conn:
Alaska seems to be a part of the world where anyone who has come anywhere near, geographically, will have a strong opinion!
If you can afford to take a tour [B]AND a cruise, I urge you to do the tour first. When that's over with, you'll have time to relax on the cruise ship.
On the cruise portion, I recommend these, which I took in early June 2007:
Haines/Skagway: "The White Pass Summit Scenic Railway" shore excursion is wonderful. Yes, the train's windows don't open, but that certainly wasn't a big deal when I went. Indeed, most passengers were wearing extra jackets as a hedge against the cold, not the heat!
Juneau: "Taku Glacier Lodge, Feast & Flight by Floatplane" was definitely pricey (more than $250 per person), but, IMHO, worth every penny.
Ketchikan: "Misty Fjords & Wilderness Explorer" was a super boat trip to see some spectacular scenery and experience some wonderful sights.
I agree
with some of the foregoing comments that, monetarily, you may do better by booking things separate from your cruise. However, I am inclined to question whether your savings are significant enough to outweigh the disadvantages of booking outside cruise line providers.
This latter may well be a matter of strong disagreement among those of us who have previous travel backgrounds. But, from your point of view, the bottom line is that you research your own trip!
Whatever, have fun and enjoy this special part of the world!
SWR