Just choose a better cruise line at that point.
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@Jayden RC is definitely being considered. People seem to like it over NCL aside from the itinerary.
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@Nidal RC isn’t always superior. Everything is dependent upon your priorities. Any voyage on Carnival that lasts more than six days will be rather entertaining. Carnival is the place to go if you value affordability, free admission, lots of delicious food options, and entertainment. If speciality dining and broadway shows are more important to you than those priorities, then perhaps you should choose RC if the dates and price are within your budget.
Anecdotally, I have witnessed almost as many fights on my single 8-day Royal Caribbean cruise as I have on my ten or more Carnival cruises.
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@Hudson NCL is a straight downgrade from Carnival. Avoid.
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went to Alaska in June on the Luminosa. was not like any other Carnival cruise at all. On that one, no Walmart crowds.
I would heartily suggest this trip to anyone. It was fantastic.
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@Gordon Give me more details! When I saw that one, I thought, “Maybe this will work.” Simply put, the stories I’ve heard about Carnival terrify me. To be fair, though, every negative story I’ve heard is about a Carnival trip to the tropics rather than Alaska. To be honest, I had no idea that Carnival visited Alaska.
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Kids clubs are available on the new HAL ships, and my SIL and her friend (25 years old) had a great time. /shrug
Glacier Bay lives up to expectations
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Although it’s not a fancy eating experience, it may still be a lot of fun. They are fantastic for a 5-day trip, but I wouldn’t go on a 3-day one with them.
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Most people refer to Carnival as the “Walmart of the Seas” LOL
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@Candy Haha. I shop at our Walmart, which is the busiest in the world (literally), early in the morning when it’s calm, but you should see our Walmart employees! To be honest, I’m more of a target person.
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Every cruise company has an own personality and targets a particular demographic. I think there are two main reasons why people grumble about cruise lines. Selecting the incorrect cruise line is the first. You brought up NCL and HAL. HAL typically draws an older, more seasoned audience. More of a party ship is NCL. Change is the other explanation. I am at the top of Princess’ affinity program and have taken many of their cruises. We grow to feel a sense of ownership and loyalty. Complaints follow any modification to the brand.
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@Banice This is how I see things. I’m trying to think of the best options for our multigenerational cruise. Carnival and RC appear to be leading the way.
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I think Carnival is the greatest cruise line. It’s really good at what it does and knows what it is. It’s not pretentious and elitist like some other lines. Drinks are reasonably priced and food is good. There is always work to be done.
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@Camilla Food is sturdy! 
The worst cruise line cuisine I’ve ever tasted, hands down.
I’m never going to sail on Carnival again. If I were traveling to Alaska with children, I would choose Princess, Holland, Royal, Celebrity, Disney, or Norwegian (there’s no set order there), but if I was traveling alone, I would hold off until Virgin arrives in 2026.
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You should think about a few Alaskan-specific details that could make or ruin your cruise experience. Certain areas, such as Glacier Bay, are extremely protected, and ships are only permitted entry under very strict guidelines. Some ships or lines are also granted preferred port or dock space; HAL meets these requirements, having excellent access to Glacier Bay and receiving direct dock space. We did not have to tender in to port at all on our voyage to Alaska, and I have seen that this limits some travelers’ time in port somewhat.