Contemplating another summer family vacation? Tired of going to the same old beach or commercialized attraction? Would you like to experience something truly unique and awe-inspiring, something that the whole family would love? Why not take your family on a cruise to Alaska?

Alaskan family cruise destinations are so breathtakingly beautiful and teeming with wildlife that you could spend days captivated at the rail of a cruise ship and still not get enough. Much of the Alaskan terrain consists of gorgeous, formidable glaciers and ice fields. These beautiful natural phenomenons can be seen from many top tourist destinations of Alaska including Juneau, Valdez, Seward and the Matanuska Valley, but are usually only fully appreciated with an up close and personal view that only a cruise can afford. From this vantage point, you will stand spellbound by tidewater glaciers that reach several hundred feet in height and the antics of wildlife such as humpback whales, orcas, sea lions, dolphins, brown bears and bald eagles.

Far from being just a smooth ride through the clear Alaskan waters, Alaskan family cruise ships offer features such as numerous restaurants, lounges, entertainment, casinos, health clubs, movie theaters, libraries, and much, much more. Many even offer professionally guided tours and wildlife lectures.

And you will not spend the whole time on a boat. You will port at luxurious and accommodating ports of call such as Juneau (named one of the top five ports in the world), Ketchikan and Skagway; take part in exciting land excursions including helicopter glacier landing and railroad tours; and can even incorporate several days of land touring and sightseeing in your family cruise package.

Some Alaska cruise liners incorporate land packages as part of their cruise options. With an optional land package, visitors can spend an additional five to seven days exploring all that Alaska has to offer from land. You can explore one of the many cities or national parks, take advantage of Alaska's world-renowned sport fishing, or visit famous mining towns.

Alaska family cruises are also very affordable. You can choose from one-day cruise packages which start at approximately $50 per person; week-long Alaska Gulf cruises which start at $649 per person on certain cruise lines; or luxury inside passage cruises for under $2,000 per person.

So which family cruise vacation will you treat your family to this year? That remains to be seen, but with all of the different Alaskan cruise options you may just find yourself booking a tour to this magnificent state.