7 night vs 9 night Alaska cruise

[met19]

Thoughts on it- never did either. I see the ports are different but planes include photography, shore excursions and enjoying ship. My s/o and I have both not done DCL prior but I have done ABD. Thanks all

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thoughts on it? Thanks all

Longer is better. Generally.

A lot of variables - itineraries? Cost? dates?

 

[DisMommyTX]

Longer is better, except that Alaska was our least favorite cruise ever. Adults were bored, glad we didn't have kids with us. Apparently we prefer warm weather vacations with lots of beaches and pool time. I'd still rather have 2 extra days on a cruise than at work, but for Alaska I'd add those days to a land portion if possible.

 

[vegs1]

I love Alaska but have not done it with DCL. My favourite port was Sitka but we enjoyed them all. We had our 9 year old daughter with us and she loved it, too

In my opinion, the longer, the better!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

We have done 2 9-night Alaskan cruises. I highly recommend them! Sitka is a great spot and you can't beat Hubbard Glacier.

 

[met19]

How is wildlife in June which is the date of 9 night cruise?

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I was also wondering this question myself today... Any idea how much more $ the 9 night sailing will be vs a 7 night in June?

 

[disneyfaninaz]

How is wildlife in June which is the date of 9 night cruise?

In June, you'll see lots of whales, but it is too early for bears.

 

[lklgoodman]

We went the second week of June in 2014. June is too early to see the salmon run. We did see a mother bear and her cub at Mendenhall glacier in Juneau. It was both thrilling and scary because they were 10 ft from us by a tree. We didn't do any whale watching excursions, but saw whales while sailing on the Wonder and a lot of seals.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

We have done the 7 night twice on DCL and both were absolutely AMAZING. Literally every moment is like looking at a post card. The 9 night is on our list of possibilities for 2021. Longer is definitely always better.

Water was like glass, very smooth. But we did have very nice weather both times. Not sure what would change if the weather wasn't awesome.

 

[matt&jakesmom]

We have done the 7 night twice on DCL and both were absolutely AMAZING. Literally every moment is like looking at a post card. The 9 night is on our list of possibilities for 2021. Longer is definitely always better.

Water was like glass, very smooth. But we did have very nice weather both times. Not sure what would change if the weather wasn't awesome.

What time of year did you find it best to cruise to Alaska or does it even matter? We are looking to go in July of 2021.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I've done 2 of the 7 night cruises to Alaska. They are wonderful if you love scenery and being on the ship. For me, I love one day on the ship and then I want to get out and do something else. The 7 night cruises started with 3 sea days. They only count it as 2 sea days, but it's 3. Lots of people who love cruising were not loving their cruise because it was too cold to hang out and do the outside stuff that they normally do on Bahama cruises. Kids were bored and unsupervised.

How is wildlife in June which is the date of 9 night cruise?

It varies year to year. I saw a mom bear and 2 cubs the last week of May on a bus tour in Skagway. Some people saw bears from the train in June at the same port on my next cruise. The bears were far away from the port.

I was told to be careful for bears at Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau in June, but I never saw any there.

Bald Eagles, seals, and whales are pretty much around.

What time of year did you find it best to cruise to Alaska or does it even matter? We are looking to go in July of 2021.

July is the most popular and usually the most expensive time to go. I make the assumption that it must be a great time to go.

If you go in May/June you can have a lot more ice if you are into that. September is supposed to be very rainy. I think July is popular because it's warmer and the bears are more out and active generally.

 

[China Expat]

9 days

 

[DVC Doc]

We were on the 9-night in 2017 and it was absolutely spectacular. We saw so much wildlife and the weather was great. I have videos of it on YouTube if you do some searching. It was a slightly different itinerary: Ketchikan, Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier. Hubbard Glacier is definitely the highlight (Dawes pales in comparison to it), and Sitka should be a great stop!

 

[GoofyLovingFamily]

I was also wondering this question myself today... Any idea how much more $ the 9 night sailing will be vs a 7 night in June?

Over a 1000 a person more on the inside cabin. I did not even check other cabins once I saw that. I looked this morning and the 9 night was 3000 for an inside.

 

[mrp4352]

So, at the risk of raising trouble - are you married to Disney? Princess offers a 7-night with Sitka and Glacier Bay that's AMAZING! I found the service to be equivalent to Disney's. The entertainment wasn't quite as good, but it was still enjoyable.

That said - you'll have an amazing cruise to Alaska whichever option you choose. It's my all-time favorite cruise!

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

So, at the risk of raising trouble - are you married to Disney? Princess offers a 7-night with Sitka and Glacier Bay that's AMAZING! I found the service to be equivalent to Disney's. The entertainment wasn't quite as good, but it was still enjoyable.

That said - you'll have an amazing cruise to Alaska whichever option you choose. It's my all-time favorite cruise!

What ship/port is the Princes sailing if you don’t mind me asking? I myself would not be opposed to Princess at all, I heard they do Alaska well but was looking for round trip sailing out of Vancouver myself.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I would never sail Princess given their flouting of environmental laws in the Inside Passage but holy cats that 9 night DCL Alaska cruise is expensive. I really wanted to take that cruise to see the Hubbard Glacier but at these prices, yikes. And I'm saying that as someone who cruised DCL to Alaska last year! The other one I was eying, the 11 night to Norway/Iceland on the Magic is no better price-wise. Sigh.

 

[cats mom]

I was also wondering this question myself today... Any idea how much more $ the 9 night sailing will be vs a 7 night in June?

I just pulled price quotes on Alaska for the opening day thread and the 9 night is spendy for sure!

Note: all price quotes below are for 2 adults in a cat 7A with no ins/transfers/air/or OBB

Alaska 9 Night Sailing

P Wonder 6/28 07A 2A $11,447 [5,535|5,535]

Alaska 5 Night Sailing

P Wonder 7/7 07A 2A $6,793 [3,230|3,230}

Alaska 7 Night Sailings

P Wonder 5/17 07A 2A $6,067 [2,835|2,835]

P Wonder 5/24 07A 2A $7,187 [3,395|3,395]

P Wonder 5/31 07A 2A $7,467 [3,535|3,535]

P Wonder 6/7 07A 2A $8,167 [3,885|3,885]

P Wonder 6/14 07A 2A $8307 [3,955|3,955]

P Wonder 6/21 07A 2A $8,769 [4,186|4,186]

P Wonder 7/12 07A 2A $9,469 [4,536|4,536]

P Wonder 7/19 07A 2A $9,035 [4,319|4,319]

P Wonder 7/26 07A 2A $8,475 [4,039|4,039]

P Wonder 8/2 07A 2A $8,489 [4,046|4,046]

P Wonder 8/9 07A 2A $7,873 [3,738|3,738]

P Wonder 8/16 07A 2A $7,075 [3,339|3,339]

P Wonder 8/23 07A 2A $5,899 [2,751|2,751]

P Wonder 8/30 07A 2A $5,675 [2,639|2,639]

P Wonder 9/6 07A 2A $5,521 [2,562|2,562]

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

I just pulled price quotes on Alaska for the opening day thread and the 9 night is spendy for sure!

Note: all price quotes below are for 2 adults in a cat 7A with no ins/transfers/air/or OBB

Alaska 9 Night Sailing

P Wonder 6/28 07A 2A $11,447 [5,535|5,535]

Alaska 5 Night Sailing

P Wonder 7/7 07A 2A $6,793 [3,230|3,230}

Alaska 7 Night Sailings

P Wonder 5/17 07A 2A $6,067 [2,835|2,835]

P Wonder 5/24 07A 2A $7,187 [3,395|3,395]

P Wonder 5/31 07A 2A $7,467 [3,535|3,535]

P Wonder 6/7 07A 2A $8,167 [3,885|3,885]

P Wonder 6/14 07A 2A $8307 [3,955|3,955]

P Wonder 6/21 07A 2A $8,769 [4,186|4,186]

P Wonder 7/12 07A 2A $9,469 [4,536|4,536]

P Wonder 7/19 07A 2A $9,035 [4,319|4,319]

P Wonder 7/26 07A 2A $8,475 [4,039|4,039]

P Wonder 8/2 07A 2A $8,489 [4,046|4,046]

P Wonder 8/9 07A 2A $7,873 [3,738|3,738]

P Wonder 8/16 07A 2A $7,075 [3,339|3,339]

P Wonder 8/23 07A 2A $5,899 [2,751|2,751]

P Wonder 8/30 07A 2A $5,675 [2,639|2,639]

P Wonder 9/6 07A 2A $5,521 [2,562|2,562]

thanks so much!