006 Alaska cruises. Hope these help:

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac...ode=&promoType=

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac...ode=&promoType=

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac...ode=&promoType=

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/findac...ode=&promoType=

LL