As my parents have aged, I have realized the importance of including them in our travel plans.  When I mentioned the idea of taking them to Alaska on a cruise, my parents were thrilled.  Cruising is an ideal vacation as we age because you can do as much or as little as you like.  My mother has 3 three brothers, one of whom had not ventured far from his hometown.  They were all elated to be included.  Having a group that includes family in their 70s and 80s all the way down to high school and elementary kids, it was important to find the perfect cruise that included things for all.  We chose Royal Caribbean's Quantum of the Seas.  This particular cruise was roundtrip from Seattle, Washington, which made finding direct flights from different cities of origin a little easier.  For the younger kids, this ship offered teen and kids' programming, rock-climbing walls, bumper cars, iFly indoor skydiving, to name a few.  The older generations loved the entertainment, including sitting in the esplanade and enjoying the live music and people-watching.  For excursions, we focused on those that were accessible.  We rode the picturesque White Pass Rail in Skagway, which offered bathrooms onboard.  In Juneau, we enjoyed the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, which was accessible, but also offered hiking trails for those who wanted that extra adventure.  This was followed by the most delicious salmon we had ever eaten at the Salmon Bake.  In Icy Strait, everyone did their own thing - some kayaked, shopped, did whale watching.  The beautiful thing about multigenerational cruising, is that you all meet back up for dinner and talk about all the things you experienced that day.  This was a trip of a lifetime for my family - and one that my children still talk about to this day.  

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