Exploring Alaska on a Disney Cruise
By: Anne Marie Wienkamp
Going to Alaska has been a long-standing item on my husband’s and my bucket list. It always seemed exotic and significantly different from the places we’ve visited. Experiencing Alaska while cruising with Disney Cruise Line seemed like the perfect solution for our family. It combined the allure of Alaska, the magic of Disney, and the adventure of a cruise. With this plan in mind, everyone in our family was excited.
We made our cruise reservation 16 months in advance, shortly after the summer 2023 Disney Cruise itineraries became available for booking. Booking early often offers the best rates, and we also had an onboard booking credit to take advantage of (more about this in a later section).
We opted for a 7-night cruise in late August. Our Disney Cruise to Alaska began in Vancouver, a common starting point for Alaskan cruises. Some Disney cruises to Alaska may vary in length or start from other ports. In addition to our cruise, we planned to spend a few days exploring Vancouver, a city we had heard wonderful things about (our Vancouver experience will be covered in Part B of my blog). We chose a direct flight into Vancouver, which meant that all family members needed passports. However, some US passengers on our cruise flew into Seattle and then took a train to Vancouver, requiring only enhanced driver’s licenses or learner’s permits. Keep in mind that any international air travel necessitates a valid passport.
Boarding the Ship: Upon arriving in Vancouver and spending a few days exploring the city, it was time to board our ship. Fortunately, our hotel was conveniently located within walking distance of Canada Place Cruise Port. Before the cruise, you complete an online check-in that assigns you a Port Arrival Time. The cruise line recommends not arriving before this time due to limited space in the terminal. On the day we boarded, there were three ships in port, including the Norwegian Cruise, which was boarding at the same time as the Disney Cruise. However, port staff efficiently directed passengers to their respective locations.
Our first step was to drop off our luggage with Disney porters. Typically, Disney sends luggage tags ahead of time for you to attach to your bags, bearing your stateroom information. However, in our case, we did not receive these tags for this cruise, but that was not an issue. The porters had ample tags and filled in the necessary information on our luggage. They then took care of transporting our bags. Unlike cruises departing from US ports, we had to go through US Border Customs before boarding the ship because we were traveling from Canada back to the United States. After completing the cruise check-in, US Customs, and security procedures, we had a brief wait before we could board the ship. The embarkation process at this point was similar to any other Disney Cruise, including the family announcement in the Atrium as we walked onto the ship.
Disney Wonder Atrium
First Day on the Ship: Once aboard, our family’s top priority is always lunch. We skipped photo opportunities, the information desk, port excursions desk etc…. Instead, we typically opt for a table-service lunch rather than the buffet, and this cruise was no exception. We spent the afternoon familiarizing ourselves with the ship, exploring the kids’ clubs and spa, treating the kids to their first serving of soft-serve ice cream, and waiting for our staterooms to become available. Staterooms are typically ready around 2:00 PM, but luggage delivery takes a bit longer. It’s a good idea to pack a small bag with essentials, including bathing suits if you plan to swim. Luggage usually arrives individually later in the afternoon. At 4:00 PM, we participated in the required Muster Drill at our designated stations, which took about 30 minutes. Then came the sail-away party! Our ship sailed under Vancouver’s iconic Lion’s Gate Bridge, a thrilling sight for us. All the embarkation activities from this point were standard for any Disney Cruise.
Cruise Itinerary: Our cruise itinerary included the following stops:
Day 1: Vancouver
Day 2: Day at Sea
Day 3: Sawyer Glacier
Day 4: Skagway
Day 5: Ketchikan
Day 6: Day at Sea
Day 7: Vancouver
Rotational Dining: Disney Cruise Line features rotational dining, where guests dine in three different restaurants throughout the voyage, with the same serving staff following you. This system allows you to build a rapport with your servers and is something we always appreciate on Disney cruises.
Onboard Entertainment: Unlike cruises to the Bahamas and the Caribbean, Alaskan cruises don’t include a pirate night or fireworks at sea. Instead, Alaskan cruises offer a Frozen Night with a special Frozen-themed menu and a Frozen Deck Party called “Freezing the Night Away.”
As with all Disney Cruises, you can expect exceptional nightly entertainment. The Broadway-style shows in the Walt Disney Theater are a must-see. During our cruise, we enjoyed three of these shows: “The Golden Mickeys” (a common production on many Disney ships and itineraries), “Frozen,” and “Disney Dreams – An Enchanted Classic.” These shows consistently deliver outstanding performances. In addition to the Broadway-type shows, there are first-run movies (we watched “Elemental” and “Haunted Mansion”) and other entertainment options, such as acapella singing groups and magicians.
Excursions: One of the highlights of our cruise was the excursions. There’s a wide range of options catering to different interests, activity levels, and age groups. While some of the Alaskan towns we visited were small, they offered plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, and interesting venues for those who opted not to book an excursion. We selected excursions that suited our family’s preferences. When researching excursions, I noticed that they tended to be pricier compared to excursions I’ve booked in the Bahamas or the Caribbean.
Tracy Arm Fjord – Sawyer Glacier: Known as “Glacier Day,” this was a truly spectacular experience. In the morning, Mickey and Minnie donned their Alaskan attire for photos on the deck against the stunning Alaskan backdrop. Although our morning was foggy and limited our photo opportunities, we had the Glacier excursion in the afternoon, which offered closer views of the Glacier.
Two sets of opportunities were available for this excursion; we opted for the earlier boat. The later boat boards while the Wonder is at the glacier and continues to explore after the Wonder sails away from the glacier, reuniting with the ship later. This was a breathtaking experience.
Skagway: Formerly one of the last stops during the Alaskan Gold Rush, Skagway boasts a rich history. We embarked on the White Pass Railroad excursion, which took us into Canada and the Yukon Territory. Although we encountered fog on the morning of our ride, limiting our views from the mountain’s peak, the journey was extraordinary. The train ride lasted about 2 ½ hours but was well worth it. Additionally, we had the opportunity to try our hand at gold panning and meet real Iditarod sled dogs and their adorable puppies. The history and information about the Iditarod race were fascinating. Skagway offers many other excursion options, and because 97% of the town’s income comes from cruise tourists, it’s very tourist-friendly.
Juneau: As the capital of Alaska, Juneau is not accessible by road but can be reached by boat or air. Our excursion in Juneau combined a visit to Mendenhall Glacier Park, whale watching, and a salmon bake. It was a fulfilling day, with whale watching being a highlight for the kids and me, and the glacier being the highlight for my husband. However, we weren’t particularly impressed with the salmon bake and wouldn’t recommend it.
Ketchikan: In Ketchikan, we opted for a more adventurous activity for the kids, taking them on off-road Adventure Karts. We boarded a bus at the Ketchikan port, which took us up a mountain for about 20 minutes to ride two-seater off-road karts. The off-roading adventure lasted approximately 90 minutes, taking us up and down an old logging route in the mountains above Ketchikan with a few stops along the way. The views were spectacular, accompanied by interesting historical insights. Although we got dirty on this excursion, we didn’t get muddy. Ketchikan is one of the rainiest cities in the United States, with rainfall measured in feet per year, so we considered ourselves lucky to experience a dry day—there are only 60-75 dry days a year in Ketchikan. Keep in mind that this excursion is typically muddy.
Weather: Alaskan cruise weather varies considerably, so it’s essential to prepare for all conditions. The Alaskan cruise season runs from May to September, and we cruised in late August, which typically offers some of the warmer days. Nevertheless, we encountered several chilly days. Despite thorough research on weather and packing, I still felt that I could have packed differently. We were adequately prepared with hats, gloves, and layers for cooler days like Glacier Day and Skagway, as well as for mornings and evenings on the cruise or lounging on our verandah. However, we also experienced warmer days in the 70s in Ketchikan and Vancouver. Onboard, we purchased gloves for my son (a variety of winter wear merchandise is available on the ship), DCL Alaskan Cruise blankets, and my husband acquired a plaid DCL Alaska shacket. While the beds are made cozy with extra blankets, I found myself using my new blanket every night. For excursions, I found fleece-lined leggings, base long-sleeve t-shirts, sweaters, packable puffer coats, scarves, hats, and gloves (except in Ketchikan) to be my go-to outfits. On most days aboard the ship, I wore leggings and a long-sleeve spirit jersey.
Future Cruise Booking: Disney offers an opportunity to book a future cruise placeholder while on a Disney Cruise. With this placeholder, you receive a 10% discount on the next cruise, although there are blackout dates, such as holidays, and the discount is not available for Concierge staterooms. We took advantage of this promotion for our Alaskan cruise and booked a future cruise of our choosing. It does require a $250 deposit toward your next cruise, and the cruise credit must be used within 24 months. This can help ease post-cruise blues, knowing you have another Disney cruise planned within the next two years.
Disembarkation: Disembarkation from an Alaskan Cruise is similar to any other Disney Cruise. You have the option to handle all your own luggage and be a “walk-off” passenger, allowing you to disembark early with your luggage. Alternatively, you can choose to have Disney handle most of your luggage by placing it outside your stateroom the night before departure, using the provided luggage tags, and keeping a carry-on bag with essential items and clothes from the night before. Disney will call you by luggage tag group when your bags have cleared customs, and you can then disembark. Your stateroom host will also provide you with a Canadian Customs form to fill out before disembarking. We chose to have Disney handle our luggage, as we had more than usual due to the varying weather conditions and the additional winter wear we packed. We did notice that waiting for our group to be called took longer than at typical US ports, possibly due to the presence of three cruise ships in port on our disembarkation day and the limited size of Canada Place Port. These factors likely contributed to the delay.
Another significant difference we experienced on our Alaskan Cruise compared to a Caribbean Cruise was the frequency of interactions with Customs and Border Control. Surprisingly, we passed through the border between Canada and the United States a total of four times during our journey. Fortunately, all these interactions with Customs and Border Control were seamless and hassle-free, thanks in part to using the ArriveCAN app and the MPC app (“Mobile Passport Control” for US Customs). These apps streamlined the process and ensured that we moved swiftly through Customs and Border Control checks.
Spectacular Alaskan Scenery: The natural beauty of Alaska was nothing short of spectacular, and I wholeheartedly recommend booking a balcony stateroom for this voyage. From our balcony, we were treated to breathtaking views of glaciers, majestic mountains, encounters with whales, seals, sea lions, soaring eagles, mesmerizing waterfalls, and countless other awe-inspiring sights. Some lucky fellow cruisers even had the chance to witness the mesmerizing northern lights. While we missed this particular spectacle as we turned in early most nights, it’s worth noting that the Alaskan time zone is four hours behind EST, and Vancouver is three hours behind EST. As we continue to adjust back to East Coast time, we find ourselves already discussing the next opportunity to return to the enchanting landscapes of Alaska.
For more practically perfect tips, contact Anne Marie at AnneMarie.JollyHoliday@gmail.com
