Big price variance in Alaska cruises - need advice

Hi all,

We want to go on an Alaskan cruise this coming summer but are overwhelmed at all the different cruise lines.

We would prefer a small ship cruise experience and the Cruise West ships sound great. The only drawback (to us anyway) is the large price. We see 1 week cruises from $700 on some cruise lines to $4,500 on Cruise West.

My question is: ';Is Cruise West really worth the extra money?';

We have never been on a cruise and don%26#39;t want the ';floating hotel'; type ships we see with midnight pizza and big band dancing ';dinner with the captain'; and shuffle board, exercise gyms, etc.

Is there a ';happy medium?'; Are there smaller ship cruise lines that are in the two to three thousand dollar catagory or is the choice only: the enormous ship passanger type lines (with bargain rates) or 100 type passanger lines (like Cruise West with $4,000 rates)?

Thanks,

Bob

Big price variance in Alaska cruises - need advice

We did a Cruise West trip in May. We had been on a large ship some years ago in the Caribbean. The experiences could not have been more different. I think it really boils down to....do you want Alaska or do you want a cruise.? Just my experience. the big ships can%26#39;t slow down and circle when they spot a pod of whales. Nor can they park in front of a calving glacier or put you out in ten-person Zodiaks to get closer to shore to see the wildlife.