Welcome to our forum.
My husband says the aniticpation is half the fun
Check to see if your ship rent's tuxs. There will be a few formal dinners and although not required, a tux will make you feel like James Bond. plus it's a hell of lot easier than lugging your suit with you. Ships usally have a weekly rental specail ($50 a night or $100 for all week). They'll give you a several clean shirts and if it gets dirty, they will clean it. Plus, you'll look like a million dollars in the cruise photos. Rent the tux.
We have been on 10 cruises. In case you didn't know, Princess uses fresh water in their pools and tubs. You will have a great time!!You can order a tux on line from e-bay etc much cheaper than renting so if (when) you cruise again your tux is already paid for. There are couple of good cruise web sites and forums as well to read up on them!!
I haven't done an Alaskan cruise, but know people that have. I have travelled to Alaska for work on occasion so perhaps that has caused me to delay the need to do an Alaska cruise. Mrs Spaceguy wants to go however....We did a 15 day Panama Canal cruise in Sep as the ship relocated from Alasaka back to Florida. We got on in San Francisco.Perhaps I can answer your questions...