Tips for Taking an Amazing Alaskan Cruise With Kids

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When I used to think of an Alaskan Cruise I always envisioned that it was for older adults, maybe retirees.  My high school friends and I started planning a cruise to Alaska 3 years earlier, and as we got closer to the set date,  we realized that the kids would really enjoy the trip too! We used to get our kids together for playdates once a month, but as they got older and were in school, they were not able to see each other as much.  This trip was the perfect time for them to reunite and get to spend some time together again.   The kids still talk about the amazing time they had visiting Alaska and hanging out with friends making memories.  Our group consisted of 13 adults and 10 kids (ages 3 to 14).
If you have ever thought about taking an Alaskan Cruise, consider these things that really made our trip even more special.

1.  Add in a few days to the trip either before or after the Cruise. We flew into Portland, Oregon a few days before our departure and rented a car.  We visited Mount St Helen’s and then drove north to Seattle and visited Mount Rainier and the Space needle.  The first night we stayed at the Hyatt Place which was walking distance to the Space Needle.  We were able to stay for FREE because with the Hyatt Credit Card, you get one free night in a category 1-4 each year.   The next night we stayed at the Marriott Seattle Waterfront  using Marriott Points, which were earned when opening up a Marriott Credit Card.  (To get points and deals with credit cards it is extremely important to remember that it only works to save money if you pay off your credit statement every month completely so as to not pay fees or interest. ) This was a great place to stay because we could walk to the Aquarium and to Pike’s Market.  At this hotel we  could also return our rental car and we were close to the ship departure port. (For renting a car, lately I have found that AAA.com or Costco.com has given me the lowest prices when I do my comparison shopping with many other sites)

2.  Consider Carnival Cruise line for cruising Alaska. We had never been on a cruise before but always considered carnival to be popular for in the tropical warm waters.   It was not as fancy as some of the other cruise ships but it was perfect for us, and the LEAST expensive than anything else we could find. There was a Kids Club that let us use walki -talkies to keep in contact with the kids.  They could eat unlimited ice creams cones, (The kids had a count going and one of them ate over 50!)  and even got the chance to try some new foods- caviar anyone?

3.  If going with a group- consider having coordinating t- shirts.  We made the kids coordinating bright yellow shirts so they could stand out.  To do this we ironed on a picture using transfer paper from Joanne Fabrics and glued on jewels for the girls’ shirts.  They enjoyed wearing them and it was easier to spot the kids in a crowd.

4. When booking excursions consider using TripAdvisor to find local companies with good ratings that may not be listed with the cruise line.  In another country I may have thought twice about doing this, but here felt very comfortable doing it.   We did an amazing  private tour in Skagway with a local company called  Beyond Skagway Tours which we found using TripAdvisor.  We were able to customize our tour by booking with them.  We also saved money by having a group price,  instead of each person being charged, which is what happens when you go through the cruiseline. This way was also much more relaxed for the kids because we could make stops when we wanted and did not have to wait for others.

5.  Be happy even when things don’t go your way.  We had the port of Ketchikan taken off of our itinerary because the ship engine was running slower then normal.  We could have let this ruin out vacation but instead it motivated us to be thankful and just appreciate that were able to take this trip.

If you do take an Alaskan Cruise, cherish it and have fun!  The landscape is amazing beyond words.  If you can share the experience with family, kids or even friends, it will be a trip you will never forget.  Please comment below if you have any other tips for cruising in Alaska!

Happy Travels!  Want to save this for planning your trip to Alaska? Pin it!

Jennifer