Alaska Cruise with Kids

[Floralgizelle]

Hi
We are thinking about doing the Disney Cruise to alaska in August. We have only really done warmer holidays (even both myself and DH have never done ski holidays or anything). Looking for suggestions on a packing list (anything that might not seem as obvious, watched a YouTube and someone has binoculars and thought they were a good idea and I may not have thought about them)

We are looking to travel as light as possible because after we will be travelling to LA so will also need to pack clothes for hotter weather too.

Any suggestions are welcome. Kids are 6, 7 and 11 (if that makes a difference).

We did an Alaska cruise last year with our 10 year old, we had a week in Canada before hand where the weather was very warm. We did have to take loads of stuff as we were doing excursions on the glaciers in Alaska and it was also very cool out on deck. We packed lots of layers, and walking boots for each person. We had one suitcase with all the cold weather gear in so that just stayed shut and unpacked until we got on the cruise. Binoculars are great to have, also we bought the magnetic hooks which stick to the cabin walls which was really helpful for hanging coats and hats on. We had the most amazing time and saw some fabulous wildlife, I’d go again in a heartbeat!

Oh and some fairly heavy duty mosquito repellent if you’re getting off the ship!

Even in August it’s cold and wet, especially on the glaciers so hats, gloves and warm socks needed. Layers are good because equally it can get warm!

cruise ship walls and doors are magnetic so you can take magnetic hooks for lighter items and lots of people decorate their cain doors with magnets.

we booked excursions though viator as they’re much cheaper. In ketkican most people do the lumberjack show but we did the rainforest walk and totem
pole carving one and it was such a highlight - saw 3 bears in the forest.

take zip lock bags so you can take snacks off the boat. Hand sanitising wipes are good for after the wilderness toilets.

Make sure you’re on the early dining sitting as the time difference is 9 hours behind.

Disney cruises are incredible and Alaska is breathtaking - you’ll have an amazing time.

tipping on cruises - your standard tips will be added to your bill, but the wait staff and cabin stewards are paid almost nothing so I always take cash and tip more because the first “tip” is really just salary.

obviously you need good travel insurance for America.

Donyou get on on zodiac boats. If so, sitting at the bottom of a glacier is freezing. You will need more warm layers than you think. Wool jumpers, thick jacket.

Zodiacs on a giant cruise ship? How? No they don’t. You need around 100 on a ship for that - only 10 to a zodiac!

Aren’t you snippy 🙄 Hence my question…

You should follow Christine kesteloo. She spends a months on Alaska cruises her DH is an engineer. You can get good ideas about what to take and things to do at different Alaskan ports. From my own experience try to have a good breakfast or lunch depending on timing on the boat. Alaska is EXPENSIVE!!!!!

Did it with mine as toddlers (the ferry not a luxury cruise). You need layers as weather could be anything from low teens up upper 20’s. Long sleeve t shirt and long trousers essential due to mosquitoes, also bug spray. Waterproof and windproof jacket essential, I’d take waterproof over trousers too. Back packs, water bottles to refill. Definitely binoculars, camera for the dc if too young to have a phone, guide chart for animals, laminated they can cross off. Buy snacks before you board the ship as supermarkets in Alaska are $$$ unless you find Walmart.

my dc still look at the photos and they are grown, unfortunately they can’t remember it

@EiEiOhhhhhhWell a bit of common sense goes a long way. How big is a Disney ship? Huge! We’ve seen one in Alaska and it’s a fairly horrible sight to be honest. It’s so much nicer to have zodiacs available. However the cost is high and it’s not child friendly.

You are in for a treat, it’s absolutely stunning, I didn’t find it more expensive than other places in America. Like others have said pack layers and comfortable clothes, Alaskan cruises are a lot more casual than other cruises.
If you get the chance I recommend the White Pass Railway in Skagway and that can be combined with gold panning for the DC. They may like to see the brown and black bears at Fortress of the Bears in Sitka and the park and information centre there is really nice. Your DC may enjoy a lumberjack show too. Lots of Alaskan cruises include binoculars in the staterooms so check that out before packing them.
If you go to Icy Strait the free cable car is really good, we did the paid for one too but it wasn’t necessary. You can then walk down and back into the ship, it’s really nicely done.

Having just taken my kids to the Arctic, I can assure you zodiacs are child friendly 🙄

@EiEiOhhhhhh They don’t heve zodiacs available on cruise ships the size of Disney ships, I was referring to the cost of small ship expedition cruising with several zodiac trips a day. They are small ships or even sailing/motor boats. I didn’t indicate that dc could not participate in end enjoy a zodiac trip - however these are not launched from Mickey Mouse.

The numerous small boat trips I’ve done with zodiacs available on board are expedition ships with 75-100 guests or boats taking only 12 guests where they tow a couple of zodiacs, eg those operated by Bluewater Adventures.

So we’ve been to the Arctic, Antarctic, Falkland Islands and South Georgia, Alaska, the Hebrides, Iceland and the Great Besr Rainforest. Not a single child on any trip. They are not trips designed for children (Disney is) but I expect children could go on one. However the cost is much more than Disney but it’s a very different experience.

I know who you are now, a name change doesn’t change your style. Snippy is your trade mark, so is always being right.

I thought you took your DD’s to the Great Bear Rain Forest? Although I’m not that worried. 15 kids out of 103 on our trip.

@Audubonthank you, I definitely would not have thought of mosquito repellant! Did you ever have any issue with sea sickness?

@HermioneWeasleyI did notice the decorated doors on a youtube clip i watched, I didn't realise you could do that!

The excursion sounds amazing! I did mention to DH that I would prefer the early sitting especially with young children. We are hoping we can request this early in the booking.

@Floralgizelle I did take sea sickness meds for all of us but never needed them, lovely calm seas the whole way. I’ve been to Alaska pre kids on a small ship with Zodiacs and on a big ship, very different experiences but non the less both enjoyable and saw fabulous things on both trips. Like others have said the ship excursions are ridiculously priced and if the activity is located close to the port I would think about booking it independently.

@Bluejaysforthewini will have a look for her thank you!

No. We didn’t take dc to GBRF. We took them on a small boat to the Galápagos Islands. I’m not always right but I am about zodiacs on large cruise ships!

I will have a look at booking them independently. We have travelled to America before (Florida). We are thinking about travelling to NY first for a few nights, to be able to experience NY and use it as a bit of a stop gap. Then on to Canada for the cruise then across to California stay at Disneyland there for a week (just to say we have tried it). We normally go to Disney in Florida (but stay off site) the cost for Florida seems to be rising so thought we would try something different.

Im thinking wash the warmer weather clothes used for new york on the ship using the laundry facilities which can then be reused for california.

Wow that’s some trip! Are you going to have a couple of nights in Vancouver pre cruise? I’d look at arriving at least 24 hours before just in case something goes wrong with your internal flights. Vancouver is beautiful with lots to do so not a hardship.

Yes we were looking to stay near the harbour a day before but actually thats a good point and might maybe make it 2 or 3 days to give us some wiggle room should flights be delayed/cancelled. I havent actually looked too much into Vancouver but have heard a few times now that its quite nice so maybe add a few days on there (perhaps not the harbour hotel as that was quite pricey even for one night but wanted to be within walking distance for boarding day).

Im often guilty of being an over packer so really trying to think about what we REALLY need and that the kids don't need a different outfit everyday!