ruhtra09 Posted December 28, 2022 Report Share Posted December 28, 2022 Hey all - thinking about booking an Alaskan cruise June of 2024. Settled on the Ovation of the Seas. So now I just need to pick between Alaska Glacier Cruise or Alaska Experience Cruise. No idea which to choose. Any suggestions, tips, etc.? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus527 Posted December 28, 2022 Report Share Posted December 28, 2022 If you're more interested in seeing glaciers (less ports, more sea days), do the former. If you're more interested in visiting ports and exploring the land, do the latter. ruhtra09 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruhtra09 Posted December 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2022 16 minutes ago, Cactus527 said: If you're more interested in seeing glaciers (less ports, more sea days), do the former. If you're more interested in visiting ports and exploring the land, do the latter. Then I think I'll choose the Alaska Experience Cruise. Thank you. Linda R 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryan79 Posted December 28, 2022 Report Share Posted December 28, 2022 You made a good choice! Ports in Alaska are a much better experience than sailing quasi close to a glacier. You can see glaciers all you want on excursions in Juneau. Not worth missing a port over. All Alaska ports are super fun. FireFishII and ruhtra09 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireFishII Posted December 28, 2022 Report Share Posted December 28, 2022 I agree with @Ryan79. There are shore excursions that will get you close to a glacier - either by boat or by helicopter. I had so much fun in the ports. I would especially recommend the Alaska Scenic White Pass Railroad in Skagway or biking downhill (Don't remember the port). Finally, whether or not you are into fishing, late June is the start of salmon fishing. Another great shore excursion. ruhtra09 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruhtra09 Posted December 28, 2022 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2022 Watched Alaska cruise mistakes to avoid!. Rather than get a balcony room for family of four, going to pick two connecting interior rooms, which costs less. Just came back from Symphony of the Seas and I think I went on the balcony maybe three times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted December 28, 2022 Report Share Posted December 28, 2022 I wouldn't put a lot of weight into the title of the cruise which is purely a marketing thing. Compared the itineraries including the time spent in each port. FireFishII and ruhtra09 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv2sail Posted December 29, 2022 Report Share Posted December 29, 2022 We were on Ovation in June and had a great time. I can't wait to go back to Alaska. I hope you have a fantastic cruise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted December 29, 2022 Report Share Posted December 29, 2022 Since you're new to Alaska cruises, check out our comprehensive Alaska cruise section: https://www.royalcaribbeanblog.com/alaska-cruises ruhtra09 and Va4fam 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brando95 Posted December 29, 2022 Report Share Posted December 29, 2022 I'll do my best to take good care of Ovation as I'll be on the Hawaii to Vancouver repo in May. WAAAYTOOO and Cactus527 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus527 Posted December 29, 2022 Report Share Posted December 29, 2022 22 hours ago, FireFishII said: I agree with @Ryan79. There are shore excursions that will get you close to a glacier - either by boat or by helicopter. I had so much fun in the ports. I would especially recommend the Alaska Scenic White Pass Railroad in Skagway or biking downhill (Don't remember the port). Finally, whether or not you are into fishing, late June is the start of salmon fishing. Another great shore excursion. I also recommend any shore excursion that involves sled dogs (if you like dogs). My husband and I ended up doing two of these excursions in different ports because we loved snuggling with the puppies so much! FireFishII 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Va4fam Posted December 29, 2022 Report Share Posted December 29, 2022 30 minutes ago, Cactus527 said: I also recommend any shore excursion that involves sled dogs (if you like dogs). My husband and I ended up doing two of these excursions in different ports because we loved snuggling with the puppies so much! Do you remember which ones you did? We are planning a combo excursion in Skagway (train, gold panning, sled dogs) but also considering one in Anchorage. What did you like about yours? Cactus527 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus527 Posted December 29, 2022 Report Share Posted December 29, 2022 12 minutes ago, Va4fam said: Do you remember which ones you did? We are planning a combo excursion in Skagway (train, gold panning, sled dogs) but also considering one in Anchorage. What did you like about yours? We did one in Skagway and another in Anchorage (different cruise line). The one in Skagway was super fun because the dogs pull you sleg-dog style in a golf cart! We laughed the entire way through that one. The one in Anchorage was basically a show about sled dogs, what they do, how they're trained, and a meet & greet with the dogs and some puppies. Both places noted that they love having cruise guests handle the puppies because it gets the dogs used to people and being handled. I liked that neither excursion was super long, there weren't a ton of people around, and it was super interesting to learn about the whole operation. The first two photos are from Skagway, the puppies are from Anchorage. Hope this helps! DDaley and Va4fam 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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