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Ooops… jumping from one cruise line to another….Viking Crown Lounge on Royal, but you get the idea. 😉🤣

We love to get something to eat and drink from the windjammer… hopefully without fighting a crowd… and taking it to a quiet lounge… preferably the Viking Crown Lounge for the view . It is so relaxing after the boarding process. If our stateroom is open, then it is also nice to hang out there til the chaos outside subsides.

Do consider the Kenai Fjords!

Southbound to Vancouver! If your budget allows, do some sort of land tour first…. either thru the cruiseline or on your own. We did a cruisetour several years ago that included Denali before a cruise with Princess … wonderful and well organized ! We also rented a car first and explored Anchorage to Seward to Anchorage. Recently we cruised to Vancouver on the Radiance after self driving for a few days Anchorage to Homer to Seward. Both trips were great...although the recent one was hampered by bad weather ( the luck of the draw on any trip). It can be an expensive trip, so budget carefully and get the most you can…cruise/land or cruise only… if a trip to Alaska is a once in a lifetime adventure.

….and with a youngster, you can probably get away without spending extra for specialty dining. Maybe not even extra for a drink package since milk,juice,and water are “free” and plentiful. Economize where you can if you’d rather budget for shore excursions.

A good doable plan suggested by EileenG. assuming a quick/easy car pick-up and drop-off at the Whittier port. Sightseeing usually takes longer than we think, so don’t rush. Enjoy a leisurely, interesting day! Ditto…. the tunnel timing!

Princess✔️ May-August (May might be less $$ )✔️ Vancouver one way✔️ If time and a budget allows, do a “one way” and try to include some time before or after your cruise to see more of Alaska since you’re “in the area”. If not, then take advantage of as much time as possible at each port . You can do the ship’s excursions or book your own without much difficulty. The ports are generally easy to explore on your own as they are small, interesting towns. Your little guy might get the most out of any stop in Alaska if he learns a little about them ahead of time!

I booked directly and bought the VIP “package” which included a snack of crab legs with butter and a water. (VIP isn’t offered on a ship excursion.) It wasn’t a lot to eat , but I don’t know the price outside of the vip pkg. The crab was cold/ previously frozen. It may not be worth it to go VIP just to have a snack of crab. The excursion was interesting/entertaining tho perhaps a bit scripted since I am sure they do this repeatedly. The crew is experienced and knowledgeable . They will keep you entertained for sure with their life stories. They know where the bald eagles are, so you will surely see them and watch them soar and catch fish! Surprisingly, we saw a whale doing a “bubble” feeding! Pretty exciting! Photo ops✔️, souvenirs✔️, snacks✔️, restrooms ✔️

… but yes, a small ship for Alaska may be a better choice for an itinerary that visits smaller ports/glacier etc.

Do your homework/inquiries. In my opinion, smaller doesn’t necessarily mean more accessible than a larger ship. In most, if not all, cruise ships there are accessible staterooms and seating in venues, ramps, elevators, handrails, wide doors, helpful staff. I have even watched staff assist guests to get in and out of a pool with a specially designed lift/safety equipment! There are threads on CC that describe experiences of successful “challenging “ experiences. Hope you will get out there and enjoy!

Taku flight/salmon bake 👍! Southbound cruise return…R&R ! 👍!

What options for a beach/activities besides Resort World at Bimini? If I want a pool day, I will likely stay on board.

No need for a mega theme park type ship in Alaska! Yes, there will be a pool/solarium/hot tubs, casinos, and entertainment. Consider doing some sort of land tour in Alaska before or after a one way cruise ( Vancouver to Seward or reverse). You’ll be glad to see even more of Alaska !!!

The Sea Life center in Seward is a great place to visit! It’s an aquarium as well as an excellent research center with much info/displays/live presentations. The layout is well planned. You might walk along the easy, 1-mile path beside the shore to or from the center from “down town”. The view is nice, and you’ll very likely see campers/fishermen catching lots of salmon right from the shore!

Might see fresh salmon on the menu more than once . 😉 I’ll even appreciate a limited menu since I won’t have to cook!

We have NEVER bought a beverage or dining package in 20+ years of cruising, and we have never felt hungry or thirsty! Of course you should monitor your account balance should you choose alcoholic or gourmet beverages as that can add up easily. A drink or two a day will definitely be cheaper and than a “package”.There are plenty of “ free” options available despite the marketing for “extras”.

So what about air fare, hotel accommodations, and car rentals I have booked around the September 15 departure from Seward?! 😬

Rental car warning/advise…. Be sure to check availability of a Seward DROP OFF for a rental car if you decide on a rental from Anchorage. I could be wrong, but to my knowledge, only HERTZ has a drop off in Seward. Yes, pricey and limited car availability so book/reserve well ahead of time. I also reconfirm regularly.

Looking for Experience/opinions of the Gold Creek Salmon bake and Salmon Waterfall viewing access. Looks like a relaxing experience in a scenic setting in the port of Juneau.

So would you make your decision on booking a Kenai Fjords experience on a CHANCE of getting seasick? It’s a great experience, so I hope you can do it…no, it is not like canoeing on a lake! Maybe with a medication it’s doable by calming the unsettled… mentally or physically.

Agree wholeheartedly that extra time in Seward wins over Anchorage. Road trip suggestions . My additional advice to a road trip…beautiful… allow yourself EXTRA time to and from destinations as you will want to stop along the way for views, historic sites, tiny towns, etc. Gas up your car wherever available.. stations may be limited along the way. Study the Seward Highway as well as the Sterling Highway (toHomer) routes on MILEPOST ALASKA or BELLS ALASKA for mile by mile info. Book a rental well in advance in order to reserve a car! ( possibly only HERTZ available in Seward.) or… don’t rent a car and enjoy much that Seward and Kenai fiords has to offer! i think you will be happy with any choice!!

That’s a long time between disembarking and your flight. Just a thought… Would you consider renting a car in Seward and drive the Seward highway to the airport? (Hertz might be your only rental available in Seward ) It’s an easy, scenic drive… highway info plentiful at MILEPOST Alaska or BELLSALASKA. Rental could be pricey 😬, and it’s best to book a rental well before needed, so a car can be reserved for you….apparently few rental cars available these days. We booked ours in May for a September pre cruise 4-day/3 night trip from the airport to Homer to Seward.

Ok! I stand corrected. Most, but not all bars are open. Drink up! We generally are on board early on embarkation day, grab something to go from the windjammer and head to the Viking crown lounge. It’s scenic and peaceful at this time. The bar there isn’t open yet. It’s a relaxing time for us to recharge after busy travel. We’ll hit the open bars soon enough. 😉

I think most bars, but not all, are closed until after muster and/or the ship sets sail. There may be some bar staff circulating during boarding. You won’t have to wait long…bars will be open before dinner time !!

Do Alaska… a beautiful corner of the USA! As stated, “a beach is a beach”, and that’s what I now think of Caribbean cruises…tho I always enjoy them. And one glacier may be the same as another in some opinions. However, Alaska has all the rustic geography you can only imagine… unique and beautiful! The cruise ports are all quaint yet interesting in a calming fashion. I highly recommend adding travel on land before or after a cruise. Cruise lines have land tours you can book with your cruise, but we have rented a car and explored ourselves. ( Be aware of car rental pickup and drop off locations!). Alaska is easy to navigate on its good highways. I envy those who have RVd in Alaska. Do some research. Do your comparative shopping for a cruise that offers you the most time in ports and land tour if interested. For a land tour(diy or cruise based) you would need a one way cruise….Vancouver to Anchorage or the reverse. We prefer the land option before the cruise so we can R&R on the ship. Also, the longest flight ( to Alaska) is done first. You can break up a long flight by taking a route that has brief layovers to stretch if needed. Just DO plan on flights to arrive a day early in case of any flight delays! And start saving your dollars. This can be a pricey trip when flights and excursions are added in…. But so worth it, in my opinion since it is a bucket list for many and perhaps a “ one and done”. Wow!, that was a long reply, huh? 🤣