Mobo123

For our 20th anniversary next year, i want to surprise my wife with her dream, an alaskan cruise.

I myself have never been on a cruise ship before to anywhere. My ocean experiences have been strictly reserved for 3 to 10 day deep sea fishing excursions (which my wife does NOT attend with me, thank god ) I've been deep sea fishing since i was a kid.

She went with me one time out of Cabo on a day boat. Seas were a little rough but we hooked a 380lb striped marlin. Took us 5 hours to land the beast. True story. I got the picture. I can post it to prove it.

Boy, did my wife get sick. I, on the other hand, had the time of my life. She NEVER went fishing with me again.

But anyways, Alaska cruises. Does anybody know anything about these? Which company? Best ship? Worst ship? Things to stay away from? Things to look for as far as quality?

Bottom Line since I dont know anything about cruises-- What should I be looking for in terms of quality of onboard ship experience, food, amenities for my two teenage boys, 17 and 14? What are the right questions to ask and know?

Inner cabin vs. outer? (I personally dont get seasick but my wife does- I've heard people in the outers can get sick because of increased sway.

I'm willing to spend for the 4 of us up to 5-6K. That's the limit of my budget for one week. and just thinking about wasting that amount of money makes me very uncomfortable. Damm shame she doesnt like football, baseball or hockey.

So, again, if anybody has any advice, I am all ears.

Thanks in advance.

Elphaba

You will be traveling up the Straight of Juan de Fuca, so you shouldn't experience anything that might cause sea sickness. My sister took the trip during one of the colder months and she found it hard to breath outside. I hope you will be going during the summer season. Look for a family oriented ship so that your teens will be entertained. You might make your decision on inside v. outside rooms by how much time you plan to spend in the room.

I haven't taken the trip, but I understand that it is breathtakingly beautiful. Your wife is a lucky lady.

snowy

Alaskan cruises are pretty mild, according to some older folks I know who have taken them. Not a lot of seasickness going on in the Inside Passage.

I'd leave out of Seattle if I were you--that's really the only recommendation I have

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maleficent

My parents are bigtime cruisers... they take at least two per year and have cruised all over the place... The only time they've ever complained of the boats getting rocky was when their ship cruised almost into a hurricane.. they got bounced around a little but other tha that - it's stable... and my mother is a big ole pansy...

Why my parents are both senior citizens, they have taken most of the major cruiselines but are partial to Carnival because as they put it - "it's not all old people" they can't stand being around old people...

Depending on where you're coming from.. sometimes the airlines have packages with the cruise ships, other wise you can go directly to the cruise line.. or look at one of the brokers, like priceline or others that have discounts.

I would go crazy in an inside cabin.. so I wouldn't reccommend those - it'd be way too claustrophobic.. and a lot of boats now have balconies which are really nice... If you get a cabin in the middle of the boat, youd have the least chance of getting any kind of motion sickness even if you are sensitive to it.. (plus dramamine works pretty well)

Top ships for teens might answer some questions about what teens rate hightly on crusies

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Mobo123

good advice, guys. thanks