Best Alaskan Cruises For Families, From Tots To Teens

Table Of Content

• Best Alaska cruise lines
• Great experiences from the great land
• Types of Cruises
• Best Alaskan Cruises For Families: Something Different

You'll have up to two days of scenic cruising, in addition to sailing the Inside Passage. Because Gulf of Alaska cruises sail farther north, scenic destinations might include College Fjord, in addition to Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. The ship will generally offer shore excursions twice a day with several options to choose from.

Best Alaska cruise lines

Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state. Denali National Park takes you out of the city altogether, into a wilderness full of spruce forests and snow-capped mountain peaks. On our family Alaska cruise, we created lifetime memories by sharing glacier spotting, dog sledding, flightseeing and other adventures with our teens.

Great experiences from the great land

On most cruise lines, infants must be at least six months old when they sail. However, some Alaska cruise and land itineraries have a minimum age of twelve months. But no matter where you cruise from, there are cruise ships to suit an entire family, depending on your budget and age group of children. These ships offer water slides, swimming pools, nightly entertainment, clubs, and more. It’s inexpensive, it doesn’t offer as much luxury as other ships, and many people call them the Daytona Spring Break of cruise ships.

Types of Cruises

If you are an adventurous family interested in spending quality time together experiencing Alaska up close, then we highly recommend an Alaska family small ship cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line has also invested in the ports of Icy Straight Point, Ketchikan, and Juneau to create shore excursions for visitors to experience the land, wildlife and native peoples of Alaska. Many of these investments are in partnership with Alaska native-owned corporations and built with environmentally sustainable practices in order to maintain the natural setting. A high speed gondola will transport families to attractions such as the world’s longest ZipRider zipline, accessible coastal brown bear viewing platforms, whale watching, and fishing excursions. A second will transport guests further up the mountain, offering spectacular views of icefields, the Fairweather Range and Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve.

Enjoy the Views

And, among the various themed rooms, kids will find the Frozen Adventures theme room with games and props based on the movie Frozen, as well as guest character appearances from Elsa and Anna. A trip to Alaska is at the top of many travelers’ bucket lists, and for good reason. For those voyagers seeking to sail from Southern California all the way up the Pacific coast to Alaska, try a new 16-day roundtrip Inside Passage voyage from Los Angeles. The main cruise season in Alaska is May through September, though many cruise lines are adding shoulder season itineraries in April and October. The sunniest months are July and August and the best time for whale watching is May and June. That being said, traveling anytime during cruise season will offer epic views of landscape and wildlife, no matter where you travel.

night Alaska Adventure cruise on Quantum of the Seas

This may be a monumental task depending on how many people are traveling with you. Dara is a travel writer, political news junkie, and part-time actress. Born in south, she spent her childhood hopping around the U.S., even venturing as far away as Kodiak, Alaska. When not bent over her laptop or prancing around on stage, Dara can be found binge-watching Netflix, making endless to-do lists, or reading a sci-fi book.

The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler - The Points Guy

The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler.

Posted: Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Best Alaskan Cruises For Families: Something Different

During your stopover, you’ll enjoy sampling the dense rainforests and reliving the iconic Klondike Gold Rush. The best part of it is that most of these attractions are located close to the cruise ship port. Besides, there are lots of restaurants where you can sample Alaskan cuisines as you wait to hop onto your cruiser to the next port of call.

Or extend your Alaska family small ship cruise with a private tour to Denali National Park, Katmai National Park or Kenai Fjords National Park. We offer a number of kid friendly Alaskan cruise and land tour combos with special youth and child rates. Naturalists and expedition leaders from National Geographic are professional experts in their field offering an unparalleled educational and intellectual Alaska program.

The Top Things to Do Onboard Brilliance of the Seas Royal Caribbean Cruises

There are several science adventures, steam train adventures, horseback adventures and more. Their excursions encompass more family-friendly aspects than most others and offer a better diversity in activities. Also, even while on board, the entire atmosphere is completely kid-friendly. Majestic Princess is one of the newest ships in the fleet and offers a signature experience with a touch of Chinese flair. Foodie families will love the dining options available every hour of the day. Endless buffets, frozen treats, and all the made-from-scratch entrees your hearts’ desire.

I particularly liked the fact that each night on the ship we were offered a choice of meat, fish, or vegetarian. Rab, the group leader, was engaging, knowledgeable and always enthusiastic. We enjoyed Kyle, the bartender, who was always welcoming and especially attentive to the 6 and 8-year-olds on our trip. The naturalists Andy and Jared were outstanding both in their expertise and their willingness to socialize with guests and answer all questions. I think the nature of the trip, with Nat Geo, attracts passengers with similar interests very well, so the group was simpatico. There were also several other children in the mix which was good for the kids in our group.

The best part about this cruise is that it combines nature, science, and education in a live, real manner that makes it pertinent to those on board. Children will learn not only by reading or being taught but will experience all the wonders that Alaska holds first-hand. Ports of call include College Fjord, Endicott Arm, Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier, Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, and Victoria, British Columbia. Activities tend to be on the traditional side, with historical tours, fishing/wildlife expeditions, and the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show.

Sail 500 miles deeper into the Gulf of Alaska and Prince William Sound on our back-to-back Voyage of the Glaciers Alaska cruise. Spend 14 days roundtrip from Vancouver, B.C., stopping in historic port cities like Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. Enjoy three glacier-viewing experiences on every itinerary — including Glacier Bay National Park, Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord. Travel the Inside Passage on 10 or 11-day Alaska cruises from San Francisco and allow the natural landscapes to inspire your day’s adventures. Begin by sailing beneath the Golden Gate Bridge and along the Pacific Coast.

Their Alaskan cruises provide guests with an adventure-packed voyage through various glaciers, national parks, and wildlife. Guests can enjoy Cruisetours, which involve the cruise itself, a scenic train travel direct to your lodging, and spending three nights in a Princess Wilderness Lodge located near many famous national parks. Celebrity Cruises will provide you with the trip of a lifetime if you’re planning a family cruise to Alaska.

Best Alaskan Cruise For Families

Table Of Content

• Hotel Reward Programs
• A Compact & Action-Packed Alaska Family Cruise
• Disney Wonder
• What It's Like on an Alaska Cruise with Kids
• Contact Us - Best Alaskan Cruises for Families
• Get family travel & tips from our experts

Discover the wonders of Alaska with the Best Cruise Line for 20 years running. Planes are plentiful in Alaska, where they're a common form of transportation across the state. Charter a helicopter or fixed-wing flightseeing tour at Juneau and get an unforgettable perspective of the mountains and glaciers of this vast landscape. Head to Kenai Fjords National Park in Seward for a whale watching tour. There's nothing like seeing these behemoths hurl themselves out of the water, to splash back into the sea.

Hotel Reward Programs

Readers recommend booking your own flights when cruising - Roanoke Times

Readers recommend booking your own flights when cruising.

Posted: Tue, 22 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Some of these tours are exclusive and can’t be found through port operators. If your children are water babies, select a ship with an indoor pool or one with a retractable roof. Maybe the more adventuresome might like to take the kayaks out for an afternoon or hike up soaring mountain ridges for spectacular views of wild Alaska. There are so many fine lines and details, and you need to be aware of what your specific cruise requires.

A Compact & Action-Packed Alaska Family Cruise

The best cruises in Alaska offer unparalleled experiences that will bring you up close to some of the most unique and awe-inspiring places in the world. From the lush rainforests and tranquil seas of the Inside Passage, to the endless horizon and luminous ice of the Arctic, there’s no shortage of what Alaska offers to cruise enthusiasts. Children's Supplies and NeedsAlthough there are a few exceptions, cruise ships in general do not supply baby food, formula or diapers. So plan on bringing enough of these supplies to get you through the entire cruise. You should also plan on bringing your own stoller or other form of transportation for your children, including car seats that can fit on the plane or in shore excursion vehicles.

Disney Wonder

When planning a trip to Alaska, many travelers wonder if it's better to explore the state by land or by sea. These are a few of the more popular destinations that Alaska cruises have to offer. There are many places that are being explored, and there is a greater diversity in the level of activities that each cruise ship offers. Cruises to this destination are incomplete unless you explore the various ports. The entire family will experience fascinating shore excursions allowing them to further their knowledge about Alaska’s wildlife, nature, and people.

Alternatively, the Solstice offers roundtrip itineraries from Vancouver, while the Summit does one-way cruises between Vancouver and Seward, Alaska. Older children or teenagers might prefer sailing with Norwegian Cruise Lines. The Norwegian Bliss and Norwegian Encore are mega-ships offering roundtrip Alaska itineraries from Seattle, Washington. We can easily sleep 12 people, so there is room to bring everybody on our family cruise ship. Enjoy some high quality family time in awe-inspiring Alaskan wilderness. There’s something for everybody aboard the Sikumi; come and experience the Alaskan cruise of your dreams.

Carnival Cruise Line is now offering stroller rentals in some cases, so if you've decided to take a Carnival cruise we'll be happy to find out if your ship offers this service. As one of the largest cruise lines in the world, Carnival Cruise Line has the best cruises to Alaska suitable for the entire family. Carnival offers an exceptional experience both on board and at various ports of call, creating the most memorable family trip imaginable.

Contact Us - Best Alaskan Cruises for Families

With a capacity of over 4,000 guests, these large vessels have amenities not seen on other lines. Its two-level go-cart track is a hit with families and a chance to test your driving skills against a family member in a friendly competition. Since many children have grown up with a love of Mickey and all his friends, it’s no wonder a cruise on a Disney vessel is a bucket list adventure. Most ships will have outdoor pools, and some will have water slides, mini-golf, and rock climbing walls. However, the water isn’t always heated, so you may not use them in Alaska. Which one you choose could come down to cost, itinerary, or royalty to one of those lines.

Best Alaska Cruise For Families: Disney Cruise Line, Disney Wonder

On land, you'll likely spy bears and Dall sheep while eagles, puffins and a host of seabirds circle above. The Queen Elizabeth has a fun Games Deck featuring paddle tennis, boules and croquet. You will also find traditional shuffleboard and a card room with a library of board games. And the ship offers lots of educational and enrichment activities such as watercolor classes, different styles of dancing lessons, and fencing classes. If you’re looking for the best luxury Alaskan cruises for families, then take a look at Cunard and Crystal Symphony. And, if you’re looking for a smaller, more intimate experience, then check out the National Geographic cruise below.

Get family travel & tips from our experts

Encounter wildlife in their natural habitat at the Fortress of the Bear. Or experience the culture of Russian Alaska on a visit to St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Church, and relive Native history at the Sheldon Jackson Museum. Known for its timber, Ketchikan hosts the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, where athletes throw, race and chop their way to victory. Explore one of the world’s oldest collection of totem poles at the Totem Pole Heritage Center, or stroll along Creek Street.

If you're interested in Alaska's gold rush history, Skagway — 90 miles northwest of Juneau — is a port you shouldn't miss. In fact, it's the gateway to the Klondike and Dawson mining district in Canada's Yukon territory, where prospectors searched for gold in the late 1890s. The historic district still has a Wild West feel, though that's been a bit commercialized for the modern era. This port can get crowded in summer when several ships can call on the same day. The best Alaska cruise ports are also the most crowded because no matter which type of itinerary and cruise line you select, you'll likely visit a mix of the same ports.

The primary eating, sleeping, and lounging areas of the boat are all on the main level, and offer easy access to water activities and docks. The open plan of our galley and aft dining area allows for camaraderie and visiting during all hours of the day without disturbing those sleeping in the forward cabins. Fun for all the Familyf8A family cruise doesn’t have to be all about doing every single thing en-mass either. The M.V. Sikumi offers an ideal way to take the whole family on an Alaska small ship cruise. Tiffany Raiford is a lifelong Floridian, wife to my high school sweetheart and mother of four littles (two girls and boy/girl twins...no, they are not identical and yes, I'm sure).

Gold panning is budget-friendly activity and fun for the whole family. Kids will have the coolest “show and tell” of gold they panned themselves. It’s no secret that luxury lines like Silversea, Regent, Windstar, Viking, and Oceania cater to adults. Its Seuss at Sea brings the fun and silliness of the Cat in the Hat to life.

Some of them, like the “Wild Alaska Festival,” are themed towards your exciting destination. Norwegian provides complimentary kids programs; Splash Academy for ages 3 to 12 and Entourage for those 13 to 17. Late Night Fun Zone is available from 11 pm to 1 am if you need an adult-only night.

Guests will enjoy Misty Fjords National Monument and Tongass National Forest. Culture and history enthusiasts will appreciate the popular port of call of Icy Strait Point as it is a charming town full of Alaskan culture. Guests can witness a tribal dance, view wildlife at parks, and go on a ZipRider.

We boarded our ship, the 2,466-passenger Radiance of the Seas®, and immediately sailed away. Early on in our sailing, a day of cruising to Hubbard Glacier gave us time to explore the ship. We set up our trip so that we'd have a cruise tour with a relaxing rail journey before our family Alaska cruise.

Norwegian Cruise Line offers one of the longest cruise seasons in Alaska, and Norwegian Encore is based in the region from April through October each year. This might not help the typical family, but if your kids are young, you homeschool or have atypical breaks, a shoulder-season deal might be waiting for you. Traditionally, cruisers favor smaller ships to Alaska for their intimacy and ability to navigate in fjords.