Summer is here and that means it is time for the Alaskan cruise season, which thanks to the bitter cold weather most of the year in Alaska only runs from May thru September. If you have been looking for an all inclusive Alaska cruise you are going to have to look at the luxury liners as the likes of Carnival and Royal Caribbean find better value in offering their guest $8 watered down bahama mama’s instead.
Before you get to upset – think about this. Because the season is shorter, prices tend to be a bit higher than a typical cruise to the Caribbean anyway. Since the prices are already higher this may be a good chance for you to give one of the luxury Alaskan cruise lines a try such as Regent Seven Seas, Crystal Cruises or Silversea. Both Regent and Silversea cruises include alcohol.
Regent Seven Seas
The Regent Seven Seas Navigator has many seven day all inclusive Alaska cruises starting at around $5,000 (Sailings in 2012 can be booked for slightly less). The Navigator is an all suite ship that holds a little less than 500 passengers. That’s only slightly more than the 345 crew. The ship sails one way from either Vancouver to Seward (Anchorage) or vice-versa.
If you are worried about the one way cruise, first know that this is very typical for a seven day Alaskan cruise. What isn’t typical is the fact that airfare is included in the all inclusive prices of the cruise. Along with airfare other items that are included in your price are tips, unlimited shore excursions, room service, mini bar (daily refills), luxury hotel and the ever elusive free alcohol.
Crystal Cruises
Crystal does not currently offer all inclusive Alaska cruises but they do provide round trip cruising from San Francisco for around the same $5,000 price tag of Regent. Typically that means longer 12 day cruises. Crystal also includes a $500 stateroom credit to spend on excursions, spas and drinks so in the end Crystal could end up being the better value in the luxury Alaskan cruise market.
Silversea Cruise Lines
The Silversea Silver Shadow also offers an all inclusive cruise to Alaska with prices as low as $4,000 at the end of August and beginning of September. Other dates can be had for around $4,500. Like Regent these are 7 day sailings on a small ship.
If you are lucky
I mentioned in my all inclusive cruise post there is an a chance you can score free alcohol on a Carnival cruise of you book with a large enough group and everyone in the group buys the pass which would run over $300 for a seven day cruise. But considering the only option is a luxury cruise line. It might be worth it for the big drinkers out there.
Why its Worth It
For a couple, $10,000 is a lot of money for a cruise, but when you step back its not that much more than you would spend on a Royal Caribbean or Princess cruise to Alaska. Typical rates for those lines run about $2,000 ea. Add airfare, hotel stays, tips, excursions and the drinks you buy on a 12 day cruise and you are probably looking at $7,000 – $8,000. Now you can answer the question – What’s the price of luxury? According to this scenario, about $2,000.
5000 USD?? wow….