I saw on tv a few nights ago a really good deal for a cruise to Alaska through the Princess Cruise Lines, told my husband about it and he said yeah the price is great but the air fare would probably cost you an arm and a leg depending on where it leaves from. Now I don't know all the details about the cruise and what it offered for the price, but I'm just curious on what port or ports are the most common you would leave from if you go on a cruise to Alaska and of course the only way I would do a cruise to Alaska would be in the Spring or mainly Summer.
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Contributor Level:
Deck Hand
Those of you that have taken a cruise to Alaska where did you leave from on the ship
16 Answers
Contributor Level:
Purser
We have left from Seattle and Vancouver. Which ever port you choose go a few days early as each city has a lot to offer. Think of it as one of your port stops. Also if you end up in Anchorage stay a few days there too. You may never get there again. We have been in Alaska in May, June and September. We like it before they get over run with tourists. And try to avoid lots of youngsters on the ship!
Contributor Level:
First Mate
Seattle and Vancouver are probably the most popular places, but there are some others, too.
Contributor Level:
Cruise Director
Been on 2 cruises to Alaska. One on Carnival Spirit and the other on Carnival Legend. We fly out of Houston Hobby to Seattle on Southwest (bags fly free), non stop. We get to Seattle 3 days before the cruise as there is lots to see and do in Seattle. We always go in August as the "veterans" say that is the best time to go. Southwest has early bird saver deals, so the air fare is not that expensive if you take that deal. Coming back, we volunteer for "bumps", and sometimes the "perks" from that pays off well. Alaska on a cruise ship is great. We have had great excursions, our best one was a guided motorcycle tour, we went to places where tour busses could not go. Saw moose, eagles, salmon and bears off road.
When cruising Alaska you can do a one way or a round trip. When you do the round trip out of Seattle, Vancouver or sometimes San Francisco where you start and end the cruise at the same port the air fair tend to be lower for round trip air. You can also do a one way Alaska cruise starting in Alaska and ending in Seattle or Vancouver. On the one way you need one way air to the start of the cruise and one way from end of cruise back home. I have noticed that the one way cruise tend to have lower cruise prices IMHO but higher air prices.
I can tell you from experience if you fly into Anchorage the buss to the ship can be a 4 hour ride, this makes your first day very long and tiring. I did it this way on a cruise and said when I go back I will do a round trip cruise.
Alaska is a great cruise and one that you will remember, nothing else like it. I did it over 20 years ago and I want to go back.
Contributor Level:
Cruise Director
Seattle, from Dallas. It was an interesting cruise, something "to be experienced", but all it did was prove that the way to "see" Alaska isn't from a cruise ship. Back in the day, "getting there was half the fun.." not anymore.
Contributor Level:
Admiral
We sailed over Labor Day and sailed out of Seattle, WA. We flew from Denver, CO on Southwest Airlines. Well worth the trip.
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