This will be my 4th cruise, all on Carnival.  But this is the first time we won't be sailing somewhere warm.  Has anyone been on an Alaskan cruise that can tell me a little of what to expect, what's different or how much is the same as other cruises?  It seems like it would be too cold to enjoy the outside decks or swim.  And do they talor the shows and activities to the different climate?  I'm so excited, and I know Carnival will take care of us.  I was just wondering what new and exciting things we can expect on this special cruise.

Also, if anyone has been on any Alaskan excursions through Carnival, I'd love to hear some feedback on what was the best or worst ones.  We have something booked at every port, but there was so much to choose from!

Hello Jessy,

I have never been on an Alaskan cruise but my brothers in laws have. The loved it but i remember them saying to stay away from the salmon fishing excursion.  They said they spent like $700.00 on the fishing trip and never even got a bite. I have only heard good reports on the whale watching excursions.

I sailed the SB route in August 2006. The weather was in the 60's/70's and we had drizzle several days. Be sure to take a lightweight waterproof jacket! We opted to splurge and had a cat. 11 aft wrap. I spent MANY hours on my balcony taking in the breathtaking scenery and taking hundreds of pictures! For us it the suite was well worth the extra money. We also did one week pre-cruise on our own in a rental car. There was at least 18 hours of daylight; I remember waking up at 0300 our first night in Denali and it looked more like dusk than the middle of the night. I researched on another site (cruise critic) on their Alaska boards, asked LOTS of questions, and planned our excursions that way. I did not use Carnival's excursions. We did not take in the shows either; I was on the balcony every evening!

The crowd is much older on this cruise; hardly any children on board. The Naturalist did a wonderful job keeping us aware of where we were and what to look for.

I am sure that no matter what you have planned it will be a wonderful trip! I can't wait to go a second time and do the things I didn't have time to do last trip!

Thanks for the great advice! Only 12 days to go and I can hardly wait!

This will be our second cruise on the Spirit,I believe leaving with you this Wed. from Vancouver.We went the first time in Aug and had record high temps, but don't expect it this time.They announced whale sightings, and we saw a lot of dolphins. Our pictures are fantastic and we never get tired of relooking at them.For us the helicopter glacier walk was one of the best excursions. We did whale watching, and the train in Skagway.This time we have 3 outside tours booked but I spent months researching.We are also taking a car after the cruise to Seward,Denali,Fairbanks.You will find the people very friendly, and most from other areas that help in the summer months since Alaska does not have the population for the amount of tourists.We have always had a blast on Carnival, so enjoy...