Alaska w/3 & 5 year old - what family excursions did you love?

[Tennant]

We are planning to cruise May 2022 with our almost 3 and 5 year old boys.  What family excursions have you done with littles that everyone enjoyed? We are likely cruising on Disney. Thanks!

[alasbound]

I haven't traveled with kids that small, but maybe some of the sled dog excursions would be good, especially if they have puppies.   I would think that the train/bus tours in Skagway would be fine for little kids.  Hopefully, someone with small kids will chime in

[disneyochem]

We cruised with Disney to Alaska a couple of times with our kids—ages different though.  Our youngest was 8 on our first trip. With your kids, you also might explore the option of leaving them on board while you and your spouse go do something more rigorous (kayaking, glacier flight, etc).  Hubby and I were very comfortable leaving our kids and doing something on our own.  I know some people (and with younger kids I may not have done this) are hesitant to get off the ship without their kids.  The kids club had excursions/activities designed for kids on port days—we signed them up, they went with kids and counselors for an excursion and they went back for lunch/quiet time on the ship while we were on a canoe and glacier trek.  We went on a ship excursion so we were sure to make it back on board before the ship sailed!  

 

You will find that DCL has a pretty good selection of excursions that are family-centered and age appropriate.  My girls loved the sled dog/puppies, gold panning, the Lumberjack Show, the science center in Ketchikan, bike rides and kayaking.  What they didn’t enjoy were long train/bus rides!  Both kids fell asleep on the Skagway train as well as the whale watching tour!  I found that the more active the excursion was, the more my kids enjoyed it!  
 

 

 

 

 

 

[Ashland]

With cruisers under age 5 it was a bit harder. The lumberjack show was a hit and our grandson was picked to come down and they gave him the Bear chair they had made.....unfortunately no way could we fly it home....but it was fun....and he enjoyed the show.

 

As soon as the little's turned 5 the Bearing Sea Crab Tour was a hit and will book that again Sept 2022 when we sail to Alaska again.

[Coral]

I would look at lumberjack show in Ketchikan and probably the duck tour in Ketchikan. The deadliest catch (Bering Sea Crab tour) would be good for the 5 year old, I don't know if a 3 year old could go to that. The 5 year old may like whale watching, not sure about the 3 year old.

 

I would not recommend the train ride in Skagway. I have seen adults fall asleep on that. Skagway - maybe dog mushing on wheels?

 

There is a family board on CC. That maybe a good idea to look at and see if they have suggestions.

Edited July 15, 2021 by Coral

[Mary229]

My nieces and nephews loved the dog sledding.  The older ones (6,7) even got a short ride.   Loved that!

[CCJack]

When we were in Juneau we opted to save some money (we did expensive excursions at the other ports).  In Juneau we took the tram up mt Roberts then we hiked the trails which are at the top.  The tram was crowded but once you get to the trails only a few people hiking.  They are not wooded trails but wide open with a few rocks,   magnificent views down on the city .   I would think the kids could run free and enjoy that.   In the afternoon we took the shuttle to mendenhal glacier. That is a real easy excursion,   it is basically like a city park and close to town.  Even if you just spend a small amount of time there you haven’t wasted much effort or money and get to see a glacier .   

[Ashland]

57 minutes ago, Coral said:

I would look at lumberjack show in Ketchikan and probably the duck tour in Ketchikan. The deadliest catch (Bering Sea Crab tour) would be good for the 5 year old, I don't know if a 3 year old could go to that. The 5 year old may like whale watching, not sure about the 3 year old.

 

I would not recommend the train ride in Skagway. I have seen adults fall asleep on that. Skagway - maybe dog mushing on wheels?

 

There is a family board on CC. That maybe a good idea to look at and see if they have suggestions.

Minimum age for Bering Sea is 5 years old.

[SightCRR]

I say put the trip off for at least two years when the kids are 5 & 7. 

[Ashland]

2 hours ago, SightCRR said:

I say put the trip off for at least two years when the kids are 5 & 7. 

Why ? Their age has nothing to do with it cruising can start at any age (6 mos really) ...... Many peoples life have been on hold long enough...it's time to enjoy it once again....The memories we made with our little's under age 5 were priceless and we have the pictures to prove it.

[SightCRR]

I didn't mean not to cruise just to me since no one has provided Alaska excursions that will work for a three year old very well Alaska is a just a waste of money unless you plan on just staying on the ship. Seems like better ways to spend all that money. 5 & 7 year old's have lots to do and will remember it as heard from above comments. Three year old running free on Mt Roberts would would be to stressful for me. Leaving the 3 year old on the ship sounds like expensive baby sitting. I don't care as it is their money but something to think about. 

[Coral]

15 minutes ago, SightCRR said:

I didn't mean not to cruise just to me since no one has provided Alaska excursions that will work for a three year old very well Alaska is a just a waste of money unless you plan on just staying on the ship. Seems like better ways to spend all that money. 5 & 7 year old's have lots to do and will remember it as heard from above comments. Three year old running free on Mt Roberts would would be to stressful for me. Leaving the 3 year old on the ship sounds like expensive baby sitting. I don't care as it is their money but something to think about. 

There are several excursions a 3 year old would enjoy. The duck tour and lumberjack tour are 2 great examples. I have seen 3 year olds on whale watching trips - maybe the 3 year old didn't fully benefit from it but the rest of the family did and the toddler was fine on the boat.

[Ashland]

18 minutes ago, SightCRR said:

I didn't mean not to cruise just to me since no one has provided Alaska excursions that will work for a three year old very well Alaska is a just a waste of money unless you plan on just staying on the ship. Seems like better ways to spend all that money. 5 & 7 year old's have lots to do and will remember it as heard from above comments. Three year old running free on Mt Roberts would would be to stressful for me. Leaving the 3 year old on the ship sounds like expensive baby sitting. I don't care as it is their money but something to think about. 

The RCI Royal Babies & Tots Nursery there is no charge and a great option for those that want to use it. RCI has no in cabin ($) babysitting any longer and hasn't for several years.

[disneyochem]

Disney does not charge either if parents choose to leave little ones on board in their care centers during port days.  We did pay a little bit for our oldest but only because she was going on an excursion with the counselors.

[SightCRR]

After you pay to get to Van BC plus at least one night hotel: Seven day D/C is about 6k which  is about 200 per person per day. Staying on ship or leaving ship for  one person 1/2 day is about $100. No wonder they don't charge extra to stay. Photos w/ M & M mouse and D/D might be worth it.  It is only money. It has been a long time since I was around a 3 year old. 

[disneyochem]

On 7/18/2021 at 1:15 PM, SightCRR said:

After you pay to get to Van BC plus at least one night hotel: Seven day D/C is about 6k which  is about 200 per person per day. Staying on ship or leaving ship for  one person 1/2 day is about $100. No wonder they don't charge extra to stay. Photos w/ M & M mouse and D/D might be worth it.  It is only money. It has been a long time since I was around a 3 year old. 

There are a lot of benefits (both tangible and intangible) that make a Disney cruise attractive to families other than photos with characters.  We loved cruising with DCL when our kids were young and felt it was worth the extra cost. As empty nesters, our interests have changed as have our cruising styles/cruise lines.

 

Something to be said for a cruise where the focus was on family activities and not bar-hopping, casino play and smoking.  I saw crew tell people to stop swearing, checking drink cups of minors to make sure they weren’t drinking alcohol and report unruly behavior of unattended kids to their parents.  

[Tennant]

Thanks for all the great responses! Definitely looking into the lumberjack show and Mendenhall Glacier nugget falls 2 mile hike for entertaining, affordable and easy excursions!

[SightCRR]

ISP would be easy to stay entertained near the ship with nature walk and local sites right next to dock.

Ketchikan has nice city bus that would take you to Totem Bright State Park and museum next door. 

In Juneau also look into the fish hatchery depending on the salmon run with the eagles near by.  Think about renting car for a drive to Eagle Beach, Jensen-Olson Arboretum  and Shrine of Saint Therese. Really will come in handy if pouring rain. 

If Canada is open look into renting a car in Skagway and driving to Carcross on the one main road out of town towards Whitehorse. Don't forget id as you do go into Canada. Not much to see before border so if Canada is closed don't bother. Road guide on line will tell you everything you could want to know and where to look for things. (slight charge for this). Ak driving tip is if you see cars along side of road likely wildlife. You will see the cars long before you see the wildlife. 

Never mind about Canada being closed since you are leaving from BC. 

Edited July 20, 2021 by SightCRR