A voyage along Alaska's Inside Passage is a must-do for most cruisers -- but what about the rest of the state? The 49th State is so vast and so beautiful in its varied geography that a typical seven-night sailing just isn't enough to take it all in.

Alaska the last frontier; many people dream of visiting but how many do? I don’t know about you, but visiting Alaska has been on our bucket list forever. We wondered how we should see Alaska? By land or by sea? This year we decided we would visit Alaska. It was important for us to see glaciers up close. So, we decided to take a Holland America Line Alaskan Explorer cruise.

Just don't forget to pack your running shoes and snorkel gear!

This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page. During the 1970s and 1980s, a fun, indulgent cruise from Los Angeles meant one thing: “The Love Boat,” the original ABC Television show. (Let’s just say I’m among the baby boomers who fondly recall those original episodes.) Aired in living rooms across North America, the show put “cruis