Recommended Alaska Excursions with Baby

[myeung88]

Hello All!

 

We will be doing the Alaska inside passage cruise in September going to Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. We are avid cruisers but this will be our first time to Alaska and our first time cruising with a baby! Our boy will be 8 months old when we cruise and was wondering if any of you have been on any excursions you’d recommended that is suitable for a baby?

 

I’ve checked our personalized excursion pdf but the ones that appear to be suitable (but perhaps may not be) only list child prices with no minimum age restrictions. I’ve called the excursion line but they also could not provide any additional info. Obviously we won’t be considering active excursions such as hikes or canoeing. 
 

We’ll check with the excursion staff onboard who are more familiar with the specifics just to be sure, but any suggestions from your past experiences would be helpful too! And perhaps the best option really is to just walk around town (which we don’t mind) but we’d like to know all of our options so I’m trying to do as much research as I can!
 

Thanks!

Edited August 17, 2022 by myeung88

[1025cruise]

You might want to ask on the Alaska board.

[crystalspin]

32 minutes ago, myeung88 said:

Hello All!

 

We will be doing the Alaska inside passage cruise in September going to Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. ...any suggestions from your past experiences would be helpful too! And perhaps the best option really is to just walk around town (which we don’t mind) but we’d like to know all of our options so I’m trying to do as much research as I can!

All of my experience with these ports is pre-covid. 

 

At Ketchikan there is Creek Street to walk... it is uphill from the ship (but downhill coming back!). If you are trying to use up Excursion credit (part of Have It All currently), there is a lumberjack show near the ship that would probably keep the tot's attention.

 

Skagway is walkable with interesting shops and at least one museum where the people are in period costumes that might or might not be kiddie interesting.

 

Juneau has a tramway thingee, as long as everyone is good with heights/exposure. It is very steep! Some years ago they had an eagle in a cage at the top -- it was blind in one eye and couldn't be released so they had a tip jar for Raptor Rescue. You can buy tickets on the ship with excursion credit as well.

[crystalspin]

43 minutes ago, myeung88 said:

Thanks!

Also, Welcome to Cruise Critic!

 

Here is a link to the Alaska Board mentioned above:

https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/33-alaska/

 

[Oceansaway17]

Not sure how young the baby is, but just try not to go anywhere with really loud noises.

I would not do the Skagway train for this reason because it does some rocking. would be best to save for a return trip with the child is 5 or older.

 

Otherwise, pick nice walks that will make you happy as well and do some good shopping.

For Juneau I think going out to Mendenhall which has nice trails and visitor center would be one tour you could take.

[NotLikeBelleRosen,IHope]

You might take a look at the Ketchikan Duck Tour. I think it was about 90 minutes long. Typical duck (bus/boat tour) I went by myself, but I could see an 8 month old being relatively content. On the water there's animals to point out.

 

 

[Mary229]

As someone who grew up with avid fishermen I don’t think boat excursions are suitable for a baby.  8 months is still a baby.  The boat is too confining and can be subject to lots of motion.  If you have a good stroller hiking and wildlife tours would be fun.   My little nieces and nephews liked to dog sled excursion but they were older toddlers and could interact with the dogs.  They actually just like meeting the lady who came onboard with her dog.  
 

 

[Bemidji Ty]

We did an Alaska cruise with our kids, their spouses and 3 grandkids pre-covid.  At the time they were aged 7 months, 4 years and 6 years.  In Juneau, we took the Mt. Roberts tram to the top, ate, came down and walked around Juneau a bit.  In Skagway, we took the train.  Everybody, including our 7-month-old enjoyed it.  In Victoria, we just walked around and found ice-cream cones for the kids.  We had another port that I'm not remembering right now.  Our only ship excursion was the train.  We all had a great time.  Our two oldest were sad to leave the ship.  Cheers 

[Bemidji Ty]

My wife informs me that the correct ages were 8 months, 3 years and 5 years.  I should also mention that our 8 month-old was and has been a very bright, happy, easy-going girl who enjoys new experiences.  Cheers

Edited August 18, 2022 by Bemidji Ty
Clarification

[zyx2008]

We got back from an Alaska cruise last month with our 3 kids (a bit older - 9, 12 and 14).  For Juneau, I think you would be fine taking a bus to the Mendenhall Glacier and walking/hiking to Nugget Falls.  It's paved so you could use a stroller for the hike and there are facilities available if you need to take care of the little guy before or after the hike.  We saw lots of strollers and babies.  

[Ashland]

18 hours ago, myeung88 said:

Hello All!

 

We will be doing the Alaska inside passage cruise in September going to Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. We are avid cruisers but this will be our first time to Alaska and our first time cruising with a baby! Our boy will be 8 months old when we cruise and was wondering if any of you have been on any excursions you’d recommended that is suitable for a baby?

 

I’ve checked our personalized excursion pdf but the ones that appear to be suitable (but perhaps may not be) only list child prices with no minimum age restrictions. I’ve called the excursion line but they also could not provide any additional info. Obviously we won’t be considering active excursions such as hikes or canoeing. 
 

We’ll check with the excursion staff onboard who are more familiar with the specifics just to be sure, but any suggestions from your past experiences would be helpful too! And perhaps the best option really is to just walk around town (which we don’t mind) but we’d like to know all of our options so I’m trying to do as much research as I can!
 

Thanks!

There may be no charge for your baby (in lap) at that age...Agree check directly with your cruiseline.

[Kate-in-Canada]

The train in Skagway. 

[donaldsc]

I know that I am going to be flamed for this but here goes.  How well behaved and how fussy is your 8 month old.  Babies sometimes act up because that is what babies sometimes do.  I have been on trips or in places where a baby was constantly crying regardless of what the parents tried to do.  The rest of the people on an excursion would not appreciate that.

 

DON

Edited August 19, 2022 by donaldsc

[Ashland]

2 hours ago, donaldsc said:

I know that I am going to be flamed for this but here goes.  How well behaved and how fussy is your 8 month old.  Babies sometimes act up because that is what babies sometimes do.  I have been on trips or in places where a baby was constantly crying regardless of what the parents tried to do.  The rest of the people on an excursion would not appreciate that.

 

DON

As a grandmother of eleven, I agree completely. 

[edinburgher]

I have been on trips or in places where a baby was constantly crying regardless of what the parents tried to do.

 

8 months is around the age when teething begins is it not, or am I remembering wrongly?

 

Could be the same issue in the cabin during the night with neighbours possibly hearing.( we have on occasion heard loud tvs, and one time a real humdinger of a "marital dispute"!  which was somewhat embarassing to unintentionally overhear )

 

I know that I am ALSO  going to be flamed for this but here goes.

 

trivial matters like shorex aside, I personally would be more concerned about the baby taking ill, as illness in very young babies and small children can escalate very very  quickly into a much more serious medical situation, and parents would be wise to check what medical facilities would be available  onboard for this age range should they be needed.  Also if the onboard medical staff are qualified in paediatric care.

 

In addition, should onboard facilities be inadequate in a serious situation,  I would also be concerned about the possibility of  having to leave the ship for treatment in a shoreside facilty as (I don't actually know but guess) that there are fewer medical facilities in Alaska and perhaps (again I do not know) fewer specialist /experienced  medical  professionals  with a good knowledge of paedeatric conditions.

 

When our kids were babies and/or very young, we only went on holiday to places which had good medical care available should it be needed, and even then these places were on a mainland rather than on a holiday island or in an isolated location.

 

At the end of the day, this is a decision for the parents to make.

 

 

Edited August 20, 2022 by edinburgher

[edinburgher]

Apologies if the above post seemed a little harsh, but the advice was based on the experience of friends who were on holiday with their then 13 month old twins.

 

They were on holiday on a Greek island when one of the twins took seriously ill.  The local hospital was unable to offer appropriate treatment and the child was transferred (with one parent) by air ambulance to a hospital in Athens where he thankfully recovered..

 

Their experience gave many of us (relatively new parents) pause for thought.

[Mary229]

41 minutes ago, edinburgher said:

Apologies if the above post seemed a little harsh, but the advice was based on the experience of friends who were on holiday with their then 13 month old twins.

 

They were on holiday on a Greek island when one of the twins took seriously ill.  The local hospital was unable to offer appropriate treatment and the child was transferred (with one parent) by air ambulance to a hospital in Athens where he thankfully recovered..

 

Their experience gave many of us (relatively new parents) pause for thought.

I don’t think it is bad advice.  I think the best excursions for any very young children are ones where they are not confined.  Boats, floatplanes, helicopters, hummers, etc.   don’t allow momentary decisions to move away from the group.