5 Day Alaskan Cruise

[Andrea0710]

We are looking at the 5 Day Alaskan Cruise out of Vancouver. Has anyone taken this particular one? If so, what are your thoughts? Also, please let me know of excursions or on board entertainment that are must dos. Thanks!

 

[FinnFogg]

We took it last year, but we live in Vancouver and have already done the 7 day sailing. We were just looking for a quick Disney fix. If this is your one Alaska cruise, I would not recommend. You only have one port of call (Ketchikan), and it is probably my least favourite of the bunch.

 

[Andrea0710]

We took it last year, but we live in Vancouver and have already done the 7 day sailing. We were just looking for a quick Disney fix. If this is your one Alaska cruise, I would not recommend. You only have one port of call (Ketchikan), and it is probably my least favourite of the bunch.

I did see there was a glacier day right? We have two little ones who really just want to see mountains and snow and be on the ship.

 

[FinnFogg]

Yes - There is still glacier day. The weather cooperates on our sailing and it was beautiful.

 

[auntlynne]

Any chance of going in May or September to get more days for possibly less money? I realize some people have few options for when vacation is.

I agree with @FinnFogg about Ketchikan being a least favorite port. However, if it is what you do, littles might enjoy the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. It’s not so long to lose their attention and is full of action and corny behavior. There is also the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center in Ketchikan. It is an easily walkable town. And one of the rainiest in the entire US.

You wouldn’t have to spend a lot of money on excursions. And maybe this would be a good option for people with little kids.

A lot of popular (and more expensive) excursions are great for older kids and adults: glacier or whale viewing. Helicopters and floatplanes. Salmon or crab fests. Fishing boats. Hikes, small watercraft. Dog sled (summer) excursions (without the snow).

Yes, unspecified glacier for planning; this allows them to attempt a viewing based on daily conditions. It is typically an all-day activity. If not interested in looking at a fjord, you can treat it as a Sea Day. It is travel to/from the glacier that is most of the day.

 

[auntlynne]

You should have 3 good-quality stage shows in the big Walt Disney Theater. A Sail A Wave party to begin the cruise. Daily onboard activities. Pools for kids who are potty trained (out of swim diapers). We used the pool on a late May cruise and have worn tee shirts in July, so it’s a real possibility to be in the pools.

The Funnelvision (Jumbotron) on the pool deck shows Disney channel shows and kid movies throughout the day. At night, it’s more Maleficient 2, Cruella, Jungle Cruise level. There is a real movie theater with current run Disney Co movies. If a movie premieres on lambda, it also does so on the ship.

The kids clubs are open from morning to night.

The other popular excursion probably offered (and sells out) would be a small boat excursion for close-up viewing of a glacier.

 

[Andrea0710]

Any chance of going in May or September to get more days for possibly less money? I realize some people have few options for when vacation is.

I agree with @FinnFogg about Ketchikan being a least favorite port. However, if it is what you do, littles might enjoy the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. It’s not so long to lose their attention and is full of action and corny behavior. There is also the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center in Ketchikan. It is an easily walkable town. And one of the rainiest in the entire US.

You wouldn’t have to spend a lot of money on excursions. And maybe this would be a good option for people with little kids.

A lot of popular (and more expensive) excursions are great for older kids and adults: glacier or whale viewing. Helicopters and floatplanes. Salmon or crab fests. Fishing boats. Hikes, small watercraft. Dog sled (summer) excursions (without the snow).

Yes, unspecified glacier for planning; this allows them to attempt a viewing based on daily conditions. It is typically an all-day activity. If not interested in looking at a fjord, you can treat it as a Sea Day. It is travel to/from the glacier that is most of the day.

Due to myself being a teacher and my two kiddos in school, May and September won't work. We will have to do just July.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yes - There is still glacier day

What glacier is that?

 

[auntlynne]

Due to myself being a teacher and my two kiddos in school, May and September won't work. We will have to do just July.

Yep, one of those people who have few vacation time options. Always puts you into the more expensive school break weeks. I hear you.

I would not eschew a 5-night cruise if it works for you. I do enjoy a 5-night cruise. If you are madly in love with Alaska, there is the possibility of cruising after kids are grown. Lots of people visit the Last Frontier later in life. We celebrated my 50th birthday on our first AK cruise. If it had mattered, our schools were out before our Memorial Day Boarding. Down here, August is too late to go in vacation with kids - school starts August 1 this year, with Teacher Work Days before that.

Let me say bless you for working with children. Not everyone can do it.

Hope it works out for you.

 

[FinnFogg]

What glacier is that?

Depends on conditions. They go where they think is best.