Ahoy, Mark!
An amazing Alaskan adventure awaits your crew this summer! My family experienced a 7-night cruise to the Last Frontier a couple of years ago, and we absolutely loved it! I'm happy to provide you with some helpful info about
Port Adventures, and hope you will write back if you have any further questions.
My first tip is to make sure to see
Alaska
by land, sea and air. You'll see a lot of fabulous sights from the ship, but I recommend some type of watercraft excursion like whale watching. The tour guides are so knowledgeable and will get you as close as they can to see these magnificent marine mammals! By air, seeing the glaciers and gorgeous landscapes by helicopter or seaplane is something you will never forget! And as for land, I suggest learning the ins and outs of the Iditarod by going dog sledding or going to a Musher's Camp. You may also want to consider an adventure to see other wildlife, a ride on a train or a highlight tour! There are so many fantastic options that you really can't go wrong. If you want the entire family to go together, you will need to consider age when planning. Also, let your kids browse the list so they can have input. It is possible to participate in two excursions, but you will not know the start/end time until your booking window opens up. If there is a conflict, the system will not allow you to book both, but many are offered multiple times per day. On our sailing we were able to double up, so I hope you'll be able to maximize your time to see as much as possible. My final suggestion is to have a few excursions picked out for each port as some do sell out early.
Good luck with your plans!
Nancy