Best cruise for Glacier Bay

[auntlynne]

Which town does NCL not dock at?

Ketchikan. They dock at Ward’s Cove, where they built a dock. Shuttles take you to town, about 20 minutes.

I did an excursion that actually started right next to the ship. It has been a starting point for excursions since before NCL built the dock area.

They utilized a closed-down paper mill (if I remember correctly).

 

[MillauFr]

Ketchikan. They dock at Ward’s Cove, where they built a dock. Shuttles take you to town, about 20 minutes.

I did an excursion that actually started right next to the ship. It has been a starting point for excursions since before NCL built the dock area.

They utilized a closed-down paper mill (if I remember correctly).

Thanks. Last time I was there on NCL they docked downtown. It was awhile ago though.

 

[auntlynne]

The Joy to Bermuda is what I had wanted to book for this summer. But after our Encore cruise I decided to book DCL again. Hopefully DCL will add some different Caribbean islands once they get the additional ships. We sailed to St Marteen and to San Juan years ago on DCL. I'd love to go to Bermuda and to some southern Caribbean islands on DCL.

I did a 3-day weekend in Bermuda. If I were to sail there, I would pick an itinerary that gives me 2-3 nights docked. It’s a relaxed island, not Caribbean at all. But nearly everything you will visit is a significant amount of time, as the roads and narrow and windy with a low speed limit. Only 21 miles long, you can spend an hour getting from the dock to one of the oldest capital towns in this hemisphere.

Southern Caribbean? After our DCL cruise there, my sister said she didn’t need DCL when you spend so much time in port. If you start in San Juan, it’s only about 2 days of your trip spent as Sea Days.

And, yes, we are principally DCL cruisers. We are starting to try other options, lately, but there are still new Disney ships to cruise.

Hope you find the right mix for yourself.

(Celebrity has been doing ABC Island cruises out of Ft Lauderdale. I have been watching Captain Kate McCue’s daily videos; you get the three islands in about 8 or 9 days. My DCL cruise friends find Celebrity to be a nice option.)

Hope you enjoy wherever the seas take you, as much as I have. It’s been a blast. Mouse or no mouse.

 

[lklgoodman]

Which town does NCL not dock at?

NCL has their own dock in the outskirts of Ketchikan. We had to ride a bus to get to Creek Street, took about 15 mins. There's nothing nice to see where their dock is located, it's in a pretty rundown area. DCL docks right by Creek Street.
In Skagway when we cruised on DCL we docked right by an area that had all kinds of shops, restaurants, and a museum. It was just a few mins from the ship. I don't know the name of the area. We docked in a different place on our NCL cruise. Not sure where it was at, but there wasn't anything around to see or do. There had been mudslides so they said they couldn't dock where they normally do. We cruised last June, so I don't know where NCL is docking this season in Skagway.

 

[Chemist]

We are taking a Princess cruise to Alaska in a few weeks, will post back later!

I'd heard that they have the best programs for Alaska, so figured we'd take a leap of faith!
I assume my tweener will be kept entertained.

For what its worth, the cruise is less than 1/2 the price of Disney for a similar stateroom (mini-suite), including drink packages and tips! I love the Disney magic, but our total trip including excursions and airfare is going to be several thousand dollars less than just a stateroom on Disney. And it includes Glacier Bay!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Princess was caught dumping wastewater in Glacier bay and fined, they also hit a whale once in Alaska. Cruise ships aren't exactly the most environmentally sound way to travel but Carnival/Princess is the worst of the bunch and I wouldn't cruise with them to Alaska for this reason. We loved our DCL cruise to Alaska but also want to go to either Glacier Bay or Hubbard. I'm considering a NatGeo cruise when are kids are a bit older.

 

[tidefan]

Princess was caught dumping wastewater in Glacier bay and fined, they also hit a whale once in Alaska. Cruise ships aren't exactly the most environmentally sound way to travel but Carnival/Princess is the worst of the bunch and I wouldn't cruise with them to Alaska for this reason. We loved our DCL cruise to Alaska but also want to go to either Glacier Bay or Hubbard. I'm considering a NatGeo cruise when are kids are a bit older.

Whatever. Crown Princess had a malfunction and accidentally discharged its pool water. It wasn’t sewage or anything like that. Also, this was over 11 years ago. I believe they paid a $20,000 fine. (https://www.ktoo.org/2013/01/29/epa...011-clean-water-act-violation-in-glacier-bay/)

Royal Caribbean had something like an 18 million dollar fine for dumping back in the 90’s (https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-agrees-to-pay-18M-fine-for-dumping-waste)

Times have changed. Both companies operate better today.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Whatever. Crown Princess had a malfunction and accidentally discharged its pool water. It wasn’t sewage or anything like that. Also, this was over 11 years ago. I believe they paid a $20,000 fine. (https://www.ktoo.org/2013/01/29/epa...011-clean-water-act-violation-in-glacier-bay/)

Royal Caribbean had something like an 18 million dollar fine for dumping back in the 90’s (https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Royal-Caribbean-agrees-to-pay-18M-fine-for-dumping-waste)

Times have changed. Both companies operate better today.

Princess got fined 40 million for deliberately dumping oil-contaminated water in 2016. Not in Alaska, but still. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/prin...-criminal-penalty-deliberate-vessel-pollution
No form of travel is ever 100% planet friendly but Princess is an environmental disaster and I would never cruise with them, least of all to Alaska.

 

[tidefan]

Princess got fined 40 million for deliberately dumping oil-contaminated water in 2016. Not in Alaska, but still. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/prin...-criminal-penalty-deliberate-vessel-pollution
No form of travel is ever 100% planet friendly but Princess is an environmental disaster and I would never cruise with them, least of all to Alaska.

I sailed Caribbean princess last year on a partial Panama Canal. One of the presentations that they did was all of the things that have been done in response to the actions of that engineering officer. I believe they are on the right track. You may not.

However, even Disney Cruise Line has its issues

Check out this article from USA TODAY:

Third Disney Cruise Line crew member arrested on child pornography charges

https://www.usatoday.com/story/trav...ey-cruise-crew-child-pornography/73347730007/

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

Your whataboutism doesn’t interest me. OP asked for opinions on cruises to Glacier Bay. I gave my opinion on why I would never sail Princess, a notorious environmental polluter, to the protected waters of Alaska. I’m glad one presentation was enough to convince you that they’ve changed their ways. I’m less convinced. Enjoy your Princess cruises.

 

[tidefan]

And I am glad you think everything stays the same. According to your logic, no one should ever put their kids in a DCL kids club.

Good day.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

And I am glad you think everything stays the same. According to your logic, no one should ever put their kids in a DCL kids club.

Good day.

I know it’s become politically expedient these days to imply that anyone who disagrees with you is fine with child pornography/trafficking etc but as a rhetorical technique I must admit I find it tiresome. OP asked what people thought about DCL alternatives to Alaska cruises, I answered. You seem to be taking my dim view of Princess Cruise Line’s environmental record personally but let’s try to keep this thread on-topic. Every customer obviously has to decide for themselves whether a company’s response to their employees’ illegal activity, in any context, is satisfactory enough to retain their business. That’s how capitalism works.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

thanks for this. I really want Uncruise to work. Just not sure if I can swing it cost wise.

Uncruise is a really spectacular experience!