Mendenhall Glacier, Juneau. Photo by Clark Norton

No matter where you go in Alaska, you’re guaranteed to see sights you’ll see nowhere else in the United States.

But the way you see them – the vantage point and the experience – can vary greatly, depending largely on which type of ship you choose, particularly its size.

Alaska cruise ships range from small yachts that carry a dozen passengers to mega-ships capable of hauling 2,500 people or more. For many cruisers, the larger ships — operated by Carnival, Celebrity, Norwegian, Holland America, Princess, Disney, and Royal Caribbean cruise lines — have a lot to recommend. (Disney, by the way, is geared toward adults as well as kids.)

Averaging around 2,000 passengers, they’re geared toward satisfying a wide variety of tastes — visiting the most popular ports and serving up near-round-the-clock food and entertainment — and are loaded with abundant shipboard… Continue reading →