Alaska  - -  (the 49th State - admitted in Jan.1959)
The State of Alaska consists a large squarish area and then a slender pan-handle running
 down the west coast of Canada - somewhat like the Big Dipper which appears on its Flag.
The Capital is in Juneau on the panhandle.
The largest city is Anchorage. It can be warm in mid-July; dress in layers.

In addition to the major cruise lines which ply the Alaskan waters, there is also the
Alaska Marine Highway System (the ferrys); they get to the smaller ports and are often
closer to shore, but provide less luxurious accomodations.
Their purpose is more orineted toward transportation than sightseeing.

Cruises to Alaska come mostly in 4 flavors --
 1.- the round trip from Seattle or Vancouver which only goes up the Inside Passage
      to Skagway or Glacier Bay National Park, and then returns.
 2.- the one-way trip from Seattle/Vancouver to Anchorage/Seward/Whittier or reverse.
 3.- the round trip Seattle/Vancouver to Anchorage/Seward/Whittier.
 4.- the cruise-tour which includes some land/rail/air travel in Alaska in conjunction
        with a cruise between either Anchorage or Skagway and Seattle/Vancouver;
        in the case of Skagway, it's only a 3 or 4-day cruise period.

Ports of Call along the way are combinations selected from among those of ...
 Wrangell, Haines, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Glacier Bay Nat'l Park, Victoria,
 College Fjord, Sawyer Glaciers, Tracy Arm, Prince William Sound, Hubbard Glacier.
     Where you variously cruise by, anchor and tender, or dock.
    Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier is in a park near downtown.
    Skagway: Take train or bus out over the pass to the interior.
    Someplace has/had a "modern" sculpture which the locals call the "Giant's Toilet".

If you learn of a cruise which does not spend at least 1/2 day in Glacier Bay National Park,
 then choose a different itineary which does. When you get there,
   then eat a hardy breakfast, because you will NOT want to miss anything to come in
   for lunch; the scenery is simply THAT GOOD!! -- unless it is foggy.

Cruise ships do not really anchor in Anchorage, the docks are either at Seward or Whittier
 with buses which complete the trip to the terminal in Anchorage.
The trip to Seward is about 2+ hours; the scenery is not bad, but you don't get a good
 look at it, can't photograph it, and seldom make a stop. Suggest that you make arrangements
 for a one-way rental car and drive it yourself.
The trip to Whittier is shorter and involves a time-controlled one-lane tunnel.

Alaska Railroad runs trains from Anchorage thru Denali National Park to Fairbanks.
They take along some special cars owned by Princess and also by Holland America; on one of
these special sections, one-half of the people sit facing backward; be forewarned.
As on the Seward trip, the scenery is great but little chance to partake of it fully;
  suggest renting a car (maybe oneway) - maybe downtown rather than at the airport, depending on
  the car-rental tax situation.

Near the train depot at Denali is the Nat'l Park HQ and some hotels, including the
 Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge. From this area there are full-day bus trips into the park.
 The buses are NOT Luxury Scenic Cruisers; they're more like retired school busses.
 The trip goes into the park to a large turn-around spot where a box lunch is served
   during which time you can drink-in the beauty of Mount McKinley -- on a clear day
   which is about 20% of the time.
 If interested, then likely best to spend 2 nights here and take the bus trip on the
   day in between; good luck on the 20% chance.
Closer to Anchorage, there is the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge; on a good day the
 view is magnifique, but do NOT believe that there are any trips into the park from
 this area or any other support businesses.
The State-Bird is the mosquito; PLENTY of protection and repellent may be needed.

Out on the Kenai Peninsula is the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge; not sure about
 other accomodations or support business in the area.

Fairbanks is the jumping-off point for trips to the "North Shore", but elsewise holds
 nothing of particular scenic beauty.

Some of the cruise-tours are by combination of train, river-boat, and bus - sometimes along
  the Alcan Highway. Some join with cruises at Anchorage others at Skagway.

If you book any parts of the trip separate from the main part,
  be sure not to "miss the boat".

See also at ...
  http://www.dot.state.ak.us/amhs/
  http://www.nps.gov/dena/index.htm
  http://www.nps.gov/dena/pphtml/maps.html
  http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/tongass/districts/mendenhall/
  http://alaskatours.com/
  http://www.alaskatravel.com/
  http://www.cruisemates.com/
  http://www.cruisemates.com/articles/reviews/princess/itineraries.cfm