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What’s the ideal family vacation? Road trip? A flight? Even a walk can cause a challenge, or worse – so where’s that perfect solution? Cruising is often considered a hassle-free option, as there is no cooking or cleaning involved, allowing families to focus on enjoying their time together.
A family cruise can be a fun bonding experience that offers something for everyone with constantly shifting scenery and diverse shore excursions. Several cruise lines visiting Alaska cater to and provide facilities and services for families. So, consider a leisurely voyage (sans family drama) through the Inside Passage, an entrancing 1,000-mile network of islands, coves and fjords running from Seattle along the British Columbia and Alaskan coasts to form one of the planet’s most intriguing and breathtakingly scenic regions.
A “shoulder season” Inside Passage cruise – that is, leaving port in late September or even in early May – offers calmer seas, mild weather and extended hours of Alaskan sunlight in which to enjoy boundless natural beauty prior to winter. However, most Alaska family cruises operate when kids are out of school in June, July and August. Shore excursions include everything from fishing, ziplining and riding scooters to seaplane or helicopter flights landing at remote glacier lodges, train rides through the Klondike and dogsledding with Alaskan huskies.
The Inside Passage
Protected from the harshest weather of the open ocean and connecting countless coastal and island communities, the Inside Passage has long been treasured by travelers and mariners. It’s home to the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian Indigenous peoples, whose vibrant histories and cultures permeate the region. Many cruise lines play a significant focus on activities suitable for young children and teens, ensuring that families can enjoy the journey together. During the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, hardy prospectors plied the route in search of riches, with traces of their endeavors everywhere.
Today, the Inside Passage is popular for cruise vacations with convenient round trips from Seattle (Vancouver, Canada departures are also available, but U.S. residents will require a passport), majestic glaciers, vast forests, quaint settlements and wildlife including whales, porpoises, bears and bald eagles. Kids can participate in photography workshops, nature programming, and scavenger hunts on cruises, making the experience both educational and entertaining for younger travelers.
Alaska Family Cruises
Inside Passage cruisers can choose from an array of vessels and itineraries, from massive mass-market cruise ships to exclusive luxury liners with 4,500-square-foot suites and Picasso artworks. Most cruise lines have age guidelines for shore excursions to assist families in making choices, ensuring that activities are suitable and enjoyable for all members. Pricing will depend on departure date, room category/view and whether you opt for “cruise-only” pricing or a package including popular amenities like Wi-Fi and drinks.
Inside Passage cruises start at well below $1,000 per person and can run to much more for the best suites on the most opulent liners. The good news for cruise shoppers is that California’s new “Honest Pricing Law” requires major cruise lines to include taxes, fees and port expenses in their pricing as of July 1. Children ages 8-17 save $500 per child on specified cruise departures, making family travel more affordable. Some luxury itineraries include complimentary shore excursions, but more typically expect to spend anything from under $100 per person for straightforward sightseeing tours to over $750 each for elaborate outings, especially those involving flights.
“Mega Cruise Ships”
The largest cruise ships plying Inside Passage waters enjoy economies of scale which can make for the most affordable options, starting below $700 per passenger for a seven-day itinerary. Royal Caribbean offers the seven-night Alaska Experience Cruise aboard its 4,900-passenger vessels, including a stop in the formerly Russian island community of Sitka, with its distinctive blend of cultures and a chance for the whole clan to get up-close with native birds of prey at the amazing Alaska Raptor Center. For picky eaters, some cruise lines offer kids menus with favorite foods, ensuring everyone is satisfied.
Carnival Cruise Line has seven-day cruises aboard the 2,100-capacity Carnival Spirit with optional shore excursions, including an evocative steam train trip through the Klondike, helicopter “flightseeing,” dogsledding and gold panning.
Premium Experiences
Premium cruise lines can also be surprisingly reasonable for a family, but remember to factor in costs not included in your fare, including optional activities ashore. The seven-night Alaska Dawes Glacier itinerary with Celebrity Cruises includes weighing anchor at Ketchikan, the “Salmon Capital of the World,” where more adventurous family members can take a canoe or wilderness trek while others marvel at the world’s largest totem pole collection.
Disney Cruise Lines’ Alaska cruises depart from Vancouver, Canada. At their Juneau stop, soar by aerial tramway to the top of Mount Roberts or hike the stunning scenery of Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Area.
A seven-day Holland America Line Inside Passage cruise, departing from Vancouver, includes some of the world’s most dramatic scenery amidst the creaking ice of Alaska’s vast Glacier Bay, where experts come aboard to point out the best scenery and wildlife. (No matter what time of year, pack warm gear and binoculars!)
Princess Cruises offers budget-priced, four-day Alaska Sampler cruises, departing from Vancouver and ending in Seattle or vice versa, including opportunities to experience Ketchikan’s rich native heritage and 40-acre Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary. There are also hybrid Princess “cruisetours,” including seven days of cruising and three days traveling by coach or train to remote wilderness lodges and an overnight stay in Alaska’s aptly named largest city, Anchorage.
Luxe Cruises
For a really special occasion, celebrating a milestone, graduation or maybe even that last family trip before the kids fly the coop to college, a luxury Inside Passage cruise won’t disappoint, but expect to spend from $3,000 to well into five figures per passenger for a seven-night trip. Private small ship charters for family reunions can offer flexibility and exclusivity, making them an excellent choice for creating unforgettable memories.
All-inclusive luxury cruises aboard Regent Seven Seas’ 746-passenger Seven Seas Explorer, between Seward, Alaska and Vancouver include complimentary shore excursions. In Skagway, Alaska, board the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway for a memorable, winding climb through picturesque mountains.
The 11-day “Alaska & the Inside Passage” itinerary with Viking Ocean Cruises includes one complimentary shore excursion in each port of call. In Juneau, go whale watching, fish for wild salmon or take to the air on a seaplane or helicopter for glacier flightseeing. The most affordable luxury Alaska cruises are with Oceania Cruises’ seven-day Seattle to Seattle itineraries, during which a stop in Victoria, Canada includes opportunities to explore lavish Craigdarroch Castle or to learn how our ancestors sailed the Inside Passage at the Marine Museum of British Columbia.
Planning Your Alaska Family Cruise Adventure
Choosing the best Alaska family cruises means finding the perfect balance of adventure, comfort, and family-friendly amenities. Whether you prefer the excitement of mega cruise ships like Royal Caribbean or the intimate experience of small ship charters, Alaska offers something for every family. From exploring the majestic Kenai Fjords National Park and Glacier Bay National Park to enjoying onboard kids programs and babysitting services, your entire family can create unforgettable memories in the Last Frontier.
Be sure to consider cabin options such as family suites to accommodate your needs and check minimum age requirements for shore excursions to ensure everyone can participate safely. With exciting ports like Icy Strait Point and opportunities to witness Hubbard Glacier or Denali National Park’s tallest peak, an Alaskan cruise truly showcases the great outdoors and rich Alaskan culture.
Start planning early to take advantage of cruise deals and seasonal departures during June through August when the nutrient-rich waters bring abundant wildlife sightings. Whether you’re sailing from Seattle, Vancouver, or Anchorage, your Alaska family cruise promises a hassle-free, enriching journey that the whole family will cherish for years to come.
