Options
Alaska and the Yukon
in Alaska
Anyone going on the May 23 -June 7 trip?? Really looking forward to it!
0
Comments
Lynn_2024. We are going June 14-28. So excited. I would love some tips and tidbits from you as there is nothing posted since they change the trip.
Auburn,
Your timing is great. We were in Alaska many years ago in June. On the longest day of the year, the park rangers gave guided tours at 11PM. It was still light on the days when the sun barely sets.
Ladies, please tell us about your experiences in May and June 2026.
We also are thinking about Alaska in 2027, interested in any and all comments. We have taken many Tauck land tours but always hesitated on cruises due to concern about seasickness.
Our Inside Passage tour in June last summer was smooth sailing. A wonderful trip!
We took the combined land and sea Alaska tour with Tauck a few years ago. It was our first large cruise ship experience and we hated it. The ship held over 3000 passengers but was only about half full, there was a lot of Covid on the ship too. The tour itinerary was changed just before we went, one of the lodges was closed and Ketchikan was eliminated. A broken down ferry caused us to miss the scenic train ride. We had to contact Tauck to have any chance of reimbursement for the missed train ride which turned out to be $90 each. The land part of the tour was fine. We realized very quickly that big cruise ships are not for us. We have taken many Tauck land tours and about five small ship cruises. We would class this as our least favorite Tauck experience.
I did Alaska on one of those big ships and found that I just don't enjoy big ships. Maybe it was because of the big ship, but Alaska was not one of my favorite cruises.
We were a group of 40 Tauck travelers within the 600 passengers on the Silver Moon.
A very enjoyable experience.
The beauty of Alaska was just stunning.
Thank you for all the feedback! I don’t think we would enjoy a large ship,either.
Any suggestions for alternatives? We are open to any and all ideas! I should add we need to do an inside passage trip since I’m concerned about seasickness!
Even a 600-750 passengre ship doesn't rock and roll unless the seas get really bad. Cruise ships have staibilizers that conteract the rolling motion. See - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stabilizer_(ship)
Here's some more:
+++++++++++++++++
Cruise ships prevent rocking and rolling primarily using active stabilizer fins, which are wing-like structures that extend from the hull beneath the water. Controlled by gyroscopes and computers, these fins twist in the water to counteract the motion of waves .
Ships also rely on internal anti-rolling tanks and sheer mass.The technology that makes cruising so smooth relies on a combination of active systems, passive features, and ship design:
Stabilizer Fins: These are the primary defense against rough seas. Resembling airplane wings, they protrude from the ship's sides below the waterline and adjust their pitch hundreds of times per minute to exert force against the waves, keeping the ship level. Most modern Cruise Critic cruisers and experts generally note how incredibly efficient these are at typical cruising speeds.
Anti-Rolling Tanks:When a ship is moving too slowly for the fins to work (like docking) or when the water is extremely rough, ships use internal tanks. Computers pump heavy water or air pressure from side to side inside the ship, counteracting the ocean's rocking motion .
Bilge Keels:These are fixed, fin-like metal plates welded to the very bottom curves of the hull. They are passive stabilizers that create friction against the water, dragging on the ocean to naturally slow down and reduce the ship's side-to-side roll .
Mass and Design: Modern cruise ships are massive. Because thousands of tons of heavy machinery and ballast water are kept low in the hull (giving the ship a low center of gravity), it takes an enormous amount of wave force to bully the vessel around.
Wow! Thank you! Everything I would want to know. Since we are leaning to the inside passage I’m thinking a smaller vessel, under 1000?
Aside from everything Mike said, the Inside Passage is not open ocean - its protected for the most part by all the islands...I lived in Alaska for a few years and did the Inside Passage on a car ferry -- I grew up on water and am used to it, but I doubt you'll feel anything other than the ship's engines.
The advantage of one of those really big ships is that you can do the cruise for less money, especially if you'll take an inside cabin (those are usually really cheap).
But a small ship will give you a better overall experience, in my opinion, albeit at a higher price.
We would want a balcony. The probability is we will only do Alaska once. We enjoy seeing different places so a smaller ship is probably best. I don’t think we would enjoy a large ship experience and as long as a small(er) ship has stabilizers and does the inside passage I think I may be ok!
We’ve sailed the cruise to Alaska four times. Obviously, we love it. There are short portions of some cruises which sail in fairly open seas. One of us is sensitive to motion so takes a pill prior to sailing that portion (you can see the course on your TV). Even large ships with stabilizers can roll some. Book a cabin midship, lower deck. Big ship, small ship-personal choice. Each has advantages and disadvantages. The most important thing when choosing is a veranda. Never, never book an inside cabin for Alaska. The inland passage is all about the slow sailing through incredible scenery. Yes, you can go on deck. But nothing beats sitting on your veranda, wrapped in a blanket, binoculars in hand, watching as you pass snow capped mountains, waterfalls reaching to the sky, eagles in the trees-it’s magnificent. The stops for us are secondary. The season is very short so towns are dominated by shop selling things. We seek out little museums (real ones) short hikes, historical sites, good coffee.
Thank you, sounds like what we enjoy! Did you go with Tauck out of Vancouver? I understand it is calmer then going from Seattle.
The Jones Act requires that cruise ships that sail between US ports must be US built, US owned and crewed 75% by US citizens. That has an effect on Alaska cruises and that's why many of those cruises start in Vancouver.
Note that cruises from LA to Hawaii always stop at a Mexican port before continuing on to Hawaii. They usually don't even let anyone off the ship in the Mexican port. It's just to satisfy the Jones Act.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The laws governing this requirement are the Jones Act (Merchant Marine Act of 1920) and the Passenger Vessel Services Act (PVSA) of 1886 .Together, these statutes mandate that any vessel transporting passengers between U.S. ports must be U.S.-built, U.S.-owned, and have a crew consisting of at least 75% U.S. citizens. Because almost all major cruise ships are foreign-flagged and built overseas, they cannot legally sail strictly between U.S. ports without triggering heavy fines, which is why almost all domestic itineraries include at least one stop in a foreign port.
Clarification: we have not taken the Tauck tour. We sailed independently on Royal Caribbean (once) Celebrity (twice) and Disney (once, just returned). Three from Vancouver, one from Seattle.
Thank you!