Outlawwillie

First, Alaska is majestic, from the mountains to the glaciers, there's a lot to see and do. If you have time, try to add a land trip(Denali) as well as a cruise. Second, Vancouver and Seattle both offer options for pre or post cruise. I would choose based on the cruise itinerary. For us, aft balcony always wins out, however you won't be spending as much time outside when sailing as it is definitely cooler up north. We have been to Alaska 3 times on 7, 14, and 17 day sailings. Enjoyed them all. We leave next week on the Ovation for a 7 day to Alaska. Can't wait to get back on the water.