Which Do You Choose...Itinerary or Ship?

When picking your cruise, do you choose itinerary or ship? 

I've always wanted to cruise in Alaska. I have to get there. I want to see the blue and white glaciers, the snow capped mountains surrounded by water, the authentic towns and people, incredible wildlife and bounties of fresh seafood.  And of course, I want to take the family with me.

If you've been on my website, you know that I'm a planner. Especially for a once-in-a-lifetime "bucket list" cruise. So I bought a book (or two) in the hopes that it would give me some definitive information on what to see. From everything I've researched, Glacier Bay is not to miss. This National Park contains the majestic beauty of Alaska. However, I found that not all cruise lines go to Glacier Bay. Specifically my go-to cruise line (again, check out my site) does not cruise Glacier Bay, but cruises Tracy Arm Fjord instead. Comparing specifically two cruise lines, all of the other stops are about the same. Although the cruise line that travels through Glacier Bay spends a little more time at each port, allowing for some more adventurous excursions.

Isn't there something to be said about the comfort of the ship? I'd imagine that after traveling thousand miles away, I'd like the familiarity of the ship. stateroom, and dining choices. Or maybe it's fun to try out new ships, new layouts, activities and dining choices.

What about the cost? When you stay with the same cruise line, you typically get a lot of perks. And face it, who doesn't love perks! With free a beverage package, WiFi, and gratuities, it might just be worth to enjoy more time on board instead of at a port. When it comes to the staterooms, both cruise lines I compared have different layouts for families. The cost of a large suite on one is comparable to two smaller staterooms on the other, both in the same location. 

When it's between two different itineraries on the same cruise line, I'd always look at the ship. But when it's between different cruise lines with different itineraries for the same destination is where the problem comes in.

So, what do YOU think? When choosing your cruise, do you go with itinerary or ship? Leave a comment below, send a private message via "Contact Us", Facebook, or tweet  and let me know what you think!