alaska cruise - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

kholcomb · 11-04-2009, 03:47 PM

I'm cruising to alaska on carnival spirit in june 2010. We leave seattle cruise to Tracey arm, juneau, skagway and ketchican. My question is how rough is the ocean? I have heard the inside passage is calm but rough everywhere else. Is this true? We have a balcony on deck 8 midship. I don't want to get sick!

thevacationstop · 11-04-2009, 05:53 PM

My wife and I cruised the Carnival Spirit in Alaska in September of 2005. We had no problems with rough water. It is possible that the small amount of time you are in open ocean it could get rough, but you will be very close to shore, so it shouldn't be too bad. The Inside Passage and Glacier Bay were as smooth as lakes.

kholcomb · 11-04-2009, 06:19 PM

Thanks Vaction Stop

cruisin' chick · 11-04-2009, 07:44 PM

I'm the sensitive one in my family in regards to motion and our Alaskan cruise was the smoothest of the nine I've been on. We even had a cabin far, far forward (only one cabin in front of us) and it wasn't a problem at all for me. We had the same ports as you, going round trip from Seattle. Also, the pretty port of Victoria, BC (you'll be going there too unless you go to Vancouver, to satisfy the Passenger Services Vessel Act which requires a foreign port).

It's always possible to feel some motion, especially if a storm has churned up the seas before your cruise. The nice thing about Alaska is that hurricanes do not happen around there (they usually don't even make it as far north as San Diego in the eastern Pacific). So it's a good idea to try out some motion sickness remedies before your cruise and pack a couple of the ones that don't bother you. I took ginger (candied and Altoids) for my last cruise, which is indeed a rough seas cruise (Hawaii from L.A.), but different remedies work for different people. Some people (like my hubby and daughter) never have a problem.

The midships is probably the best location in your case.

BTW, when your ship is cruising the Tracey Arm Strait, make sure you're outside, on your balcony or up on deck. It's incredible to view the glaciers.

Blizzard · 11-04-2009, 07:52 PM

It is pretty much just the first and last day that you are in the open ocean. The Sprit should handle it pretty well. Being midship is a good thing. You might pick up a pair of SeaBands. They are an elastic band that you wear on your wrist. They are quite effective for many people and do not have the side effects that come with Bonine or Dramimine.