Alaska with young kids...

[PaxsMom]

I have two boys, 3 and 7, and we are considering doing a cruise to Alaska with DCL. However, they only sail out of Vancouver. My boys are spoiled with Disney. We go to WDW numerous times a year so they are used to the Disney service where they are entertained ALL the time. DCL is so much more expensive than any other cruise line. BUT, if my kids are happy than they will make for a better trip for me! Has anyone done this cruise with young kids? Did you think that the significant price difference was worth the extra cost (I am talking $1500 more than Princess plus additional flight costs). The kids clubs are probably my biggest concern. The kids love to eat dinner away from us with their "friends" and would much rather hang out with kids their own age than mom and dad (bummer, I know). Thanks!!

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Great cruise, very interesting for children, views 24/7 all week. Thry may go to the clubs, but they will also see great nature in the ports.

 

[Jess_S]

I have never done a Princess cruise so I can't comment on value as compared to Princess. However, I did do DCL to Alaska when my son was just shy of 2 years old. We had a wonderful trip. The Disney service, shows that were at a level my son could enjoy, characters, etc. made the cruise worth the price for me. (The reasons I selected DCL don't apply to you because DS was too young for kids club and not potty-trained when we went. For that reason, the splash area at the pool and open house at the kids club were big draws).

 

[ajo]

We went to Alaska with a group that had kids between the ages of 3 and 12. They all had a wonderful time - in Vancouver, on the ship, and in Alaska. I would particularly recommend the Lumberjack show in Ketchikan. The kids would all say it was a highlight of the trip.

Like the PP, I haven't done any other cruise to Alaska, so I can't compare. But, the kids are already asking to go on another Disney cruise to Alaska, so at least in our experience, it was well worth it.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Hmmm, it's always a tough choice. I've been on 2 DCL Alaska vacations and often look at other cruise lines and land trips for Alaska. I'm actually doing a short Princess cruise next year, just to see if we like them enough to take one of their Alaska cruises someday. If you read on cruise critic, most people will say that Alaska cruises are all about the ports and not the ships. I disagree with that when the ports are the same, the ship differences can make a huge difference. There are several days that you will be on the ship the whole time. That matters to me a lot. I bore easily and even though at this point, my cruises are adult only, I know what to expect on DCL as far as service, activities and special dietary needs.

For kids clubs, I've read that often kids enjoy clubs on other lines more because there are so few children that they end up getting a lot of special time with the counselors. I will say that my first Alaska cruise was cold and rainy the first few days (which were all sea days) and many kids seemed to be bored as they were running amuck around the ship unsupervised and getting into mischief. I didn't see that on my past cruise, but the weather was a lot better. So, it was easier for kids to be out on deck and doing outdoor activities if they needed to burn some energy.

If you want to spend a lot of time on the ship doing stuff with your kids, I'd say DCL will be your best bet. I usually cannot put a dollar amount on great times with my family, so I cannot speak to if it is worth it pay that much more money. In my case, it's usually a matter of we will only cruise a particular cruise, so shopping around doesn't matter. We won't do a less expensive one because we wouldn't take that vacation at any price. Not sure if I worded that correctly, but do lots and lots of research.

 

[dcassetta]

Have sailed with Disney and Princess to Alaska. I would say that the kids clubs on Disney have an edge over the kids clubs on Princess and, especially in those activities involving Disney characters. However, the crew members in the kids club on Princess were excellent. And there seem to be far fewer children so the kids got more personalized attention. Another thing you might want to consider is post-cruise options. Princess offers excellent opportunities to visit the interior of Alaska, including Denali. You might find that you were able to do a longer trip for less money including post-cruise days for the same amount of money as a Disney seven day.

 

[kiddisney]

took my son at 5-1/2 and he says it was his best cruise - while some of the port time was not as interesting (we didn't do any excursion in Skagway so while my older daughter and I walked the whole main street my son went back to the ship w/his father) - but there were so many great things - getting room service while we were cruising into the fjord so we stayed so warm but could see everything thru the porthole - going to the glacier - seeing a lot of bald eagles - the kids will have a great time

 

[Luvzmy3boys]

We did the Alaska cruise with DCL when kids were 4 and 8 and this has been our favorite itinerary thus far! We live in SoCal so the novelty of Alaskan weather was great for the kids. Kids this age don't get excited by scenery so they really enjoyed the kids clubs, Disney movies, pool-- yes pools (heated to 85 or something like that) and characters. They loved the sled dogs (especially puppies), lumberjack show, potlatch park, panning for gold with chip and dale and wildlife. I sailed with Cunard 20yrs ago and there were no kids on that ship. My coworker just did a princess cruise to Alaska with her 4 yo granddaughter and she did not want to go to the kids clubs (she is used to hanging with adults) and they all had a great time. She said the kids club looked nice and was not super crowded. I would love to go to Alaska again someday.