Finding the right ship and the right price

If you're thinking of taking a cruise to Alaska, there will be ships on Seattle's doorstep this spring and summer offering dozens of weeklong cruises.

Here are ways to find the right ship, and the right price.

Itineraries

The round-trip cruises from Seattle take passengers out of Puget Sound along the British Columbia coast to Southeast Alaska. Ships stop in Victoria, B.C., and various places in Southeast Alaska including Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Tracey Arm.

The ships

The ships based in Seattle this summer are new — only 2 to 4 years old — and packed with amenities from lounges, restaurants and bars to spas, pools and basketball/volleyball courts. All offer extensive on-board entertainment and shore excursions.

• Norwegian Cruise Line's two Seattle-based ships are the Norwegian Sun and Norwegian Sky, each accommodating about 2,000 passengers. Next year, the even-bigger Norwegian Star — a 15-deck, 2,240-passenger ship — will be home-ported in Seattle and the Norwegian Sun shifted to Vancouver, B.C. Norwegian's ships sail from the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal (Pier 66).

Norwegian specializes in "freestyle cruising," a more relaxed style with open-seat dining at any of a ship's restaurants (the Norwegian Sun has nine) and casual attire.

• Princess Cruises runs some of the world's biggest cruise ships. Its 2,600-passenger Star Princess megaship, with nonstop activities and entertainment plus many cabins with private verandas, will be home-ported in Seattle this season. The Princess and Holland America ships will sail from the new Terminal 30 at the south end of the Seattle waterfront.

• Holland America line is home-porting its 1,380-passenger Amsterdam in Seattle. It's a more classic design with a more elegant style.

Prices

Seattle-Alaska cruise prices vary widely depending on the date and type of stateroom.

The lines' Web sites offer prices that start at around $700 to $900 per person. You could pay less, if last-minute discounts are offered, or thousands more if you opt for a luxury suite. And rates rise from mid-June through August, the high season.

Be aware that most cruise fares don't include port fees, taxes, shore excursions, liquor and tips for shipboard staff — which boost the bill significantly.

To get the lowest rates:

• Take a cruise in May, early June or September, when demand is less and prices drop. Also check out the repositioning cruises when the ships move along the West Coast at the start and end of the season.

• Work with a travel agent; a cruise-experienced agent can steer you toward the right style of ship and often find special discounts.

• Comparison-shop by checking cruise lines' Web sites and online travel agencies such as Orbitz, Travelocity and Expedia.

• Look for last-minute deals. Until a few years ago, the best rates were for passengers who booked long in advance. Now, with many big new ships to fill and a slowdown in travel because of world events and the shaky economy, there sometimes are substantial discounts close to sailing dates.

• Check the cruise lines' Web sites and watch for ads for geographically based "resident promotions" which cruise lines occasionally offer. They usually are for specific sailings that haven't sold well. Holland America, for instance, calls it a "homeport fare" and usually offers it within two weeks to a month of a specific cruise.

The right ship

To find the ship that suits you best, get a travel-agent's recommendation; read about individual ships on the lines' Web sites; and check the Web site www.cruisecritic.com for travelers' opinions on cruises and ships.

Useful guidebooks include "Frommer's Alaska Cruises and Ports of Call 2003" ( Fran Wenograd Golden and Jerry Brown, Frommer's Publications, $15.99) and "The Unofficial Guide to Cruises 2003" (Kay Showker and Bob Sehlinger, John Wiley & Sons, $22.99).

Kristin Jackson: 206-464-2271 or kjackson@seattletimes.com