Seven day cruise to Alaska with our 3 kids. The kids had a great time, but not much more than a stay at a Disney resort. I don't drink alcohol so besides eating there wasn't much else to keep me occupied. Being surrounded by a ship full of rambunctious kids my sanctuary was our verandah and sometimes one of the lounges to read. We took advantage of the excursions at each port which were a waste. We visited a glacier, which of which much better vantage points are actually during the cruise. And, whale watching only provided brief views of their tails. We also went on the salmon fishing trip and caught one fish over the course of 4 hours. The boats had the equipment to help locate the fish, but chose to disregard the technology.

The most interesting part of that excursion was the return to the ship. Our bus struggled to get out of first gear for the first 15 minutes of the trip. The driver claimed the bus was old and had to warm up. The other vehicles on the road were constantly honking and yelling at the driver as they passed.

Also, if you've never cruised before, be cautious of shopping in port. We were warned by many locals of cruise owned shops that scam that take advantage of travelers by promoting deals which are from from the truth. They have someone on ship that guides you to their stores and receives a commission for their work. Read more