Alaska - Need Opinions

[mrsp1030]

We are seriously debating Alaska as a possibility for next summer using our OBB offer as we have a Caribbean cruise booked so far. Our boys ages will be 11, 8, and 5 when we would go so looking for opinions about this age and whether it is something you felt your family and kids enjoyed at this age. We've done the caribbean and bahamas cruises before and really want to consider Alaska. Or did anyone do Alaska but venture to another cruise line? Thanks all for your help.

 

[YayDisney]

My DD and DS were 9 last year when we did Alaska on the Wonder. I loved it and chose doing Alaska with Disney because my friend took an Alaskan Cruise with RCCL or NCL and commented to me that she felt like it was a MUCH MUCH older crowd and she and her husband really didn't like it.

Our kids really enjoyed the cruise and I am glad that we did it while we were still able to hike (check out the Chilkroot hike and float - easy hike but beautiful) and while we still had the guts to do helicopter rides etc. . . We also did float planes to see the bears in Ketchikan -

We had done the Caribbean cruise the year before last, and the lure of Alaska was the only way to get DH to go along with another cruise last year I am very happy we did it and the kids did get a kick out of the colder weather at the ports and the scenery and the whales etc. .

Having said all of that, I'll be honest, they were little and as much as you can try to impress on kids how truly amazing it is to be standing on a centuries old glacier, you can't expect an elementary school kid to fully grasp the magnitude of that - certainly not the same way a 40 year old would understand it. For example, the highlight of the trip for my DS was probably the Lumberjack show which was steps away from the port and cute, but cheesy. . . . You know, they are kids! This is why I liked going with Disney so much. It gave my husband and I once in a lifetime experiences and the kids really had a good time. Whether they would enjoy it with another cruise line, who knows, but at least here you are sure that they will have lots of other kids their age to run around with as well as the Disney Characters. If they decide they don't care for the majesty of the scenery, you know they will definitely still enjoy the cruise.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

We just got off the 8/8 sailing. My boys are 5 1/2 and the other will be 8 in November. It was their first cruise so they have nothing to compare it to but I believe they may have liked it more than Atlantis and Disney World - just slightly.

There were constant activities (as you already know) on the ship to never allow them to be bored. And on port days there are plenty of excursions to do for their age group. You will be limited on what excursions you can do slightly because of the 5 year old but it did not hinder our experience whatsoever. If there is an excursion your older son wants to do that the littles can't maybe a one on one excursion would be fun with dad or yourself.

My boys were perfectly content hanging in the Club or Lab while we enjoyed the scenery or watched a naturalist show etc. They went swimming on our last sea day. The weather would have allowed them another day or two but there just wasn't enough time in our schedule! Other kids were in the pools every single day of the cruise - it was crazy! (But we're Southern Californians so it was cold for us!)

I'm not sure if you've been to Vancouver but please plan to spend a couple of days there as well! We went to Granville Island and Capilano Suspension Bridge. But there's so much more to see. The weather and scenery were beautiful there.

I really can't think of any aspect that my children did NOT enjoy.

 

[mrsp1030]

Thank you all for your insights so far. We are just beginning to think things through. We have done Disneyworld so many times and looking to branch out and show our boys more of the world. They are eager to go places but there are days where we get concerned that they will be bored or they are too young. Yes, we probably overthink it all in the long run! We do beach vacations and my kids like it for 3-4 days but then want more to do!

 

[YayDisney]

We went to Granville Island and Capilano Suspension Bridge. But gets so much more to see. The weather and scenery were beautiful there.

Yes, we did that too - I forgot! They loved the totem poles. Also, Stanley Park is gorgeous - Another thing I forgot was that we flew in and out of Seattle and took some time there too - which was really nice. Then we took the train to Vancouver, which was a treat in and of itself. All told, if it is something you will enjoy, rest assured, they will enjoy it too

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Thank you all for your insights so far. We are just beginning to think things through. We have done Disneyworld so many times and looking to branch out and show our boys more of the world. They are eager to go places but there are days where we get concerned that they will be bored or they are too young. Yes, we probably overthink it all in the long run! We do beach vacations and my kids like it for 3-4 days but then want more to do!

I don't think you're overthinking it. I had the same dilemma when deciding on our next vacation. WDW again? Atlantis again? maybe a New York/Washington DC trip? Hawaii?

Alaska was on my bucket list and I was very close to booking it through NCL but I just thought how much more fun they'll have on Disney. Sure, I could have had a balcony for $2,000 less than my oceanview room but it was truly worth it, I believe. (I actually saved thousands of dollars churning gift cards so there wasn't a difference of cost but it was time consuming and unfortunately gift card churning is not as feasible for future trips).

If you can afford to go on Disney with the ages of your children, I wouldn't hesitate. If you were to ask me when they were 17,14 and 11 I might suggest a different cruise line.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Yes, we did that too - I forgot! They loved the totem poles. Also, Stanley Park is gorgeous - Another thing I forgot was that we flew in and out of Seattle and took some time there too - which was really nice. Then we took the train to Vancouver, which was a treat in and of itself. All told, if it is something you will enjoy, rest assured, they will enjoy it too

Too funny - we also flew into Seattle, spent all day Saturday there (Mariners/Angel's game, Pike Place and Space Needle) and took the train in which was fun. But because we were limited with time, we flew back from Vancouver.

 

[YayDisney]

gift card churning

please expand on this concept!

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

please expand on this concept!

Unfortunately, this method is quickly dying. What would easily be a 40% discount before, in the last 3 months fewer and fewer avenues have closed making it much harder to save. For a more elaborate explanation, visit the Disney Gift Card Deals thread and go back a few hundred pages. But like I said, a lot of the old ways no longer exist. This just means I will have to be A LOT more thrifty with my money to afford Disney!