Table Of Content
Most itineraries include this small town, thanks to its proximity to the picturesque Mendenhall Glacier. The majestic Orcas at Juneau are also a sight to behold and make the town a must-visit. All meals and non-alcoholic beverages are included in the fare on Windstar Cruises. Itineraries include an 11-night Vancouver to Seward trip with stops at Misty Fjords, Juneau, Sitka, Kenai Fjords National Park, and Wrangell. So, if you enjoy canoeing, catamaran cruising, or even wilderness safaris, book your upcoming Alaskan vacation with Windstar Cruises. During a typical Alaska cruising season, Windstar offers nine journeys from June to September on four family-centered itineraries.
Best for Adventure: Princess Cruises
The NG Venture onboard specialists offer educational lectures to help your family make the most of thier time in the Last Frontier. We loved the small ship experience, with onboard staff accommodating our group's differing ages and needs. Glaciers, Zodiacs among sea lions and eagles, whale viewing, pilot whales and great naturalists all were special.
Alaska: AKA Your Next Adventure
Not only were my husband and I awestruck by Alaska's natural wonders, but so were Alissa, our teen daughter, and Matt, our college-age son. We bonded over dog sledding, flightseeing and whale spotting and enjoyed discussing the day's events over dinner every night. Windstar Cruises is a small ship cruise line consistently rated as one of the best under 500 berths. Windstar’s smaller vessels can access Alaska fjords, inlets, and coves not available to large ocean liners. While children younger than 8 aren’t allowed on Windstar Cruises, it’s a great choice for families with tweens and teens.
Types of Cruises
We could have spent the whole day gliding across the snow, but at the end of the ride we were treated to a visit with the husky puppies in the kennel. Before returning to the ship, we grabbed a seafood dinner in town — crab cakes and grilled shrimp — and picked up some souvenirs for friends back home. Dave Parfitt lives in Rochester, New York, with his wife and two daughters. A runner with a PhD in neuroscience, he lived in numerous Northeastern and Midwestern U.S. cities before taking a college job in the Finger Lakes.
10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer, According to Experts - Travel + Leisure
10 Best Alaska Cruises to Take This Summer, According to Experts.
Posted: Mon, 12 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Trip Planning Help
Icy Strait Point is notable among Alaska cruise ports because the area and its attractions are all Native Alaskan-owned. Most port and tour staff hail from Hoonah, Alaska's largest Tlingit village. The port is set on Chichagof Island, which is known for its large bear population. Wildlife lovers have plenty of opportunities to search for whales and eagles here; adventure-seekers won't want to miss the ZipRider, with its course of six zip lines. Generally, these one-way sailings travel from Seward or Whittier (the cruise ports closest to Anchorage) to Vancouver (or vice versa). Most itineraries are seven nights, but you'll find a handful that are longer.
Glacier & Wildlife Day Cruises
This cruise travels round-trip from Juneau over 8 days, featuring glaciers, fjord cliffs, deep valleys, whales, Tlingit culture and Alaska’s backcountry. Plus, children ages 8-17 save $500 per child on all departures except holidays. This is sure to become a bestseller among our best Alaskan cruises for families. Carnival Cruise Line is expanding its presence in Alaska with two ships in 2020 and a third coming in 2021. In 2020, Carnival Spirit sails week-long roundtrip cruises from Seattle, and Carnival Miracle will offer 10- and 11-day Alaska cruises from San Francisco for the first time ever.
Additionally, there is a water park with plenty of water slides, and there is the added bonus of an open-air tag course. The Jewel, Encore, Joy, Pearl, and Sun are the other four ships that take you to and from Alaska. Royal Caribbean allows passengers to depart from three different locations when they take off on an Alaskan Cruise. The cruise line offers round-trips and one-way cruises, as well as seven night cruises. Only one ship sails from the Disney line during the Alaskan season, and that is the Disney Wonder. Because Alaska has such a short season with a limited number of ships and is a dream trip for many, cruises are in high demand and people plan early.
Alternatively, you can fly to Vancouver, which offers inside passage cruises for calmer seas. Finding Alaskan cruises which appease both adults and kids can be challenging. The best Alaskan cruise for families have kids’ programs and activities to keep your little ones entertained but provide amenities for adults too. Be sure you are familiar with the rules, because even one ship’s main rules might be different in different areas. You want to book early or late in the season if you want to avoid the crowds both on board and at port.
night Glacier Bay cruise on Norwegian Encore
The sheer size of Alaska lends itself to a wide variety of terrain and travel experiences. This diversity means you need to be prepared for a lot of change while traveling. In some parts of the state, dog sledding is still the primary mode of transportation through the winter months. Visit Alaska and get the experience for yourself at the Skagway Yukon Discovery and Dog Sled Tour. The Siberian Huskies are sweet and energetic, and the ride is a thrill.
The Sea-Plex fun also includes a pool table and a wall of large screen Xbox One stations. Entourage provides a teen space for kids that combines a hangout zone, dance zone, game zone, and party zone. Program counselors host teen activities and challenges around the ship. The Norwegian Bliss offers a wide range of family activities including a family circus workshop, a variety of game shows, dance parties and challenges, as well as a circus themed escape room. We recently posted our Norwegian Bliss review based on a recent Caribbean sailing.
In Alaska, ancient rivers of ice wind between mountains and grind out of valleys. Towering walls of ice like the Hubbard Glacier, Endicott Arm Dawes and the twin Sawyer Glaciers thunder as they calve massive icebergs. Some shore excursions allow up close interaction with these natural wonders. For adventure, go on a rafting/hiking adventure on the Chilkoot Trail, rappel and rock climb up a mountain, or go on a self-guided Jeep adventure.
Activities include beach parties, kayaking and paddle board relays, local history and culture talks, arts and crafts, photography lessons, and more. Voted “Best for Adventure” by Cruise Critic, UnCruise Adventures specializes in off-the-beaten path itineraries. UnCruise zigs when the big ships’ zag, allowing passengers to avoid crowds in ports.
Not only do we specialize in planning small ship Alaska family cruises and custom vacations, we are parents who’ve traveled to Alaska with our own kids. Below are tips and advice from our family to yours, along with our recommended best Alaskan cruises for families. This is the inaugural season for Koningsdam (launched in 2016) in Alaska, sailing seven-day Inside Passage itineraries roundtrip from Vancouver. The luxurious Pinnacle Class ship has outstanding service and dining and a number of entertainment options including Music Walk, Rolling Stone Rock Room, and World Stage, and more. Holland America Line is currently the only cruise line with seven-day roundtrip itineraries from Vancouver that include Glacier Bay National Park.
These cruises offer the benefits of a wider range of itineraries, shore excursions, departure dates, and availability and take you to all of the must-see stops along the way. They feature a wide range of amenities including multiple dining options, on-board entertainment, fitness centers, pools, different room types to choose from, and plenty of room to spread out and explore. Kid's ProgramsFamily-friendly cruise lines offer on-board children's programs staffed by certified youth counselors. Participation in these fun and educational opportunities is optional, but most parents find that it's sometimes hard to get the kids to leave them! Activities are offered on both days at sea and while the ship is in port.
The whole family getting a close few of the Glacier.Hosting multi-generational family members aboard the M/V Sikumi is an excellent opportunity for a family reunion cruise vacation. Our family reunion cruises can accommodate the whole family, from elderly grandparents to the youngest toddler, in complete comfort and safety. Fishing from the Sikumi or on a chartered fishing boat can be fun for members of your family. Your cruise might require a passport for the entire family depending on where your ship embarks, debarks, and where you stop. If you stop for any reason in Canada, whether it’s to get on board the ship or get off of it or just for a few hours to tour, you will need a passport. If you want a slightly more intimate family vacation, try booking a cruise on the Norwegian Sun.
No comments:
Post a Comment