How to Choose the Best Alaska Cruise for Your Family
Choosing the right cruise line for a family trip to Alaska can make all the difference in creating an unforgettable vacation. Here are my top tips:
1. Look for Family-Friendly Amenities
When picking a cruise line, ensure it offers amenities that cater specifically to families:
- Kids Clubs: Look for cruise lines with well-structured kids’ clubs and activities for teens. Holland America’s Club HAL and Royal Caribbean’s Adventure Ocean are excellent examples.
- Family Cabins: Opt for cruise lines that offer spacious family cabins, suites or connecting rooms.
- Pools and Water Slides: Kids love water fun, so a ship with pools, water slides, and splash areas is a big plus.
Enjoy Holland America’s Koningsdam pool on the first day of your cruise when it’s typically less crowded.
2. Choose a Cruise Line with Diverse Dining Options
- Kid-Friendly Menus: Ensure the cruise line offers a variety of dining options that include kid-friendly menus and casual dining spots.
- Specialty Dining: Check if there are specialty restaurants for a more varied culinary experience.
Tip: Try to look into the different beverage packages that the cruise line offers and the cost-effectiveness. Cruises often bundle accommodations, meals, entertainment, excursion credit and activities into one package, offering great value. This all-inclusive nature means fewer decisions and more relaxation for parents, as everything is taken care of.
Holland America’s Koningsdam offered many educational shows on their World Stage about the wildlife and port destinations in Alaska.
3. Onboard Entertainment and Activities
- Family Friendly Shows: Look for cruise lines that offer high-quality entertainment, including game shows and performances.
- Interactive Experiences: Check for interactive activities like cooking classes, science experiments, and art and craft sessions.
4. Consider the Itinerary and Ports of Call
- Varied Ports: Choose a cruise that stops at a variety of Alaskan ports to give your family a broad experience of the state.
- Scenic Cruising: Ensure the itinerary includes scenic cruising days where you can enjoy the breathtaking landscapes from the ship.
- Cruise Itinerary: It’s good to choose a cruise with a varied schedule, so you don’t have too many days at sea (back-to-back and yearning to be on land) or too many ports of call in a row (where it becomes too exhausting going on excursion after excursion).
Holland America’s Koningsdam had a 7-day Inside Passage Itinerary that was the perfect mixture of port days, scenic cruising and days at sea.
5. Reputation and Reviews
- Research: Look at reviews and testimonials from other families who have cruised with the lines you are considering. Websites like Cruise Critic and family travel blogs (like mine) can provide valuable insights.
- Cruise Ship: It’s important to consider the specific features and offerings of different ships within a cruise company’s fleet. Here are some key differences to consider: size of ship, family-friendly ships, ships with flexible dining options, ships with varied itineraries vs. scenic cruising focused.
Parent Alaskan cruise morning essentials, mimosas and binoculars.
Top Family-Friendly Cruise Lines to Alaska (in no particular order):
- Disney Cruise Line
- Pros: Exceptional kids’ programs, themed dining experiences, character meet-and-greets.
- Cons: Much higher price point.
- Royal Caribbean
- Pros: Innovative ships with activities like rock climbing, ice skating, and surf simulators.
- Cons: Larger ships can feel crowded (think of the elevator wait times, wait times for dining/drinks, more people at the on ship activities/pool).
- Holland America Line
- Pros: Club HAL for kids, extensive shore excursions, and educational programs.
- Cons: Slightly more traditional and relaxed atmosphere.
- Princess Cruises
- Pros: Strong Alaska itineraries, onboard enrichment programs, and family-friendly entertainment.
- Cons: Fewer kid-specific amenities compared to Disney or Royal Caribbean.
By considering these tips and researching the options, you’ll find the perfect cruise line that will offer your family a memorable and fun-filled Alaskan adventure. Happy cruising!
Scenic cruising days are the perfect backdrop on an Alaska cruise for family photos.
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