Sailing Alaska: A Family Adventure
Every year we send many families to Alaska so we decided it was time for our family to take a turn. There are many factors that go into choosing the right itinerary for an Alaska cruise. For my family of 5, a combination of the itinerary, WIFI options, and family-friendly activities is why we chose the Disney Wonder 9-night sailing to Alaska from the port of Vancouver. Multiple cruise lines offer Hubbard as well as Glacier Bay, so exploring your options for Alaska with a travel advisor is key to making the right choice.
Boarding
Arrival at the port in Vancouver was smooth and we were on board very quickly after our 11:00AM arrival.
Stepping on board, of course, we were greeted by Mickey!
Passengers
Disney has a diverse crowd on board compared to many other Alaskan sailings. Multi-generational groups were common on this cruise and of course, there were lots of children. I was however, surprised by the number of adults sailing without children. Most adults I spoke to were extremely happy with the food and entertainment and were enjoying the adult only venues on board the Wonder.
Itinerary
Our 9-night cruise featured 4 port days at Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway and Icy Strait Point. In addition, there were 2 scenic cruising days to Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm Fjord. Shore excursion choices are very important in Alaska. Disney offers many excursion options, but we booked our excursions privately through our trusted operator in Alaska.
Our first port was Ketchikan. We spent our time kayaking and enjoying lunch in the town. Other popular activities here are hiking, fishing and crab fishing.
This is the beautiful spot we kayaked to. We were surprised to see jellyfish in the water!
After kayaking, we sat inside the boat and were treated to local salmon and hot cocoa.
Back at the marina, the fishermen were bringing in their catch for the day.
Icy Strait Point
Our next port was Icy Strait Point. This was a really nice spot with hiking, fishing, whale watching and more activities. We chose fishing in the morning and whale watching that afternoon.
I loved the little town of Hoonah down the road with just 800 residents. This is where our boat departed from and where our fishing captain lives most of the year. It was interesting to chat with him and hear about how people live in Hoonah. We learned that medical care is a challenge in these coastal communities and flying to Juneau is often the only choice if you need care beyond a routine doctor visit.
We got one! This was a particularly slow day for fishing but there were a few fish caught here. Icy Strait point is known for King Salmon and Halibut fishing.
The ship looked beautiful from the water. Searching for whales took some time but we found them! Alaska has rules on how close you can get to the wildlife so binoculars are definitely recommended.
Juneau
Next, we were off to Juneau which was our favorite port. The weather was perfect which is rare in this destination. Here we chose Helicopter Glacier Landing & Dog Sledding. This was an amazing experience. My husband and I loved the helicopter and of course, the kids did too. There is a perspective from the air that you cannot get from the water.
Other popular activities in Juneau are fishing and whale watching.
Of course, the kids’ favorite experience was holding the puppies!
Skagway
Skagway was the last port we visited. It was a freezing cold day and very overcast but we still had a great day. The other ports were more exciting for us but this town is rich in history. The most popular activity here is the White Pass railway train. Zip lining, hiking, scenic boat trips, scenic glacier viewing and flightseeing are also excellent choices for Skagway.
We spent the day traveling by both bus and train into the Yukon area of Canada, famous for the Alaskan gold rush. Our guide provided expert content about the gold rush and also pointed out the historical buildings in Skagway, as we drove to Caribou Crossing and Carcross Trading Post. This was a very long drive to this area but Mike made it interesting with his commentary.
On the return trip to Skagway, we boarded the White Pass Railway, which was completed in 1900, and has a narrow gauge track through tunnels and mountains. The views here are beautiful but can vary greatly depending on the weather. The train is certainly simple but the host on board did a nice job explaining the scenery as we journeyed back to Skagway.
Scenic Cruising
Hubbard Glacier was our first scenic cruising day. Disney did a great job creating a festive environment. Passengers were up top bundled up drinking complimentary hot chocolate and given blankets if needed. Everyone was excited as we approached the glacier in hopes of seeing a chunk of ice crash into the water.
As we sailed closer, the naturalist onboard explained what we were seeing and pointing out anything she observed that was worth noting. And finally, we saw a huge crash in the water as the glacier calving began. This was a “wow” moment for sure!
Warm adult beverages were served on deck as well.
And finally, our last scenic stop was Tracy Arm Fjord. On the 9 night itinerary, Disney enters Tracy Arm early, turns the boat around and cruises back out.
It was beautiful to see the ice in the waters but we did not get close to the glacier and it really was a bit of a non-event other than the lovely scenery. We spoke with guests who had previously sailed on the 7-night sailing who stated that much more time was spent closer to the glacier on that itinerary. This would make sense since it is the only glacier the ship sails to on the 7-night program.
Sea Days & Entertainment
What did we do while we were at sea? There is so much to do on board a Disney Cruise no matter where you are sailing. Of course, there are the typical character greetings and live Disney theater productions. The kids club, brand new Disney movies, the spa, gym and various activities are all great ways to spend your time.
What stood out most on this cruise were the activities unique to Alaska and the fantastic live entertainment on board. We spent some days listening to a retired Alaskan park ranger speak about wildlife and glaciers in Alaska. We also loved the new Frozen production show exclusive to the Wonder. It’s the perfect tie-in for the chilly environment.
But the adult favorite was the live entertainment. They had some fantastic musicians performing around the ship and often late night at the Piano Bar. But best of all was a rare “Stars at Sea” event where Broadway star Kissy Simmons performed an amazing line-up of songs. I really hope Disney continues to bring these stars on board for special events. Kissy’s performance was a huge “wow” as it’s rare to hear a Broadway performer in such a small venue.
Me and Donald. There were characters everywhere including all the most popular princesses and the Marvel characters too. Below is a sample of just 1 day at Sea to give you an idea of the activities onboard.
Below is the show schedule for the week. There was a separate movie schedule as well including Disney 3-D features still in theaters such as The Ant-Man and The Wasp and Incredibles 2, both Disney movies of course!
Disney Cruise Lines is legendary for their “kids club” with 4 different experiences for children depending on age. The Oceaneer Club & Lab (ages 3-12), Edge (11-14), Vibe (14-17) are all complimentary. It’s a Small World Nursery cares for the littlest guests ages 6 months – 3 years. Nursery hours are in high demand so we recommend reserving those hours before you board for best availability.
Each space is themed for the age of the children. The photos of the Oceaneer Club below are just a few of many geared for children ages 3-12.
The adult pool was relaxing and warm but the weather was better for the two hot tubs. The open deck seen above the windows is for the concierge lounge only and made a great viewing area at Hubbard Glacier. Kids pool featured a waterslide and hot tubs too.
Cadillac Lounge is a cozy adult only venue onboard the wonder featuring live piano music each evening. A variety of wines and cocktails are offered here for a charge.
Dining
Disney followed their standard rotational dining through 3 themed venues. If you aren’t familiar with this concept, guests rotate to one of three different dining rooms each night. Your dining team follows you to each location to provide seamless service each evening.
Tiana’s New Orleans themed restaurant, Triton’s Seafood themed dining and Animator’s Palate are the 3 dining venues on the Wonder. Unique to the Alaskan sailings, the menus featured local fare of salmon and halibut, as well as Pacific Northeastern wine. We loved how the Alaskan theme was incorporated throughout the sailing.
All the sheets are collected and after dinner, the show begins. TV screens are throughout the dining room and each family sees all of their drawings come to life. See below my “bear”!
Each dining room has a unique menu which changes during the cruise. Below is an example of our menu from our final night at Animators.
Tiana’s is another fun dining venue recently added to the Disney Wonder. We rotated through this restaurant twice and each time enjoyed the live jazz band that played during dinner.
Baked Alaska- the perfect dessert for our cruise!
Also featured on the Wonder is the adult only “Palo” (service charge applies). We visited twice and enjoyed the view from the top, the excellent service, food, and cocktails. For adults who want a break from the kiddos or just a lovely smaller environment, I highly recommend Palo. They also have a small private room for small groups.
We always start with the antipasto!
A flat fee of $30 per person includes the menu below. Wine pairing was an additional $59 per person (as of 7/9/18).
Reflecting on Our Alaska Experience
Overall this experience was better than expected. I’m glad we chose the 9-night sailing that included Hubbard Glacier because this was a highlight for our family. Before the cruise, I was skeptical that Disney could provide an authentic Alaskan experience but they really did a great job. I was also surprised that the Wonder provided a quality experience similar to the newer Disney ships. We did miss some of the adult venues featured on the Dream and Fantasy but overall it was a great ship and many guests we spoke with actually preferred the Wonder to the larger ships.
Alaska was a fantastic destination. It’s all about selecting the ship and the excursions that is the right fit for your group of travelers. Whether it’s a family cruise, a luxury cruise or an expedition sailing you are searching for, please contact us and we will make sure your Alaskan Cruise is planned perfectly from start to finish!
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