We cruised on Grand to Alaska last May and had an incredible time. We also had concerns given the complaints we had read online but found the ship to be in great condition. Obviously the decor won't be flashy or modern as a new ship, but we felt it actually provided a classier atmosphere. The crew and food were top notch, to the point that it almost felt like Princess was trying to compensate for the perception of its oldest ship. Compared to the larger ships, Grand-class ships are the best option for Alaska since they have wraparound promenade decks for sightseeing and are small enough that you don't have to worry as much about skipping ports due to wind/weather or getting delayed in/out of Vancouver (high tides can create clearance issues for larger ships passing the Lions Gate Bridge).
One tip: See if any S7 Window Suites are available. For our cruise, these priced out cheaper than a Mini Suite but provided full suite perks (incredible suite breakfast, Reserve Dining, free laundry, etc.). We really didn't feel like we missed having a balcony since the promenade deck was one flight of stairs away, and we honestly found this room type to be more modern/bright than the other suites.
