For a first-time cruiser, the number of options when it comes to choosing your Alaska cruise ship can be seem pretty overwhelming. Sure, once you’ve been on a few cruises, you get a feel for which lines and ship sizes you like, but what about someone planning their very first Alaska cruise vacation? An article from The Miami Herald offers a fairly good overview of what your main options and trade offs will be. It’s not going to answer all of your questions, but it’s not a bad read if you want to get your feet wet before you start doing more research.
If you think you might like a larger cruise ship, they point out that you’ll have pretty much every conceivable need addressed. Cabin choices? Food choices? Entertainment choices? The big ships have an incredible number of options, and you’d be hard pressed not to find something you like. The downside, of course, is that they are huge, and anyone looking for an intimate or “off the beaten track” adventure is going to be sorely disappointed.
The other main option is the small ships, usually defined as anything floating with a capacity of less than 150 passengers, although there’s no hard and fast rule. Small is the operative word, as the cabins, common areas and entertainment choices are not huge. The plus is that these small Alaska cruise ships can get in much closer to the glaciers and wildlife. They tend to attractive a more nature-focused crowd, as you can be sure there aren’t any casinos or climbing walls onboard.
The last option, for anyone on a tight budget or timetable, is take one of the ferries available. If your idea of a great trip is to roll your sleeping bag out on the deck and dine at a snack bar or from the microwave, these can be a lot of fun. Just don’t expect a turn down service or a mint on your pillow!
Source: The Miami Herald
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