Here we go again! But this is our 1st cruise so need good advise - wife and I would like to do a 7 day or so cruise out of Seattle up the Inland Passage - would like a reasonable Ocean view room
any suggestions where to shop for the cruise line?
Are the stated prices all inclusive of meals etc.
Thanks for your help
Seattle Departure Cruise
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mpraete@cruiseone.com
crucon.com
vacationstogo.com
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best discounts meals included
cruisecritic.com for Line/Ship reviews
Princess was great for me last.
All cruise prices are inclusive of meals in the main dining room or buffet. All cruise lines also offer additional dining options for a free. Drinks are never included except on the most expensive luxury lines.
Shore excursions are never included and add substantially to an Alaska cruise. In all honest, you should expect to pay as much for your shore experiences as your cruise if you really want to make the most out of this experience. If you stay on the ship or do nothing more than browse in the tourist boutiques ashore, you'll be doing yourself a disfavor.
Prices for these cruises may vary by $200 or so, but by an large, it doesn't matter that much where you buy your cruise. It's more important to choose a good travel agent who will help you find the right fit in terms of a ship or line rather than immediately jump onto CruiseCompete.com to find the best "deal". This is likely your one and only trip to Alaska, so I'd be more interested in finding the best experience than the best price.
I have a travel agent that lives in Vancouver and I don't think there isn't anything she can't tell me about these cruises. She did say that generally the best scenery is had by the cruises leaving from Vancouver and not Seattle. All you will get from cruisecompete is an agent who looks up what you ask for - not what you really want - and will not waste a lot of time because they pay for those leads if they turn into sales and they are discounting so much there is nothing in it to pay them if they put too much time into it.
I actually just passed this link on to my travel agent so do not be surprised if she comes to answer you. Very knowledgeable about Alaska.
We just completed a Seattle round trip Inside passage cruise on the Golden Princess in September. It was a great cruise. I used a TA I have known for the past 3 years to book the cruise and got a few perks.
I researched Alaska cruises on-line on and off for about 5 years and new exactly what I was getting and was not disappointed.
Check out cruisecritic.com and read, read, read.
I am the TA that ICruiseALot was talking about. For one thing, avoid those online order takers that aren't really travel agents when you are planning a cruise and have many questions.
Some TAs know Alaska inside and out, and you should go with one that will spend time with you.
Alaska cruises out of Vancouver are both more scenic and have calmer seas. From Alaska, the first and last days are spent out in the Pacific out of Seattle, whereas from Vancouver, there is land on either side of you that first and last day, and the land is so close you can see wildlife. It's gorgeous from start to finish. Vancouver Island also helps to shelter ships from the Pacific, but cruises from Seattle don't have that luxury. Plus, as a pre/post cruise destination, Seattle does not match Vancouver with things to see and places to go.
I could go on and on forever, as Alaska is a specialty, but it's impossible to type out all that I know.