Pre-CruiseThree nights at the Westin Grand Vancouver. One bedroom suite with small kitchen unit and jack and jill bathroom. Small rooms but arrangement suited my parents and I. Good few days including a day trip to Victoria, out by float plane and back by Ferry. Explored city in the morning including a vintage car rally, Butchart gardens in the afternoon. Buffet dinner on the Ferry was good value with excellent food.EmbarkationComplete disaster with US Immigration taking two and a half hours with no information or refreshements. See post:http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=992351CabinMy inside cabin (119) was fine, quiet location and good repair. My parents cabin (123) was rather tired with a stained, uncomfortable sofa, discoloured grout in the bathroom and balcony with damaged light switch, peeling paint and torn balcony furniture.Cabin steward was below par, despite knowing that we were on late seating he kept trying to get in to do turndown service at around 6pm. Public RoomsDespite the ship's age and with refurbishment due shortly the public rooms were in good condition, a bit of a problem with smoke segregation in the Crow's Nest.ServiceExcellent service in the Ocean Bar but only fair in the Crow's Nest - drinks orders not correct and having to ask for appetisers.DiningDespite having email confirmation from HAL that our bookings were linked my parents were at a different table to the rest of the party.Dining room manager sorted this out immediately but with no space upstairs we were allocated to table 105 on the lower level by the window. Excellent service from Made and his assistant, even managing to organise properly brewed tea. Starters and Mains were excellent, puddings disappointing.One plea to HAL, please wash the windows more frequently - fabulous scenery with long Alaskan evenings was rather spoiled by badly smeared windows.LidoOK and trays available!Dress CodeWe like to dress for dinner, even on smart casual nights we like to get smartly dressed. My Dad had decided on his tartan trews and dress kilt jacket with cravat rather than his tuxedo, lots of positive comments. Unlke the man (no way was he aa gentleman) in his shorts, flowered shirt and crocs (with matching wrinkly knees) with champagne glass in hand at the captains speech!EnrichmentMixed messages, Dad went to one of the computer courses and found it really helpful and the instructor excellent. Travel guide who gave the nature talk was very poor, most people left within the first five to ten minutes. Commmentary during Galcier Bay cruising was wonderful and emphasised the lack of any information during College Fjord cruising.Cruise TourEasy disembarkation onto bus for Cruise Tour number 25. Bus trip to Denali with included sandwich buffet lunch. Clear, sunny weather so excellent view of Denali on three consecutive days. McKinley Chalet Resorts is a little rustic excpet the bathrooms which have recently been refurbished. Great tour with Black Diamond ATV and interesting Teklanika Wilderness Tour - bus broke down and we had to wait for an hour for a reserve bus. Not much wildlife to see. Evening meals to Alaska Salmon Bake and Nenana Grill, both excellent in their own way. Train trip back to Anchorage was fine if a little slow (train was late arriving at Denali). Lunch and Dinner on the train. Overnight in Anchorage OK, lots of good souvenir shops close by Westmark.Post CruiseThree nights in Seattle. Enjoyed Duck Tour and Boeing Factory Tour. Dinner at the space needle was expensive but good except for Dad's Filet, view is great. Flight home OK but just made connection in Amsterdam but luggage didn't make the same flight, reunited later in the day.SummaryWonderful first trip to Alaska, I'll be back hoping for the same good weather again.