help ! first time not on disney cruise line

Family of 6 - we have been on many disney cruises, but we are heading to Alaska Aug 2015 and we want to do Denali so no disney this time. We are choosing between the Celebrity (millennium) HA5 and Princess (Grand) 5a - could use some views on the following

- Hubbard and Icy Straight versus glacier bay and college fjord

- Princess versus celebrity ship ( kids from 10 - 17 )

- quality of Princess land tour versus celebrity

- importance of side of ship - aft cabins ?

- is it worth a day in alyeska over a second day at McKinley

Thank you for any advice !

On this route, the ports/stops are the important factor...not the ship. Pick the time/itinerary that suits you. Any ship will do.

Many prefer the aft cabins, as you can see both sides...however, the upper decks are open for viewing ANY time...pick a cabin in a location you like...your views will be fine......if you can't see what you want, you leave the cabin...so simple!

Aft cabin....amazing views for so many hours of the day....seeing the glaciers calving is a must!

Princess will have a lot more kids. I think of Celebrity as a country club cruise. A lot more Tuxes on formal night, on friend's 1st cruise he was turned away from the dining room because he wasn't wearing a jacket. That's Celebrity.

Princess is more relaxed.

Aft cabin....amazing views for so many hours of the day....seeing the glaciers calving is a must!

We did an aft cabin on our trip and hated it. The noise and smell that came from the engines was awful. Of course that could have been a fluke, but we won't take the chance next time. We would prefer the open decks for sightseeing.

Princess, aft and stay longer in Denali