My family, eight in all, ranging from 83 to 16, had an amazing time together sailing from Vancouver to Seward. I'd like to point out that my mother-in-law has difficulty walking for very long due to osteoporosis. We rented, much to her dismay, a walker with wheels, brakes and a seat. This saved the trip. She grew to love it very quickly, and decided to buy it upon her return home. This walker gave her a great deal of independence on the ship, and it allowed her to join us in ports and on excursions. There's a lot of walking and waiting in line on a cruise. We also got her a cabin adjoining ours which made life a whole lot simpler for all of us.
Embarkation: Getting on the ship was a piece of cake but we were prepared. There was a little confusion checking in my step-daughter who was in a cabin with her cousins but that was quickly cleared up.
Dining: The main dining room food is quite good and the buffet on Deck 10 was average. Upon reading recent reviews, a few days prior to our cruise I switched us from open dining to an 8:30 reservation. This was a really good decision. We had wonderful service and my elderly mother-in-law really appreciated knowing what time to expect dinner each night. It also gave everybody time to enjoy their day without rushing for a 6pm dinner time. It left time for exploration, reading, naps, etc.
We loved our cabin. Keep in mind that 9005 has a slightly obstructed view towards the bow. We should have take 9009, which my mother-in-law had. She didn't use the balcony as much.