It’s never too early to develop a lifelong passion for adventure! There’s something magical about bringing your entire family along to the land of northern lights, midnight sun, dog sledding, glaciers, national parks, epic fishing, and vast wilderness. That’s why you’re looking for Alaskan cruises and excursions that are perfect for younger children.
Nothing matches a family cruise to Alaska when it comes to making memories, bonding, connecting with nature, and seeing once-in-a-lifetime sights! Of course, the best Alaskan cruise for families should combine adventure with luxury touches. Popular cruise lines known for offering the best Alaska cruises include:
A tour we think you'll love
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Princess Cruises
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Holland America Line
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Carnival Cruise Line
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Norwegian Cruise Line
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Celebrity Cruises
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Royal Caribean
- and many more
Of course, planning an amazing family cruise isn’t about which cruise line you choose to sail with! It’s all about the family-friendly shore excursions you book once you dock. When you come to the Last Frontier, glacier viewing, whale spotting, and visits to iconic national parks are all on the table.
Feeling a little overwhelmed when it comes to where to start with planning your great Alaskan adventure? Don’t start building your itinerary until you check out this list of tips for the best Alaska cruise with family!
1) Choose A Cruise Ship That Docks At Icy Strait Point
While cruise lines dock at many different port cities, the truth is that many cruise ships actually end up at tourist areas that don’t showcase the “real” Alaska. That means that you’ll need to take an excursion away from town just to enjoy some breathtaking views and experiences. One exception is Icy Point Strait.
Located near the village of Hoonah, Alaska, Icy Strait Point is considered one of Alaska’s best spots for wildlife viewing and fishing. Hoonah is famed for being Alaska’s largest Tlingit village. While Hoonah’s year-round population is just 800 residents, it’s not uncommon for the village to receive more than 10,000 visitors in a single day during cruise season. Highlights include:
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The warehouse shops are located just a few steps from the dock on Cannery Road but tend to have much higher prices than the shops in downtown Hoonah
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Icy Strait Brewing
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The Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center
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Birding tours
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Kayak tours
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Chichagof Island ATV tours
Hoonah and the Icy Strait offer a uniquely lush environment that has been preserved to allow the abundant local wildlife to run wild! As a result, this is one of the easiest places to spot various animals and mammals in the woods and waters that surround you during your visit.
2) Plan A Shore Excursion With Some Scenic Cruising
Getting off your ship to hop on a locally owned boat can be the best way to make a family cruise feel like a custom adventure. Countless families have planned once-in-lifetime experiences with help from Hoonah Travel Adventures. Our expert guides offer guests the opportunity to get a firsthand look at the local wildlife.
Our shore excursions bring you to some of the best spots in Alaska for bear watching, whale watching, fishing, birding, and more. Every single trip we offer is planned with the needs of cruise passengers in mind.
From picking you up at a convenient spot to ensuring you’re back at your ship to board in time, our crew will work hard to make sure your day goes off without a hitch! Our popular excursions include:
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Guaranteed Whale Watching
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Wilderness Tour and Brown Bear Search
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Icy Strait Fishing Adventure
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Icy Strait Kayak Adventure
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Chichagof Island Birding and Nature Adventure
Tours with us bring you to places in the Alexander Archipelago where brown bears vastly outnumber people! All of our round-trip adventures last three hours. If you’re planning a day of family fun, you’ll be happy to know that all of our top-notch vessels have bathrooms.
Go adventuring with the company that caters to passengers docking with Alaska Cruises. Book a day you’ll never forget with Hoonah Travel Adventures!
3) Discover The Best Family Friendly Activities At Denali National Park
Planning the perfect trip for young visitors when going to a national park isn’t always easy. You need to think about ways to balance a desire for adventure with age-appropriate activities. Here’s a look at some spots in Denali where kids can have fun:
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Denali Visitor Center: As the main visitor center of the park, this spot offers tours, talks, and opportunities to learn about what’s going on during your visit.
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Murie Science & Learning Center: Offers exhibits and activities for kids.
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Riley Creek Mercantile: Offers snacks, ice cream, showers, bathrooms, and areas for sitting.
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Winter Visitor Center: Visitors can stop in to get information on the night’s aurora forecast.
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Sled Dog Kennels at Park Headquarters: Families can meet fluffy, friendly rangers! While there’s no guarantee that the dogs won’t be out on an important mission, visitors can always take a look around the dog yard!
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Spruce Tree Trail: This 0.5-mile, 15-minute round-trip loop is wide and flat enough for toddlers to enjoy! Expect to see squirrels, spruce cones, wild blueberries, and wildflowers. Other kid-friendly trails in Denali include Horseshoe Lake Trail, McKinley Station Trail, and Mount Healy Overlook Trail.
4) See Puffins At Kenai Fjords National Park
Just wait until you tell your kids that you’re taking them to one of the puffin capitals of Alaska! With more than 50% of its land covered by ice, Kenai Fjords National Park is a favorite spot of coastal birds. In fact, this is a popular spot for cruising among people coming to the state specifically for bird watching.
Both tufted and horned puffins arrive each spring for the breeding season. They can be seen congregating in coastal colonies throughout the spring and summer.
5) Explore The Beach At Low Tide At Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park covers 3.3 million acres of glaciers, mountains, rainforests, and fjords. However, it’s the wild coastlines that attract many visitors. With views that can give you beach meadows buffered by waves that carry humpback whales, these beaches are unlike any other beaches on the planet!
For families, the beach near the docks at Bartlett Cove is the best choice because this is the most developed area of Glacier Bay. In addition to being the “headquarters” of Glacier Bay, Bartlett Cove is a protected bay that offers a public dock that is used by countless boaters and kayakers in the summer months. The Glacier Bay Visitor Center offers displays and tourism information. This is also where you can get permitting information for a boat or campsite.
6) Take Advantage Of Alaska Cruises With Kids Programs
Many cruise lines offer kids programs that allow the youngsters on the cruise ship to get together for some fun. While you may love the idea of a family vacation, the truth is that many people who book Alaska cruises are looking for some wild adventures that may not be safe for children.
Having kid-friendly activities or childcare available on the ship can allow you to enjoy more strenuous excursions during your Alaska cruise. Experience a variety of family-friendly activities:
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Alaska State Fair
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Whale-watching tours
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Glacier cruises
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Fishing charters
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Anchorage Museum
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Alaska Sealife Center
7) Make A Family Scavenger Hunt
You can easily turn your Alaska cruise into a learning experience for your kids by creating a scavenger hunt for your trip! This trip will ensure that your kids stay alert as you travel over water, through forests, and around glaciers.
Experience the thrill of a scavenger hunt as you search for items, compete for the top spot on the leaderboard, and most importantly, create lasting memories of fun and laughter with your loved ones.
Plan The Best Alaska Cruise With Family
It doesn’t matter if you’re getting to Alaska with Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruises, or any other popular cruise line. Everyone knows that the best Alaska cruises are all about what happens once you dock.
Regardless of which cruise line you arrive with, Hoonah Travel Adventures is ready to bring you on an unforgettable shore excursion in Hoonah, Alaska! We make connecting to the Alaskan wilderness easier than ever.
In addition to offering convenient bookings and transportation options, we take off just a short distance from where cruise ships dock in Icy Strait Point. Secure your reservation with us today!
