For me, the beauty of a cruise is that I can have my cake and eat it too. There’s plenty of opportunity for family togetherness and much-needed time apart as well. If you’ve got little ones, it’s key of course to know the cruise lines’ age policies for kids programming. You don’t want to show up at the gangway only to realize yours are too young for the drop-off playroom (nightmare!). For those of you with older teens, it’s equally as important to know when your young adults can (and can’t) drink and gamble. Read on for the skinny.

Carnival Cruise Lines

• Minimum age to sail: 6 months on most cruises (12 months on select longer itineraries, such as transatlantic, Hawaii and South America)
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming: 2 years old (Carnival does change diapers)
• Minimum age for drop-off group babysitting after hours: 6 or 12 months to 8 years old (Carnival does change diapers)
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol no matter where the ship is sailing
• Gambling in casino: 18 to gamble in the casino
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 21 must share a cabin with a person over 25, unless you’re a married couple with a marriage certificate to prove it.

Celebrity Cruises

• Minimum age to sail: 6 months on most cruises (12 months on select longer itineraries, such as transatlantic, transpacific and South America)
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming and/or after-hours group babysitting: 3 years old (and completely toilet-trained)
• Minimum age for private in-cabin babysitting: 12 months old
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol (with the exception of Europe, South America and Australia cruises if parents cruising with their children sign a waiver allowing their 18 to 20 year olds consume alcohol)
• Gambling in casino: 18 to gamble in the casino (and 21 in some Alaska ports)
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 21 must share a cabin with a person over 21, unless minor children are cruising with their parents or guardians and staying in an adjacent cabin.

Costa Cruises

• Minimum age to sail: 6 months on most cruises (12 months on select longer itineraries, such as transatlantic, transpacific and world cruises)
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming and/or after-hours group babysitting: 3 years old (and completely toilet-trained)
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol on cruises departing from US ports and 18 from non-US ports
• Gambling in casino: 18 to gamble in the casino
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 21 must share a cabin with a person over 21 (exceptions include certain times of the year, like Spring Break, when passengers ages 21 to 24 must have one person at least 25 years old in the same cabin).

Crystal Cruises

• Minimum age to sail: 6 months
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming: 3 years old (and toilet-trained)
• Minimum age for private in-cabin babysitting: 6 months old
• Drinking: 18 years old to drink beer and wine, and 21 to drink the hard stuff; however when the ship is docked or anchored in an American port, within the 3-mile limit, the drinking age is 21 for all alcoholic beverages
• Gambling in casino: 21 to gamble in the casino
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 18 must share a cabin with a person over 21

Disney Cruise Line

• Minimum age to sail: 12 weeks
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming: 12 weeks
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol no matter where the ship is sailing
• Gambling in casino: No casinos on Disney ships
• Occupying own cabin: 18 to occupy a cabin without an adult.

Holland America Line

• Minimum Aae to sail: 6 months on most cruises (12 months on select longer itineraries)
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming: 3 years old (and toilet-trained)
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol no matter where the ship is sailing
• Gambling in casino: 18 to gamble in the casino
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 21 must share a cabin with a person 21 and over.

MSC Cruises

• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming: 3 years old
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol no matter where the ship is sailing
• Gambling in casino: 21 to gamble in the casino
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 21 must share a cabin, or be in connecting cabin, with a person 21 and over.

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Minimum age to sail: 6 months
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming: 2 years old (if a diaper is soiled, parents will be beeped to changed it)
• Drinking: Passengers ages 18 to 20, with the written consent of their parents or guardian, can purchase beer or wine for themselves only when the ship is sailing in international waters (except in Alaska and Hawai`i, where you must be 21 years of age to consume or purchase alcohol or any kind).
• Gambling in casino: 18 to gamble in the casino
• Occupying own cabin: At least one person must be 21 or older in the cabin or a connecting cabin (unless cruising with parents in an adjoining cabin or if you can prove you’re a married couple under age 21).

Princess Cruises

• Minimum age to sail: 6 months on most cruises (12 months on select longer itineraries)
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming: 3 years old (and toilet-trained)
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol no matter where the ship is sailing
• Gambling in casino: 21 to gamble in the casino
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 21 must share a cabin with a person over 21

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

• Minimum age to sail: No official minimum, though for babies under 6 months, parents must sign a waiver
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming: 5 years old (programming offered on select cruises only)
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol no matter where the ship is sailing
• Gambling in casino: 21 to gamble in the casino
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 21 must share a cabin with a person over 21

Royal Caribbean

• Minimum age to sail: 6 months on most cruises (12 months on select longer itineraries, such as transatlantic, Hawaii and South America)
• Minimum age to join drop-off kids programming: 3 years old (on Oasis of the Seas, it’s 3 months, since that ship has a nursery)
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol, with the exception of Europe and South America cruises if parents cruising with their children sign a waiver allowing their 18 to 20 year olds to consume alcohol
• Gambling in casino: 18 to gamble in the casino (and 21 in some Alaska ports)
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 21 must share a cabin with a person over 21, unless minor children are cruising with their parents or guardians and staying in an adjacent cabin or if underage married couples can show proof of marriage certificate.

Seabourn Cruise Line

• Minimum age to sail: 6 months on most cruises (12 months on select longer itineraries)
• Drinking: 21 years old to drink alcohol (though in presence of parents wine may be served at meals to guests under 21)
• Gambling in casino: 18 to gamble in the casino
• Occupying own cabin: Those under 18 must share a cabin with a person over 18

*As for cabin age minimums, many cruise lines make an exception for parents traveling with children and occupying two adjoining (or nearby) cabin — even if it’s not officially condoned, it’s often overlooked.

*Only the lines where it’s mentioned offer private in-cabin babysitting.

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.”

While a cruise is a vacation that provides a lifetime of happy memories for the entire family, it’s not all fun and games for Mom and Dad, who, no matter how much they may be enjoying themselves, can never entirely escape their parental responsibility for the group’s overall happiness, good manners and, of course, safety.But Mom and Dad need to escape the herd occasionally, and more than any type of family vacation, a cruise provides the opportunities to do so, even if it’s just a few sunny moments by the pool.

With the comprehensive children’s programs that the major cruise lines offer, it’s always reassuring to know that the kids are actively engaged and supervised by trained counselors, which allows parents to escape with a clear conscience.

And if two parents have successfully found a few minutes for their own amusement, they probably want to avoid other people’s kids, too.

Recognizing this, the cruise lines, even the ones that specialize in families with kids, set aside public areas for adults only.

• While the Disney Cruise Line brand may be the one most closely associated with children, the cruise line also features several spaces on each of its two ships where adults can have it all to themselves, including a “no-kids” pool, The Cove, which is a coffee shop and Internet café, and, for evening entertainment, a bistro. And at the Castaway Cay private island, Serenity Bay is an adults-only beach.
• For a quiet dinner out where the cuisine does not include French fries or macaroni and cheese, several cruise lines have intimate restaurants for adults only. On the Disney ships, it’s the intimate Palo restaurant, but the Carnival ships have exquisite supper clubs, some outdoors on the top deck. And Holland America Line’s Pinnacle Grill is always an elegant delight. Helping parents enjoy formal evenings, the Celebrity Youth Program hosts a, “Parent’s Night Out” in which children participate in a Pizza Party, evening activities, and complimentary Slumber Party, while their parents enjoy a romantic evening of fine dining and world class entertainment.
• For daylight activities, Carnival is staking out adults-only Serenity zones on its eight Fantasy-class ships. Located in a secluded aft section of the ships with spectacular ocean vistas, the Serenity zone is equipped with whirlpools and overstuffed chaise loungers, for sunbathing, casual meals and perhaps a frozen cocktail. Of course, many parents want to make the most of their free time, squeezing in a good workout or a spa treatment. While kids are not explicitly prohibited from most shipboard fitness centers, they usually do have to meet minimum age requirements to use the machines, and tomfoolery is certainly discouraged by the staff. The spa treatments, of course, are conducted in private rooms.
• Many ships offer in-room babysitting if Mom and Dad haven’t exhausted themselves chasing children all day, and the public rooms of a cruise ship feature wonderful entertainment best appreciated by adults. On Royal Caribbean, for instance, many ships offer another chance to sweat at Boleros, a Latin-themed nightclub where the dance floor is all yours if you can keep pace with the live salsa bands.

Awesome Overview
A bit more upscale and premium than most of the cruise lines that call themselves family friendly, Holland America Line has expanded its youth programs as well as its shipboard facilities for kids.

A byproduct of its multi-million-dollar Signature of Excellence initiative, Holland America Line’s new ships and facilities have noticeably lowered the average age of its passenger list. The growing family contingent, particularly on Caribbean itineraries offered by the more contemporary and somewhat less formal Vista class ships in the Holland America Line fleet, has been an important part of attracting families — and keeping them happy.

The four Vista-class vessels and the line’s new Signature-class vessel boast Holland America’s most comprehensive Club HAL children’s facilities.

Kids Only!
By building bigger and better youth and teen rooms on its ships and by lowering the starting age of the youth program from five years to three, Holland America Line is no longer just for seniors. The line now carries 30 percent to 40 percent more children and teens than it did in the past. Among the features and programs that children and parents appreciate: Teens have their own lounge; a new Port Day program allows parents to place kids in Club HAL from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. while they are off the ship.

Too Much Fun
New programming aboard HAL ships is perfect for kids and families. Each ship now has a “show kitchen,” and kids can attend the demos that include step-by-step instructions by a chef; distribution of recipe cards; and a taste of the final product. At another event, called “Kids in the Kitchen,” children are given edible Playdough and a recipe card to make their own creations. Younger kids really seem to enjoy getting their hands dirty, and learning a bit about cooking.

Best Adventure, or THE attraction
HAL has also reached out to families on Caribbean cruises with its private island, Half Moon Cay, with its family friendly Aqua Park. This fun spot includes many large water “toys” in the shapes of marine animals that kids like to climb on. Older kids can go sailing or horseback riding. Younger kids can participate in Treasure Quest kids’ shore excursion.

Keep’em Happy/No Shuffleboard, Dad!
All Holland America ships feature an Explorations Café. This spot—with dark leather chairs and couches, books, listening stations, coffee shop and catalogue of DVDs to rent (it’s as if Starbucks were to meet Blockbuster) – is a family favorite hang-out where you can browse the internet (browsing the NY Times site is free of charge), play Scrabble after dinner or, in the morning, check e-mail while pacifying a restless youngster with a video game.

Timing is everything
Holland America Line will keep one or more of its ships in the Caribbean during the late fall, winter and early spring, and others will rotate through during the rest of the year.

Avoid the Crowds
The Vista class ships – Zuiderdam, Oosterdam, Noordam and Westerdam – as well as the new Signature Class vessel (Eurodam) are among the largest in the fleet but they carry only 25 percent more passengers, resulting in very generous space ratios and public spaces that rarely seem crowded. You’ll have no trouble finding a quiet nook, but for the ultimate privacy, rent a cabana at the cruise line’s private island, Half Moon Cay.

Can’t Miss
The Pirates of Nassau museum in downtown Nassau is certainly worth an hour-long visit. This small facility doesn’t get much publicity, but kids love its Disney-style presentation, including a very entertaining pirate greeter at the entrance.

Best Dining
Fine food and wine is a particular strength of Holland America Line. The main restaurant, the Vista Dining Room, has floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, and each level has its own galley, which makes for faster service. The Pinnacle Grill, primarily for adults, but kids are also welcome, serves a memorable if “Not So Classic Baked Alaska,” a mound of flambéed whipped cream covering a healthy portion of Ben & Jerry’s Cherry Garcia. Parents, don’t miss the Pinnacle Filet Mignon, seared at 1600F and delicious.

Anchors Aweigh!
Holland America Line’s ships are great for multi-generational families, where all members of the family — from the grandparents on down to the newborns — travel together. The line’s Vista-class and Signature-class vessels are a big crowd-pleasers for families.

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.

When he was but a nine-year-old boy, my son Alex reached into the Windex-blue waters on a sandy Bahamian beach and quickly withdrew his hand to proclaim, “Dad, I touched a stingray.” He furrowed his tender brow and added thoughtfully, “They’re nice.”

In doing so, he had ascribed a sweet, if somewhat inaccurate, characteristic to the stingray. Yes, the stingray was nice indeed, particularly with its barb blunted for safety. None of tragedy that befell animal lover Steve Irwin here. Off the coast of Australia, a ray’s barb had pierced his heart and stunned the world.

Alex, my daughter and I were in a friendlier place, a paradise really, free of danger and removed from the real world, an idyllic island created for us by a cruise line.

A Day At The Beach
Talk about a Caribbean cruise, and one of the first images that jumps to mind is a sun-drenched beach where children splash in the clear, blue water while adults watch and relax, alternating between sips from refreshing beverages and dips in the gentle surf. Quite understandably, people love the idea of a peaceful tropical paradise where the only pressing concern is how much sand is stuck to their feet when they slip back into their sandals.

The idyllic beach day may be a favorite image associated with Caribbean cruising, but the fact is that the typical week-long cruise actually includes very little time dedicated to sun and sand. At major Caribbean ports like Nassau, St. Thomas or Cozumel, ships disgorge passengers for shopping, strolling or shore excursions. While some of the excursions offer activities that allow you to get wet, fairly few would be classified as “a day at the beach.” Enter the private island.

Only a handful of cruise companies feature a long day docked at a private island, providing one of the favorite days of the trip for many passengers. In fact, private islands have proven to be so popular that some itineraries feature two stops at private islands. These islands are owned (or leased) and operated by the cruise lines for the exclusive use of their guests.

Because private islands typically cater to only one ship a day, they serve as a perfect paradise that’s free of the crowds and the hassles that occasionally diminish the quality of visits to other ports of call. A day on a private island is a relatively hassle-free day, as there are no shuttles to meet or schedules to keep – other than catching the last tender back to the ship. Meals on the island are included, and anything else can be billed to the shipboard account.

A big plus for parents: The cruise lines run complimentary kids’ programs for each age group, making it easy for adults to grab a little time for themselves. The kids and teens are just as enthusiastic because they can hook up with friends they’ve made on board, joining a beach volleyball game or a treasure hunt. They can eat all they want when they want without needing money or parental supervision.

Besides providing a picture-postcard setting complete with beach chairs, umbrellas and shaded hammocks, the private islands are set up for every sort of fun that can be organized on a public beach. The cruise lines provide beachside bar service specializing in tropical mixes, and they also offer a multitude of water sports, ranging from snorkeling to parasailing. Frequently, there are massage and spa services available, and a band will provide a pleasant soundtrack.

But perhaps more importantly, the private islands are notable for what they lack. On the private islands, cruise passengers will get none of the hard-sell from street peddlers who are often working other stops on a Caribbean cruise. And as the islands accommodate one ship at a time, with few exceptions, congestion and overcrowding are not problems.

Here’s a thumbnail description of the islands operated by the major cruise lines.

Castaway Cay
Disney Cruise Line operates Castaway Cay, situated in the Abaco Islands, and the only private island where the ship docks, allowing guests to walk ashore without time-consuming tendering.

With long white-sand beaches, including a secluded cove just for adults, Castaway Cay offers snorkeling, jet-ski tours, kayaking, miles of bike paths, walking trails or just a relaxing day at the beach under the beach umbrella. Biking and hiking are so popular that a second nature trail was recently added. At the adults-only Serenity Bay, open-air cabanas serve as treatment rooms for massages.

Numerous excursions can be booked, with activity levels ranging from more passive glass-bottom boat tours to blood-pumping parasailing. One of the most popular is feeding and interacting with stingrays – whose barbs, as previously noted, are blunted for safety.

Of course Mickey, Minnie and the gang make frequent appearances for photo-ops, and the entire island is, typical of Disney, landscaped and equipped just right. For instance, the 12-acre snorkeling course, with separate areas for beginning and experienced snorkeling, are sprinkled with amusing Disney characters that the fish use as habitat.

Great Stirrup Cay
The original private island operated by a cruise line, Great Stirrup Cay is just as much of an island paradise as when it was acquired by Norwegian Cruise Line in 1977. The Cay’s white sand beaches are fringed by coral reefs and offer an ideal spot for snorkeling among the large schools of tropical fish.

Permanent facilities have been added to and improved during the past three decades, but the vegetation — bougainvillea, sea grape and coconut palms — continue to serve as colorful tropical backdrops.

To control erosion and preserve the environment, a sea wall was erected along the waterfront. A straw market, water sports centers, bars, volleyball courts, and food pavilion round out the facilities. Activities include kayaking, parasailing, hiking, ping-pong and volleyball. The massage hut near the beach provides a legendary shiatsu treatment, and the hammocks strung between the palm trees beckon to those who want simply to slow down and relax.

Norwegian Sky sails three-day and four-day Bahamas cruises with full-day stops at Great Stirrup Cay.

Princess Cays
Boasting 1.5 miles of beaches with some of the finest and whitest sand in the region, Princess Cays is the tropical paradise that Princess Cruises has been operating since 1992. This 40-acre stretch of beach provides shady hammocks and a full complement of watersports options, including sailboats, catamarans, kayaks and the always-popular banana boats.

Featured facilities include a dedicated play area, Pelican’s Perch, and a small shopping area that includes a hair braiding station. Three bars and live music complement the authentic Bahamian barbecue on the beach. There’s volleyball and basketball courts, in case anyone needs a diversion from the wide beach and the powdery soft sand. However, there is no adults-only beach.

Half Moon Cay
Little San Salvador, a Bahamian out-island, was renamed Half Moon Cay by Holland America Line to honor Henry Hudson’s ship, which is also depicted on the cruise line’s logo, as well as to reflect the beach’s crescent shape.

Even with development, the island is still so unspoiled that it has been named a Wild Bird Preserve by the Bahamian National Trust. Excursions include a guided kayak adventure on Bone Fish Lagoon, a protected habitat and home to numerous native species of flora.

Of special note, the Horseback Riding by Land & Sea excursion sets out on a ride along winding trails up to the highest point on the island for a panoramic view before your horse is “dressed” up for swimming in a special saddle pad and a rope halter (no saddle), after which you venture into the ocean for the sensation of riding a horse while it’s swimming.

Half Moon Cay also has a water park with waterslides for family fun, and air-conditioned private cabanas can be rented for your own beachfront retreat, with or without the services of a personal butler.

Coco Cay
Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises guests have twice as many opportunities to relax in the sanctity of a private island, as these sister companies operate two.

First there is Coco Cay, a 140-acre island located in the Berry Island chain between Nassau and Freeport. Known originally as Little Stirrup Cay, the island is within view of Great Stirrup Cay (NCL’s private island) and the snorkeling is just as good, especially around a sunken airplane and a replica of Blackbeard’s flagship, “Queen Anne’s Revenge.”

Both kids and adults enjoy Caylana’s Aqua Park — the largest in the Caribbean — where you can jump on an in-water trampoline or climb a floating sand castle before digging into a beach barbecue or exploring extensive nature trails.

Labadee
The second Royal Caribbean/Celebrity island is actually a 260-acre peninsula. Labadee is situated on the secluded north coast of Hispaniola, commonly known as Haiti.

In addition to the usual array of swimming, water sports, a pirate-themed Aqua Park, and nature trails to explore, visitors to Labadee are treated to an authentic folkloric show.

A market, where you might find an interesting painting or a unique wood carving, features the work of local artists and crafters, but take note that vendors can be somewhat inclined toward the hard sell.

Naturally there are bars for refreshments, and a huge beach barbecue is served by the ship’s crew. Royal Caribbean is building a dock at Labadee to accommodate Oasis of the Seas and other ships in its fleet.

Finding Bliss in the Baltic

SOMEWHERE IN THE BALTIC SEA, July 1 — It is near midnight, or at least that it is what my watch tells me. The sun and sky suggest otherwise. The bright orange orb hovers over the watery horizon, casting a reddish-yellow glow on a cloudless sky.

My (then) wife and I stand on our stateroom balcony waiting for the sun to dip below the horizon. Our body clocks are out of sync, six times zones east of our home (we’ll lose two more hours as the clock moves forward one hour on each of the first two nights of our cruise from Copenhagen).

The sun seems that it will never set, even as the clock ticks — and ticks.

What a mysterious and enchanting region of the world. We are cruising at the same latitude as the Alaska Panhandle, yet aside from the midsummer sky that hardly darkens, the Baltic Sea’s similarities to Alaska are few.

For starters, we will visit not one but six countries during our cruise. Our ship will disgorge us in some of the world’s most fabled cities.

On the Baltic Sea’s eastern edge, at the head of the Gulf of Finland, we will explore Peter the Great’s St. Petersburg — for two days. No less impressive is the Baltic Sea’s western edge, marked by Elsinore, Denmark, which lays claim to Kronborg Castle, the setting for Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

In between and along the shores of the Baltic are fairy tale lands. Copenhagen gave the world Hans Christian Andersen, Sweden gave us Astrid Lindgren, creator of “Pippi Longstocking.”

Indeed, having inserted ourselves into the comfortable fuselage of an SAS jet to travel across the Atlantic and step out on Danish soil seven hours later felt like a fairy tale. It still amazes me that I can leave a small city in America and wake up the next morning in Europe.

Our days were sunny and hot (not once would we pull out the fleece we had packed). And though we had not a single day of rain on our cruise, precipitation throughout the Baltic averages 24 inches annually. By contrast, Ketchikan receives 150 inches of rain yearly.

While we would see no snow-capped mountains or glaciers, we would stroll wide pedestrian streets free of cars, sip coffee at charming outdoor cafes, suck up nearly 20 hours of sunshine each day, marvel at world class museums, stand among opulent palaces and walk along well-preserved medieval town walls.

For two weeks (a 10-night cruise combined with four nights in Copenhagen), we would live a fairy tale in these enchanting lands.

Our fairy tale began in Copenhagen, where we popped out the front door of our hotel (The Phoenix, near trendy Nyhavn) and smack into a procession of toy-soldier-like sentries making their way to the Royal Palace for the changing of the guard at noon. Here, I told my children, lives a real queen. They looked up at me with mouths agape. It was the first of many surprises for them during our blissful Baltic cruise.

As we stood on our balcony waiting for the sunset, Westerdam was charting a course for Tallinn, capital of Estonia. The Economist recently cited Estonia “as the biggest, most complicated, and most promising piece of the new Europe.”

I’m not sure what we expected of Tallinn, but we were awed by what we saw. Although the ancient architecture could have fooled us into thinking our ship had arrived in the Middle Ages, the exuberance of the local people and the bustle of tourist activity suggested that we had arrived on the threshold of the city’s epoch. And we probably had.

Although Soviet occupation ended in 1991, it was only in 2004 that Estonia — along with neighboring Latvia, Lithuania and Poland — joined the European Union. In 1154, an Arabian geographer marked Tallinn on the world map. The town quickly became an important trade town.

In Hanseatic times, luxury furs, wax and honey from Russia were delivered through Tallinn’s port, while salt from Portugal and woolen fabrics from England and Flanders came through on their eastward route.

Our ship approached a cityscape that might have been familiar to those seafarers of long ago: red-tiled rooftops, church spires and the onion domes of Russian Orthodox churches. We docked within walking distance of the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With its miles of winding cobblestone streets and quaint medieval houses, Tallinn is the best-preserved Old Town in Northern Europe.

We climbed the vertigo-inducing circular stairs at St. Olav’s church for a view that was worth the challenge. Only 50 miles across the sea (18 minutes by helicopter from city center to city center) we could see Helsinki. We would be there soon, after our next stop: Peter the Great’s city.

Unless you are booked on a cruise line shore excursion, you need a visa before leaving home to visit St. Petersburg. To clarify, cruise passengers who book cruise line shore excursions do not need visas. Everyone else does. Because of the visa requirement and the slow churn of Russian bureaucracy, prepare to stand in line when leaving the pier.

Two forlorn customs officials stamped passports for nearly 2,000 passengers disembarking our ship. We stood for nearly 45 minutes before it was our turn. The wait, of course, was worthwhile.

Founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and shortly thereafter becoming the capital of Russia, St. Petersburg accumulated all the grandeur of the Russian Imperial Court, and in two days, we saw quite a lot of it with our private car and guide. We began our tour at Peterhof palace, about an hour’s drive from the pier.

There, we wandered the formal gardens and grounds, with 62 cascading fountains and 142 water jets that shower gilded statues.

We were glad we had our camera — not only for the grounds but also for actors in period costumes who pose for photographs.

Tour guides recommend combining Peterhof with the lavishly baroque Catherine Palace, where the Amber Room opened in 2003. The 18th-century hall’s amber panels vanished in WWII and took decades to replicate using six tons of amber.

St. Petersburg’s museums are among the world’s most famous. The Hermitage boasts some 400 rooms containing more than 3 million exhibits Catherine began the collection in 1764 with only 225 pieces. “If you spent one second looking at each exhibit, you would spend seven years seeing it all,” our tour guide told us. “So we just do the masterpieces of the masterpieces: artworks by da Vinci, Michelangelo and Rembrant.”

Of course, you’ll want to walk inside several churches, the most interesting for us being the ornate neo-Byzantine Church on Spilled Blood, constructed on the very spot where tsar Alexander II was assassinated in 1881.

The next morning while walking around Helsinki, we were surprised to see a train marked “St. Petersburg.”

It’s an overnight trip by train between the two cities. Traveling in the other direction, Stockholm is an overnight ferry away, which is why Helsinki is a gate between East and West.

Finland’s capital city embodies much of the Finnish spirit but also is unlike any other Finnish city, because of the combined Swedish and Russian influences.

Founded in 1550 by Sweden’s King Gustav, Helsinki was developed as a harbor town to compete for Baltic trade with Tallinn. The Finnish capital developed around the port.

Situated in the city center, South Harbor is the cruise passenger traffic hub. Cruise ships dock within walking distance of the city center and Helsinki’s famous Kauppatori Market Square, a colorful way to begin exploration of Helsinki. We dined on fresh berries, tried on fur hats and browsed such specialties as reindeer and canned bear meat.

The largest cruise ships dock at Hernesaari in West Harbor, 10 minutes by shuttle bus to the city center. We walked to the city center, however, in 30 minutes.

Once there, we purchased a one-day City Card, which gave us free access to sights, museums and public transport, including the Tourist Tram 3T, which makes a 60-minute roundtrip from Market Square and passes most of the city’s “must-see” sights, including the Senate Square and its beautiful cathedral.

Helsinki is a pocket-size metropolis, so you can see a lot in a short time. Someone suggested we try “Nordic Walking.” We weren’t aware that people here walked any differently from us, but apparently those who do Nordic Walking do.

The activity developed because a ski pole manufacturer wanted to increase the market for its poles. Thus, ski poles were modified for walking. It’s easy going but takes coordination. Gripping the poles, you lightly push off with each step forward so that the activity provides a slight upper-body workout.

We pushed our poles around one of Helsinki’s most popular parks on paths skirting Toolonlahti Bay. It was certainly a memorable activity but one that takes practice, although you’re likely to be the only one practicing if you return home with Nordic Walking sticks.

For something more practical that we could return home with, we walked the Esplanade to find Helsinki’s best shopping. A typical souvenir: wooden butter knives. “Everyone in Finland uses them,” a Finnish friend told us before our trip. And so we purchased a couple to bring home.

With our City Card, we hopped the ferry to Suomenlinna Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site founded in 1748 and built on six islands off the coast of Helsinki. Aside from the garrison and museums, we found charming cafes and cozy restaurants.

With too little time to see more of the “pocket-size” metropolis, we hopped the ferry back after only a couple of hours and boarded the Westerdam, departing for Stockholm.

A Swedish friend met us as we disembarked in Stockholm. She had come only to say hello and to share a taxi with us for the five-minute ride in to the city center where she would report for work.
On the way, she suggested that we begin our tour in Djurgarden, the lush island park that is home to the city’s most popular museums.

Because our kids were with us, our friend also suggested that we visit Junibacken, the Pippi Longstocking-inspired amusement and children’s museum. She said something in Swedish to the taxi driver and then to us,

“I’ll join you. I can be a little late for work.” And so we spent an hour enjoying childhood stories and exhibits, which we adults seemed to enjoy as much as the kids.

We stepped outside to a gorgeous summer day. Our friend looked at her watch, shrugged, and suggested we walk next door to the Vasa Museum, which houses a warship that in 1628 sank in the harbor on its maiden voyage and was brought up from the depths in 1961. We were awed by the scale of what we saw in the city’s most popular museum. We had expected a model, not the ship itself.

Afterward, our friend decided to push on a little longer before returning to work. After all, why report for work before lunch on such a beautiful day? She walked with us to Skansen, an open-air museum and exhibit that features five centuries of Swedish history.

We had an outdoor lunch, then boarded a ferry to make our way back to Gamla Stan, the city’s old town.
Founded in 1200, Sweden’s capital city boasts a wealth of cultural treasures, including medieval walking streets, magnificent cathedrals, parks, theaters and open-air and indoor markets. Proud of her city, our friend wanted us to see it all.

It was mid-afternoon when she finally called to tell her colleagues that she just wasn’t going to be able to make it in at all today. She was busy playing tourist: visiting souvenir shops, stopping for ice cream cones and sightseeing under sunny skies.

At the end of the day, we said goodbye to her. She nearly boarded the ship with us for the 50-mile journey along the beautiful archipelago of 30,000 islands, islets, and rocks. We wished she had.

Situated on the Baltic Sea’s largest island — with gorgeous fine sand beaches and a temperate climate — Visby and its environs are a playground for Scandinavians. Squint your eyes on a hot summer day and you could be in the Mediterranean.

Known as “The Town of Roses and Ruins,” Visby has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1995. To see the sights, we tendered ashore and rented bikes near the tourist information center.

We pedaled along an impressive 3.4-mile stone wall that surrounds the well preserved and thoroughly charming old town. Along cobblestone streets, we rode past majestic merchants houses from 17th and 18th century and stone buildings – some of them dating back to the 12th century. We passed ruins and roses and discovered that the old town isn’t only historical. It is lively, with trendy shops, cafés and restaurants.

We were in no hurry to leave Visby, but our ship pulled anchor at 2 p.m. On the tender, another cruise passenger said what we were thinking as the island retreated into the distance. Visby and Tallinn had been her two favorite ports of call. Visby certainly represents the best of the Baltic — from the historical to the contemporary — contained in a compact city center on an island of spectacular beauty.

The city’s Mediterranean milieu combined with Swedish style makes for a match made in heaven.

Founded in 1218 and one of the three original Hanseatic cities, Rostock, Germany, is only 10 miles from the seaside resort Warnemunde, where cruise ships dock. And while many cruise passengers skip these two former East German destinations for trips to Berlin, we decided to stay put and see what we could find. Besides, the rail trip to Berlin was nearly three hours each way, and with kids, we didn’t think we could endure such a long day of travel.
Our first order of business was to pick up a Rostock Card (in nearly all Baltic Sea destinations, you can purchase city cards good for transport and sightseeing). Getting into Rostock was easy. The train departs near the cruise terminal in Warnemunde.

Once in Rostock city center, we transferred to a tram to get to the central square, Neuer Markt. From the ship to the central square took only about 30 minutes.

A tourist information center is located on the square, so we walked in to get our bearings. We learned the city features a town wall, gothic churches, charming shops and cafes. Rostock is also home to one of Europe’s oldest universities, founded in 1419.

We were advised to begin at St. Peters Church, where we would take the elevator up nearly 12 stories for a view of the city. Afterward, we walked the city squares and wide pedestrian streets, stopping for bratwurst before heading back to Warnemunde by boat.

The trip back was exceptionally pleasant, and we toasted the skyline with a large frothy glass of Rostocker Pils.

Warnemunde was famed for its baths and spas in the 20th century. Today, it’s a bit as if Miami were to meet the Baltic. Beaches are wide and sandy; hotels and bars line the streets across from the beach.
We rented bikes near the train station and rode for a couple of hours along the promenade skirting the beach.

Westerdam did not depart until 10 p.m., so after dinner on the ship, we walked back into Warnemunde. The trains were just returning with passengers who had opted for Berlin. As we watched them disembark, tired from the long journey but enthused about what they had seen, we were glad we stayed.

We would have enjoyed seeing the Danish town Arhus, but for the last day of our cruise we chose to visit Legoland, about an hour away from the port by motorcoach.

The Danish toy company operates only four Legolands worldwide. Our kids had been to Legoland near San Diego. The Danish park, however, was superior, in their expert opinion, and in fact, our day there was fun for the adults as well.

Legoland seemed an appropriate end to our cruise. Our kids were wide-eyed, just as they had been back at the Royal Palace in Copenhagen. Indeed, we had experienced Baltic bliss during those 10 long days when it seemed the sun would never set and our summer would never end.

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.