connievloutely Loc: Quaker State (PA)

I am thinking of taking the inside passage cruise in Alaska.

I have no idea where to start in planning this adventure.

I do know I want to come back with wildlife and landscape pictures.

I have the equipment just need to know which cruise line is best. I mean value for the money spent.

Want to leave from Seattle, WA.

Markncorryton

I did the inside passage with Holland America and enjoyed it very much. Very reasonable cost with stops in Ketchikan, Sitka, Juneau, and cruised Tracy's Arm.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

For Alaskan cruise, I suggest Princess land/cruise tour and a few side tours.
Mark

d3200prime

If you want a classic cruise which is more adult oriented I would recommend Holland America. Their are many excursions offered by Holland America as well as locals in each port. Many folks purchase the excursions offered on board the ship as you are guaranteed to be brought back to the ship before it leaves port. They will not wait for late comers returning. The cruise we were on left a couple in Juneau and they had to pay a plane to catch up with the ship in the next port because the excursion they were on failed to get them back on time. It was independent of the cruise line. This is a general practice with all cruise lines as their schedule requires promptness. Just something to consider. Most cruise lines contract with excursions that know where the best chance for photo ops are so I would go with them. Holland has a cruise excursion desk where you can ask questions and pick the best excursions for you. I highly recommend Holland America and if you desire a classic cruise that does not cater to children and all that goes with that then Holland is the one. We were treated as royalty on our cruise. It took us by surprise at the politeness and willingness to please the crew displayed. I have never experienced that level of service but it didn't take me long to become accustomed to it, lol. Which ever cruise line you choose I guarantee you will be amazed and pleased with the wonderful, majestic sites of the state of Alaska. Good shooting to you.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

We took Princess Cruises. We like them and have been on 3 cruises with them. The cruise we took was via the Inside Passage but we embarked in Vancouver, BC.
Two of the best places we visited were Juneau and Skagway, but the other ports we visited were nice, too.

In Juneau we went whale watching and had great luck. The weather was pretty cold and nasty (considering we were from NY and it was August) but that was to our advantage. Apparently, whales do not like the sun much and it was constantly overcast. As a result we happened upon a large pod of maybe 20 whales who were "bubble-netting." I got some great pictures of whale flukes. Along the way we also encountered eagles a seals/sea lions.

In Skagway we took the scenic railway which takes you either to the Yukon border, or, if you pay extra it will take you into the Yukon. We stopped at the border where the train (an old-timey steam engine and cars) reverses and goes back into Skagway. You'll get a great view of a couple of really rickety old wooden bridges that you will be on.

All in our party except my wife and I continued on to the Land Portion to several lodges owned and run by Princess. Note: Food is not included in the land portion. You travel by train to Mt. McKinley and ????.
Supposedly, you would see lots of wildlife on that trip but our friend, unfortunately, saw little to none.

As far as equipment goes, all I brought was a Canon Powershot SD14500 IS. That was a mistake because I couldn't get the reach I needed due to camera limitations. That was 2011. Since then I've bought a Nikon D5100, D5300, a Canon SX 50, and now a Nikon P900. I tell you this because I don't know your equipment. If I were going on that, or any other cruise, I would take either the SX 50 or the P900. Now that I know the P900, that would probably be the choice. Why? Because the last 2 cameras have very long reaches and I don't have to fuss with changing lenses or cameras. Tripod/monopod? Leave the tripod at home and just take the monopod...if you have one. You could be moving around too quickly to set up most of the time.

Here's the link for some of my Alaska pictures if you're interested:
https://hlippe.smugmug.com/Travel/Alaska2011/

foodie65

If you are looking for smaller groups than Princess or Holland, I suggest looking at roadscholar.org (formerly Elderhostel)

btbg

My recommendation is to research what activities are available at which ports and then select the cruise line that matches the ports you most want to visit.

There are a lot more cruises available then those that have previously been mentioned.
Skagway has the railroad, which is definitely a good trip. Haines has what is left of an old military instillation, a bunch of building painted white that are very picturesque, and also has a large concentration of bald eagles.
Juneau has easy access to glaciers. Sitka has a nice totem park, a bear park, they are in a big pit, but actually photograph quite well, especially if you happen to be there on a day that they put some salmon in their little pond. Sitka also has good wildlife viewing, kayaking, scuba and snorkeling.(a little cold, but they have good wet suits and the underwater viewing is pretty good). Ketchikan also has a totem park. As far as scenery, Tracy Arm is beautiful, as is glacier national park, and hubbard glacier, which some of the cruises anchor near.
If you have the money and want a different kind of cruise, there are smaller boats that are affiliated with National Geographic that hit spots that the big ships can't get to for a price.
Do your research and then pick the cruise that best fits your interests.
Personally I have never been on an Alaska Cruise. We have always used the Alaska Marine System. They hit more ports, cost less money, and you can stay as long as you want at different ports. The disadvantage is that unless you plan well in advance you will be sleeping on deck instead of in a state room and you won't have the luxury dining, but you get to see so much more.
The key to any inside passage adventure is to figure out what you most want to see and do and then make sure that whatever cruise line or other method of travel you use allows you to get to those destinations.

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Will probably need passport.
Check with travel agent for best deal. They have all the prices and details.
The towns you visit will probably, be day only trips or partial day.
You will see a whole lot more of Alaska if you do excursions (if you are going that far, do all excursions possible). Ask travel agent for the list.
And, send me a postcard!!!
Pat

connievloutely Loc: Quaker State (PA)

Hi All,

Thanks for the information.

I will read and reread them.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

If you want an adventure-based cruise with activities, go for a small cruise like Uncruise, if you want an obscene floating hotel than go with one of the huge cruise lines.

AzShooter1 Loc: Surprise, Az.

I took the Disney Cruise. Excellent cruise, wonderful food and very entertaining. Went to Juneau, Skagway, Kechickan and another town but I forget, Getting old. Also went to Endicott Arm. There was too much fog to go to Tracy Arm.

We went in the late part of August. It was cold and rainy the entire time. Remember to bring a heavy jacket.

Had to stop in Vancouver Canada so we needed passports. Canada is very restrictive on who can come in. One of our intended party had a DUI a few years ago and they would not let them enter the country.

Disney Cruise was nice in general but if you are handicapped you cannot go on the good excursions. I'm in a wheelchair and even though I booked two excursions that were legal they wouldn't let me go after seeing the wheelchair. Bummed me out. Took a whale watch instead and it was fantastic.

Instead of one large memory card bring a few 15 gig cards and have one for each stop on the cruise. Then you don't have to worry about losing a lot of your trip.

DIRTY HARRY Loc: Hartland, Michigan

Princes Cruse and if you do the land portion spring for the food package... pricey but you won't regret it . I'm a cheap old fart but I'd do it again. We saw lots of animals and in fact had to watch out for a mother moose and her two moosets in our camp at Denali.

rogerl Loc: UK (Harrogate, North Yorkshire)

Go for a small ship cruise (up to c.90 passengers) with an expedition team on board; the team members will accompany you in small groups on shore or out in zodiacs & will provide lectures when on board. They are obviously more expensive but well worth the extra. A small ship can stop or turn round if whales or dolphins are spotted & will get you into many more interesting places where the large ships can't go - & when you get ashore there aren't 2,000 of you! We did this & never regretted the extra cost.

LoneRangeFinder Loc: Left field

Totally agree. I was on an even smaller cruise ship. We kayaked, took zodiacs to the shore, bushwhacked in the forest with native guides. We were able to go places that did not allow the larger cruise lines. Met great people from all over the world. We now know—and have met later with other cruise people—one of whom worked for the world bank. A great experience. I, too, would do it again—and have two more planned with the same cruise line. One when i retire. I have been on a large cruise—and to each his/her own—but never again.

SonyBug

OK, here is an outside the box cruise. Start in Bellingham and take the ferry up to Alaska. It is the main way that you get to the Islands in the inner passage. You can get off, stay a day at various ports, and catch the next one going north. There are various routes, etc. The ferry cost (buy your food on board) is about 400 for the trip. You can take your car for another $$$ and it gets off with you to tour various cities. Stay in hotels in those cities. If you did it this way, you would spend the same amount for food, hotels, etc as you would on a cruise and you would have much more immersion in the local culture. I took the ferry back from Ak with my motor home and it was the highlight of the whole trip to Alaska. Of course it also meant I only drove the Alcan Hwy once, and that was enough!