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Location: Was Midvalley Oregon; Now Eastside Seattle area
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We are lifelong PNW residents, 69/72. Question Those who live in the PNW, did you find the Alaskan cruise enjoyable ??
Wife wants to take friends on a cruise in appreciation for their help. We can afford the gift.
Currently live eastside Seattle and getting to Seattle and the waterfront is easy for us. Great fun to watch the cruisers now that season has started. We have taken the Norwegian Hawaiian Island cruise, a China river-land cruise, and a repositioning cruise from LA to Vancouver. We found the food repetitive, not enough time in port, and confining. We don't drink or gamble or shop.
From your last sentence I would say a cruise is a cruise and you would not enjoy it. Other than that I think Alaska is a good place to cruise. Maybe look at Holland America and the sea and land tours. Most of your time will be on the ground and not on a ship.
I'll bring up this cruise line again even though it may be out of your budget: UnCruise. Late DH and I took them twice between Juneau and Ketchikan. Ships under 100 passengers, all excursions included (a small charge for use of their equipment if you wanted to go snorkeling, which I did- takes a LOT of wet suit given the water temps). Very focused on nature- the only ticky-tacky we saw was in the Juneau and Ketchikan. Food very high quality. locally-sourced when possible, emphasis on quality over quantity. Very laid-back, no outside locks on the stateroom doors, no fancy dress nights, leave your ego and your bling at home. (It's a smart, curious, well-traveled group, many with advanced degrees or retired from high-power jobs, so you're not going to impress too many fellow passengers.) I'm taking my 5th cruise with them in Hawaii in October.
I have no financial interest in giving them publicity; it's just that the smaller lines are less visible but are far more appealing to a small segment of cruise travelers.
Thanks for those links! I travel solo and am always looking for other small-ship lines, since the Single Supplement can be substantial and I don't know anyone else who (a) has a similar crazy travel budget and (b) with whom I'd be willing to share a stateroom.
I'll bring up this cruise line again even though it may be out of your budget: UnCruise. Late DH and I took them twice between Juneau and Ketchikan. Ships under 100 passengers, all excursions included (a small charge for use of their equipment if you wanted to go snorkeling, which I did- takes a LOT of wet suit given the water temps). Very focused on nature- the only ticky-tacky we saw was in the Juneau and Ketchikan. Food very high quality. locally-sourced when possible, emphasis on quality over quantity. Very laid-back, no outside locks on the stateroom doors, no fancy dress nights, leave your ego and your bling at home. (It's a smart, curious, well-traveled group, many with advanced degrees or retired from high-power jobs, so you're not going to impress too many fellow passengers.) I'm taking my 5th cruise with them in Hawaii in October.
I have no financial interest in giving them publicity; it's just that the smaller lines are less visible but are far more appealing to a small segment of cruise travelers.
Uncruise looks like they offer a spectacular Alaska adventure. Thanks for the info.
We are lifelong PNW residents, 69/72. Question Those who live in the PNW, did you find the Alaskan cruise enjoyable ??
Wife wants to take friends on a cruise in appreciation for their help. We can afford the gift.
Currently live eastside Seattle and getting to Seattle and the waterfront is easy for us. Great fun to watch the cruisers now that season has started. We have taken the Norwegian Hawaiian Island cruise, a China river-land cruise, and a repositioning cruise from LA to Vancouver. We found the food repetitive, not enough time in port, and confining. We don't drink or gamble or shop.
the smaller river cruise and luxury lines might be better for you. Of course there is nothing like the Alaskan scenery and ports but from what you are saying why would you want to cruise to anyplace? You want to spend longer in ports, you are not excited about the food, you don't drink or gamble, and all these or certainly part of them are what cruising is all about. Find some other way to treat your friends If nothing else how about a Caribbean AI?
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Those who live in the PNW, did you find the Alaskan cruise enjoyable 
??
