Destination and port schedule Great

Radiance of the Seas Cruise Review to Alaska - Gulf of Alaska

Cruises: 4-6 cruises
Review: 1
Helpful Votes: 71

Overall rating:

4 out of 5
Verified Review
Radiance of the Seas

7 Night Alaska Hubbard Glacier Southbound (Seward To Vancouver)

Sail date: August 05, 2016

Ship: Radiance of the Seas

Cabin type: Oceanview

Cabin number: 7506

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 8 years ago

Review summary

The destinations and port schedule were great, so was visiting Alaska at this time of year. The Radiance of the Seas was a very tasteful, clean and modern ship (except for the jungle pool area which could use some fresh air).

Food was okay but not exceptional. The ship has a lot of private dining experiences which is unfortunate because we had a nearly empty table of 10 every night in the formal main dining. If cruise lines are going to promote restaurant dining packages so heavily, then they need to implement impromptu or mixed seating. So many tables around us were only partially full all nights. The atrium entertainment was great to watch, and the theater shows were okay. The onboard daily schedule pages were not the easiest to read of the several ships/cruise lines I've sailed with, so pay attention to the small print and read everything. Also, they say they have Starbucks coffee but they're definitely not trained baristas, even at a la carte pricing.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

3 out of 5

Onboard Activities

3 out of 5

Entertainment

5 out of 5

Children's Programs

3 out of 5

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Ship Quality

5 out of 5

Cabin / Stateroom

5 out of 5
Never had a window before, so this was a nice change. Room was spacious and in good shape. Bathroom was one of the smallest but not uncomfortably so. Plenty of lights, hangers, and towels. Room had a small mini bar, but no glasses or ice buckets without calling for one, and it disappeared as soon as the room was cleaned again. TV is a nice LED flatscreen but completely useless with the pay-only content. Not sure why these are still included in cabins since ships have added Wi-Fi packages.

Ship tip

Go to lunch in the main dining room on the sea days--the only time you'll taste a dessert worth mentioning again. Plus, the lunch specials are excellent especially if you want some international cuisine flavors.

Ports of call

Seward (Anchorage), Alaska

3 out of 5
Spend some time in Anchorage, because Seward is nothing but a cruise terminal. Also, take the ACT bus rather than a taxi or renting a car.

Cruise Hubbard Glacier

5 out of 5

Juneau, Alaska

5 out of 5

Skagway, Alaska

5 out of 5

Icy Strait Point (Hoonah), Alaska

5 out of 5
Book a tour or the most exciting thing you can do is eat crab...also, eat crab.

Ketchikan, Alaska

5 out of 5
Mountain Point snorkeling is great--went in 2013 and 2016. Definitely would go again.

Cruise Inside Passage, Alaska

3 out of 5

Vancouver (Canada Place), British Columbia

5 out of 5
Sea to sky tour was great. Otherwise go explore the local park with all of the tall trees (nearly as good as California's Sequoias.
Was this review helpful? 71

3 Comments

NicoleM343    8 years ago

Re: Googjack

If you can get on and off a coach bus, then you can definitely see some stuff around Alaska. The unique thing at most of the ports is that they have boardwalks (wooden) rather than paved sidewalks some of the time. Icy Strait Point port has a rather steep incline with the pier bridge but there were plenty of staff to assist those with walkers and wheelchairs. For the helicopter and boat tours, they help people get on and off but again there are some steps like getting on a coach bus. Also, the ground always seems to be wet...not sure what your concerns are with traction.

You would not be the only person with a wheelie walker.

noname111    8 years ago

Thank you for posting your review. We had to cancel our Alaska voyage this year and look forward to re-booking. Your review is an incentive.

googjack    8 years ago

Hi just wondering what your thoughts are in relation to doing the Alaska cruise if you have mobility issues. ie I use a wheelie walker ..thanks would appreciate any feedback

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