I'll take the balcony anyway, thanks. :) For an introvert, being able to enjoy the scenery without being surrounded by a bunch of other people is priceless. On my last cruise, my balcony getaway preserved my sanity!
My first and only cruise to Alaska was inside cabin, no balcony, no window. There was always plenty of time and space to watch all I wanted to see. I am happy to report that I went back 15 times as Alaska’s beauty captivated my heart. On my own, staying a month, exploring and enjoying, meeting new friends and learning about native culture. I am still very grateful for that first cruise to turn the flicker of curiosity turn into a flame of joy. Thank you RC.
My Aunt and uncle used to live there and so I have done that trail a couple of times Barbara and Kim, they had amazing journeys up in Alaska. I can't wait to take my husband up there to show him the amazing sights!
@@charleswellsiii this is why I want a balcony. To be able to leave a crack in it to hear the water. Along with being able to take my cup of coffee and sit and just relax. I have gone on 3 other cruises before and always get an inside room. Well the rooms above the promenade so that I can see the people walking around. Only thing right now is so far the prices are looking WAY to high. Hoping they will go below 1300 per person or close to it. We won't be going until 2022 Feb, Mar, April, May or June. What ever dates are cheaper.
For my husband and I, I would NEVER book an Alaskan cruise without a Balcony. We personally spend a lot of time in our room/balcony. Plus I would wake up at least a couple times a night and go sit on the balcony for an hour or so at a time. This was one of my favorite memories of the trip we took. When I talk to people about cruising I always list these 3 things that are specific to Alaska. Not necessary for me in other areas of the world. 1)Book a balcony, you wont regret it. 2)Bring the best binoculars you can afford/barrow. The $30 ones from target that I brought - NOT good enough. 3)Dress in layers and bring a backpack into port with you.
Finally!!! Someone who agrees! I can’t tell you how many times I got attacked when saying a balcony is not necessary for an Alaska cruise. There are so many better viewing spots than a balcony. We also agree that we shouldn’t have taken the tour in Juneau and just taken the local bus to Mendenhall. There is definitely not enough time with tours at Mendenhall. Thanks for the rent a car suggestion, definitely going to do that.
I am a retired AK ferry worker, who's lived in Juneau for 28 years and ran the inside passage for 12 years.....continuously year round and it never got old. The best views were to be had on the open deck (or observation lounges), where you also had tour guides filling in the facts if you so chose. It seems like a lot of folks seem to overlook the fact that they sleep with their eyes CLOSED in that expensive balcony stateroom.
If you visit Seattle, go to the top of the Columbia Center(tallest building in Seattle). There is an observation deck. On a clear day you can see all the volcanoes. The view is awesome and looks down on the Space Needle.
I agree. My wife and I did it also and thought it was fantastic. You are able to go there all day and I got great shots of skyline during the day and early evening when it was getting dark. Also, think about it and wouldn't you want skyline picture of the "Space Needle" which you can't get from observation area of the more expensive Space Needle !!
I live a ferry ride away from Seattle. Sorry to say, it's become a s___hole, "homeless" tents everywhere. Also, be aware that there's a very high restaurant tax there now. Still, if it's your one-time visit to Seattle, I'd take one of those one-day bus tours and see the main sites with no muss, not fuss.
The best advice I can give is to do your homework ahead of time. Look up each stop and find out the best places to go and the places to avoid. Read reviews, watch videos, look up maps, go to official tourist websites, etc. Get a solid plan for what you'll be doing when you're there. My wife and I were on a tight budget when we went to Alaska. We avoided paying for the overpriced guided tours and excursions by simply researching ahead of time and doing it by ourselves instead of paying someone else. Don't just wait until you get there to figure out what you're doing. It is tremendously helpful to have a basic itinerary to follow.
Firstname Lastname Would you mind sharing your itinerary? I just booked a last minute cruise to Alaska and would like some advice on what to do at port that doesn’t involve spending hundreds on excursions. Thanks!
Thanks for the advice. We’re going on a Glacier Bay 7 day Cruise to Alaska via Carnival Legend in two weeks. We’re staying in ocean view staterooms. Doing my homework and finalizing our itinerary now. It takes time but I’m a planner anyway. We are traveling on a budget too, so planning using google and youtube about each stop is really helpful especially when traveling with two sets of senior parents and two kids. I definitely agree! Having a solid plan is a must! ;p
Choosing to sail out of Vancouver over Seattle. The cruise terminal is better located right downtown in Vancouver and a block away from the subway that will take you to the airport in about 25 mins. Plus if you sail out of Vancouver you get to sail under the Lions Gate Bridge a smaller version of the Golden Gate Bridge and usually getting to sail the BC inside passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Most of the ships out of Seattle stop in Victoria and sail along the west coast of Vancouver Island. Radiance of the Seas sails to Alaska from Vancouver and Ovation of the Seas has one sailing from Seattle and ends in Vancouver to Alaska before it heads back down under in September.
Completely agree. We took Holland America out of Vancouver in 2011. No regrets. Nice 3 day visit in Vancouver after the Inside Passage cruise too ! Expedia got us 2 nights at the 4 Seasons (2 x $ 400) for $ 100.00 as a tag-on loss-leader to our cruise and excursions.
I went on the Radiance a few years ago, and the cruise was amazing! One thing to definitely do is to spend time in Alaska after the cruise! There is so much more to Alaska that you don’t see on the cruise!
I would lose my mind in an interior room. And....God forbid, if you get sick and are quarantined in your room, having a balcony to get out on would be lifesaving!
Susan Olthof • Me too. Part of the allure of a ship is the ability to sit out and enjoy early morning or late evening away from the thousands of others and their little brats they let run wild.
Many years ago, my mom took my 2 sisters and me on an Alaskan cruise. We had junior suites with balconies - 2 per room. A couple days into the cruise mom became very sick and needed medical attention. She and my sister were quarantined for 24 hours. The medical staff was very helpful. My other sister and I were not allowed in their room. Having a balcony made communication much easier. We could stand outside their room and talk. I can’t imagine what that experience would have been like in interior rooms.
From a Balcony booker here, I completely agree about the balcony necessity... I give the same insight and recommendation to many. We were rarely in our cabin for this trip and at Hubbard Glacier, we wanted to be on the top deck for the view. Save the $$ for expensive tours! Book a car for the ports, easily doable on your own.
Good to know! I'm currently booking my 1st cruise to Alaska in August and I'm debating if I really need a balcony or Should go with an interior room to have more money for other things. I figured me and my partner would spend most of the time outside the room anyway
Planning on a trip to Alaska in the next year or two and a cruise seems like the best option right now, so these tips are helpful. Some of what your saying is a bit difficult to understand though because of how fast your speaking throughout the video. Even just added a pause every other (or three) sentences would have probably made it flow better and given my brain a chance to process what you said before getting more info. I appreciate you putting your experiences and what you learned out here to help us who see it make more informed decisions.
I used to love having balcony but I realized when you get the interior room I'm literally only in there to sleep. with a balcony I find myself not leaving the room as much
Thanks for the honesty! Were going end of May and looking forward to it. Glad to hear there is a lot to appreciate at Mendenhall Glacier. Weill make time for it!
We are going on our first Alaskan cruise (Serenade of the Seas) for seven days starting at Vancouver August 29-September 6, 2020. Can't wait! Trip of a lifetime for us, looking forward to the beautiful scenery!
We rented a Jeep right outside the cruise ship, went to mendenhal, the church and a whole bunch of other stuff including the grocery store all within 6 hours and it was fairly cheap. So much to enjoy
If the cost of a balcony is not too much higher than window suite, the fact that you could watch sunrise and sunset, moon rising or refection in the ocean during the night, from your room is worth the price difference. Secondly, taking a taxis to Mendenhall Glacier is very expensive; one could buy a two ways coach ticket from the cruise dock for under $20 usf.
I agree. I'm going on my 2nd Alaskan cruise at the end of this month. On the first I got an ocean view window. While it was a great room and I had a nice view (considering I spent little $$ for the sailaway obstructed ocean view room!), I think I would have liked sitting on a private balcony with a hot drink, in my bathrobe, and have a blanket over me so I spent the extra $. I made friends with a guy when I went last, and honestly I could have sat on the balcony all day since I saw whales and otters without even leaving the room. I normally am someone who will always get the cheapest room, but for Alaska it is worth splurging on the balcony imo. In any case it was an extra $300 to go from the cheapest sailaway state room, to the sailaway balcony (or extra $43 a day). I booked last minute so the rate was fairly reasonable.
My only concern about getting a balcony cabin is the weather. It is cold and rainy up there a good part of the time. Sitting out in the cold does not appeal to me.
I always get a balcony now. I learned from going to Alaska and seeing the scenery. However if price is a concern his point is valid. You can also get a city bus to the park for real cheap.
I took the Holland America Oosterdam to Alaska May 5-12, 2019, with a very inexpensive upgrade to a balcony room. I didn’t end up using the balcony (HAL calls them verandahs) very much, but I don’t regret paying what little extra I did pay for the upgrade. Balcony rooms are larger overall, which gave me more places to store things. I had to buy a second suitcase at the airport. So I liked having the extra space. I liked standing out there and passing by islands, glaciers and huge chunks of ice. It was such a nice getaway. MY only complaint was that the places where we docked, including Juneau, have become chintzy tourist traps. But whale watching was amazing.
My one time cruising to Alaska included my wife and kids. Having a balcony in Tracy Arm was worth it to me. We were one floor down from the Windjammer and 3 doors from the elevator. Entering the fjord, I woke up early, wrapped up in my warm clothes and a blanket and brought a coffee out on the balcony. So peaceful. Later I woke up the family, went quickly to get breakfast and brought back two trays of food and drink with the kids to enjoy in our room. Food kept warm in the room as we moved all the chairs onto the balcony for the view. Saw one side on the way in, other on the way out, and had the luxury of grabbing more clothes and using our own bathroom as needed. 4 hour process - all very relaxed. - Throughout the week the balcony was a great place to be as the family got ready for the next adventure, including watching docking and sail away on some days. You could go to the upper decks to see all this, but having a quick look anytime I wanted while my wife showered, did her hair and picked dinner outfits was worth it to me. So much to see anytime you are awake vs in the Caribbean, where it is dark for so much more time. If you have to decide when a balcony is right, I believe Alaska is one of them. I'm a Florida resident to looking at islands and beaches is old hat. What other destinations should I consider for all day viewing? Northern Europe, Australia ??
Seattle is a cool city to explore. I was there in October 2018. I didn't get the city pass but was able to see most sites. If your an airplane person be sure to go the aviation museum there.
I've had the pleasure to visit a few Cruise ships in juneau.my family were friends with a state government worker who got to do random inspections and she could have a couple visitors.The cruise ships are like small towns
Wow that was amazing. Thank you so much for the tips. We are planning on skipping a planned excursion in Juneau and I think an afternoon at the Glacier sounds just lovely. We live in Seattle now and the National Parks are so much more interesting that the touristy activities downtown. I hope you have a chance to come back and experience them
Ive always booked a balcony And I don't think I've ever regretted it And it's not much more to me it's worth every penny I mean I'm going on a cruise to enjoy the ocean so I want to see it as much as I can and I live in the high desert
Great info. I only disagree with the balcony suggestion lol. I’ve done an Alaska cruise 3 times and the balcony made it so much better. I did one interior room once and said I’ll never do an interior again for Alaska. If I wanted to go see outside I’d have to go out of the room to see the scenery.
Very enjoyable video. I went out of Seattle on the Norwegian Sky some years ago, then later my wife and I did a week at a Juneau B&B, again out of Seattle which was a lot of fun to explore too. On a scale of 1-10 Alaska is a 20!
In Ketchikan, I was hoping to find a diner in port for breakfast. Seeing none, I grabbed a pretty good pastrami Reuben at one of the dockside coffee places, It was only as I headed back to the ship a few hours later that I passed the neighborhood diner-AND they had homemade corned beef hash!! I was disappointed, cuz by that time I was still stuffed from my Reuben-/but when you visit a new place, you may not find exactly what you’re looking for.when you’re looking for it. That’s part of exploring!
I never missed the balcony and always found place to enjoy the views without being crowded. I seems to be in minority here but I was in my room only to shower/change/sleep. BTW, there are busses to Mendenhall and back with great informative local drivers, no need for taxi.
Thank you for this video! I totally agree with what you said about Juneau & the Mendenhall Glacier National Park!! We went to Alaska (Holland America CL) 5 years ago & in Juneau we did a whale watching tour-which was amazing! But our next stop was Mendenhall & we only got a couple of hours to explore & we all said that we wished we would have had more time because it was just so amazing. We are going back in a couple of months (Royal Caribbean CL) & we have booked 6.5 hours on a Glacier Tour at Mendenhall. This is our “big” excursion for the trip. I also agree about the restaurants at port. We should have trip advisored places to seek out because we definitely hit some more of the tourist trap type places last time. Typically for most people this is a once in a lifetime trip - do at least 1 super great excursion - 2 if you can - you will talk about it for the rest of your life!
We live in Seattle. It turns out that a 7 day cruise from Vancouver to the same ports as a Seattle start cruise were $250 (USD)per person cheaper than from Seattle. We are taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver.
@TheMarlon57 We are looking into Alaska cruise right now and flying from Denver to Seattle is less than $200 per person. Flying to Vancouver is over $400 per person. Because of this....it will certainly be out of Seattle.
@TheMarlon57 Hi We are planning for May or June 2020. Will be booking this week....down to Eurodam or Ruby Princess. 2 cabins, family of 5...kids will be 14, 14. 9 years old. We have cruised Disney, Carnival, Royal, Costa, Norwegian. This would be 1st time on Princess or Holland.
@TheMarlon57 We have cruised Mediterranean, Caribbean, Mexico, Baltic, Bahamas. Alaska cruise is in our bucket list....but I have zero expectations. We currently live in Wyoming , which is cold, boring, empty, lots of wild life. So Alaska seems more of the same, but with the addition of water. My kids are not looking forward to this cruise.....lol.....and the ships dont seem to offer much for them.
@TheMarlon57 Nice. I started in 1994. A river cruise is also on our bucket list, although we have already been to every town up and down the Rhine and Mosel. We lived in Germany for 4 years. But still want to do a Viking Cruise.
Thanks for the great tips. I will be taking my first Alaska cruise in May. I like to go the least expensive way so I always get an inside cabin. Since my wife does not like cruises, I go solo. Most of the excursions in Alaska are soooo expensive, I try to do research and check out the stops and go on my own. On my last cruise in Oct 21 to the Mediterranean on MSC, we were not allowed to visit any of the towns on the itinerary without a ship-sponsored excursion (because of Covid rules). This was a bummer, some of the excursions were ok, others were a waste of money. On this trip in May, I plan to take a side trip to Glacier National Park in Montana and also visit Spokane. Flying and then renting a car in Whitefish will be the way to go because of the drive savings and the lower cost of rental cars in WhiteFish.
Hi! I am going on a cruise to Alaska this July. It's my first cruise ever. Which excursions did you think were worth it or a waste of money? The excursions are so expensive!
I've been on 4 Alaskan cruises, and would not even go without a Balcony. Having room service on your own balcony (esp. breakfast and coffee) made it worth every cent. Eating in town seems like time wasted, with great food on board at no extra cost.
Having been in inside cabin, oceanview and balcony, there is NO comparison of oceanview and balcony...none! All an oceanview cabin has is a smallish window, which many times shows the rust etcetera on it and is not special. I would suggest inside and truly save while getting a dark room to sleep in. Oceanview is not something to appreciate Alaska with...a true balcony is where you sit and enjoy.
We've been on 19 cruises (so far) and have had balconies...but no longer. We use our cabin to sleep, shower, dress...and get "reaquainted"...none of which require a view. After that, we're gone, except for occasional naps...which are much better in a dark interior cabin. You can't appreciate scenery when you're asleep and for about 80% of a cruise, the scenery is simply water. On rainy days, the balcony is useless. On some ships, balconies on lower decks are positioned further out than the ones above...offering a birds eye view of your "privacy" to everyone above...which is just about everyone on that side of the ship. So...unless you're the type that craves hours of solitude with a view (from only one side of the ship), I'd advise you to save your money for excursions, specialty dining, dining ashore, bar tabs, lap dances, etc.
I agree about the balcony. We prefer the a Balcony but paying $2000 more for it over a land side window room wasn't in our budget. Use the saved money for souvenirs.
Another mistake is not visiting the rest of Alaska. I'm a local Alaskan and worked a summer for Princess at their Kenai (Keen-eye) Lodge in Copper Landing. It was wonderful! Many Cruise ships come into Seward, Homer, Anchorage, Valdez, Whitter, and Kodiak. All worth visiting, I've been to all at some time in my life. Many cruises send their guest all the way to Denali, Talkeetna, and Fairbanks. My current hometown is Palmer in the Mat-Su Valley. It has a wonderful Reindeer Farm that our lower 48 guests love to visit. I grew up on the Kenai Peninsula working my summers in fish canneries and also lived in Anchorage. Us locals use Yelp and Trip Advisor to find the best places to eat too and things to do too. I'm pretty sure The Moose's Tooth in Anchorage is number one on Yelp and it's number one for locals too.
Michele Olson Hi there Michele from Australia, if you happen to see this message thank you for the tip , my hubby and I are travelling on Holland America in August 2020 our first ever cruise so we are a tad nervous ,,, our cruise has 7 day land content beginning in Fairbanks, through Denali heading down over 7 days before we join our cruise part in Seward for 7 more days , we have a balcony cabin ! As a vegetarian ( oh god I hate telling people that ha ha ) do you have any tips re where to eat and places to visit , my hubby is definitely not a vegetarian ha ha !
We are currently in Cooper Landing at the sunrise inn. It’s shoulder season needed a place with food close and some walking close by. My husband had the car for work most days.It’s just so beautiful here and we didn’t lack sites to see even though many things weren’t open yet. We do plan on taking a cruise in a few years but am so thankful for this unplanned opportunity. The people and the peninsula are wonderful.
If you enjoy sleeping late, an interior room is Carl's bad caverns dark. The tv can be put on a channel that is connected to a camera outside so you know if you're missing something. I dont like spending a lot of time in the room so while balconies are nice, they arent everything.
I am a retired Alaska Marine Highway System worker and I ran the inside passage for 12 years and it never got old. Who needs a balcony when the spotted humpback whale is on the other side of the ship? Who needs a balcony when you're asleep? I remember standing on the open deck watching the grandeur of the glaciers, the waterfalls and the bald eagles thinking, WHAT could be more beautiful? Then I looked at the OTHER side of the ship.......not only all of the above, but also bears feeding on the jumping salmon and the sea lions feasting in the waters trying to avoid the killer whales! And it's ALWAYS changing!
If you really want an Alaska experience get a job on a Salmon processor for a season. Lol. I was 40 min north of Ketchikan by float plane on a floating processor in Neets Bay. What an experience. Loved every min.
I went to Alaska on the Norwegian Bliss last July, it was SO beautiful! Made me want to get a summer vacation home in Alaska some day. Funny enough, we went to the same dog "sled" as pictured, and I even have pictures holding that particular black puppy pictured at 3:12! We were in Skagway and ate at the Skagway Brewing Company; HOLY MOLY those were THE BEST onion rings I've ever had, and their chicken was also so delicious, I cannot rave enough about it. I'm still dreaming about that meal! Haha
Right on advice about the balcony not being so important. I love it that so many people believe they must have a balcony no matter the cost. That keeps the price of inside rooms down. I had a balcony when we went to Alaska and it was good but rarely did I use it. People saying they stayed out there late at night must be joking. It is freezing on an Alaskan cruise at night even in the warmest of weather and there is nothing to see in the dark. When you go up on deck you see anything you want, you can interact with the guides, participate in the hands-on exhibits, special foods, etc. If you are in a balcony you see what happens to be going by in front of you. I know we would have missed some amazing glacier calving, whales, otters, etc. had we stayed in our balcony in Glacier bay. I read a review from a wealthy man who cruises several times a year to Alaska. He said he always gets an inside room; he can sleep when he wants and when he wants to see the views he knows to go to the decks for the best viewing. And he could afford any room on the ship.
You are 100% correct. My wife and I just got back from our first 9 day Alaskan cruise, and at first she wanted a balcony. Halfway through, she basically said she was happy we didn’t get a balcony. For once, the complete darkness of the room most closely resembles what our room is like in our own home. Also, between the shore excursions, dining, the concerts and shows, and the casino, we were never in our room except for when it was time to go to sleep. And like you said, in Alaska it’s particularly cold and dark at night. So there’s nothing much to see anyways. We’ve had a balcony room before on a Western Caribbean cruise, and that was a decent experience because the warm air from the Atlantic Ocean at night is a lot more tolerable than the cold air from the Pacific Ocean.
Some great points made in the video, and well done for viewpoint. As a person who has lived most of my life along the Pacific coast in the Alaska Cruise zone, I agree with them all. For any other comment, know what you want. Don't want to mix with people, balcony may make more sense but an inside cabin helps with the hours of sunlight in June/July. Personal view, seen one glacier seen them all, and I've seen a lot, from many angles, and watched them recede. Time of year makes a big difference. Spring and fall cruises generally have fewer young people on them, still in school, and fewer tourists in general in the ports than peak summer. Spring gets a 'taste of winter' with more daylight but weather may change availability, fall gets 'taste of autumn/winter' with more daylight, but none of the 20h daylight to mess with you and same weather issues. Locally owned an operated businesses have to be good, but may not have the same ambiance as a company owned one, as they have to keep the locals happy as well and they generally want different things than cruise passengers. There are restaurants in Skagway that people drive 1.5h and cross a boarder to eat at. Not many boarder crossings get when asked why you're crossing 'for Thai food' is an acceptable answer. Cruises out of Vancouver go the inside passage, smoother run as less open ocean than those out of Seattle. If you want to see land, choose Vancouver, if you are claustrophobic, avoid Alaska cruises completely, as all get quite close to land. I still haven't made it to Alaska 'proper', not the panhandle, and finally made it to Juneau on a cruise. I walked to the gondola and spent my time in the park, on a day that we were the only ship to make it in due to wind. Skagway I bought my usual fudge and hot chocolate with a stop in at the yarn store, and got off in Victoria...since family lives within walking distance of the port.
If you’re booking a hotel in downtown Seattle, I would think long and hard about it. I seen multiple hotels charging $60 a night parking, prior to our cruise we stayed downtown but only Uber’s or used shuttles. After the cruise we had to rental car but we stayed at a different hotel, this one closer to the airport with free parking-
A balcony isn't required, that's true. But it is oh so nice if you're just chilling in the room and watching the scenery go by. There were a number of occasions on my recent cruise where I was out on the balcony, tunes playing on the bluetooth speaker, drink in hand and taking in the scenery. I guess it comes done to how much you're willing to save/spend on the cabin. Honestly I think we spent more time on deck when there was scenery than we did in the room. Yes, spend time at Mendenhall. We had dinner reservations on the ship so we kind of had to rush through seeing that. It is definitely worth listening to at least some of the ranger presentations on the area. On our ship they simulcast the presentation on the ship TV.
I'm going on my 1st cruise to Alaska in August. I would llloooooove to book a balcony room but I just don't have the budget right now so an Interior room will do :/
Thanks Matt for your tip. My family and I will be on Ovation of the Seas soon and will keep in mind what you just said, but we did book two balcony ocean view staterooms. But our reason is to get some fresh air as much as possible and to lookout into horizon in case anyone of us gets seasick. I heard Looking at the horizon can help give your brain a point of reference, allowing it to sense the motion of the ship and your body's movement with it. 👍🏻
I hope it's not too late to pass this along: HOW TO DEAL WITH MOTION SICKNESS Ask your doctor for an Ondansetron Orally Dissolving Tablets prescription. It's the gold standard for nausea. You want the Orally Dissolving tablets because you might not be able to keep down a tablet swallowed with water if you're already feeling icky. It comes in 4mg and 8mg. I always get the 8mg but discuss it with your doctor. I pair the prescription with candied ginger. You chew and immediately swallow a small bite, then take another nibble, chew that a bit, and park it in your lip. Periodically, give it a few more chews. When there's no more flavor, either swallow what's left or spit it out, and then nibble on a fresh piece. On my first cruise, the boat was really rocking and rolling. Ondansetron kept me from feeding the fishies, but I still felt icky until I remembered that I had candied ginger--that stuff was a godsend. I hadn't brought enough, though, and was afraid I'd run out. But there was a Japanese restaurant onboard and they cheerfully gave me a mug full of pickled ginger every time I asked. It's a completely different flavor from the peppery-ness of candied ginger, and it works just as well. By the way, ginger ale is useless. Not nearly enough ginger. I now never travel without candied ginger. I started making my own (super easy), and I always bring plenty to share. I continue to be unbelievably susceptible to motion sickness, but when I use this strategy, I never have no problem whatsoever. You'll do great!
I live in Juneau, skip the cruise ships buses and take a taxi to eagle beach, it’s the best view here for sure. If you come on a really cloudy rainy day don’t take the gondola you won’t be able to see anything, it’ll save you $25 a person. If you come to fish get off the cruise ship and head south down thane road (opposite of downtown) and fish out anywhere on the road there. It rains almost everyday in Juneau some bring a rain coat for sure
I would add laundry detergent (hand wash items) and most importantly dish washing liquid (to wash you reusable bottles, straws etc). Clorox wipes to wiper surfaces and shower shoes (germaphobes)
Thanks for the tips, attempting to go on my first this August (fingers crossed since they passed the new bill!). Gotta say though, I totally disagree with you about the Museum of Pop Culture. I LOVED that museum. Did a travel nursing gig in Bellingham just north and went there twice. All in what you're interested in I guess. I just don't want others to think it's not worth visiting because it totally is. Now, the glass museum? I could have happily skipped that. Also, my experience in Seattle is that renting a car to get out would be great, but be wary of renting one to do much close by. The traffic is truly horrible, and parking is a nightmare. Even hotels charge $30-60 a day to park when you're staying there. The light rail is a great option for getting around in the city, and super easy to figure out. Another option to keep in mind, even to go to Vancouver, is Amtrak. I used to ride the train down to Seattle from Bellingham all the time. Took just a little longer (30 min or so) but avoided the car difficulties and it was cheaper to use public transportation and uber once there. Just some ideas from someone who spent 6 months in the area!
I did the inside passage on the Grand Princess in May 2016. Inside cabin, solo traveller - not a huge spender! For me..I kayaked on the Meddenhall glacier waters and loved that excursion(doubles kayak and Im a pretty handy paddler which my kayak partner liked - buddied only for the paddle!). I also did the self drive Jeep tour to the Yukon with a small number of 5 jeeps - I travelled with the tour guide, happy to just enjoy the travel and let her focus on the road rules! ) When in the small town stops like Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau, I just enjoyed a stroll in the streets, talking to folk and just enjoying the town itself without splashing out hundreds for overpriced tourist trap pricing tours! My legs still carried me plenty of distance as we had plenty of hours shore time! Pack some lightweight waterproof spray jacket and a beanie, scarf and gloves...you'll be fine!...oh, and decent sunnies too is a must with some sunscreen as the sun has a decent UV kick up there! On ship, flip-flops, shorts and a t-shirt were pretty common daily wear. A pair of jeans for the windy days and solid walking shoes if you plan to do some walking like I do. Pack comfy, simple and also allow for 2 formal nights(shirt and tie stuff...but I just wore neat casual pants(not jeans) and clean shirt plus a tie with a sport jacket...sorted! Some folk have suits etc...if thats your style then go for it. Stuck for clothes...then visit the local thrift shop or Salvos shop and you may be surprised what $50 bucks will get ya! Be nice and friendly to your cabin stewards and they'll look after your needs...mine were great and I ALWAYS made sure to say hi with a smile EVERY time I saw them working near my cabin or in it! They're not highly paid so make them still feel welcome and appreciated, its well worth that extra smile!
kent.. what time if year did you go. I'm booked for sept 16 '22 Vancouver to Seward.. I live is sunny south Florida. I'm concerned about keeping warm :)
@@camilabarco5670 sorry, cant recall the company name. It was one of the princess linked operators...a young couple with the van and trailer of kayaks...it was a fun excursion😄
Biggest mistake you can make is to cruise Alaska on one of these mega liners. The small boat options offer far better experiences. All excursions are generally included in the price and you aren't nickel and dimed to death.
@@jennifertrujillo2530 if you can get to Prince Rupert, BC, you can start to take a ship that is part of the Alaska Ferry group, it stops at all the little stops. We did just that. You can get off at all stops, and explore, and catch another ferry another day if you want. We did that, but brought our own car, and slept in the back. We stopped off and got on again when we wanted.
Thanks, Matt! I love being able to hear what others would do differently. It's nice to FINALLY hear from someone who doesn't push strongly the need for a balcony cabin. We are feeling like we're splurging on an oceanview, and I think we will be just fine. We Love to get up on higher decks for scenery anyway. I'm concerned that the Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake excursion we booked will not give us enough time to see Nugget Falls. I might have to reconsider, or go back to it later in the day. Great info as usual, Matt!
I thought of booking the same excursion as you are, but I also think there is not enough time since we hardly spend much there it seems like. For 2 places, the duration is only 3 hours. I'm looking into private tours since there are 5 of us. It might be more worth it that way.
Susan Diekmann Nugget Falls is at Mendenhall Glacier. The Salmon Bake is good if you enjoy salmon. I went once a year. I actually grew up at Salmon Creek in the 1960s. Sure has changed.
Start off in Vancouver Canada then Seattle. Vancouver way more beautiful Cheaper (CAD$). The city not like any other city in the US. And Victoria BC is a nice clean friendly people and flowers everywhere. Just walked the whole city and you won't get bored.
Going with my wife and kids on the Serenade next August out of Vancouver (we are from Toronto). Really looking forward to seeing the beauty of it all. We will be in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. It will be our 4th Royal Caribbean cruise. Any advice on were to eat? Much like you Matt, I try to avoid the tourist traps and look good but food bad places.
I'm by no means an expert on the best spots in Alaska towns to eat. Depends I think if you want crab, salmon, or whatever. I'd suggest posting the question on our message boards! www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards
I'll take the balcony anyway, thanks. :) For an introvert, being able to enjoy the scenery without being surrounded by a bunch of other people is priceless. On my last cruise, my balcony getaway preserved my sanity!
My first and only cruise to Alaska was inside cabin, no balcony, no window. There was always plenty of time and space to watch all I wanted to see. I am happy to report that I went back 15 times as Alaska’s beauty captivated my heart. On my own, staying a month, exploring and enjoying, meeting new friends and learning about native culture. I am still very grateful for that first cruise to turn the flicker of curiosity turn into a flame of joy. Thank you RC.
I'd love to go back a few times too...but I'd need to add $3000 for air fare from Australia!...ouch $
Smart move!
@@kentbeveridge1685bizar that I can go tot Australia from Europe at 1200 euro (starting at). 3000 euro is premium economy I think
Lol I live in Juneau, the nugget falls trail at mendenhall glacier is my daily walk!
My Aunt and uncle used to live there and so I have done that trail a couple of times Barbara and Kim, they had amazing journeys up in Alaska. I can't wait to take my husband up there to show him the amazing sights!
Nothing beats a balcony having your coffee in the morning looking out😎
I’ve spent hours of my life listening to Royal Caribbean Blog and I always learn something new in each video. THANK YOU!
Had a balcony on a two week transatlantic. There was a super moon visible for a few nights. Fantastic!
Balcony is not just about view, it's about more air and light and reading in fresh air with no other people around.
Yep. Left our balcony door slightly ajar every night for the fresh air.
@@charleswellsiii this is why I want a balcony. To be able to leave a crack in it to hear the water. Along with being able to take my cup of coffee and sit and just relax. I have gone on 3 other cruises before and always get an inside room. Well the rooms above the promenade so that I can see the people walking around. Only thing right now is so far the prices are looking WAY to high. Hoping they will go below 1300 per person or close to it. We won't be going until 2022 Feb, Mar, April, May or June. What ever dates are cheaper.
For my husband and I, I would NEVER book an Alaskan cruise without a Balcony. We personally spend a lot of time in our room/balcony. Plus I would wake up at least a couple times a night and go sit on the balcony for an hour or so at a time. This was one of my favorite memories of the trip we took.
When I talk to people about cruising I always list these 3 things that are specific to Alaska. Not necessary for me in other areas of the world.
1)Book a balcony, you wont regret it.
2)Bring the best binoculars you can afford/barrow. The $30 ones from target that I brought - NOT good enough.
3)Dress in layers and bring a backpack into port with you.
Totally agreed. No way I'd ever cruise in an inside cabin, let alone an Alaska Cruise when there's actually something to see.
I have spent months researching spending less while on cruises and discovered an awesome resource at Carls Cruise Cutter (look it up on google)
Finally!!! Someone who agrees! I can’t tell you how many times I got attacked when saying a balcony is not necessary for an Alaska cruise. There are so many better viewing spots than a balcony. We also agree that we shouldn’t have taken the tour in Juneau and just taken the local bus to Mendenhall. There is definitely not enough time with tours at Mendenhall. Thanks for the rent a car suggestion, definitely going to do that.
I am a retired AK ferry worker, who's lived in Juneau for 28 years and ran the inside passage for 12 years.....continuously year round and it never got old. The best views were to be had on the open deck (or observation lounges), where you also had tour guides filling in the facts if you so chose. It seems like a lot of folks seem to overlook the fact that they sleep with their eyes CLOSED in that expensive balcony stateroom.
@@markpatterson5250 , sorry I don't understand what kind of the observation deck you are talking about: a cruise ship or a small ferry ?
If you visit Seattle, go to the top of the Columbia Center(tallest building in Seattle). There is an observation deck. On a clear day you can see all the volcanoes. The view is awesome and looks down on the Space Needle.
I agree. My wife and I did it also and thought it was fantastic. You are able to go there all day and I got great shots of skyline during the day and early evening when it was getting dark. Also, think about it and wouldn't you want skyline picture of the "Space Needle" which you can't get from observation area of the more expensive Space Needle !!
I live a ferry ride away from Seattle. Sorry to say, it's become a s___hole, "homeless" tents everywhere. Also, be aware that there's a very high restaurant tax there now. Still, if it's your one-time visit to Seattle, I'd take one of those one-day bus tours and see the main sites with no muss, not fuss.
The best advice I can give is to do your homework ahead of time. Look up each stop and find out the best places to go and the places to avoid. Read reviews, watch videos, look up maps, go to official tourist websites, etc. Get a solid plan for what you'll be doing when you're there. My wife and I were on a tight budget when we went to Alaska. We avoided paying for the overpriced guided tours and excursions by simply researching ahead of time and doing it by ourselves instead of paying someone else. Don't just wait until you get there to figure out what you're doing. It is tremendously helpful to have a basic itinerary to follow.
Firstname Lastname Would you mind sharing your itinerary? I just booked a last minute cruise to Alaska and would like some advice on what to do at port that doesn’t involve spending hundreds on excursions. Thanks!
Thanks for the advice. We’re going on a Glacier Bay 7 day Cruise to Alaska via Carnival Legend in two weeks. We’re staying in ocean view staterooms. Doing my homework and finalizing our itinerary now. It takes time but I’m a planner anyway. We are traveling on a budget too, so planning using google and youtube about each stop is really helpful especially when traveling with two sets of senior parents and two kids. I definitely agree! Having a solid plan is a must! ;p
Choosing to sail out of Vancouver over Seattle. The cruise terminal is better located right downtown in Vancouver and a block away from the subway that will take you to the airport in about 25 mins. Plus if you sail out of Vancouver you get to sail under the Lions Gate Bridge a smaller version of the Golden Gate Bridge and usually getting to sail the BC inside passage between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Most of the ships out of Seattle stop in Victoria and sail along the west coast of Vancouver Island.
Radiance of the Seas sails to Alaska from Vancouver and Ovation of the Seas has one sailing from Seattle and ends in Vancouver to Alaska before it heads back down under in September.
Completely agree. We took Holland America out of Vancouver in 2011. No regrets. Nice 3 day visit in Vancouver after the Inside Passage cruise too ! Expedia got us 2 nights at the 4 Seasons (2 x $ 400) for $ 100.00 as a tag-on loss-leader to our cruise and excursions.
I went on the Radiance a few years ago, and the cruise was amazing! One thing to definitely do is to spend time in Alaska after the cruise! There is so much more to Alaska that you don’t see on the cruise!
spend time in alaska, please explain , very interested. may cruise in 2022 or 2023. thank you.
@@vicsy426 hi! I made a few videos about my trip on my channel th-cam.com/play/PLkhtAUzIMDb1XwK-79uIA6T_F3Ub1BsWc.html
Nope.. always balcony for me..I guess I am spoiled.. sometimes you want to see the views while relaxing in your PJs
I would lose my mind in an interior room. And....God forbid, if you get sick and are quarantined in your room, having a balcony to get out on would be lifesaving!
Susan Olthof • Me too. Part of the allure of a ship is the ability to sit out and enjoy early morning or late evening away from the thousands of others and their little brats they let run wild.
I never thought about being quarantined in an inside room! Yikes, that would be awful.
Great point. I feel exactly the same way. The extra cost of a balcony is worth it to me.
Many years ago, my mom took my 2 sisters and me on an Alaskan cruise. We had junior suites with balconies - 2 per room. A couple days into the cruise mom became very sick and needed medical attention. She and my sister were quarantined for 24 hours. The medical staff was very helpful. My other sister and I were not allowed in their room. Having a balcony made communication much easier. We could stand outside their room and talk. I can’t imagine what that experience would have been like in interior rooms.
My guy just predicted the future
Thanks Matt! I’m cruising Alaska for the first time as a solo cruiser so I booked an interior cabin. I can’t wait to experience this beautiful state.
I'm going with mom in Sept 22.. northbound in an interior. Would love to hear your tips
From a Balcony booker here, I completely agree about the balcony necessity... I give the same insight and recommendation to many. We were rarely in our cabin for this trip and at Hubbard Glacier, we wanted to be on the top deck for the view. Save the $$ for expensive tours! Book a car for the ports, easily doable on your own.
Good to know! I'm currently booking my 1st cruise to Alaska in August and I'm debating if I really need a balcony or Should go with an interior room to have more money for other things. I figured me and my partner would spend most of the time outside the room anyway
Planning on a trip to Alaska in the next year or two and a cruise seems like the best option right now, so these tips are helpful. Some of what your saying is a bit difficult to understand though because of how fast your speaking throughout the video. Even just added a pause every other (or three) sentences would have probably made it flow better and given my brain a chance to process what you said before getting more info. I appreciate you putting your experiences and what you learned out here to help us who see it make more informed decisions.
Leslie Heisner Fly to Anchorage and rent a car. Then get out to enjoy nature. Nature!
Didn t know that I would pull the trigger on the cruise. Now I will
I used to love having balcony but I realized when you get the interior room I'm literally only in there to sleep. with a balcony I find myself not leaving the room as much
Mendenhall glacier is amazing! I live in Juneau and visit it all year long. Nothing compares too it
Thanks for the honesty! Were going end of May and looking forward to it. Glad to hear there is a lot to appreciate at Mendenhall Glacier. Weill make time for it!
We are going on our first Alaskan cruise (Serenade of the Seas) for seven days starting at Vancouver August 29-September 6, 2020. Can't wait! Trip of a lifetime for us, looking forward to the beautiful scenery!
We rented a Jeep right outside the cruise ship, went to mendenhal, the church and a whole bunch of other stuff including the grocery store all within 6 hours and it was fairly cheap. So much to enjoy
Going on my first cruise to Alaska in August on the Disney Wonder for 7 days so excited
If the cost of a balcony is not too much higher than window suite, the fact that you could watch sunrise and sunset, moon rising or refection in the ocean during the night, from your room is worth the price difference. Secondly, taking a taxis to Mendenhall Glacier is very expensive; one could buy a two ways coach ticket from the cruise dock for under $20 usf.
I agree. I'm going on my 2nd Alaskan cruise at the end of this month. On the first I got an ocean view window. While it was a great room and I had a nice view (considering I spent little $$ for the sailaway obstructed ocean view room!), I think I would have liked sitting on a private balcony with a hot drink, in my bathrobe, and have a blanket over me so I spent the extra $. I made friends with a guy when I went last, and honestly I could have sat on the balcony all day since I saw whales and otters without even leaving the room. I normally am someone who will always get the cheapest room, but for Alaska it is worth splurging on the balcony imo. In any case it was an extra $300 to go from the cheapest sailaway state room, to the sailaway balcony (or extra $43 a day). I booked last minute so the rate was fairly reasonable.
Yes, just sitting on your balcony at the twilight of evening ( it never gets dark) is amazing to experience.
My only concern about getting a balcony cabin is the weather. It is cold and rainy up there a good part of the time. Sitting out in the cold does not appeal to me.
I always get a balcony now. I learned from going to Alaska and seeing the scenery. However if price is a concern his point is valid. You can also get a city bus to the park for real cheap.
I loved having my balcony-- when leaving Juneau at night, I can step out on balcony in my pj's and enjoy the view
me too except i dont wear PJ's
I took the Holland America Oosterdam to Alaska May 5-12, 2019, with a very inexpensive upgrade to a balcony room. I didn’t end up using the balcony (HAL calls them verandahs) very much, but I don’t regret paying what little extra I did pay for the upgrade. Balcony rooms are larger overall, which gave me more places to store things. I had to buy a second suitcase at the airport. So I liked having the extra space. I liked standing out there and passing by islands, glaciers and huge chunks of ice. It was such a nice getaway. MY only complaint was that the places where we docked, including Juneau, have become chintzy tourist traps. But whale watching was amazing.
I just walked the streets in Port and chatted to locals...bought a couple of items...but mostly chatted and enjoyed the place..
My one time cruising to Alaska included my wife and kids. Having a balcony in Tracy Arm was worth it to me. We were one floor down from the Windjammer and 3 doors from the elevator. Entering the fjord, I woke up early, wrapped up in my warm clothes and a blanket and brought a coffee out on the balcony. So peaceful. Later I woke up the family, went quickly to get breakfast and brought back two trays of food and drink with the kids to enjoy in our room. Food kept warm in the room as we moved all the chairs onto the balcony for the view. Saw one side on the way in, other on the way out, and had the luxury of grabbing more clothes and using our own bathroom as needed. 4 hour process - all very relaxed. - Throughout the week the balcony was a great place to be as the family got ready for the next adventure, including watching docking and sail away on some days. You could go to the upper decks to see all this, but having a quick look anytime I wanted while my wife showered, did her hair and picked dinner outfits was worth it to me. So much to see anytime you are awake vs in the Caribbean, where it is dark for so much more time. If you have to decide when a balcony is right, I believe Alaska is one of them. I'm a Florida resident to looking at islands and beaches is old hat. What other destinations should I consider for all day viewing? Northern Europe, Australia ??
Seattle is a cool city to explore. I was there in October 2018. I didn't get the city pass but was able to see most sites. If your an airplane person be sure to go the aviation museum there.
I've had the pleasure to visit a few Cruise ships in juneau.my family were friends with a state government worker who got to do random inspections and she could have a couple visitors.The cruise ships are like small towns
Wow that was amazing. Thank you so much for the tips. We are planning on skipping a planned excursion in Juneau and I think an afternoon at the Glacier sounds just lovely. We live in Seattle now and the National Parks are so much more interesting that the touristy activities downtown. I hope you have a chance to come back and experience them
Ive always booked a balcony And I don't think I've ever regretted it And it's not much more to me it's worth every penny I mean I'm going on a cruise to enjoy the ocean so I want to see it as much as I can and I live in the high desert
I love the content, a lot of helpful tips. I wish there was a Norwegian cruise blog since it’s the next cruise I’m going on
Great info. I only disagree with the balcony suggestion lol. I’ve done an Alaska cruise 3 times and the balcony made it so much better. I did one interior room once and said I’ll never do an interior again for Alaska. If I wanted to go see outside I’d have to go out of the room to see the scenery.
Loved the balcony room!
Great info, we are hoping to cruise to Alaska August 2021. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
Very enjoyable video. I went out of Seattle on the Norwegian Sky some years ago, then later my wife and I did a week at a Juneau B&B, again out of Seattle which was a lot of fun to explore too. On a scale of 1-10 Alaska is a 20!
In Ketchikan, I was hoping to find a diner in port for breakfast. Seeing none, I grabbed a pretty good pastrami Reuben at one of the dockside coffee places, It was only as I headed back to the ship a few hours later that I passed the neighborhood diner-AND they had homemade corned beef hash!! I was disappointed, cuz by that time I was still stuffed from my Reuben-/but when you visit a new place, you may not find exactly what you’re looking for.when you’re looking for it. That’s part of exploring!
Thanks for the tips. I be there in June
I never missed the balcony and always found place to enjoy the views without being crowded. I seems to be in minority here but I was in my room only to shower/change/sleep. BTW, there are busses to Mendenhall and back with great informative local drivers, no need for taxi.
doing Ovation in May of 2024, thanks for all the great tips!!
I always get the cheapest room. Wish I can afford a suite, maybe one day. But I rather spend the extra money on sightseeing, like you said.
good info, thanks, I have been on 7 cruises so far but haven't been to Alaska yet. still on the list.
Thank you for this video! I totally agree with what you said about Juneau & the Mendenhall Glacier National Park!! We went to Alaska (Holland America CL) 5 years ago & in Juneau we did a whale watching tour-which was amazing! But our next stop was Mendenhall & we only got a couple of hours to explore & we all said that we wished we would have had more time because it was just so amazing.
We are going back in a couple of months (Royal Caribbean CL) & we have booked 6.5 hours on a Glacier Tour at Mendenhall. This is our “big” excursion for the trip.
I also agree about the restaurants at port. We should have trip advisored places to seek out because we definitely hit some more of the tourist trap type places last time.
Typically for most people this is a once in a lifetime trip - do at least 1 super great excursion - 2 if you can - you will talk about it for the rest of your life!
Great info, thanks for sharing!
@@RoyalCaribbeanBlog I live in Trapper Creek Alaska. You miss so much taking cruise ship.😳
We live in Seattle. It turns out that a 7 day cruise from Vancouver to the same ports as a Seattle start cruise were $250 (USD)per person cheaper than from Seattle. We are taking the train from Seattle to Vancouver.
@TheMarlon57
We are looking into Alaska cruise right now and flying from Denver to Seattle is less than $200 per person.
Flying to Vancouver is over $400 per person.
Because of this....it will certainly be out of Seattle.
@TheMarlon57
Hi
We are planning for May or June 2020.
Will be booking this week....down to Eurodam or Ruby Princess.
2 cabins, family of 5...kids will be 14, 14. 9 years old.
We have cruised Disney, Carnival, Royal, Costa, Norwegian.
This would be 1st time on Princess or Holland.
@TheMarlon57
We have cruised Mediterranean, Caribbean, Mexico, Baltic, Bahamas.
Alaska cruise is in our bucket list....but I have zero expectations.
We currently live in Wyoming , which is cold, boring, empty, lots of wild life.
So Alaska seems more of the same, but with the addition of water.
My kids are not looking forward to this cruise.....lol.....and the ships dont seem to offer much for them.
@TheMarlon57
Nice.
I started in 1994.
A river cruise is also on our bucket list, although we have already been to every town up and down the Rhine and Mosel. We lived in Germany for 4 years.
But still want to do a Viking Cruise.
GREAT thoughts! Sailing Ovation May 2020 and this pod helped immensely! Sorry....gotta go keep bingeing!!!!
We are booked on the Ovation in September. Will be interested in any feedback/insights. Enjoy!
We cruise with our toddler so a balcony for us is great for nap time lol but I appreciate the info about the amount of viewing areas
Thanks for the great tips. I will be taking my first Alaska cruise in May. I like to go the least expensive way so I always get an inside cabin. Since my wife does not like cruises, I go solo. Most of the excursions in Alaska are soooo expensive, I try to do research and check out the stops and go on my own. On my last cruise in Oct 21 to the Mediterranean on MSC, we were not allowed to visit any of the towns on the itinerary without a ship-sponsored excursion (because of Covid rules). This was a bummer, some of the excursions were ok, others were a waste of money. On this trip in May, I plan to take a side trip to Glacier National Park in Montana and also visit Spokane. Flying and then renting a car in Whitefish will be the way to go because of the drive savings and the lower cost of rental cars in WhiteFish.
Hi! I am going on a cruise to Alaska this July. It's my first cruise ever. Which excursions did you think were worth it or a waste of money? The excursions are so expensive!
I've been on 4 Alaskan cruises, and would not even go without a Balcony. Having room service on your own balcony (esp. breakfast and coffee) made it worth every cent. Eating in town seems like time wasted, with great food on board at no extra cost.
Does RCL still have free room service? I’m thinking that we now must pay for any types of room service
Having been in inside cabin, oceanview and balcony, there is NO comparison of oceanview and balcony...none! All an oceanview cabin has is a smallish window, which many times shows the rust etcetera on it and is not special. I would suggest inside and truly save while getting a dark room to sleep in. Oceanview is not something to appreciate Alaska with...a true balcony is where you sit and enjoy.
We've been on 19 cruises (so far) and have had balconies...but no longer. We use our cabin to sleep, shower, dress...and get "reaquainted"...none of which require a view. After that, we're gone, except for occasional naps...which are much better in a dark interior cabin. You can't appreciate scenery when you're asleep and for about 80% of a cruise, the scenery is simply water. On rainy days, the balcony is useless. On some ships, balconies on lower decks are positioned further out than the ones above...offering a birds eye view of your "privacy" to everyone above...which is just about everyone on that side of the ship. So...unless you're the type that craves hours of solitude with a view (from only one side of the ship), I'd advise you to save your money for excursions, specialty dining, dining ashore, bar tabs, lap dances, etc.
Oh what a good point about having a dark place to sleep.
We're cruising to Alaska this September (2019)! Thanks so much for these tips!
Crystal Cruiser Guys I am too! Island princess, sept 4th
@@steveandshanmitchell9811 Have a FANTASTIC TIME!!!!! We sail on the 10th!
How was ur trip. I'm going sept 2020. How was the weather and wildlife?
I enjoyed a balcony. Only ever getting to Alaska once, so I could see a lot of scenery and not getting too cold.
I agree about the balcony. We prefer the a Balcony but paying $2000 more for it over a land side window room wasn't in our budget. Use the saved money for souvenirs.
Another mistake is not visiting the rest of Alaska. I'm a local Alaskan and worked a summer for Princess at their Kenai (Keen-eye) Lodge in Copper Landing. It was wonderful! Many Cruise ships come into Seward, Homer, Anchorage, Valdez, Whitter, and Kodiak. All worth visiting, I've been to all at some time in my life. Many cruises send their guest all the way to Denali, Talkeetna, and Fairbanks. My current hometown is Palmer in the Mat-Su Valley. It has a wonderful Reindeer Farm that our lower 48 guests love to visit. I grew up on the Kenai Peninsula working my summers in fish canneries and also lived in Anchorage. Us locals use Yelp and Trip Advisor to find the best places to eat too and things to do too. I'm pretty sure The Moose's Tooth in Anchorage is number one on Yelp and it's number one for locals too.
Michele Olson Hi there Michele from Australia, if you happen to see this message thank you for the tip , my hubby and I are travelling on Holland America in August 2020 our first ever cruise so we are a tad nervous ,,, our cruise has 7 day land content beginning in Fairbanks, through Denali heading down over 7 days before we join our cruise part in Seward for 7 more days , we have a balcony cabin ! As a vegetarian ( oh god I hate telling people that ha ha ) do you have any tips re where to eat and places to visit , my hubby is definitely not a vegetarian ha ha !
We are currently in Cooper Landing at the sunrise inn. It’s shoulder season needed a place with food close and some walking close by. My husband had the car for work most days.It’s just so beautiful here and we didn’t lack sites to see even though many things weren’t open yet. We do plan on taking a cruise in a few years but am so thankful for this unplanned opportunity. The people and the peninsula are wonderful.
If you enjoy sleeping late, an interior room is Carl's bad caverns dark. The tv can be put on a channel that is connected to a camera outside so you know if you're missing something. I dont like spending a lot of time in the room so while balconies are nice, they arent everything.
Is there any fishing excursions in any of the Alaskan ports?
I am a retired Alaska Marine Highway System worker and I ran the inside passage for 12 years and it never got old. Who needs a balcony when the spotted humpback whale is on the other side of the ship? Who needs a balcony when you're asleep? I remember standing on the open deck watching the grandeur of the glaciers, the waterfalls and the bald eagles thinking, WHAT could be more beautiful? Then I looked at the OTHER side of the ship.......not only all of the above, but also bears feeding on the jumping salmon and the sea lions feasting in the waters trying to avoid the killer whales! And it's ALWAYS changing!
Enjoyed thoroughly! Good tips! Thank you
If you really want an Alaska experience get a job on a Salmon processor for a season. Lol. I was 40 min north of Ketchikan by float plane on a floating processor in Neets Bay. What an experience. Loved every min.
Great info.....useful and will use in planning our May 2022 RC Alaska Cruise. Info on Juneau is the BEST! Thanks! :-)
I went to Alaska on the Norwegian Bliss last July, it was SO beautiful! Made me want to get a summer vacation home in Alaska some day. Funny enough, we went to the same dog "sled" as pictured, and I even have pictures holding that particular black puppy pictured at 3:12!
We were in Skagway and ate at the Skagway Brewing Company; HOLY MOLY those were THE BEST onion rings I've ever had, and their chicken was also so delicious, I cannot rave enough about it. I'm still dreaming about that meal! Haha
I thought I heard it all, but you had some really good tips that will likely enhance my trip. Do you have any real deal food recommendations?
Thanks for the info. We are headed there in July 2019.
You will have a Wonderful time!
OMG, @5:20 he's talking about Seattle when there's a flyover of the Spokane river in downtown Spoke, fubar!
Right on advice about the balcony not being so important. I love it that so many people believe they must have a balcony no matter the cost. That keeps the price of inside rooms down. I had a balcony when we went to Alaska and it was good but rarely did I use it. People saying they stayed out there late at night must be joking. It is freezing on an Alaskan cruise at night even in the warmest of weather and there is nothing to see in the dark. When you go up on deck you see anything you want, you can interact with the guides, participate in the hands-on exhibits, special foods, etc. If you are in a balcony you see what happens to be going by in front of you. I know we would have missed some amazing glacier calving, whales, otters, etc. had we stayed in our balcony in Glacier bay.
I read a review from a wealthy man who cruises several times a year to Alaska. He said he always gets an inside room; he can sleep when he wants and when he wants to see the views he knows to go to the decks for the best viewing. And he could afford any room on the ship.
You are 100% correct. My wife and I just got back from our first 9 day Alaskan cruise, and at first she wanted a balcony. Halfway through, she basically said she was happy we didn’t get a balcony. For once, the complete darkness of the room most closely resembles what our room is like in our own home. Also, between the shore excursions, dining, the concerts and shows, and the casino, we were never in our room except for when it was time to go to sleep. And like you said, in Alaska it’s particularly cold and dark at night. So there’s nothing much to see anyways. We’ve had a balcony room before on a Western Caribbean cruise, and that was a decent experience because the warm air from the Atlantic Ocean at night is a lot more tolerable than the cold air from the Pacific Ocean.
Some great points made in the video, and well done for viewpoint. As a person who has lived most of my life along the Pacific coast in the Alaska Cruise zone, I agree with them all. For any other comment, know what you want. Don't want to mix with people, balcony may make more sense but an inside cabin helps with the hours of sunlight in June/July. Personal view, seen one glacier seen them all, and I've seen a lot, from many angles, and watched them recede. Time of year makes a big difference. Spring and fall cruises generally have fewer young people on them, still in school, and fewer tourists in general in the ports than peak summer. Spring gets a 'taste of winter' with more daylight but weather may change availability, fall gets 'taste of autumn/winter' with more daylight, but none of the 20h daylight to mess with you and same weather issues. Locally owned an operated businesses have to be good, but may not have the same ambiance as a company owned one, as they have to keep the locals happy as well and they generally want different things than cruise passengers. There are restaurants in Skagway that people drive 1.5h and cross a boarder to eat at. Not many boarder crossings get when asked why you're crossing 'for Thai food' is an acceptable answer. Cruises out of Vancouver go the inside passage, smoother run as less open ocean than those out of Seattle. If you want to see land, choose Vancouver, if you are claustrophobic, avoid Alaska cruises completely, as all get quite close to land. I still haven't made it to Alaska 'proper', not the panhandle, and finally made it to Juneau on a cruise. I walked to the gondola and spent my time in the park, on a day that we were the only ship to make it in due to wind. Skagway I bought my usual fudge and hot chocolate with a stop in at the yarn store, and got off in Victoria...since family lives within walking distance of the port.
Great info, thank you for sharing
If you’re booking a hotel in downtown Seattle, I would think long and hard about it. I seen multiple hotels charging $60 a night parking, prior to our cruise we stayed downtown but only Uber’s or used shuttles. After the cruise we had to rental car but we stayed at a different hotel, this one closer to the airport with free parking-
A balcony isn't required, that's true. But it is oh so nice if you're just chilling in the room and watching the scenery go by. There were a number of occasions on my recent cruise where I was out on the balcony, tunes playing on the bluetooth speaker, drink in hand and taking in the scenery. I guess it comes done to how much you're willing to save/spend on the cabin. Honestly I think we spent more time on deck when there was scenery than we did in the room.
Yes, spend time at Mendenhall. We had dinner reservations on the ship so we kind of had to rush through seeing that.
It is definitely worth listening to at least some of the ranger presentations on the area. On our ship they simulcast the presentation on the ship TV.
I'm going on my 1st cruise to Alaska in August. I would llloooooove to book a balcony room but I just don't have the budget right now so an Interior room will do :/
Thanks Matt for your tip. My family and I will be on Ovation of the Seas soon and will keep in mind what you just said, but we did book two balcony ocean view staterooms. But our reason is to get some fresh air as much as possible and to lookout into horizon in case anyone of us gets seasick. I heard Looking at the horizon can help give your brain a point of reference, allowing it to sense the motion of the ship and your body's movement with it. 👍🏻
I hope it's not too late to pass this along:
HOW TO DEAL WITH MOTION SICKNESS
Ask your doctor for an Ondansetron Orally Dissolving Tablets prescription. It's the gold standard for nausea. You want the Orally Dissolving tablets because you might not be able to keep down a tablet swallowed with water if you're already feeling icky. It comes in 4mg and 8mg. I always get the 8mg but discuss it with your doctor.
I pair the prescription with candied ginger. You chew and immediately swallow a small bite, then take another nibble, chew that a bit, and park it in your lip. Periodically, give it a few more chews. When there's no more flavor, either swallow what's left or spit it out, and then nibble on a fresh piece.
On my first cruise, the boat was really rocking and rolling. Ondansetron kept me from feeding the fishies, but I still felt icky until I remembered that I had candied ginger--that stuff was a godsend. I hadn't brought enough, though, and was afraid I'd run out. But there was a Japanese restaurant onboard and they cheerfully gave me a mug full of pickled ginger every time I asked. It's a completely different flavor from the peppery-ness of candied ginger, and it works just as well.
By the way, ginger ale is useless. Not nearly enough ginger.
I now never travel without candied ginger. I started making my own (super easy), and I always bring plenty to share. I continue to be unbelievably susceptible to motion sickness, but when I use this strategy, I never have no problem whatsoever.
You'll do great!
This was helpful information, thanks!
A balcony is priceless if you are quarantined on that ship!
I live in Juneau, skip the cruise ships buses and take a taxi to eagle beach, it’s the best view here for sure. If you come on a really cloudy rainy day don’t take the gondola you won’t be able to see anything, it’ll save you $25 a person. If you come to fish get off the cruise ship and head south down thane road (opposite of downtown) and fish out anywhere on the road there. It rains almost everyday in Juneau some bring a rain coat for sure
Great tips, thanks for sharing your tips and suggestions!
Thanks for the great advice! When is Royal Caribbean blog headed back to Alaska?
Very good & useful information I too had been to Alaska by Hollend America line cruise last May unforgettable experience
Glad you found this info helpful!
GREAT info that I will use for my May 2020 YOLO Alaskan Ovation cruise!
I would add laundry detergent (hand wash items) and most importantly dish washing liquid (to wash you reusable bottles, straws etc). Clorox wipes to wiper surfaces and shower shoes (germaphobes)
Really great advice!
Nice video for 2019
Thanks for the tips, attempting to go on my first this August (fingers crossed since they passed the new bill!). Gotta say though, I totally disagree with you about the Museum of Pop Culture. I LOVED that museum. Did a travel nursing gig in Bellingham just north and went there twice. All in what you're interested in I guess. I just don't want others to think it's not worth visiting because it totally is. Now, the glass museum? I could have happily skipped that. Also, my experience in Seattle is that renting a car to get out would be great, but be wary of renting one to do much close by. The traffic is truly horrible, and parking is a nightmare. Even hotels charge $30-60 a day to park when you're staying there. The light rail is a great option for getting around in the city, and super easy to figure out. Another option to keep in mind, even to go to Vancouver, is Amtrak. I used to ride the train down to Seattle from Bellingham all the time. Took just a little longer (30 min or so) but avoided the car difficulties and it was cheaper to use public transportation and uber once there. Just some ideas from someone who spent 6 months in the area!
Thanks for sharing your tips! I truly appreciated it!
Always choose the balcony just to have fresh air in the room or have a nice breakfast on the balcony or morning coffee 👍👍
I did the inside passage on the Grand Princess in May 2016. Inside cabin, solo traveller - not a huge spender! For me..I kayaked on the Meddenhall glacier waters and loved that excursion(doubles kayak and Im a pretty handy paddler which my kayak partner liked - buddied only for the paddle!). I also did the self drive Jeep tour to the Yukon with a small number of 5 jeeps - I travelled with the tour guide, happy to just enjoy the travel and let her focus on the road rules! ) When in the small town stops like Skagway, Ketchikan and Juneau, I just enjoyed a stroll in the streets, talking to folk and just enjoying the town itself without splashing out hundreds for overpriced tourist trap pricing tours! My legs still carried me plenty of distance as we had plenty of hours shore time!
Pack some lightweight waterproof spray jacket and a beanie, scarf and gloves...you'll be fine!...oh, and decent sunnies too is a must with some sunscreen as the sun has a decent UV kick up there!
On ship, flip-flops, shorts and a t-shirt were pretty common daily wear. A pair of jeans for the windy days and solid walking shoes if you plan to do some walking like I do. Pack comfy, simple and also allow for 2 formal nights(shirt and tie stuff...but I just wore neat casual pants(not jeans) and clean shirt plus a tie with a sport jacket...sorted! Some folk have suits etc...if thats your style then go for it. Stuck for clothes...then visit the local thrift shop or Salvos shop and you may be surprised what $50 bucks will get ya!
Be nice and friendly to your cabin stewards and they'll look after your needs...mine were great and I ALWAYS made sure to say hi with a smile EVERY time I saw them working near my cabin or in it! They're not highly paid so make them still feel welcome and appreciated, its well worth that extra smile!
kent.. what time if year did you go. I'm booked for sept 16 '22 Vancouver to Seward.. I live is sunny south Florida. I'm concerned about keeping warm :)
@@mlwelter mid may 2016 was mine..early in the season time
What company did you use to kayak on Menddenhall Glacier? I'm looking to do the same.
@@camilabarco5670 sorry, cant recall the company name. It was one of the princess linked operators...a young couple with the van and trailer of kayaks...it was a fun excursion😄
Love your videos, thank you!
Good tips! (I would do a personal "cost/benefit" on the the balcony, but I liked mine.
Hello. Do you recommend to buy a whale watching tour separately or can we see whales from a cruise ship ? Thanks
Great tips, great video. Thanks!
Biggest mistake you can make is to cruise Alaska on one of these mega liners. The small boat options offer far better experiences. All excursions are generally included in the price and you aren't nickel and dimed to death.
What do you suggest? We have always went on big ship cruises so i am unfamiliar with small ships.
@@jennifertrujillo2530 if you can get to Prince Rupert, BC, you can start to take a ship that is part of the Alaska Ferry group, it stops at all the little stops. We did just that. You can get off at all stops, and explore, and catch another ferry another day if you want. We did that, but brought our own car, and slept in the back. We stopped off and got on again when we wanted.
Great video!! How much could you spend approximately when you are on land in these stops?? 🙌🏽
What is good to wear on an Alaskan cruise in September?
Thanks, Matt! I love being able to hear what others would do differently. It's nice to FINALLY hear from someone who doesn't push strongly the need for a balcony cabin. We are feeling like we're splurging on an oceanview, and I think we will be just fine. We Love to get up on higher decks for scenery anyway. I'm concerned that the Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake excursion we booked will not give us enough time to see Nugget Falls. I might have to reconsider, or go back to it later in the day. Great info as usual, Matt!
Thanks for watching, Susan.
I thought of booking the same excursion as you are, but I also think there is not enough time since we hardly spend much there it seems like. For 2 places, the duration is only 3 hours. I'm looking into private tours since there are 5 of us. It might be more worth it that way.
Susan Diekmann Nugget Falls is at Mendenhall Glacier. The Salmon Bake is good if you enjoy salmon. I went once a year. I actually grew up at Salmon Creek in the 1960s. Sure has changed.
Were the lectures shown on the tv later?
So would you recommend not doing the structured Mendenhall glacier and salmon bake excursion...instead taking a cab to the park?
Why is the video showing Spokane (5:20+)? It is 4.5 hours away from the Seattle area.
According to one of his comments, he thought is was Vancouver B.C. That’s still far from Seattle so I’m not sure why he put that in there.
I really enjoyed this video. I would have preferred a balcony but they were an additional $2000. I will be up top for sure.
Start off in Vancouver Canada then Seattle. Vancouver way more beautiful Cheaper (CAD$). The city not like any other city in the US. And Victoria BC is a nice clean friendly people and flowers everywhere.
Just walked the whole city and you won't get bored.
Hi Matt. Don’t really want to be a pain but the Mendenhall Glacier is part of the Tongass National Forest. It’s not a National Park.
It is a very small part of the Tongass National Forest
Also want to add $5 admission fee or free admission (up to 4 people) with the Annual National Park pass.
Going with my wife and kids on the Serenade next August out of Vancouver (we are from Toronto). Really looking forward to seeing the beauty of it all. We will be in Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. It will be our 4th Royal Caribbean cruise. Any advice on were to eat? Much like you Matt, I try to avoid the tourist traps and look good but food bad places.
I'm by no means an expert on the best spots in Alaska towns to eat. Depends I think if you want crab, salmon, or whatever. I'd suggest posting the question on our message boards! www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/boards