Our demographics: We're a couple in the low 40s. We're not into the party thing and went on this cruise to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary and because we wanted to see southeast Alaska. My wife last cruised in the 1970s and I last cruised in the late 1980s.

Ship passenger demographics: Clearly the ship's passengers were an older crowd. While HAL clearly tries to be friendly to the younger demographics with the nightclubs and the shows, the demographics are mostly retired folks. If the main reason you want to cruise is to party, I would suggest you choose another line.

Pre-trip: We did the "day before" thing where we flew to Seattle on Saturday prior to embarkation on Sunday. $300 for two people (and no meals) is high (the price of this package), but the Sheraton downtown is reasonably nice and I was able to do the Science Fiction museum Saturday evening (the hotel is only 1.5 blocks from the monorail that goes to the Space Needle and Science Fiction Museum/Experience Music Project). We got all transfers included and it worked reasonably smoothly. (Strategy to avoid paying much for food during this "day before": A Subway is several blocks southwest of the Sheraton on Pike Ave. and a McDonalds is several blocks northwest on 6th.) Read more