ALASKAN CRUISE<\/p>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Updated 8\/10\/19<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Dear H+A:\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/em><\/p> Would an Alaskan Cruise be a good family reunion idea for family members coming from Los Angeles, Dallas, and Boston even if my husband might get seasick?\u00a0 Should we try a shorter cruise out of the Los Angeles area first to see if he can handle a longer cruise? How much do Alaskan cruises usually cost?\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/em><\/p> Thanks for your help!<\/b><\/span><\/em><\/p> Maia<\/b><\/span><\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t Thanks for your questions!\u00a0 In our report below, we tackle the two potential obstacles to the trip idea before addressing the family reunion idea.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Based on our research, there is no difference<\/a> between motion sickness and seasickness.\u00a0 If your husband has motion sickness in cars\/planes or on amusement park rides, he will probably have problems with boat rides.<\/span>\u00a0 You might be able to prevent or manage<\/a> the symptoms with medications, including the prescription Scopolamine patch<\/a>, which is placed behind the ear<\/a> before travel.<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p> You also might be able to minimize the potential for seasickness<\/a> when you choose the size of your cruise ship, your cabin location<\/a>, and the choppiness of the water.\u00a0 To feel less ocean movement, he may be better off with a larger ship and a low mid-ship stateroom<\/a>.<\/span> The good news is that the Inside Passage to Alaska<\/a> has relatively calm cruising water.<\/span>\u00a0 To test drive a short overnight cruise from Los Angeles, we found three-night cruises to Vancouver (but then you’d need to fly back home) or Baha Mex<\/span>ico<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Although the sticker price of a cruise could be double that of a vacation rental, the two experiences aren\u2019t really comparable.\u00a0 Using the <\/span>Vrbo website<\/span><\/a> for vacation rentals, we found that a 7 night rental of a nice house (for 12 people) on Cape Cod or in Colorado would probably cost around $400 to $500 per person in August while 7-day Alaskan cruises could cost $550 to $1500 per person for the last week in May 2020 (except for luxury cruises that cost around $4500+):<\/span><\/p> https:\/\/www.cruisedirect.com<\/span><\/a> Other than the cruise fare, there may also be added costs for shore excursions, some drinks, and tips.\u00a0 While the cost and preparation of meals would be covered by the cruise fare, the house rental costs would not cover any meals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Depending on where you decide to go for a reunion, airfare costs should be factored into any decision.\u00a0 Based on Google Flights for May 2020, the flights to Seattle are generally more reasonable:\u00a0<\/span><\/p> That said, the water might be a little choppier when departing from Seattle until you get to Alaska.\u00a0 See this article for a terrific overview:\u00a0 <\/span>Alaska Cruise Tips<\/span><\/a>\u00a0 To spread airline travel costs to the reunion destination fairly (because someone will always live closer to the destination than others), you could have one family member or a travel agent book all of the flights and then divide the total cost by the number of people on your family reunion.\u00a0 Unless you go to an all-inclusive resort, some or all of the families might also need to rent cars for a non-cruise trip.<\/span><\/p> For comparison purposes, check out these articles on other ideas for family reunions and their price tags:\u00a0 <\/span>Great Places to Go for Family Reunions<\/span><\/a> and\u00a0Family Reunion Vacations<\/a>.<\/p> A cruise to Alaska or elsewhere could be an amazing family reunion idea because the concept (1) minimizes the number of decisions (and potential for disagreement) that have to be made and negotiated before and during the trip, and (2) maximizes the amount of free time travelers will have to enjoy the experience with their family.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p> After picking the type of cruise and the ship as a group, individual members pick their own cabins based on their preferences as well as their excursions.\u00a0 After that, there are no debates over when, where, and what to eat, what to do, who wants to do it, and how to get there. Every night there is an opportunity to get together over dinner to visit with each other and enjoy the ship\u2019s amenities without arranging transportation, entertainment, or meals for a large group.\u00a0 In other words, the added cost of a once in a lifetime cruise might be well worth it depending on everyone\u2019s travel preferences and budget.<\/span><\/p> For a non-cruise reunion, the group has to agree on the destination, lodging, excursions, entertainment, food, and then arrange each item.\u00a0 For a discussion of the various pros and cons from someone who has done both, see <\/span>Family Reunion? Pros and Cons of a Cruise vs. a Vacation Rental<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>Is an Alaskan Cruise an Amazing, Affordable Family Reunion Idea?<\/span><\/span><\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
Dear Maia: <\/b>\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>
1.\u00a0 Can You Really Manage Seasickness?<\/b><\/h2>
2.\u00a0 Are Cruises an Affordable Vacation Option?<\/b><\/h2>
https:\/\/www.cruisecritic.com<\/span><\/a>
https:\/\/www.cruisewatch.com<\/span><\/a>
https:\/\/cruiseweb.com<\/span><\/a>
https:\/\/cruiseline.com<\/span><\/a><\/p>3.\u00a0 Why Would a Cruise Be An Amazing Family Reunion Idea?<\/b><\/h2>
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