Age minimum of Alaskan Port excursions DCL v. Independent

[Trip planner]

I am researching port excursions for Alaska 2018. I will be traveling with DS-7 and DS-10. There a few excursions that, based on descriptions and pictures, I suspect are the same as the ones DCL offers but (besides saving money booking independently) DCL says the minimum age is 10 whereas the website just has a minimum weight of 50 lbs. AND Disney defines adult for price at age 10 whereas independent website defines adult as age 12. For my family these distinctions make a HUGE difference! Does anyone know when is the earliest I can book these independent excursions? Also, DS-7 is very skinny and will probably be barely over 50 lbs. I would never try to take my son on an unsafe excursion or try to break rules, but I do know that different scales are calibrated differently. What if our home scale says 51lbs and in Alaska he weighs in at 49.5? Do they weigh kids?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am researching port excursions for Alaska 2018. I will be traveling with DS-7 and DS-10. There a few excursions that, based on descriptions and pictures, I suspect are the same as the ones DCL offers but (besides saving money booking independently) DCL says the minimum age is 10 whereas the website just has a minimum weight of 50 lbs. AND Disney defines adult for price at age 10 whereas independent website defines adult as age 12. For my family these distinctions make a HUGE difference! Does anyone know when is the earliest I can book these independent excursions? Also, DS-7 is very skinny and will probably be barely over 50 lbs. I would never try to take my son on an unsafe excursion or try to break rules, but I do know that different scales are calibrated differently. What if our home scale says 51lbs and in Alaska he weighs in at 49.5? Do they weigh kids?

Can't speak to how the independent excursion operators run their business, but I would think, if they have a restriction, it's confirmed in some manner before allowing some one on the excursion. I know most DCL excursions I've been on were strict about height/weight requirements (if there were any).

Like you, I'd be wary of tour operators who "bend the rules" just to get your money.

 

[Weedy]

Is the weight limit for the zip line? The reason for the weight limit it so they can make it to the next platform. My daughter was just above the weight limit and a few times got stuck a few feet from the platform. They went and got her one time and threw her a rope another.

 

[fredandkell]

Can you be more specific about which excursions you are eyeing and we may be able to offer better advice? I hear you about the cost difference when they become an "adult" - I'm just dealing with that as my daughter is now 10 and I'm like whaaaaat is the price for her!?

 

[Trip planner]

Can you be more specific about which excursions you are eyeing and we may be able to offer better advice? I hear you about the cost difference when they become an "adult" - I'm just dealing with that as my daughter is now 10 and I'm like whaaaaat is the price for her!?

I am looking at the glacier safari through Alaska excursions. I imagine the weight minimum has something to do with the canoeing part.
I think my younger son is still too young for zip lines. And I may be too scared to go zip lining anyway
Most of the independent excursions I have researched have defined children as 12 and under so I think we will probably book our excursions independently since my son is turning 10 only 4 days before the cruise. Seeing the jump in prices for him as an "adult" has been a little bit painful.
I know a family that sails with DCL often and they did mention that while they always book excursions through DCL, they said they were envious of people who booked independent excursions because a lot of time is spent (wasted) meeting up for the DCL excursions and then herding the big crowds onto buses, etc. that is definitely something to consider.

 

[Trip planner]

Is the weight limit for the zip line? The reason for the weight limit it so they can make it to the next platform. My daughter was just above the weight limit and a few times got stuck a few feet from the platform. They went and got her one time and threw her a rope another.

I totally get the weight minimum for the zip line. This is for the glacier safari. We may just choose something different so I won't be worried about it.

 

[mkh531]

I am looking at the glacier safari through Alaska excursions. I imagine the weight minimum has something to do with the canoeing part.
I think my younger son is still too young for zip lines. And I may be too scared to go zip lining anyway
Most of the independent excursions I have researched have defined children as 12 and under so I think we will probably book our excursions independently since my son is turning 10 only 4 days before the cruise. Seeing the jump in prices for him as an "adult" has been a little bit painful.
I know a family that sails with DCL often and they did mention that while they always book excursions through DCL, they said they were envious of people who booked independent excursions because a lot of time is spent (wasted) meeting up for the DCL excursions and then herding the big crowds onto buses, etc. that is definitely something to consider.

A friend of mine just got back from a DCL Alaskan cruise and was glad she booked independently because of what you describe. We are looking at 2019 Alaska and hoping that my younger daughter grows/gains weight so she can be 50 lbs by then.

 

[tlprice]

Also, DS-7 is very skinny and will probably be barely over 50 lbs. I would never try to take my son on an unsafe excursion or try to break rules, but I do know that different scales are calibrated differently. What if our home scale says 51lbs and in Alaska he weighs in at 49.5? Do they weigh kids?

Eat lots of Mickey Bars and free ice cream in the days leading up to the excursion

 

[jetskigrl]

When we cruised Alaska in 2014, we booked all excursions with independent companies for the age reason. My son was 11 and DCL wanted us to pay for him as an adult but all the excursion companies still considered 11 as a child. We saved a lot of money that way. Sorry, I have no idea about the weight issue though since we didn't do any zip lining.

 

[owensamo]

If this is the tour in Skagway where you canoe to Davidson Glacier - I've done this! We were on the Celebrity Millenium at the time, and we booked through the cruise line. We met the guide along with those from the NCL Pearl and a bunch who had booked independently from both ships - they split the group into Celebrity-booked and everyone else. The price for us was the same so we went ahead and booked through the cruise line.

The excursion consists of:

1. Boat ride (motor) from the docks in Skagway to another island/area
2. Bus ride to the canoe area
3. Last chance restrooms and "changing" area to get waders and lifevests. The minimum weight may be because the smallest life vest they have starts at 50lb. They also do a brief safety talk
4. Get in the canoes and head to the glacier. Note - we paddled for maybe 5 minutes total - the canoes do have motors and they used them the majority of the time.
5. Exit the canoes and walk to the glacier.
6. Retrace steps back to the "changing" area, drop off waders/vests, rest rooms, busses back to the picnic area for lunch
7. Lunch (sandwiches, chips, fruit, water) - maybe some local berry picking (if the bears haven't eaten them all)
8. Boat back to the port

I'm pretty sure there were kids under 10 on our trip. Our DD was 14 and had a hard time with the waders - she has child-size feet (she's overall pretty petite) and pretty much had to fight for one of the 2-3 available kids pairs of waders! They're really not set up for a lot of small kids, but they do seem to have some availability.

I would recommend calling them directly and asking. You may find they have an exclusivity contract with DCL - some tour operators that can sell independently for other cruise lines seem to send you direct to DCL for some tours in my experience. But I'm sure if nothing else, they'll give you the information you're looking for. The guides were all excellent - and I highly recommend the excursion itself - it was one of the highlights of our Alaskan cruise!

 

[kuhltiffany]

We did DCL Alaska last August, my kids were 11 and 12. We found it cheaper to book independently and get kids prices vrs. the adult prices charged by Disney. We ended up doing a private whale watching tour for less than the group DCL tour!

 

[Trip planner]

We did DCL Alaska last August, my kids were 11 and 12. We found it cheaper to book independently and get kids prices vrs. the adult prices charged by Disney. We ended up doing a private whale watching tour for less than the group DCL tour!

Which company did you use to do the whale watching tour? We are also interested in going whale watching.

 

[woody64]

I am a believer in booking on your own. We did this last summer in the British Isles and now this summer in Alaska. The savings is substantial.

We just returned 8/14. We went on a whale watch in a little 14 person max. boat with Harv & Marv's. The tour was great and saw whales, 1 orca, eagles, Dall's porpoises, seals, and sea lions. Their boats worked together giving locatio information and it was a great trip. Here's one of my pictures from the day.

 

[TestingH2O]

We did Alaska in July and did all independent contractors. It was great to set our own itineraries and really dictate what we wanted. DD was 5, so DCL had almost no options and what they had was much more expensive.

 

[kuhltiffany]

Which company did you use to do the whale watching tour? We are also interested in going whale watching.

We did Rum Runners

 

[anricat]

Which company did you use to do the whale watching tour? We are also interested in going whale watching.

We also booked Rum Runners and they were great. We shared with another family we met here on the DIS to split costs. It was great!

Also, in Ketchikan, my DD really wanted to go sea kayaking. All the DCL excursions were 10+ but we were able to book independent because their minimum was 8 (she was 8 and did great).

 

[Pens Fan]

Another vote for Rum Runners in Juneau. We did their photo and fishing safari in July and had the most amazing day. We saw lots of orcas and humpbacks and caught a lot of salmon which is now filleted and sitting in our freezer (yum!). If you're a dog loving family you will have an especially wonderful time, as Chris's adorable Lab, Brandi, will be along for the ride if you're on his boat. Though when we met the captain of his other boat at the end of the day, he mentioned that he owned Brandi's sister, so it's possible both boats are "dog staffed".

Our first few cruises we stuck with DCL excursions and found the experience mixed at best. They do offer some smaller group tours that can be fine, but we are basically done with the big bus tours. You waste so much time just getting the group together and herding everyone into the right place throughout the day. There will always be that family that never listens to instructions, whose kids whine about everything (loudly!) and can't possibly be pleased, are always late to meeting points, etc. etc. Touring with just our group is so much more relaxing and rewarding.

Have fun in Alaska. It's an amazing place! And just in case you're interested, we used Island Wings in Ketchikan (Anan Creek - simply amazing!!) and Skagway Private Tours in Skagway. I would heartily recommend both of them.

 

[Trip planner]

We did Rum Runners

After researching the different options, I think we are going to try and book a whale watch with rum runners. How far in advance did you book with them?

 

[kuhltiffany]

After researching the different options, I think we are going to try and book a whale watch with rum runners. How far in advance did you book with them?

We did it in December to ensure we got the time saved for us!

 

[Pens Fan]

After researching the different options, I think we are going to try and book a whale watch with rum runners. How far in advance did you book with them?

I don't remember exactly, but it was probably a year or so in advance. He only has two boats and only does small, private tours so I'd say the sooner you make contact the better. You won't regret it. I'm sitting here smiling at the memory of us waiting at the pier and seeing all of these huge groups follow some random person with a sign onto a big bus. My son called out, "I see a guy with a lab, must be him!" The three of us hopped into Chris's van (Brandi gave us the appropriate doggie greeting) and we were off for an amazing day.

Have fun!