We just returned from a HAL Alaska cruise on the Amsterdam. We were very disappointed in the cruise route; out at sea in the Pacific, NOT on the Inside Passage except when entering or leaving a port-of-call. This borders on material misrepresentation by the line (false advertising.)
Compared to a true Resort Hotel, the ship was not even comfortable. More like a Ramada with tiny rooms. The food was OK (not even '4 Star' though) but sitting in the dining room for over 2 hours in order to be served a '5 course' meal was unreasonable. There was little choice, as seating was unavailable on the Lido deck or in its dining area during buffet meals, except at port stops. The common areas on board were typically very overcrowded, on-board entertainment was lame (except for 2 of the club acts) and the info regarding port stops was all & only about local shopping. That info was senselessly biased, and the skimpy destination info was generally inaccurate. The only procedure that worked was to buy the packaged excursions & be treated like cattle. Otherwise, just walk around in the overcrowded port towns - cabs often weren't even available due to cross-booking by under-equipped tour companies.
I've worked in Alaska previously but my wife had never been. It was a pathetic shell of an 'Alaskan Experience' and more closely resembled a Disneyland 'North to Alaska' ride. And at each port there were from 4 to 6 large cruise ships, meaning an extra 6,000 to 10,000 tourists crammed into teeny towns that can barely serve their own needs. The Mendenhall Glacier visitor area was MORE crowded last week than Yosemite was last month. Unbelievable. Disgusting. Sad. I'm ashamed to have been a part of it.