Vancouver is an increasingly popular port of departure for one-way Alaska cruises headed to or from Seward or Whittier.  But with so many choices, how do you select an Alaska cruise line that’s just right for your trip?  The good news is that with a little research, you can narrow down your options relatively quickly.

If a family Alaska cruise is what you are interested in, there are three Alaska cruise lines using the port of Vancouver.  Carnival Cruise Lines is noted for its family friendly tours and bills itself as the “fun ship” for good reason.  Norwegian Cruise Line tries to promote a more casual approach to cruising, and is another popular choice for families with children.  Royal Caribbean International is the final choice for a family cruise to Alaska, with a focus on adventure with such onboard attractions as a rock climbing wall and putting greens.

If you are more interested in a luxury Alaska cruise, you also have a number of choices.  Celebrity Cruises is a more upmarket option known for its gourmet dining and luxurious amenities.  Holland America Line is another alternative that looks to provide an elegant, traditional onboard experience.  Finally, Princess Cruises is unique in that it runs a number of its own lodges in Alaska, and its onboard amenities are of high quality.

If you are looking for a small ship Alaska cruise, your choices are more limited, but the options are all excellent.  Cruise West has been in the business for a very long time and has the smallest ship capacity of just over 100 passengers, enabling it to cruise to places where larger ships can’t visit. Regent Seven Seas accommodates about 700 guests on its Alaska cruise tours, and every cabin is an outside suite with a balcony.  Silversea is the favorite of Conde Naste Traveler magazine, and operates ships with just under 400 passengers, making it a nice intermediate option.

One thing’s for sure, with so many great options, you’re bound to find an Alaska cruise departing from Vancouver that’s just right!

Source: The Vancouver Sun

The Star out of Toronto, Canada, has posted a helpful roundup of current Alaska cruise deals.  While I’ve covered many of these bargains before, it’s nice to review them and make sure nobody misses out.

• Carnival Cruises is offering a 25% discount on advance bookings of three to five months, depending on the length of the cruise.
• Celebrity Cruises is promoting a 50% reduction in deposits.
• Holland America Line takes it a step further with its Vacation Stimulus Plan, offering a 50% reduction in both deposits and tours.
• Norwegian Cruise Line is granting a $250 on board credit, and child fares as low as $99.
• Princess Cruises continues to promote its complimentary balcony upgrades on all ocean view staterooms.
• Royal Caribbean is offering a $200 onboard credit.
• Silversea Cruises is promoting a 30% discount on advance bookings, as well as an additional 5% discount for advance payments.

It’s great to see the Alaska cruise lines competing for your business, and really trying to outdo each other.  With all of these excellent Alaska cruise deals on offer, you’re bound to find one to your liking!

Source: The Star

To help celebrate Alaska’s 50th statehood anniversary, Holland America has come up with some great Alaska cruise deals.  Are the promotions any good?  How does a 50% discount sound to you!

Holland American has selected 13 of its Alaska cruise itineraries lasting between 11 and 14 days to be eligible for the 50% discount.  Sample itineraries include their 12-day Discovery Cruise & Denali Adventure, with stops at the well known ports of Ketchikan, Sitka and Seward.  A highlight of course is a full day cruising the Scenic Alaska Inside Passage.

Inside room prices start at only $949 per person, outside cabins begin at $1,049, and suites are available from $1,399.  You can travel in either direction between Vancouver and Fairbanks.  A great bonus is a $50 per person credit for a one-night deluxe downtown Vancouver hotel room.  It looks like Holland America has really come up with some excellent promotions to help you get the best Alaska cruise savings.

Source: Washington Post

The slow economy is continuing to take its toll on the Alaska cruise lines, but the good news is that they are really pulling out the stops to offer some incredible Alaska cruise deals.  I just stumbled across a particularly good Alaska cruise package offered by Holland America Line.  How does a seven-night trip between Vancouver and Seward for $349 strike you?  If you can travel in May, you should jump on this offer immediately as I can’t imagine this special discount will last very long.  Even if you can only travel in June, the price only goes up to $399 per person.

What’s the reason behind these fares, some of the lowest that have been seen in over 30 years?  Low bookings, plain and simple.  Even though other cruise markets such as the Caribbean are down just slightly, the Alaska cruise market has been down about 40 percent compared to the same period a year ago.  Just like an airplane, these cruise ships are committed to their departures and will do almost anything within reason to avoid leaving port with empty cabins.  Their misfortune is great news for anyone in the market for an Alaska cruise deal.

As always, if you run across any other Alaska cruise deals, please be sure to forward them to me!

Source: Mercury News

Holland America keeps up their reputation as an innovator in the Alaska cruise market by announcing their new “Take Your Time” promotion.  Their Alaska cruise deal offers one-way passage between their ports along the coast from Seattle to Alaska.  To give you an idea of how great these bargains are, you can travel between Whittier and Vancouver for as little as $440 per person.  That’s less than the fare for the same itinerary on Alaska Airlines, and on Holland America you get full room and board for a week!

Why such aggressive discounts?  According to the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, the cruise lines have continued to struggle to fill their ships this season.  One local operator shared that his bookings are down 30 percent.  Matters have been made worse as ten more ships will be plying the waters along the glaciers compared to last year.  The local communities are deeply concerned that the soft demand for Alaska cruises will mean fewer seasonal jobs that are so needed in this difficult economy.

While the cruise lines struggle, the silver lining is that Alaska cruise deals are alive and well.  If you ever wanted to visit Alaska, you’d be hard pressed to find a cheaper year to do so!

Source: Fort Mill Times