For family cruises to Europe and Alaska, Holland America Line continues to provide an excellent experience that is entertaining as well as educational for both children and adults, helping everyone enjoy and appreciate the destination as well as the shipboard experience.

On top of all that, Holland America has been working to provide greater values to family groups cruising to Europe and Alaska. Obviously, Holland America Line knows how to get your family there and show all of you what’s important, whether you want to see glaciers and whales off the coast of Alaska or the great cities of Europe. And kids will soak up the background information like sponges, as Holland America Line has always staffed its ships with interpretive experts who can explain what you are visiting and why it’s important.

It is difficult to imagine a childhood vacation that could have more value for an impressionable mind than a cruise to either Europe or Alaska. And regardless of the destination, cruising is always going to be the travel-method that does the best job of defining and controlling costs for families while providing a safe and secure “home base” where parents don’t have to keep an eye on their kids every waking moment.

Holland America Line also offers several money-saving programs for families. The company always offers reasonable fares for families needing a third or fourth berth in their cabin. But for families booking eight or more staterooms for a reunion or some other special occasion, there are reduced fares available that carry several additional benefits. Besides the special group pricing, this program includes useful and valuable extras such as a Fountain Soda Card for every member of the family, each good for 20 glasses of fountain soda and a souvenir cup.

Also, each stateroom will receive a family portrait free, and the entire family will enjoy free lunch together at the alternative Pinnacle Grill Restaurant, which normally carries a charge. Finally, the Family Reunion Program for eight staterooms or more carries an upgrade from an outside stateroom to a verandah stateroom.

The beauty of a family cruise to Europe or Alaska with Holland America Line is that kids don’t have to be on high-alert all the time for the next once-in-a-lifetime moment. That kind of vigilance, which is usually required on land tours, wears kids out and makes them cranky. But cruises allow kids to take a breath and enjoy, and nobody does a better job of entertaining kids on a cruise than Holland America Line.

The line’s Club HAL program offers activities and dedicated rooms — fully equipped with computers, video, toys and crafting supplies — for kids age 3 to 12, and all ships feature a teen program for ages 13 to 17. The supervised and age-specific programs allow children to get involved with fun and creative activities while parents are able to pursue their own interests. Club HAL and teen activities operate all day during sea days with breaks for meals. The programs are also available during port visits if the kids reserve in advance.

With more than a century of experience, Holland America Line will show your family the wonders of the world in a style that no one else can.

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Selecting an Alaska cruisetour can be daunting for the uninitiated. With more that 50 cruisetours offered by the major players, how do you sift through the options to find an Alaska cruisetour that’s right for you? To find out, we sat down with Paul Allen, vice president of sales for Holland America Line.

Q. Why should someone do a cruisetour in Alaska in the first place?

A. We do research all the time asking people what they want to see in Alaska. The two places that get mentioned the most are Glacier Bay National Park and Denali National Park. You can get to Glacier Bay on a cruise ship, but if you want to get to Denali, you have to get on a cruisetour.

Q. How does the cruisetour work? There’s a cruise and then there’s a tour. The cruise ends and what happens next?

A. You can do a cruisetour in one of two ways. You can travel on land and end up on a cruise, or you can travel on a cruise and end up on land. Some of the cruisetours have more cruise content than others. Some cruisetours are combined with seven-day cruises; others are combined with three- or four-day cruises.

Q. With so many cruisetours, isn’t choosing the right one a little daunting? Holland America Line alone offers close to 30 cruisetours, grouped under three types, and each of those are staged in different regions of Alaska. Some people, me included, don’t even have a good grasp on the geography of Alaska or the distances between destinations.

A. It is daunting, but it’s my mission to educate people about the distinctions and identify what’s important to people. Most want to see mountains, scenery, glaciers and wildlife. These are the most important motivators for most people. There are many opportunities to see these things all across the state.

Q. How do you begin to choose a cruisetour from the ones offered?

A. It really depends on what you want. The avid cruisers may want to go with the seven-day cruise combined with four to six days on land where they either go to Denali National Park, Fairbanks and Anchorage, or get all the way up to the Arctic Ocean. Or maybe they want to go to the Kenai Peninsula or stay at Alyeska Resort, a beautiful chateau property. All of these are possibilities that can be combined with the seven-day cruise.

On the other hand, if you really want to get that comprehensive Great Land experience, fly to Anchorage, go up to Denali, spend a couple of days there, travel to Fairbanks, and then from Fairbanks, go into the Yukon. Then travel down the Yukon 100 miles on our Yukon Queen II to Dawson, which is a great little town.

From Dawson, we’ve just developed excursions to Tombstone Park, which is just beautiful subarctic tundra. This is a chance for a very personal wilderness experience. You could be standing in Tombstone National Park with a dozen people in a backwoods wilderness trail where you’re going to have that ‘I’m surrounded by spectacular scenery and beautiful wilderness experience.’ You don’t always find a way to get that on other itineraries. We’ve provided that at Tombstone, near Dawson, and also at Kluane National Park, near Whitehorse.

You then continue to Skagway, where you board the ship and get a beautiful cruise into Glacier Bay, cruise back down the Inside Passage and get off the ship in Vancouver. You’ve hit Denali, Tombstone, the Yukon River, Kluane, Glacier Bay, the Inside Passage that’s the whole kit and caboodle of Alaska.

Q. What is your favorite cruisetour?

A. The one I just described. It is a great value, and at the same time, it has all those icons in it. It gives you the opportunity to really see the whole Great Land. If you’re the seven-day cruise type, then I recommend the tour all the way to the Arctic Ocean. I had a chance to get up to there last summer and come down the road between Prudhoe Bay and Fairbanks, and it was just spectacular.

Or alternatively, you might take Tour 17 or 18, and that’s when you get off the ship after seven days and spend the night in Seward, then get Kenai Fjords National Park, do a six day marine tour with an incredible amount of wildlife experience. You move from there to Anchorage, spend two days in Denali, and then to Fairbanks.

Q. Why does Holland America Line offer a Double Day in Denali?

A. You need two days. These are natural wonders you are coming to see. You can see the Mona Lisa or the Eiffel Tower just by showing up at the appointed time. To see grizzly bears and spectacular mountain scenery, however, you need to give yourself more time in the right places to maximize your chances of a great view. Time in the right places becomes the most important aspect of your tour. That’s why we offer more time in Denali. That’s also why we take you to other great wilderness locations where we spend a lot of time. You have the chance to see more wildlife and more great scenery.

Q. The McKinley Explorer luxury domed railcars seem so much more appealing than the motorcoach. How many of the tours use motorcoach versus the railcar?

A. All of our tours that go to Denali, which is 28 of 29 of them, have two days of travel on the railcars. The ones that go into the Yukon also include motorcoach travel, and while the motorcoach doesn’t sound nearly as sexy, these are beautiful motorcoaches. And they’re also the only way that you’re going to get to that kind of remote wilderness and to get to a place like Dawson or Whitehorse. So if you’d like to go to Kluane National Park, home to five of the seven tallest mountains in North America, glaciers and spectacular wildlife, the only way you’re going to get there is in a luxury motorcoach.

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Magda and Larry Slayton (pictured above) say they were “not cruising people originally,” but when Magda’s mom insisted on a cool-weather destination for her 50th wedding anniversary during the dog days of August, an Alaskan cruise seemed to be just the ticket. And so 10 adults and nine children boarded Holland America Line’s Westerdam for a seven-day cruise, roundtrip Seattle.

We caught up with the Slaytons — and sister Annette Parker and her children Cate and Andrew (pictured) — the day before the cruise ended.

“It’s been nice to see the destinations without having to pack and unpack,” Magda says. “We weren’t sure about cruising, but we’ve been pleasantly surprised. Cruising really works well for events such as this — with 19 members of our family on board. Everyone loved it because there was something for everyone in both the ports and on board.”

They chose Holland America Line for their first cruise because their parents are Dutch (HAL began operations in the Netherlands more than 130 years ago.) “My mother came to America on Holland America Line,” Magda says. “She crossed the Atlantic eight times on HAL ships.”

There were quite a few surprises for the Avon, Connecticut couple. “The staterooms were nicer and bigger than we had thought they would be,” Magda says. “And there were plenty of healthy options for food.” The biggest surprise, however: “We actually lost weight. We worked out every day and watched what we ate. The secret was a good balance of activity and food.”

From gazing at a lone bald-head eagle perched in a tree in Sitka to sliding and splashing in pools on board ships, cruise vacations create memorable moments that last a lifetime.

Whether we’re on a nature walk in Alaska, doing a belly flop into the pool or spiraling down a waterslide, ships transport us to a place that is far from our busy and chaotic lives back home.

Of course, you might argue that these are characteristics true of any vacation. But when time ashore is mixed with time at sea, a certain magic works its way into our souls.

As the poet e.e. cummings once wrote: For whatever we lose (like a you or a me). It’s always our self we find in the sea.

Before our cruise to Alaska, my son and I pitched camp in Seattle at a couple popular hotels: Inn at the Market, which overlooks Pike Place Market and Puget Sound; and Hotel 1000, with a bathtub that fills from the ceiling.

We visited Underground Seattle, which my loved; Seattle Center, with its exhibits, amusements and rides; Seattle Aquarium, where we spent three hours of our life aquatic; and the Museum of Flight, where Alex took the pilot’s seat in jets he had only seen in books.

We spent one afternoon on bikes, which we rented at Alki Beach and rode along the bike paths. Along the way, we stopped to comb the beach for marine treasures. If you’re cruising with kids, you’ll find Seattle exceptionally kid-friendly.

Awesome Overview
For jaw-dropping views of marine and land-based wildlife and nature’s most dramatic scenery, an Alaskan cruise is hard to beat. But if at all possible, get off the ship and into the interior.

You can make the most of an Alaskan cruise by combining time at sea with a land portion that provides views of the Alaskan interior. Simply put, not all of Alaska can be seen from a ship. While Glacier Bay National Park can be appreciated from the deck of a cruise ship, for example, Denali National Park must be visited on a cruisetour.

All the major cruise lines offer Alaskan itineraries, but for cruisetours, look to Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Each of these cruise lines offers family friendly ships and an excellent selection of cruisetours.Age Appropriate
If your kids are curious about nature and are occasionally interested in or fascinated by wildlife, they are old enough for this cruise. Celebrity, Princess, Royal Caribbean and Holland America have first-rate youth programs should the kids’ enthusiasm for natural beauty occasionally dwindle. If the kids are up to it, families can make the most of an Alaskan cruise on active shore excursions such as kayaking, bicycling and hiking.

Too Much Fun
Ships stopping in Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier bring some of nature’s most awesome beauty up close, as passengers experience the thundering echo of a glacier calving a short distance from the ship. You’ll most certainly spot whales and possibly bear. And if you are lucky and don’t mind staying up late, you might get to enjoy one of nature’s most magnificent displays, the Northern Lights, particularly in the shoulder season months, May and September. Fairbanks, visited on cruisetours, is a popular destination for viewing the Northern Lights.

Best Adventure, or THE attraction
The destination is the attraction, which means that you can look forward to a week’s worth of calving glaciers, lobtailing or breaching whales and spectacular mountain vistas. It is impossible to exaggerate how stunningly beautiful all of this is, sure to impress even the most jaded teenager. Cabins with balconies always enhance a cruise, but on an Alaskan cruise, a balcony becomes your family’s own private viewing station. Make the most of your Alaskan cruise: Book a stateroom with a balcony.

Keep’em Happy/No Shuffleboard, Dad!
Alaska is a place where you want to stay up late, even kids who normally bunk down early. The sun sets late, and the sunsets can be stunning. Most kids don’t need to be told that they are seeing something special, and they will quickly become amateur whale watchers, learning to look not for the breaching body but for the blow, which occurs just before the whale expels air, fully surfaces and dives again.

Timing is everything
Alaskan cruises are available from May through September. If you can go earlier or later in the season, you may be able to save some money or at least not compete for your preferred cabin. The sacrifice you make in cruising early or late in the season is the days will not stretch out for 22 hours as they do nearer the summer solstice. One advantage of the shorter days is that the animals typically graze or hunt at dawn or at sunset, increasing your chances of seeing bear and other wildlife. Also, you will want to pack more layers of clothing if you are traveling in May or September.

Avoid the Crowds
Alaska, the Last Frontier, is enormous. At 586,412 square miles, it’s more than twice the size of Texas, with just a fraction of the population. However, if you are just looking for a quiet respite from all the folks on your cruise, lace up your hiking boots and find a trail. They are available at just about all the stops your ship will make, more so on the land portion of your trip.

Can’t Miss
Any number of shore excursions can be categorized as “must see.” Among them, the Misty Fjords trip during the Ketchikan port call might seem expensive for a family at more than $250 each, but most who decide to do it come back raving about the mesmerizing beauty.

In Juneau, the Mendenhall Glacier and wildlife boat trip is less expensive but thoroughly worthwhile, and the Mount Roberts tram is a wonderful afternoon, providing great views of the Juneau harbor and the surrounding mountains.

Best Dining
Find a seafood restaurant in Juneau to enjoy some really and truly fresh seafood or halibut. A couple of consistently popular places are the Twisted Fish Co. or Hangar on the Wharf, which offers waterfront views. Both are easy to get to from your cruise ship.

At Princess Denali lodge, in the area just outside Denali National Park that the locals call “Glitter Gulch,” don’t miss the Seafood Nachos, even better if washed down with an Alaskan Amber.

Anchors Aweigh!
There’s no question that an Alaskan cruise should go at the top of anyone’s “must do” list. Add a cruisetour for the complete package. And with departures primarily from Seattle and Vancouver, Alaskan cruises offer great pre- and post-cruise opportunities in two of North America’s most beautiful cities. Cruise into the wild, then return for a few days of fun in the Pacific Northwest.

A Kid’s View Of The Great Land: Seeing Alaska through the eyes of my 10-year-old son.

‘Dude! Alaska is soooooooo awesome!’

These were the words uttered by my 10-year-old son on our first morning in that most majestic of American states, Alaska. We had sailed from Seattle two days before, and on this morning, I awoke early, peeked out the curtains and nudged Alex awake.

I told him that we had arrived in Alaska and waited for him to wipe the sleep from his eyes and pull back the still-drawn curtains. I positioned myself so that I could see his face when he peered out the window at the rocky shoreline and snow-capped peaks we were passing.

His response made worthwhile all of the planning, the long flight across the country and the expense of this trip. Eyes wide and bright, he exclaimed with gusto, ‘Dude! Alaska is soooooooo awesome!’

In Awe Of Alaska

We dressed and went for breakfast, taking a seat at a table outside so that we could admire the sights and breathe the fresh, crisp Alaskan air. Without asking, an older woman plopped down with us, as if she had not seen us sitting there. She looked up somewhat surprised and said with some effort: ‘I don’t know how to describe the feeling. I’m just in awe.’

We were all in awe. Holland America Line’s Amsterdam was sailing toward Juneau, and on this bright morning, colorful fishing boats were motoring in the opposite direction out of the Gastineau Channel to the open sea. The busy channel, the blue sky, the mountains on both sides of the ship, the snow-capped peaks — it was indeed beautiful and moving.

The older woman told us that she was from Gloucester, Virginia. This was her first trip to Alaska, and she said that walking out on the open deck and seeing the wide expanse of beauty had made her feel queasy. She was so overwhelmed that she had to sit down.

That day was the first of several days of inspiring landscapes. Alaska’s natural beauty was stunning. When, at the end of our trip, I asked Alex to recount the images of Alaska that were in his mind, he said: ‘Whales, eagles and glaciers.’ We had seen lots of whales during a boat excursion in Sitka. Whales were so abundant, in fact, that we even saw three fluke their tails in succession. Eagles were perched on rocks and on tree limbs. We saw eagle nests and one eagle with a salmon in its talons. It was all so wonderful and wild.

In Juneau, we visited Mendenhall Glacier (paying $6 each way for the 20minute transfer on a Juneau Tours converted schoolbus). In the streams fed by the glacier, salmon were spawning.

Cruising With Kids

The great thing about cruising with kids is that as a parent, you can give the little ones a long leash. Cruise ships are relatively safe environments for kids, and it’s not likely they will get lost. I allowed Alex to hang out with other boys he met on the cruise.

He and Seth (pictured, Seth, left, Alex, right), 9 years old, from Santa Barbara, became best friends. I gave strict orders for Alex to rendezvous with me at certain times on the ship, and he was always there.

One night, I let him stay up until midnight with Seth, and the next morning he slept late. When I finally woke him, I thought he would be upset that he had missed the morning. ‘Alex, you’ve slept until 11:30,’ I said. ‘Really?’ he responded. I waited for some regret. ‘Great!’ he says. ‘That means I can stay up later tonight!’

Alaska is a place where you want to stay up late. The sun sets late, and the sunsets can be stunning. Occasionally, I would see Alex and Seth on the outer decks. Once, they were peering out to sea. ‘What’s going on guys?’ I asked. ‘We’re looking for whales.’Alex had learned to look not for the body of a whale but for the blow, just before the whale expels air, fully surfaces and dives again.

The real pleasure of this trip for me was the gift that I was giving Alex. He would return home with a few souvenirs, material possessions, some of which would be tossed aside and forgotten within a few weeks. These, of course, were trite and mostly meaningless. The real gifts were the indelible images that would stay with my son, forever — at least that is my hope.When we set out on our journey to the Great Land, Alex kept looking up at me and saying, ‘I’m so happy dad.’ I was too.

The day before he flew home to his mom, he was still happy. ‘It was my favorite trip ever,’ he said to me as I loaded him on the plane. To my ears those words were ‘soooooooo awesome.’

Departing Seattle, our Alaskan Explorer cruise on Holland America Line’s Amsterdam took us to Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan, plus Victoria, British Columbia. We also cruised scenic Tracy Arm and Frederick Sound.

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Cruising Alaska with their grandmother, these two teens say that despite the reputation it once had, Holland America Line isn’t just for “mature” travelers.