Alaska cruises offer families with children a number of shore excursion opportunities, from a lumberjack show for small children to ziplining adventures for teenagers.
Alaska cruises offer many different itineraries as well as a number of shore excursions for families cruising with children. Here are some options when cruising with kids in Alaska.
Alaska Itineraries Best for Families
- Most Alaska cruises include the ports of Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, and there are a number of shore excursions suitable for all ages in each port. Alternatively, there are other itineraries that also include the less traveled ports of Icy Strait Point, Sitka or Victoria, BC.
- Consider the time spent in port. Some ships may only spend a morning in a port of call, whereas in other ports they may only spend an evening. For example, some itineraries include the Port of Victoria, BC, but the arrival time is at 7:30 p.m. When cruising with small children, this may be inconvenient.
- The day at sea, cruising among the glaciers, also varies with the itinerary chosen. Choose from cruises that offer Hubbard Glacier, Tracy Arm, or Glacier Bay. In Glacier Bay, Park Rangers board the ship and visit the children's center. Although all cruise ships on Alaska cruises offer Alaska-related kids’ activities, on cruises visiting Glacier Bay a special Junior Ranger Program is also offered over the course of the cruise.
- Choosing where to begin an Alaska cruise also impacts the overall cruise experience. There are cruises that sail roundtrip from Seattle. Or choose a cruise out of the family-friendly port of Vancouver, BC.
- Juneau, Alaska – Families cruising with teenagers can book the Bike & Tram Elevation Sensation. This tour combines the Mount Roberts Tramway ascent with a mountain ride bike downhill. From the local ski area, the bike ride travels over paved roads, but includes a five mile downhill route.
- Ketchikan, Alaska – One of the ziplines in Alaska is the Bear Creek Zipline Adventure offered by Princess Cruises. This active shore excursion allows participants to experience seven ziplines, Alaska’s longest skybridge and a 250-foot long mountain slide.
- Skagway, Alaska – Kids as young as eight years old can participate in the Klondike Rock Climbing excursion. Teens will get the opportunity to do a couple of climbing routes as well as learn how to rappel off the side of a cliff.
Inexpensive Things to Do in Alaska with Small Children
- Juneau, Alaska – Families cruising with young children will enjoy the gold panning tour where participants can pan for gold from a creek. A costumed prospector awards everyone with a Gold Claim Certificate (Adult $55; Child $39). The Mount Roberts Tramway is also inexpensive and exciting for small kids, as it ascends 1,800 feet (Adult $29; Child $14).
- Ketchikan, Alaska – The Great Lumberjack Show features lumberjacks that participate in a competition of chopping, log rolling and tree climbing (Adult $34; Child $18). Or walk by the salmon hatchery to see salmon jumping out of the water (Free).
- Skagway, Alaska – Most kids enjoy a train ride, and the three hour White Pass Rail is one they will remember. The tour passes through tunnels and rides by Bridal Veil Falls and Dead Horse Gulch (Adult $125; Child $62).
Although there is a sense of security when purchasing a shore excursion through a cruise line, there are some cost savings when tours are booked independently. For example, in Juneau, visitors can purchase a Mount Roberts Tramway ticket directly from the base of the tram for a couple dollars cheaper. And in Skagway, the White Pass Railway is $103 (plus tax) when booked independently.
The copyright of the article Alaska Cruises for Families in Cruise Activities is owned by Renee Ruggero. Permission to republish Alaska Cruises for Families in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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