sefco21

THIS. I could justify a drink package in the Caribbean, but not Alaska. Just my opinion, but I want to take in the entire Alaskan experience and spend my entire port days off the ship. If you’re a big drinker or with a big group that drinks, it may be worth it. As far as pricing, cocktails are around $12 a piece on the ship. I’m not sure about the entire beer lineup, but Blue Moon was around $7.50, depending on the bar.

My wife and I just got off this exact cruise today. A few thoughts from our experience: I also cruised Alaska in 2011 in late June/early July and it rained for 7 days straight. We didn’t have a single day we didn’t have raincoats on. This time, we cruised Aug 16-23 and didn’t see a single drop of rain the entire trip. It was 45-60 all week so the time of year it hit or miss, no matter when you go, just cross your fingers! Victoria and Seattle are both great places to visit. We’re actually staying in Seattle a few days to end the trip and I think both of your sons would enjoy both ports as well. Victoria is gorgeous! They will definitely be entertained on the Ovation! It’s a huge ship with a surprising amount of kids for an Alaskan cruise, they said around 800, so your boys will be able to entertain themselves. The arcades, bumper cars, basketball courts, and pools were packed all week. Not to mention the trivia, game shows, etc. You will get plenty of opportunities to hike/see the glaciers during excursions, but as far as seeing them while cruising, it’s few and far between. We spent one morning cruising Dawes Glacier, but that’s about it while on board. We had a great experience on the same itinerary during the same time you’ve booked, I’d be happy to answer any questions you have!