Alaska cruise assistance

[Cynicor]

Hello.

Helping my parents plan an Alaskan cruise next may (2014) and was wondering whether people recommend SilverSeas cruises?

They have a 7 night alaskan crusie that leave on around the right date, but it seems to be the reverse of most- starting in Alaska and ending in Canada. Are there any advantages/disadvantages that people can see, as they have a cruise in the reverse direction 1 week later, but this would require some rescheduling/replanning of the holiday.

Does anyone have other crusie line recommendationsor tips on what sort of cabin should they book?

Thanks!

 

[drron]

Well we have just finished our 5th Silverseas cruise and have 3 more booked + 2 on hold.So I guess you can say we reccomend them.The great thing is that they are much smaller than most.The Silver Shadow which does the Alaska cruises holds 396 passengers max.We cruised on her from Incheon to Anchorage and had a great time.The proposed cruise for your parents sounds like it will be the first one after the Shadow's repositioning cruise from Asia to Alaska.
May is the very start of the cruising season.that means it will be less crowded but also may be very cold.As well whales may not be yet in the Inside Passage but the glaciers and mountain tops will be at their best.
quite frankly though for the Inside passage i would go on an even smaller boat-we cruised on an 8 pax vessel and it was just magic.
So to my TRs-
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....nd-trip-photos/i-can-see-russia-my-29754.html

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....photos/small-boat-cruise-in-alaska-15362.html

Unfortunately the photos have gone on this TR-it was when i was learning.I still have some of the photos on picassaweb-
https://picasaweb.google.com/ron.dolton/ALASKA06?authkey=Gv1sRgCJWzuo-uiunnoQE#

 

[tuapekastar]

I cruised the Inside Passage with a fairly large group of friends back in 2000 on a large ship (Princess Line's Regal Princess - which now operates out of BNE as Pacific Dawn after a refit). I just loved it, best scenery ever (the Rocky Mountaineer train a few days later was a bit of a let-down) though people have told me similar to what drron says, the small ships can be much better as they can go places the big ones can't, and apparently have a much more intimate flavour. That said, I had no problems with the big ship, except for the number of pages the printer spat out at the end when printing my (99% bar) bill!

Someone else booked my trip and I had an inside cabin. While that didn't stop us seeing the views, in hindsight I would have gone for an outside, preferably with balcony. I imagine Silverseas may well have all cabins 'outside', though I don't know this.

I can't see any advantage or disadvantage in which direction you go. We were apparently blessed with the weather, it only rained one day, and that was when we were at 'open sea' returning to Vancouver. I'm sure given reasonable weather your parents will love it. BTW, this is the only cruise I have ever been on (except as an infant) - I do plan to do it again sometime.

 

[drron]

Yes the Silver Shadow which does the Alaskan cruise is all outside cabins.Deck 4 has picture windows,the higher decks have balconies.

 

[Pushka]

I've heard SilverSeas cruises are brilliant and will spoil you for most other cruise lines.

I just wished my husband liked cruises as much as I do. . But he has agreed to do an Alaskan cruise with me.

Love your style drron.

 

[Cynicor]

Thanks for all the advice. I have booked the parents on the Silver Shadow for a passage. While a smaller ship would be nice, I think a bigger one at the start is a good idea.