Take kids to Alaska or another Caribbean cruise?

[openwater]

We just got home from a Western Caribbean cruise on the Dream. It was a great trip and we had a wonderful time. This was the third cruise for our kids who are now 12 and 14 years old. They have been on two Western Caribbean cruises and one to Nassau/Key West. DH and I have also been to Alaska on RCCL.
While we were on the Dream we got our future cruise certificates to take advantage of the onboard credit. Now we are trying to decide if we should do an Eastern Caribbean or Alaska in 2013 with the kids. I would love to go back to Alaska and would love for my kids to see it, but I'm concerned they won't enjoy it as much. The both spend so much time on the water slides and at mini golf that I'm worried they won't find as much to do when they can't be outside as much in Alaska.
I would like to hear from people who have taken teenagers to Alaska.

[Kuki]

it been more then a decade now since we took our then teens.



They will still tell you they enjoyed Alaska more than the their Caribbean cruises.

[kteacher1957]

Go ahead and take your teenagers to Alaska. My teens had a blast on the ship. In fact, they missed the glacier viewing part of our trip because they were too busy swimming in the outdoor pool

[Donna]

I too bet they will absolutely love cruising in Alaska, I actually love it over the Caribbean....Just a whole different kind of cruise expierence, well worth sharing it with your kids and they are a good age to love it as well.

[Nereida]

I too am dying to go on an Alaskan cruise, but my kids will have nothing to do with it. We went on a Bahamas cruise two summers ago, and they really enjoyed themselves, but they're not too keen about going on vacation to a cold place.

I know that I would thoroughly enjoy visiting Alaska, but I'm not sure they would. I don't know. Kids are kinda funny.

[Donna]

It also depends on when you go. We had some warm weather, 70's and people could swim. The only real cold place if you go during July is up in the glaciers, if you decide to take an excursion up there. You will never smell fresher air, than up in Alaska...

[colorcrazie]

I have been on Alalska cruises in May and September. I HATE being cold, but most of the time, even the beginning and end of the summer season, I was quite comfortable. Even got sunburned, which I was not expecting. It is a magical place at any age!
Marty

[Donna]

Marty,
You are so right, magical is the right word to decribe Alaska. I went in July and it was anything but cold. I don't know why people think its just cold up there in the summer, I too had shorts on a few days and was fine. One day I was actually too warm, just didn't expect it. My first trip was in Sept. and it was chilly, but certainly again, not cold. I much prefer an Alaska cruise over a Caribbean one any day. You can most likely do 2 Caribbean cruises for the price of Alaska, that is the difficult part. I also need to plan those over a year in advance. Was looking months ago for this summer, but the prices were already too high and the airfare is also a killer, especially if I start in one port and fly home from another, but that is what I want to do next time and fully see more of Alaska that way, plus going from Vancouver over Seattle....didn't care for that at all...

[Barryn514]

We have done the Alaska cruise before and doing it again this next month. We love the Caribbean cruise but there is something special about the Alaska cruise. Love the ports of call except Victoria because you are the only a few hours and not enough time to do anything.