Alaskan Cruise with children? (Juneau and, Ketchikan: rent, how much, buy)

[nccool]

My extended family is taking an Alaskan cruise next summer and we have a week to decide if we should go. We'll have a 4 & 2 year old and I didn't know if anyone could recommend any nice family excursions to take or if there would be any options for us, we'll be porting in Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan?

[Metlakatla]

Uh--give it a pass. There are better ways to see Alaska than on one of the floating food bins.

The cruise ships really aren't a family type thing though they are getting slightly more so.

Besides if I see another cruise ship I'm gonna sink it.

[Arcticthaw]

Get one of those backpack kid carrierers and put the 2 year old in it. Put the 4 year old on Dad's sholders and CHARGE!!!!!! Having kids is not reason to not visit. All the wildlife, and beautiful country will be with them forever.

[Metlakatla]

Yeah but give them more to remember than a canned vacation.

Better go now...

lol

[rotorhead]

Bring along some good shoes, the shore excursion end of most Alaskan cruise trips involves a lot of walking unless you're signed up for the canned tours where they've got transport already lined up. Skagway has a bus that goes back and forth, can't say for the other towns. Also bring light rain jackets for everyone, it does rain a lot here and no matter when you visit there's more than a chance it will. There is a nice park with a lot of new play equipment in Juneau, and a decent city pool with a kids section as well. In Skagway the lines for restaurants can get very long when the boats are in town, so bring along lunch for the kids. You can buy candy or fudge or snacks or icecream or various junk food most anywhere. I can't speak as to the various shore excursions, haven't been on any of them myself.

[aquariusmom]

We've cruised with kids before- Caribbean, it was a blast!! The best of both worlds, adult only time (thank you Camp Carnival) and family time. We would definitely do it again.

I have heard Alaskan cruises tend to be an older crowd, so that means less playmates for your kids- something to consider.

It is also true you won't see the real Alaska on a cruise- our ferry hit Juneau and I could not believe the number of cruise ships and THOUSANDS of tourists all squeezed together on these sidewalks in the fake section of town, it did not look fun to me. That doesn't have to be your fate though- on the other side of the globe lol, we hit a popular tourist destination of Cozumel... our fellow cruise passengers all went on tour group excursions or walked around the cruise part of town... well we rented a car and went to the "wild" side of the island (no electricity) and we had such an amazing day. Back on the ship everyone we talked to was envious of our experiences... so my suggestion is if you do it, rent a car and get away from the tourist sections. Alaska has so much more to offer than just the kitchy faux boardwalks and giftshops.

Have fun!!

[Metlakatla]

Depending on which line--some of them have "family cruises", which means more onboard activities for the children and more other children for them to play with.

Someone recommended renting a car and getting out of town...great suggestion. The trouble with walking around the port cities is that it's difficult enough for an able bodied adult...I still have a pain on the top of my right foot inflicted by a 450 pound touron to prove that. If I were walking around with little children I'd get myself a cattle prod to keep the children from being bowled over
, because so many people on these cruises simply do not watch where they are going.

Also the train ride in Skagway up to White Pass is pretty good. There's also some sort of a sled dog trip that your children would probably like. Try to avoid booking excursions through the ship--they don't give you the full picture of what's available and with the exception of the train ride, it will cost you more to book through them than if you did so independently.

[ysr_racer]

Try asking here: Alaska - Cruise Critic Message Boards

[warptman]

Originally Posted by SteveTravel

If you end up going there sans cruise, you should check out Alaska Vacations this place has so many ideas for vacation activities and accomodations. I think it will really help you out. Cheers! Good Luck!

Smells like spam........

[allforcats]

Nccool, I think Arcticthaw has the happiest idea! Anyway, you have TWO considerations: do an adventure while enjoying being with your family, or don't do an adventure while enjoying being with your family. Since you will likely be eating with them, and touring at least sometimes with them, I think that should be your first consideration -- do you want to spend a week or whatever with them?

The ship itself (Google the line) will tell you, either online or by email or phone, exactly how much babysitting and little child activities they provide for their passengers. You might want to investigate that.

Something important to consider about shore excursions: if you book excursions THROUGH the cruse line, those tour operators are OBLIGATED TO GET YOU BACK TO THE SHIP BEFORE IT SAILS. Operators of tours NOT booked through the cruise are NOT obligated to get you back in time. That's a hefty consideration, and now and then cruisers stand at the dock waving to the families and clothes as the ship leaves port without them.

Also, as mentioned above, tours provide transportation, which can help prevent little legs from getting weary and little hearts from getting unhappy, thus helping Mom and Dad stay happy.