Sailing to Alaska with Disney Cruise Line is a recipe for true magic. Whether it’s soaking in the misty mountains from your stateroom verandah or spotting a pod of humpback whales while waiting in line to meet Mickey Mouse, there will be no shortage of amazing moments regardless of your cruise itinerary.
Port Adventures (Disney-speak for excursions) only enhance that magic, providing a more intimate, up-close and personal experience with Alaska. With multiple options available in every port your ship visits, along with “Glacier Day,” Port Adventures allow passengers of all ages to fully tap into that spirit of adventure while providing the level of service you’d expect only from Disney.
I was recently invited by Disney Cruise Line to experience Alaska aboard the Disney Wonder for an unforgettable seven-night voyage. For this itinerary, we sailed up and down the Inside Passage, a popular coastal route in the Southeast corner of the state. Our stops included the major port towns of Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan, along with a “Glacier Day” that brought the Disney Wonder up the Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier.
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Whether you’re sailing with the entire family or you’re on an adults-only getaway, there are Port Adventures perfectly suited to your level of thrill, schedule, budget, and, as I would say, “outdoorsy-ness.” With Alaska being a once-in-a-lifetime trip for many, it’s worth considering adding a Port Adventure to your Disney Cruise Line itinerary.
Why book your Port Adventures through Disney Cruise Line?
Alaska’s major ports that Disney Cruise Line frequents – Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan – offer no shortage of excursions. However, not all are created equal, and Disney’s Port Adventures feature third-party partnerships that have been heavily vetted to ensure the Disney standard continues off the ship as much as it does on.
The Port Adventures you can book on Disney’s website are not there by happenstance. I spoke with Peter Hofer, Disney Wonder’s Cruise Director, who has four decades at sea in the cruise industry, half of which have been with Disney Cruise Line. He emphasized the amount of time Disney spends examining every third-party tour operator to make sure it’s a match.
You may be leaving it up to chance if you wait until the last second to pick an excursion. “You walk out in the town area, and you see all these kiosks. But are they set up for having kids?” Hofer shared. “[Disney Cruise Line passengers] have a lot of strollers. Can [the operators] accommodate our clientele? Can they ‘talk the talk’ that a five-year-old can understand?”
Disney vacations are multigenerational, with Alaska cruises being one of the clearest examples. Beyond accommodating young kids, Disney’s Port Adventures by design offer something for everyone. Many of them are longer, with several of the ones I experienced being three hours or longer. “It’s important to offer something that is going to keep the interest for each generation,” Hofer added. For Disney, Hofer noted that every passenger deserves to have their needs met, “Whether you’re a five-year-old or an 85-year-old.”
So, what are some of these Port Adventures that embrace Disney’s philosophy of multigenerational entertainment and adventure? Let’s do a day-by-day breakdown of what I experienced:
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Glacier Day: Glacier Explorer
Glacier Day is a highlight in any Alaskan voyage, and Disney Cruise Line is no exception. Something to consider as you budget your Port Adventures is that your cruise ship can only get so close to the glaciers. For a truly up-close experience (close enough where you can literally hold a piece of glacier ice), you’ll want to look into booking the Glacier Explorer. This Port Adventure lasts around three hours and brings passengers around a half-mile from the face of the glacier (depending on conditions; on our excursion, we got up to around a quarter-mile from Dawes Glacier).
You’ll spend an ample amount of time observing the glacier, and if you’re lucky, you may catch a few moments of “calving,” or when large pieces of ice break off from the glacier. A knowledgeable guide narrates the entire experience, and they even retrieve a few pieces of floating glacier ice for passengers to see and hold.
Don’t be surprised if your Glacier Explorer turns into a wildlife expedition as well. On our Port Adventure, we were able to spot several humpback whales at a much closer proximity than on the Disney Wonder, as well as harbor seals. Simply put, this was a standout Port Adventure and one that I would recommend any family prioritize.
I participated in the Adult-Only tour, which costs $399.00 for ages 21 and up. The cost of the Adult-Only tour includes a glass of champagne when the tour begins, along with one additional beverage from the bar (most opted for the tour company’s signature drink, the Glacierita, chilled by the aforementioned pieces of floating glacier ice).
For those traveling with kids, there is an all-ages family version of the Glacier Explorer that is priced at the following: $369.00 for ages 10 and up, $259.00 for ages 3 to 9, and $259.00 for ages 0 to 2.
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Skagway: White Pass Scenic Railway
Skagway feels like a town frozen in time, or a postcard brought to life, with very few cars and many of its building facades reminiscent of a certain kind of Main Street, U.S.A. While the town has an abundance of charm, its small size makes for an easy half-day foot tour before you’ve essentially seen everything.
To maximize your port day in Skagway, you actually want to leave town by rail and head up the White Pass Scenic Railway.
Along the way, you will retrace the route of the Yukon Gold Rush that brought one of the earliest waves of settlers to the region. The fascinating history of the railway can only be matched (if not surpassed) by the breathtaking views the ride provides. You and your photo album are in for a treat regardless of the weather.
Pro tip: standing outside on the platforms at either end of your train car makes for some of the freshest air you’ll breathe and unobstructed photos of the area.
As this is a train ride, the White Pass Scenic Railway is ideal for families with multiple generations or groups who are looking for a more leisurely Port Adventure. Older kids and adults will likely get the most out of this adventure, as I noticed several little ones turning the back half of the ride into an impromptu nap time.
The White Pass Scenic Railway costs $174.00 for ages 10 and up and $84.00 for ages three to nine. Children ages two and under are free. The entire experience lasts between two-and-a-half to three hours.
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Juneau: Wildlife Quest and Enchanted Taku Lodge Flight
My day in Juneau included two Port Adventures that took up the majority of my day. If you’re interested in leaving some time in each port to explore the town, I’d recommend capping your Port Adventures at one per day. That said, there’s a lot to see and do outside of Juneau, and this day in particular had some pretty incredible sights.
The day started with Wildlife Quest, a boat adventure that took us out to open waters for spectacular wildlife encounters. We got about as close as you can get to a humpback whale, along with many more spotted along the way. Our Port Adventure also included porpoise and sea lion sightings.
Whale Watching and Wildlife Quest outside of Juneau costs $219.00 for guests ages 10 and up, and $134.00 for guests ages nine and under. This Port Adventure can last up to four hours; our particular outing was truncated to ensure my group made it to the next item on our itinerary. I hesitate to say, “If you’ve seen one humpback whale, you’ve seen them all,” but considering your unique budget for Port Adventures, I’d recommend prioritizing Glacier Explorer as your one boat-based adventure, as it offers a very similar experience (wildlife spotting may not be the same).
If there’s any Port Adventure I’d gently force my friends and family into, it’s the Enchanted Taku Glacier Lodge Flight and Five-Glacier Seaplane Discovery. As its lengthy name implies, this adventure involves boarding a 10-passenger seaplane in Juneau for an unforgettable flight above several glaciers, including the Norris, Taku, and Hole in the Wall glaciers.
It’s the last glacier – Hole in the Wall – where you’ll find your remote stopover, the Enchanted Taku Lodge. Nestled next to the face of the glacier, the lodge once served as an overnight hunting and fishing lodge. It now serves as a quaint spot for an impeccable salmon feast (the fresh-caught salmon was grilling over an open flame as we arrived), included with your Port Adventure.
Outside of lunch, there’s plenty of time to enjoy the surroundings, take a short nature walk, pick up a souvenir at their gift shop, or, as I partook in, sipping on a glass of wine while sitting next to a fire pit with views of the glacier. In all, this Port Adventure lasts three to three-and-a-half hours, though I could have easily doubled my time at the lodge and still feel like it wasn’t enough. I talk a lot about Disney magic, but this Port Adventure was magic of an entirely different species.
This Port Adventure costs $594.00 for guests ages 10 and up and $484.00 for guests ages two to nine. Guests must be at least two years old to participate.
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Ketchikan: Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and time in town
If you’ve never been to Ketchikan, it’s worth keeping this day relatively open and as the day you stay in town and not venture into the Alaskan frontier (save those adventures for your Skagway and Juneau days). The town itself has plenty to offer, from great food (order the Smoked Salmon Chowder at Alaska Fish House) to historic points of interest like Creek Street.
If you want one planned activity that’s perfect for the entire family to enjoy together, the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show fits the bill. The jokes are corny, but the athletic prowess is impressive, and it’s worth seeing at least once. Disney Cruise Line has an exclusive performance just for its passengers on the day your ship docks in town, with Goofy joining the show for a cute warm-up with the kids.
Tickets to the show cost $59.00 for guests ages 10 and up and $29.00 for guests ages three to nine. Kids ages two and under are free.
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I hope this gave you a good sense of what some of your Port Adventure options are as you plan your Alaska voyage with Disney Cruise Line. The group I was a part of featured families of all shapes, sizes, and ages, and I got the feeling that everyone felt like they had the adventure of a lifetime. As always, be sure to follow along for more tips and tricks for your next Disney vacation.
Disclosure: I was invited by Disney Cruise Line to experience a seven-night Alaskan voyage aboard the Disney Wonder. When I attend hosted events as invited media, I am not required to review that experience on my channels, nor am I required to review that experience favorably. My goal, as with all of my coverage, is to provide an unbiased and honest recap of any event I attend to give you, the reader, an idea of what to expect if and when you visit. This policy applies to hosted events as well as coverage of attractions and events where I pay for my own travel. Thank you for your support!
Planning Your Disney Alaska Cruise? The Ultimate Guide to Port Adventures & Excursions was originally published on The World of Spark.
