Alaska Cruises

1. Best Time to go: Best times are June through August; best deals are usually during May & September
2. Best Cruiseline: Depends. Princess has invested heavily in Alaska cruises & has good support for logistics at the ports. We went by Royal Caribbean to Alaska & it was good. Our parents were travelling with us -- so we had requested for Indian food for dinner every day & they accommodated this request. We have cruised on NCL in other places -- they have fewer rules & policies (e.g.: dinner time, where to get seated for dinner, choice of restaurants, etc). Not sure which cruise line is ideal for kids. Check out www.CruiseCritic.com for lots of reviews & info.
3. Best Deals: Monitor prices on www.VacationsToGo.com -- they specialize in last minute (90 days) deals. OR request quotes on www.CruiseCompete.com ; You can eventually buy through any online agency like Expedia or Orbitz. Once we bought through www.CruiseCompete.com & later through www.Travelocity.com
4. Best places to visit: Depends on what ports the ship takes you to. Again, www.CruiseCritic.com is loaded with info on the various ports-of-call. Consider getting a good guide book on cruising to Alaska.
   
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   Other notes:

• Consider an one-way cruise from/to Vancouver, BC. One way Alaska-cruises from Vancouver take you further into Alaska & offer better prices & choices of itineraries. That said, you can't beat the convenience of cruising directly from Seattle.
• Get an itinerary that includes cruising around a Glacier.
• Cruising is a nice experience --- plan on spending some time to enjoy the ship, food & the on-board activities.
• IMHO, outside/ocean-view cabins are not worth the extra price. Either go for an inside or a balcony cabin.
• Try to get a cabin mid-ship.