as a person that has lived in AK for 25 years before retiring to warmer weather.
It is great to do a cruise through the inside passage for your first visit.
The cruise will take you to some wonderful places in SE Alaska where the locals pull off their reeboks and T-shirts to don their AK native gear when the ship pulls in. Souvenirs are triple price along with food. You’re a captive audience.
IMHO, the best and most economically way to see AK is too book a motorhome in advance and you have your wheels and hotel in one vehicle. Free camping is everywhere. Drive down to Seward. Go to Denali ECT.