Juneau/Skagway/Victoria ports questions

PoohBearFamily

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Hi! We have 4 little kids under 7 and are planning an Alaskan cruise with this itinerary (Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria BC). What is there to do for free right at the port area/easy with stroller? We don't have the $$ for ship excursion and this will be our first trip to Alaska :) TIA!
 
Hi! We have 4 little kids under 7 and are planning an Alaskan cruise with this itinerary (Juneau, Skagway, and Victoria BC). What is there to do for free right at the port area/easy with stroller? We don't have the $$ for ship excursion and this will be our first trip to Alaska :) TIA!
I don't know when you're planning this trip for, but be aware that unvaccinated people (if your kids are too young) cannot get off the ship unless they're on a DCL excursion.
 
In Juneau, there is a city and state museum, but I believe there is an admission fee, at least for the adults. You can tour the state capital building for free. There is also a city library atop the parking garage. There are also self-guided walking tours. Check at a visitor’s booth for a guide.

In Skagway, you can walk to a cemetery where some characters from the Klondike Gold Rush are buried. Likewise, there might be a walking tour guide available.
 

In Juneau, there is a city and state museum, but I believe there is an admission fee, at least for the adults. You can tour the state capital building for free. There is also a city library atop the parking garage. There are also self-guided walking tours. Check at a visitor’s booth for a guide.

In Skagway, you can walk to a cemetery where some characters from the Klondike Gold Rush are buried. Likewise, there might be a walking tour guide available.
great tips! Thank you
 
I don't know when you're planning this trip for, but be aware that unvaccinated people (if your kids are too young) cannot get off the ship unless they're on a DCL excursion.
But isn't that because they are going to foreign ports? Since they will be still be in the US that may not apply when ALASKA starts again.
 
In Juneau you would need to pay for the transportation to get there, but the Mendenhall Glacier is free. I believe there is a bus you can take. If you rented a car, you could also go to Eagle Beach.

Mt. Roberts tramway is right at the port. You need to pay for the tramway but you can get the tickets directly from them and not pay for a ship excursion upcharge.

I don't know how far the walk is, but if you're downtown, just past downtown there is a whale statue/fountain where you could take some fun pictures. One of my friend's thought it was a real whale. Clearly she needs glasses but still funny.
 
In Skagway there is a little museum I liked and it's small enough (1 or 2 rooms?) that the kids won't get bored. There is old train caboose by the tracks downtown which they might like to check out and there is a walking path on the right before you get to town by the creek and the campground that would work well for your group. I believe there is a gold panning place in town somewhere (for a charge) but I'm not positive about that.
 
But isn't that because they are going to foreign ports? Since they will be still be in the US that may not apply when ALASKA starts again.
I don't know. All I know is that the DCL website says:

Tour Protocols and Vaccination Status
Guests who are vaccinated and wish to disembark the ship with unvaccinated children will need to purchase a Disney Cruise Line Port Adventure.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/experience-updates/ports-of-call-us/
 
I'm not sure I would do Alaska without excursions. Our family probably wouldn't have been happy with just wondering the ports. Alaska is an expensive trip, to just see the ports. Just our experience.
 
When we were in Juneau, we rented a car for $98 and zoomed all around. Eagle Bay state park is amazing. The shrine of St. Therese is tranquil. Mendenhall is awe inspiring.

Skagway, there's a small museum that our kids loved with an old train next door that was used during the old days. You GOTTA get the fry bread. Oh. My. Goodness. get the fry bread. I forget where it was sold, but it was fabulous. It's a neat town to walk around. Lunch at the Red Onion was hilarious (good food too).
 
I'm not sure I would do Alaska without excursions. Our family probably wouldn't have been happy with just wondering the ports. Alaska is an expensive trip, to just see the ports. Just our experience.
I almost said the same thing, but hesitated because I know different strokes for different folks.... but really, I am struggling to think of any scenario in which an Alaska cruise where you didn't do any kind of excursion would be worth it. In Europe, sure, the port cities are amazing and fun to explore so excursions are not really essential. In the caribbean, I could see staying on the ship for a week because you can really enjoy the pool deck and the cruises are not that expensive. But to pay sky high Alaska prices just to watch the shoreline from the ship and walk in the port cities where there is really not much to see/do outside of excursions just seems like a recipe for disappointment.

There are plenty of moderately prices excursions. In Juneau I would at least take the bus to Mendenhall glacier. In Skagway, Jewell gardens is pretty inexpensive. I can't speak for Victoria (I didn't think DCL stopped there?) but I would be sure to check to the port hours--I noticed some other cruise lines that are stopping there are just doing an evening stop of a couple of hours to satisfy the PVSA at like 10pm but not designed to get off the ship and explore.
 
In Victoria there are places to explore within walking distance of where the cruise ships dock. Kind of interesting to wander through the floating housing development. Our first two cruises on HAL that is what we did since we were only in port for a few hours. In October 2019 we cruises on Celebrity and were there all day so did the Butchart Gardens Excursion.
 
But isn't that because they are going to foreign ports? Since they will be still be in the US that may not apply when ALASKA starts again.
OP isn't saying when they are cruising, so no way to know what the rules will be then. Everything from no restrictions to a complete cruise shutdown would be possible this far out.
 
In Victoria there are places to explore within walking distance of where the cruise ships dock. Kind of interesting to wander through the floating housing development. Our first two cruises on HAL that is what we did since we were only in port for a few hours. In October 2019 we cruises on Celebrity and were there all day so did the Butchart Gardens Excursion.
Thank you! Sounds nice.
 
When we were in Juneau, we rented a car for $98 and zoomed all around. Eagle Bay state park is amazing. The shrine of St. Therese is tranquil. Mendenhall is awe inspiring.

Skagway, there's a small museum that our kids loved with an old train next door that was used during the old days. You GOTTA get the fry bread. Oh. My. Goodness. get the fry bread. I forget where it was sold, but it was fabulous. It's a neat town to walk around. Lunch at the Red Onion was hilarious (good food too).
Thank you for the tips!
 
Yes we'll be on Royal Caribbean this time :)
Royal Caribbean currently still requires families with unvaccinated children to purchase ship's excursions to get off the ship.

Families traveling with unvaccinated kids must purchase a local tour through Royal Caribbean if they wish to go ashore in ports of call. This applies to all ports of call except those listed below. Vaccinated parents wishing to go ashore freely in the port that allow it, can visit our youth facilities onboard to learn about drop off program hours and availability, and reserve time for their child on the day they wish to go in port.

Tours Recommended in Port Canaveral, Florida

For ships that stop at Port Canaveral, we strongly recommend, but will not require, that families traveling with unvaccinated kids purchase a local tour through Royal Caribbean if they wish to go ashore. Additionally, we recommend the use of face masks when going ashore.

No Tours Required at Perfect Day or Labadee

Tours or planned activities are not required of any guest who wishes to go ashore at our private destinations, Perfect Day at CocoCay or Labadee, regardless of age or vaccination status.
 

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