We chose this cruise as a way to see 4 different islands to determine where we might like to come back to in the future. Our only point of reference is a Princess Cruise to Alaska on the Island Princess (IP) that we did last August.

We had a exterior cabin with a balcony in each case. Comparing the cabins I would have to give a slight edge to the Pride of America (POA), the cabin and balcony were actually slightly smaller as was the closet space, however the bathroom, specifically the shower, was much larger.

The general ship experience was similar between the ships, the IP pool area was larger and the outdoor theater was nice, but not really warm enough to use on an Alaskan cruise. The dining options were fine on both ships. We purchased a 3 meal dining plan on the POA which allowed use to eat at the specialty restaurants that charge an additional fee at a reduced rate. These were all excellent and a very good deal. The buffets were both adequate about what you would expect at mass feedings. Read more