Cruise Lines International Association, Inc. (CLIA) reports that each year, approximately 1.5 million kids are cruising. Ships have no choice but to be the kid-friendliest of all by offering unique experiences. With spa treatments, a variety of restaurants, salsa dance classes and a sky observatory lounge (among many other enticing entertainment options for adults), the kids will think this ship was made for them. Cruises offer youth programs, pools, water slides and an entertainment center where you can trust they are safe to play games, sing karaoke, watch movies and do crafts.

Babysitting

Want to get dressed up in a fancy frock and dance the night away? On a cruise with babysitting services, you can do that without worry. The kids will be close but oh, so far away. There are various ways to have your kids looked after. For example, they can take culinary classes, art classes and go on scavenger hunts. They can attend a ship planned afternoon tea party or an early evening dinner party—kids only. You can also get private in-stateroom babysitting on a Celebrity European cruise. Open to children 12 months and older, a sitter will watch up to three kids for about $19/hr in the comfort of your room.

Play Together Onboard

Sometimes you actually want to share the day with the kids. With pool volleyball, trivia contests, lawn games, basketball courts, pools, Broadway tribute shows and circus shows, there’s never a dull day on a cruise ship when at sea. Enjoy a variety of meals together without lifting a spatula.

Celebrity cruises takes it up a notch thanks to their partnership with LeapFrog Schoolhouse offering kids a working studio to produce their own newscast and virtually explore the ports they’re visiting.

Why Europe?

The ultimate history lesson for the kids – guided tours throughout Europe

This is the ultimate history lesson. Enjoy day trips to Italy and take your family on a guided tour of ancient Rome exploring architecture like the Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Or, immerse yourselves in the sights, sounds and tastes of Parisian culture. Ride a riverboat down the Seine; stroll along the Champs-Elysees and view famous French attractions most kids only get to see in photos in history books—the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre Museum and the Eiffel Tower.

Ignite their imaginations on a journey through the Scottish countryside visiting medieval castles, where they can learn about drawbridges, Shakespeare and the Loch Ness monster. Then travel to Ireland to kiss the Blarney Stone and bestow the gift of eloquence. Every kid could certainly use a bit of that, couldn’t they?

You get to relax and play. The kids will have so much fun they won’t know they’re also learning. And everyone in the family has an opportunity to see things few people get the opportunity to see firsthand.

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Like floating resorts, cruise ships bring the journey and the destination together into one exciting adventure. Listed alphabetically, the following cruises are best for families with children, and include luxurious amenities, and a host of entertainment, dining and recreation suitable for everyone in the family, as well as the added advantage of stopping at new ports and sightseeing. But one of the nicest things about being on a ship with the kids is knowing they are not far from you at any given time.

Carnival Cruise Lines

The Carnival Breeze will be Carnival Cruise Lines’ largest ship ever based in South Florida (courtesy of Carnival Cruise Lines)

Carnival Cruise Lines’ mega ships are known as “fun ships” with good reason. From the moment you step aboard one of these magnificent vessels, throughout the entire trip, including ports and destinations, up to the time you disembark at the end of your holiday, you are in for an extraordinary voyage. The Carnival Dream class ships are our top picks with outstanding amenities for the entire family.

The 130,000-ton Carnival Breeze is the newest ship to join the fleet alongside the Carnival Dream and Carnival Magic in the Carnival Dream class ships. All boast an endless array of exciting attractions and activities, with most of the outdoor recreation taking place amid sweeping vistas of the shimmering sea. Play a round of miniature golf, shoot hoops on the basketball court, play volleyball, soccer, ping-pong and foosball. Jog around the track, workout at the fitness center, or just relax at the spa or salon. Carnival Breeze and Carnival Magic also feature a ropes course for those who thrive on challenges, as well as an outdoor weightlifting area with fitness equipment.

The WaterWorks aqua park is packed with slides, fountains, splash pools, spray elements and a giant tipping bucket (photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Lines)

There are swimming pools, whirlpools, a WaterWorks water park with thrilling slides, geysers, fountains, splash pools, and spray elements, a 24-hour video arcade, a SeaSide Theater with a giant outdoor screen, a host of Broadway-style entertainment, shows, music, galleries, shopping, bars, delicious dining options and restaurants, and so much more.

Children ages 2-11 can enjoy the many engaging supervised activities at Camp Carnival that are organized by age groups and include a variety of amusements like story-telling and crafts, to board games, video games, scavenger hunts, tournaments and lots more. Teens and ‘tweens’ have their own age appropriate fun as well with movies, games, sports and music, to name a few, at Club O2 and the supervised Circle “C.” And best of all, the youth programs are all included. Group babysitting is also available at Camp Carnival for children under 12 late nights from 10pm-3am, and on port days until noon, giving parents extra time to themselves.

For more information on Carnival Cruises visit their website at www.carnival.com

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises is one of the youngest fleets and one of the best for families with children (courtesy of Celebrity Cruises)

You don’t need to be famous to board one of Celebrity Cruises’ stellar ships. But you certainly will be treated as though you are. Although this cruise line is one of the youngest fleets among the majors, its reputation is among the best.

With so many activities to choose from for the whole family, you’ll never hear the words “I’m bored” from the kids. There are lawn games like bocce, croquet, and golf putting, to basketball, ping-pong, and a slew of interactive video games, to pool games like volleyball, to trivia contests, dancing competitions, a host of lessons, classes and lectures, food and wine tastings and activities, to a fitness center with classes, a spa with revitalizing treatments, to simply lounging on the deck and soaking up the sun and fresh sea breeze.

Celebrity Cruises has dedicated programs for kids that are age appropriate and lots of fun (courtesy of Celebrity Cruises)

Kids have their own dedicated programs designed just for them and arranged by age groups: Toddler Time for little ones under 3 years old, Shipmates for ages 3-5, Cadets for ages 6-8, Ensigns for ages 9-11, and Teens for ages 12-17. With activities like sports, games, interactive toys, arts and crafts, karaoke, music, treasure hunts, movies and theme parties, the fun is endless and very entertaining. A variety of LeapFrog® interactive toys can also be checked out for private use. Both group babysitting and private in-stateroom babysitting (for children over 12 months) is available for a nominal fee so that parents can enjoy some time to themselves.

While the kids are safely supervised and happily entertained, parents can explore the exciting world of entertainment that Celebrity Cruises has to offer. From Broadway style productions, to riveting circus shows with acrobats and aerialists, to magicians, comedians, singers, concerts, dancing, theme parties and more, the pulsating energy is infectious.

For more information on Celebrity Cruises visit their website at www.celebritycruises.com

Cunard

Cunard’s luxury is reminiscent of a glittering bygone era (courtesy of Cunard Line)

Cunard is a European-based luxury liner that is reminiscent of a glittering bygone era with its gracious hospitality, posh décor, and overall grandeur. It is quintessential opulence in every detail. But fear not. Its splendor is very warm and inviting, and welcoming to families with children. Our top picks are the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Victoria.

Children and teens ages 2-17 have complimentary programs led by highly competent and qualified staff. Age-appropriate supervised activities are planned to ensure that kids have as much fun as their parents. Everything from arts and crafts, to games, books, toys and puzzles, to movies and shows in the Royal Court Theater, to an outdoor play area, to afternoon tea in the British tradition, and so much more are included.  There is even a night nursery for little ones 12-23 months that is open from 6-11pm, so that parents can enjoy the evenings out.

This planetarium aboard the Queen Mary 2 is the only one like it at sea (courtesy of Cunard Line)

Recreation, dining and entertainment are as posh as the liner, with a fitness center and classes, sports courts, spa, music and theater productions, glamorous balls, daily program activities like painting, dancing and various lessons, to swimming pools (including a dedicated children’s pool on the Queen Mary 2), whirlpools, bars, lounges and restaurants, and so much more. The Queen Mary 2 even has a planetarium aboard – the only one like it at sea. For those who like a taste of the finest in this life, Cunard makes for an unforgettable experience.

For more information on Cunard visit their website at www.cunard.com

Disney Cruise Line

The Disney Cruise Line blends the elegant grace of early 20th century transatlantic ocean liners with contemporary design (courtesy of Disney Cruise Line)

Mention the word “Disney” to a child, and images of beloved characters, magical wands, castles, and happily ever afters dance in their vivid imaginations. Now combine that with an exemplary cruise line and you have a winning combination for the whole family that includes sensational Disney shows, acts and live entertainment, daily character greetings, special themed parties with stunts, effects, music and dancing, spectacular fireworks displays, activities galore for all age groups, delicious dining with family-friendly cuisine, and exciting itineraries.

Children ages 3-17 have a deck designed just for them in mind with areas, activities, and age appropriate programs including the ever inspiring Disney story classics with timeless characters, toys and artifacts for exploring and imaginative play, movies, games and interactive digital fun, crafts, music, computer games and much more. There is also a full-service nursery for infants and toddlers ages 12 weeks to 3 years that provides a safe, nurturing environment for the youngest guests, giving parents a break to enjoy the wonderful amenities on board, including a spa and salon.

The Disney Dream debuted AquaDuck – the first ever shipboard water coaster stretching 765 feet long and spanning four decks high (Kent Phillips, photographer)

Most of the Disney Bahamian and Caribbean cruises stop at Castaway Cay, a lovely private island exclusive to Disney Cruise guests with pristine beaches, crystalline waters, water sports and snorkeling, two water play areas, animal encounters, various tours, fishing and more. There is even free childcare on the island in a spacious supervised area called Scuttle’s Cove.

This award winning cruise line has the water coaster “AquaDuck” on board the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy ships that stretches an exhilarating 765 feet, whisking guests around the top deck through a clear tube with views of the open sea. There are character themed swimming pools on all the ships, water play areas called “AquaLab” on the Disney Fantasy and “Nemo’s Reef” aboard Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy with delightful geysers, pop jets and spray elements for lots of splashing fun. Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy also boast a sports deck with a miniature golf course, volleyball and basketball court, and virtual sports simulators, while the sports decks on Disney Magic and Disney Wonder feature basketball, ping pong, shuffleboard, and a running track, all with gorgeous panoramic views of the sea.

For more information on Disney Cruises visit their website at www.disneycruise.disney.go.com

Norwegian Cruise Line

The Norwegian Epic at sea makes a stunning sight (courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

The Norwegian Epic lives up to its name in every way. This impressive vessel transports passengers on a floating land of enchantment and thrills. With itineraries to the Caribbean and Europe, one can visit a host of exciting ports with the utmost of ease and comfort.  Just be prepared because you won’t want your cruising holiday to end.

This amazing ship offers plenty to see and do for everyone in the family. There is world-class entertainment and performers like the acclaimed Blue Man Group, Cirque Dreams with their spectacular acrobatic feats, magic shows, comedy theater, casino, musical concerts, Nickelodeon Slime Time Live challenges and game competitions, Nickelodeon Character Breakfasts with favorite characters from the popular network channel, and lots more. The Epic boasts a variety of over 20 dining choices from classic steakhouse fare, to savory Italian, French and Chinese cuisine, to pizza, burgers, sushi, salads, and many kids’ favorites so even the most finicky eaters are satisfied.

The Norwegian Epic’s Aqua Park is just one of the many exciting recreational activities aboard this fantastic ship (courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

There are plenty of on-board activities including a bowling alley, a sports complex with a rock climbing wall, full-sized basketball court, batting cage, 24-foot climbing cage, jogging track, spa, fitness center, video arcade, kid’s centers, and lots more. Kids and grown-ups of all ages will love splashing around in the Aqua Park with three water slides, two swimming pools, and five hot tubs for soaking. There is even an Aqua Park Kid’s Pool with mini slides, geysers and fountains for the little ones. Complimentary supervised kid’s programs offer age appropriate activities that engage children from ages 2-17, so that mom and dad can have their own fun while knowing their kids are safely entertained.

For more information on Norwegian Cruise Line visit their website at www.ncl.com

Princess Cruises

A calm sea captures the glittering reflection of the ship at dusk (courtesy of Princess Cruises)

Many people remember Princess Cruises from the popular television show “The Love Boat.” It was certainly a big hit and quickly enchanted viewers with the idea of cruising vacations. How could one resist the allure of the ship sailing into the sunset with its many comforts and conveniences, all surrounded by an endless glittering sea? Since then, this cruise line has only gotten better with time, and is now one of the largest cruise lines on the planet.

Kids are happily entertained with activities like arts and crafts at the Youth Centers aboard Princess Cruises (courtesy of Princess Cruises)

Princess Cruises is renowned for its fantastic itineraries to over 300 ports worldwide, delicious dining, exclusive amenities, and a host of wonderful recreational activities for the whole family including a variety of sports like basketball, volleyball, miniature golf, ping pong and shuffleboard, to swimming pools, a splash pool for kids, video arcade (on some ships) enrichment lectures and classes, spa and fitness center, casino, boutiques, and a host of exciting nightlife entertainment with shows, movies, parties, comedy and dancing.

Most of the ships have Youth Centers led by qualified counselors with supervised activities for children ages 3-12. These programs are designed with age-appropriate enrichment and fun, from arts and crafts, to board games, video games, scavenger hunts, theme nights, movies, sports, music, pizza parties, karaoke, and pajama nights, to name a few. For older kids ages 13-17 there are Teen Lounges with activities like talent shows, video games, movies, dance parties, and more.

For more information on Princess Cruises visit their website at www.princess.com

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International’s Oasis of the Seas is the world’s largest cruise ship (courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)

Royal Caribbean Cruises are fit for a king and queen and their entire family, down to the littlest prince or princess. Our top family and kid friendly choices are the Oasis class and Freedom class ships. There is little one cannot do on this floating nirvana. From riding waves on their 40-foot FlowRider surf simulator, to rock climbing, ice skating, miniature golfing, a sports zone, fitness classes, zip lining across the deck, in-line skating track, jogging track, lots of swimming pools, an arcade, Aqua Theater, carousel, a boxing rink, shopping, dining, loads of entertainment, fabulous shore excursions, and an H2O Zone water park with slides, geysers, fountains, and pools, and lots more, guests will find something to fit their fancy at any given moment (amenities and activities vary by ship).

The Oasis class ships offer an exclusive experience unlike any other: 7 distinct neighborhoods to visit that include Central Park with its lush gardens and winding paths, shops and restaurants, to the Boardwalk with a classic painted hand-carved wooden carousel, shops and eateries, to the Royal Promenade and more. The Oasis class, Freedom class, and Voyager class ships also boast the popular DreamWorks Experience including 3D movies, exhilarating aqua and ice shows with stunts and acrobatics, parades, and favorite characters including Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and Puss In Boots.

Royal Caribbean International’s H20 Zone water park boasts slides, geysers, fountains, pools and more (courtesy of Royal Caribbean International)

The complimentary Adventure Ocean® Youth Program ensures that children of all ages – from infants to teens – will never be bored as they participate in a variety of exciting age-specific programs and activities like scavenger hunts, science experiments, pajama nights, theme parties, karaoke, sports and game tournaments, digital interactive activities, fine arts, a teen spa, games and crafts. In-room babysitting is also available for children ages 1 and older, to give parents a night out (at hourly rates). The sitters even bring along toys and games to keep the little ones happily engaged.

Parents have their own variety of activities to choose from in addition to the wide array of on-board amenities. From interesting guest lecturers, to jewelry making and scrap-booking, to dance and language classes, cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, casino, spa, salon and medi-spa services, guests are sure to return home a little more knowledgeable and rejuvenated than before.

For more information on Royal Caribbean visit their website at www.royalcaribbean.com

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Travel is filled with opportunities to blow your diet

Travel is fraught with opportunities to completely blow your family’s diet. Fast food restaurants and greasy spoons beckon hungry road trippers, while many airlines have cut back the in-flight options to stale potato chips or high-sugar candy. The good news is that it is entirely possible to make healthy dining options during your trip. The bad news is that it requires advance planning and organization.

Road Trips

The best way to avoid pigging out on unhealthy food is to eat small, frequent meals. On a road trip, consider packing your own food. Dad and I travel full-time in our RV, and we try to always keep a “car bag” packed. We generally carry individual tuna salad kits, canned meats such as Vienna sausages or sardines, crackers, fresh fruit and a small assortment of cookies and candy. When we remember to pack the cooler, we add yogurt, fruit cups, cheese sticks, hummus and other healthier options.

Packing a picnic puts you in control of your family's dining

One of my favorite childhood road trip traditions was picnicking at roadside rest areas. Before each trip, we splurged on fun foods that we didn’t get every day. At the rest area, my parents would let me buy a soda and some cookies or chips to add to my meal. Instead of sitting still in a restaurant or inhaling burgers in the car, we had some time to run around in the grass and enjoy the sunshine. My favorite stops were always state Welcome Centers, where we picked up maps and tourist brochures or visited the attached museum displays. Now that Dad and I travel full time, we don’t always go the picnic route, but we still try to stop at the Welcome Center every time we cross a state line.

Flights

Airport food has greatly improved in recent years

Last year, Dad and I discovered one of the dirty little secrets of the airline industry–first class still gets amazing food service. We were booked in coach on Alaska Airlines from Anchorage to Denver, but the upgrade fairy decided to smile on us and we were sent to first class. It was an overnight flight, so I didn’t expect much, but we had a never ending supply of hummus, gourmet crackers, trail mix and other treats.

If you, like us, generally fly coach, don’t expect the airline to feed you too well. When we got to Denver, we ran into someone we had met in Alaska. He told us that on his coach class flight on Frontier, he was offered stale potato chips–for a fee. This has been our experience as well across several airlines.

Instead, take nutrition into your own hands by packing some snacks in your carryon bag. Current TSA regulations allow you to carry on food items that are not liquids or gels, and rules surrounding pies and cakes can get tricky. Minimize your hassles by choosing pre-packaged items that are entirely sealed and are of a fully solid consistency.

Alternately, most major airports have dramatically raised the quality of food that is sold airside. Although airport food is pricey, much of it is reasonably healthy. Look for cafés that sell wraps, salads and sandwiches, all of which are easy to carry onto the airplane. You can purchase bottled water airside as well, rather than waiting for flight attendants to come around with drink service.

Cruises

Cruise ships offer a wide range of healthy dining options

Cruise ships are well known for the seemingly limitless array of food choices, almost all of which are included in your fare. Although deep fried, high-fat options are everywhere, cruise lines now offer a plethora of healthier selections. Look for items that are labeled “spa fare” or similar. These healthier choices follow strict guidelines regarding the amount of fat, cholesterol and sodium they can contain. Some cruise lines publish nutritional content labels for their healthier options in the menus, while others do not. Regardless, sticking to spa fare and simpler dishes can drastically reduce your family’s chances of gaining weight on your cruise.

In Town

Scope out the local restaurants when you arrive at your destination

Although you may be able to curb bad habits until you get to your destination, the majority of your vacation meals are eaten once you arrive. Thankfully, both traditional restaurants and museum cafes have gotten on board with healthier solutions.

Shortly after checking into your hotel, take the time to scope out the neighborhood. Familiarize yourself with not only the chain restaurants, but also the mom-and-pops. Knowing where to go for a good home-cooked meal can help you avoid making bad choices out of sheer hunger or exhaustion.

Likewise, if you know you’ll be spending the day at a tourist attraction, check out the café early in the day. This gives you time to study the menu and make arrangements to eat elsewhere if nothing on the menu appeals to you.

Finding Balance

There's nothing wrong with the occasional splurge on a decadent dessert

Ultimately, you are on vacation and you deserve to splurge a bit. If your lodging provides a kitchen, you can prepare some meals yourself. You can also keep healthy snack items close at hand. But don’t go overboard.  Allowing your kids to eat some chicken nuggets, sharing a pizza or even indulging in a decadent dessert won’t totally ruin your family’s diet. Like anything else in life, moderation is the key.

That's one big cruise ship!

Cruising is a wonderful way to introduce your kids to international travel. You only have to unpack once, and you can relax and enjoy yourselves while others take care of everything from cooking your meals to cleaning your room. My Cruises for Families article is filled with tips for parents considering a cruise with their children. In 2008, my family took a cruise to the Eastern Caribbean on the Carnival Glory.

The Ship

The Carnival Glory in port

The Carnival Glory was breathtaking. Although some people do not care for the “Vegas glitz” décor scheme that Carnival uses, I just love the soaring atrium, glass elevators and sparkling lights. Carnival has long been one of our favorite cruise lines, and the Glory lived up to our high expectations. Unfortunately, we were running late and nearly missed the ship! At the time, we lived about three hours from the port. I always recommend that people spend the night before a cruise in a nearby hotel, but for some reason we didn’t take our own advice. Thanks to construction traffic and other hurdles, we arrived at the port with less than 30 minutes to spare. All of the shoreside staff members were very nice, and helped us rush through check-in procedures in time to board the ship.

Once we were finally on board, we had just enough time to check out our cabin and grab some quick lunch at the Welcome Aboard buffet before the mandatory lifeboat drill. The drill was short, and almost before we knew it, the cruise was underway. We found a spot on deck, where the party was in full swing. Sailaway is a big deal, so make sure you are outside.

Dinner is one of our favorite parts of any cruise. We always ask for late seating (around 8:15 p.m.) and a large table. We were seated on the main floor at a table for eight. Our tablemates were very nice and we hit it off well, but we had the impression that they were somewhat conservative. That notion was blown out the window on formal night, though. One of the men arrived wearing a jacket and tie, stating that his wife insisted that he should make the effort. Once we had all seen him, he proceeded to remove the jacket and tie, telling us that he had to be comfortable to eat. We all laughed, and one by one every guy at the table removed their ties and jackets! It was fun and perfectly appropriate.

Nassau, Bahamas

The interactive Pirate Museum in Nassau, Bahamas

We’ve been to the Bahamas several times, so we decided not to sign up for any major shore excursions. Instead, we opted for a bus tour of the city and a return trip to the Pirate Museum. If your kids are into pirates at all, do not miss this museum! It’s a fun walk-through of a port town and pirate ship, with plenty of interactive displays and photo opportunities. The bus tour was a lot of fun as well, and taught us some things we didn’t know about the city’s history. Make sure you leave some time in your schedule for shopping at the Straw Market, and be prepared to haggle on prices. Dad has long hair and a beard, and all the salespeople kept calling him Jesus (or Bob Marley, oddly enough!).

St. Thomas, USVI

I was stunned by the beauty of St. Thomas

There’s some history behind our trip to St. Thomas. My dad visited back in the late 1970s, when he was in the Navy. While he was there, he bought some items at a small shop called Mr. Tablecloth. Now, he was so smitten with that particular shop that he never stopped talking about it. One day, he was going to show me Mr. Tablecloth. So of course Mr. Tablecloth was at the very top of our to-do list in St. Thomas. However, there was also a long list of shore excursions that we wanted to do. So we booked an extremely packed day in St. Thomas.

When we stepped off the ship, my jaw hit the ground. My absolute favorite city in the world is New Orleans, but I also adore small beach towns. St. Thomas was both. From the architecture to the people to the laid-back energy, I was completely smitten. I still don’t understand why Dad never told me about the REST of St. Thomas, beyond Mr. Tablecloth.

First up was the Pirate boat. It was advertised as a combination water taxi and history tour on a small boat. We didn’t have a lot of time before our next planned adventure, but we had all-day passes for the Pirate boat, so we headed over. It was so much fun! We were the only ones on the boat, so the driver gave us an abbreviated harbor tour and assured us we could get the full tour when we came back. I just love small boats, and it was great to chat with the locals.

On the way to our next scheduled excursion, we were waylaid by a time share rep. I’m sure you’ve seen these guys; they stop you on the street to offer you a gift for sitting through a presentation. We didn’t have a lot of time, but something made me stop anyway. While talking to the rep, it came out that we were from New Orleans and had relocated after Hurricane Katrina. When we showed up to the presentation, it turned out that the manager was also from New Orleans. Rather than make us sit through the talk, he handed us our prize (a free 3 day/2 night vacation) and sent us on our way! He was a very nice guy.

We sat down on the floor of the Caribbean Sea

Back on the street, it was time for our next excursion–a submarine tour! I was extremely excited for this one, and it did not disappoint. We actually dropped to the sea floor and sat there for a few minutes watching the sea life go by as Yellow Submarine played over the loudspeaker. A few people got nervous when the song switched to the Jaws theme, but we saw only one small shark.

We finally made it to Mr. Tablecloth, and it really was a neat store. I bought a hand crocheted white dress, and we picked up a new tablecloth. The sales staff was friendly, prices were staggeringly low, and the sheer amount of inventory was mind boggling. After our shopping stop, we headed back to the Pirate boat, where a young, very cute guide let me drive the boat through the harbor! It was such a quintessential Caribbean moment.

Overlooking the Glory from Paradise Point

We finished up the day at Paradise Point. It’s a tramway up the mountain directly across from the cruise terminal. There are shops and restaurants at the top, generally with at least one live musician playing. Our cruise director had warned us not to get distracted and lose track of time at Paradise Point, but we did exactly that! So did a bunch of other people, though. We all piled onto the tram to go down and rushed back to the ship. Dad uses a cane when he’s not on his travel scooter, so we weren’t able to go too fast. We made it on board with a couple hot on our heels. As soon as they were on, the gangway snapped shut and the ship departed! Talk about cutting it close!

St. Maarten

St. Maarten (aka St. Martin) was just a lot of fun. Unfortunately I didn’t get any photos that day because we didn’t have a waterproof camera. Our big adventure in St. Maarten was a short version of the America’s Cup Regatta! They divide the crowd into two groups and take everyone out on boats that have actually participated in the regatta.

Each boat has a crew of three professionals, but everyone on the tour is assigned a job. I took “medium duty,” which involved turning a winch to move one of the sails. Dad took “light duty,” which involved passing out canned beverages to everyone and working the stopwatch at the beginning and end of the race! Kids are welcome if accompanied by their parents, and the tour is suitable for the disabled, provided you can hang on to a rope with at least one hand. Our captain knew more dirty tricks than the other captain, so our team won the race!

After the tour, I had to get a bit of work done, as I was on a deadline. So we jumped on a water taxi to downtown, where we located a library. It was a challenge to figure out the French keyboard, but I managed to get my work done on time. By that point it was pretty late, so we wandered through the waterfront and headed back to the ship.

What We Learned

Even in this outfit, I was boiling hot

The Caribbean in August is hot. I know that should go without saying, but we’re from the South. We’re used to summer heat. But that much further south, it was the kind of hot and humid where you step outside and are instantly soaked in sweat. Dress in thin, light-colored clothing and carry plenty of water. The ships generally sell big bottles on the gangway. They’re expensive, but worth every penny. If you need to buy water in port, pick it up from an actual store. There are rumors that some of the water stands actually refill bottles from a hose and pass them off as “bottled water.” Whether or not that’s true, it’s not worth taking a chance. There are plenty of grocery stores and convenience stores in every port.

We were out on a small boat off St. Thomas

Cruise ship Shore Excursion desks are great sources of information for average, healthy young adults. But they are generally unaware of whether kids, people outside traditional height and weight categories, and disabled people are able to participate in a specific tour. For instance, the America’s Cup Regatta excursion was listed as moderately strenuous. Due to his health limitations, Dad nearly didn’t sign up. As it turns out, even those in a wheelchair can be accommodated with advance notice. If you want to participate in a specific activity, a bit of internet research can usually provide the name of the tour provider. Call or email the company directly with any questions you might have.

The Eastern Caribbean is a fantastic itinerary for families of all ages. Filled with history and culture, reasonably safe and generally clean, the ports truly offer something for everyone. Meanwhile, the cruise experience softens some of the edges of international travel, allowing your family to maintain your daily routine.

Just one of the many scenic backdrops for a cruise

Cruising is a seemingly ideal vacation, allowing families to relax and recharge. Cruising is a particularly excellent choice for family reunions and large group get-togethers, as cruises truly offer something for everyone. Yet stories of accidents and illnesses at sea are all too common. Like any vacation, advance planning and preparation is the key to a safe and fulfilling cruise.

When to Go

Summer crowds can be intense

If you have kids in school, summers and holiday periods may be your only options. The biggest advantage to sailing during these times is that the ships are full of children, virtually ensuring that your kids will make new friends. However, summer and holiday cruises are usually crowded and expensive. Depending on your destination, the weather may be hot and rainy during the summer or cold over the winter holidays.

Spring and fall cruises are usually less crowded

If you can take the kids out of school without them falling behind, consider a spring or fall cruise. Known as the shoulder season, spring and fall are both less expensive and less crowded, and the weather is often ideal. If your kids are shy, however, they may be less likely to find friends during a shoulder season cruise, simply because there are not as many children on the ship.

Where to Go

St. Thomas is a wonderfully scenic family cruise port

There really is no wrong place to take kids on a cruise. Caribbean and Mexican destinations are traditionally the most popular with families, but today’s active cruisers are changing the rules. On European, Alaskan and exotic cruises, the average passenger age still skews slightly older, but young families are easy to find. As a general rule, itineraries of 7 or fewer nights generally have the most children on board, while world cruises (which may last upwards of 100 days) have the fewest.

Choosing a Cruise Line

You can find all ages on a cruise

In today’s cruise market, the cruise line you choose has a much more direct impact on the number of families on board than the destination or even the cruise length. Carnival and Disney are widely reputed to have the best children’s programs at sea, while Royal Caribbean is extremely popular with active families due to such on board activities as ice skating and rock climbing. Of the mass market lines, Holland America and Celebrity Cruises tend to skew slightly older.

Luxury lines such as Silversea, Crystal and Seabourn traditionally carry very few children. If your kids are familiar with fine dining and comfortable in a formal atmosphere, they are welcome on board. However, some children find the ships boring, with sedate activities primarily geared toward adults.

Cabin Selection

All staterooms offer plush bedding and plenty of storage space

Although many cruisers make a big deal out of choosing just the right cabin with just the right amenities, very few modern lines discriminate between passengers in varying stateroom categories. One of the few that does is Cunard. On Cunard’s ocean liners, guests dine in different dining rooms depending on cabin category. Those in the Grill Classes (which include both Queen’s Grill and Princess Grill) also have exclusive access to a few small lounge facilities.

In general, however, you will be able to enjoy the entire ship no matter which cabin you select. Make your choice based on your family’s unique tastes and preferences rather than any preconceived notions of how you will be treated. In our experience, it truly does not matter to anyone on board.

Embarkation

Arrive early on embarkation day to beat the long lines

Arrive at the port early on embarkation day. Boarding typically begins around noon, although the exact time will be noted on your cruise documents. Fill out your documents online as soon as they become available (typically within 24 hours of the final payment date) to minimize your wait at check-in. If you are staying in a suite, if anyone in your party is disabled, or if you have achieved premier status as a past guest, you may be eligible for VIP check-in. Present everyone’s tickets, completed documents and passports at the check-in counter. If you wish to post a credit card for your onboard charging account, you may do so at check-in. If you prefer to use cash, you may need to wait and visit the purser’s desk on board.

Any luggage that you check at the curb will be delivered to your cabin by midnight. Pack a change of clothes, swimsuits, medications, and anything else you might need for that first evening in your carry-on bag. In most cases, you will be able to access your stateroom as soon as you board. Occasionally, however, stateroom access might be delayed. Distribute everyone’s carry-on needs into multiple bags in case you need to carry them around the ship for an hour or so.

Handle your business at the purser's desk early, before the crowds show up

If you need to handle any business on board such as making reservations for the specialty restaurant or posting cash to your onboard account, do so as soon as you board. Lines get steadily longer throughout the day. This is also a great time to sign your kids up for the onboard kids’ club, as an orientation is often held on the first afternoon. The spa, fitness center and other special programs may offer free walking tours this afternoon as well.

Head to the buffet for a Welcome Aboard lunch

Once your business is completed, make your way to the buffet restaurant for the Welcome Aboard lunch. This is a great opportunity to settle down and relax after the rush of getting to the ship and going through check-in. After lunch, check the activity schedule for tours or other special activities. Make sure you are out on deck for sailaway, though! Live music, narration, drink specials and a general hubbub of activity make sailaway into a giant party for all ages.

The lifeboat drill is short, painless and mandatory

Shortly before sailaway is a Coast Guard-mandated lifeboat drill. Attendance is strictly required for all passengers, and you may be required to check in with staff to prove that you are present. This is the time to review safety procedures and find out what to do in case of emergency. Some lines assign color-coded bracelets to small children to help with identification during an emergency situation.

Life On Board

We had breakfast in front a glacier on an Alaska cruise

Life on a cruise ship is divided into two main categories: port days and sea days. It is further divided into daytime and evening. On port days, relatively little happens around the ship during daytime hours. The restaurants, spa facilities and pools are generally open, and a handful of activities might be offered, but since most guests are in port, there is not much to do on the ship.

On sea days, the daytime hours are packed with an endless selection of trivia games, contests, art auctions, tours and special events. Tear out the daily activity schedule from the newsletter that is delivered to your cabin each night and carry it with you throughout the ship. Make sure to wear a watch, as there are few clocks on the average ship. Many families like to sit down with the schedule at night or over breakfast and highlight their chosen activities. Consider using a different color highlighter for each person. If your schedules will be very different, pick up extra copies of the activity schedule at the purser’s desk so that each person can carry his own.

The casino offers late-night adult fun

Whether or not you were in port that day, evenings follow the same basic routine: dinner and a show. Most ships today allow you to decide between traditional and anytime dining. In traditional dining, you are seated at the same table, with the same tablemates and wait staff, for the entire cruise. Anytime dining provides more flexibility, allowing you to show up anytime during dinner hours to be seated at the next available table. We strongly prefer traditional dining, as we enjoy getting to know our tablemates and wait staff throughout the week. However, anytime dining has become extremely popular, so clearly it works for some families!

Late night entertainment generally involves the casino, discos and R-rated comedy shows, and may not be appropriate for younger children. Most cruise lines offer late-night in-room babysitting, while some provide late-night kids’ club hours. Expect to pay extra for any kids’ service provided after 10 p.m.

Kids’ Clubs

Kids' activities take place in the kids' club and around the ship

Kids’ clubs are nearly ubiquitous on mass-market cruise lines, but the quality and range of programming may vary dramatically from line to line, from ship to ship, and even from one week to the next. Most lines accept potty-trained children 3 years of age or older, although some, such as Carnival, accept 2 year olds and do not require potty training. Check these rules on any line you are considering before booking your cruise.

Kids’ clubs are generally divided by age, although Disney recently announced that it will begin grouping kids by interest instead. Depending on the ship, available activities run the gamut from arts and crafts to science projects to scavenger hunts to video game competitions. Most clubs require a parent to check smaller kids in and out, while older kids can check in and out on their own. In the interest of safety, many clubs now use combination locks or pass keys to restrict access to the club facilities.

Be sure to attend the kids’ club orientation, which is usually held on the first afternoon at sea. This is your opportunity to ask questions, find out the policies and procedures and get to know other parents and children. Every club operates slightly differently, so it is worth going even if you have cruised on that line before.

Teen Programs

Most cruise lines now recognize the unique needs of teen passengers, and have carved out space for teens to gather. Many ships divide teens into two age groups, typically 12-14 and 15-17. Most ships provide juice bars, Internet cafes, lounges and other hang-out spots for teens to simply relax. Social programs such as dances and scavenger hunts are often scheduled throughout the week, but teen schedules are generally not as tightly programmed as those for younger kids.

Port Visits

Stepping off the ship in a new port brings a thrill of anticipation

Although the kids’ clubs may be open on port days, it would be a disservice to your kids not to take them ashore. Most port towns are reasonably safe and easy to get around, and offer a plethora of sightseeing opportunities to match any interest.

Some families prefer to sign up for official shore excursions provided by the ship. This can be a great way to get to know a new destination and, if a shore excursion is delayed, the ship will wait to depart. However, you will pay a premium for tours scheduled through the ship.

We took a lobster boat tour in Halifax, Nova Scotia

If your family is confident and used to traveling, you can generally do much better booking your own shore visits. Since the ships contract with outside vendors, you may even end up on the exact same tour at a fraction of the price! If you are delayed, however, the ship will not wait for you. Aim to be back on board 30 minutes before the scheduled All Aboard time.

Research the destination well in advance of the cruise to decide what you would like to do. Taxis are widely available in most port towns, but in some locations, renting a car or a jeep might be more economical. We rented a jeep in Grand Cayman, for example, and were able to visit all of the highlights at a fraction of the price of a guided tour or taxi ride. Book your vehicle online rather than waiting until you arrive. With a confirmed booking, we paid less than half of what the same company was charging on the day of arrival!

Safety and Security

The glass elevators are a hub of excitement on Carnival ships

Carrying upwards of 2,000 passengers (over 5,000 on the newest mega-ships), cruise ships are floating cities. As such, it is important to take the same precautions that you would in any unfamiliar city. Likewise, many ports are located outside of the United States and therefore may have different laws and levels of security than you are used to at home.

At the same time, a cruise ship is a relatively confined space and security is everywhere. A cruise can be an excellent opportunity for kids and teens to stretch their wings and experiment with a reasonable level of freedom. The keys to success are trust and communication.

Security is always watching on today's cruise ships

Open a dialogue with your kids as soon as you book the cruise, and keep talking right on through the trip. Let them know that they may be exposed to new people and situations, and role-play how to handle different scenarios. Have them practice saying, “I’m sorry, my mom won’t let me” or “No, I’m not allowed” or whatever age-appropriate saying can get them out of an awkward situation.

The party goes all night, but underage drinking is not tolerated

Although it is impossible to cover every single situation that may arise on a ship, some of the most common trouble spots for kids tend to revolve around a few basic scenarios: underage drinking; going off alone with strangers; causing problems around the ship (vandalism, screaming, blocking stairwells); and drugs. Today the drinking age on cruise ships is at least 18 and is most often 21. Ships do not tolerate underage drinking or drug use by anyone, and your entire family may be asked to leave at your own expense. Make sure your kids are aware of the penalties, and let them know that if your cruise is cut short due to their behavior, they will be punished further at home.

Let your kids know that it is never okay to go off alone with someone they just met. Insist on group dates rather than one-on-one time. This is especially important for teenage girls, who could be lured into a bad situation by a young-looking passenger or even staff member. While most people on board are honest and just trying to have fun, two girls are always safer than one. Also let your kids know that they should keep an eye on anything they are drinking and, if they turn their backs, it is best to order a new drink. To keep the price down, consider purchasing unlimited soda cards for your children.

The odds of something going wrong are slim, while the odds of having a fantastic time are high!

Since everyone is searched when boarding the ship the biggest risk for drugs is in ports, where some dealers openly sell on the streets. One of the saddest situations we ever encountered was when we learned that a 14-year-old boy from our ship was arrested for purchasing marijuana in Jamaica. Drugs are not legal in Jamaica, and foreigners are dealt with particularly harshly. I really felt for his parents when they had to leave the ship and begin the process of extraditing him to the United States.

We loved the Gold Rush town of Skagway

On Day Five of our Celebrity Millennium cruise to Alaska (continued from Part 3: Alaskan Ports Galore), we finally got to visit Skagway. For some reason, this recreated Gold Rush town had been at the top of Dad’s must-see Alaska list for years. I had actually been hired by phone for a summer job in Skagway a few years ago, but for a variety of reasons I wasn’t able to take the job. So we were both really excited to finally visit. 

Klondike Gold Rush  

We visited historic Gold Rush sites on a free walking tour

We purposely decided against booking a tour in Skagway, opting to explore the easily walkable town on our own. Skagway lived and died by the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898. Located at the foot of the punishing White Pass, it served as a rest stop for gold prospectors on their way north to the Yukon gold fields. The rough and rugged town was run by con men and goodtime girls. Today Skagway’s primary industry is tourism, with most Alaska cruises stopping by. Most of the historic buildings have been restored. 

We checked the schedule of activities at the visitor center

Our first stop was the visitor center at the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. We were just in time for a free walking tour led by a park ranger, so we skipped the free movie and got in line. The tour lasted about an hour and took us to some of Skagway’s most important historical points of interest. We learned a great deal about the Gold Rush and Skagway’s role in it. 

The Red Onion Saloon opened in 1897

After the tour, we stopped by the Eagles Hall to purchase tickets to the “Days of ’98 Show Starring Soapy Smith.” We still had a couple of hours before the show, so we headed for the Red Onion Saloon, where I would have been employed had I taken the job. Built in 1897, the Red Onion originally housed a pub downstairs with a brothel above. Today the pub serves up local specialties, while girls in period garb give tours of the recreated brothel. 

Brothel tours cost $15 for 15 minutes...just like in 1898

Kids are welcome on the brothel tour, which has a strongly historic focus. But parents should be aware that the subject matter, prostitution in Gold Rush days, is handled honestly and matter-of-factly. The tour guides wear 1890s-style dresses, but a few nude photos of actual madams are scattered throughout. 

The mildly risque Days of '98 Show with Soapy Smith

Soon it was time for the “Days of ’98 Show.” The musical, which has been presented continuously since 1930, depicts the life of con man Jeff “Soapy” Smith. An underworld boss from Denver who followed the Gold Rush to Skagway, Soapy ran a theater as a front for his cons. The show depicts Soapy as an ultimately sympathetic character. Very conservative parents may not want to expose their children to the mildly bawdy performance, but there were kids of all ages in the audience, most of whom seemed to love the show.  

It was peaceful and slightly surreal at 2 a.m.

Back on board, this was the second of two formal nights. Everyone donned their finest for dinner, although a significant portion changed clothes after the meal. We decided to stay dressed up while closing out the night at Cosmos. The further north we traveled, the more we got to experience the midnight sun. We couldn’t resist slipping out on deck late that night to sit and enjoy the views.  

Icy Strait Point

We took small tender boats to Icy Strait Point

Designed for cruise ships, Icy Strait Point was our port stop on Day Six. Located near the Tlingit village of Hoonah, Icy Strait Pont delivers “the Alaskan experience” in an easy-to-swallow chunk. The fishing museum, zip line tours and bonfire are all within easy walking distance. This is a tender port, meaning that we had to line up for small boats that transported us from the ship to the dock. Those with disabilities may have trouble tendering, as you and your party must be able to get you and your wheelchair down the stairs and onto the tender on your own. ECVs are not permitted on tenders at all.  

We kept expecting E.T. to show up!

Since the distance was short, Dad elected to walk using his cane. We wandered through the fishing museum and visitor center before discovering a short but visually stunning hiking trail. Just a few feet out onto the trail, we were in the middle of the wilderness! The easy, relatively flat path led to the beach.  

Icy Strait Point is aptly named--that water was freezing!

Growing up in Florida, I’m used to hot, white sand beaches. The rocky terrain and freezing water was quite a shock! We each dipped a hand into the water to say we had done it, but I don’t see us becoming members of the Polar Bear Club anytime soon!  

We stayed only a few hours in Icy Strait Point, and then headed back to the ship. After several days in a row of touring, it was nice to simply relax. We went to a wildlife talk by the ship’s naturalist and then spent the rest of the afternoon lounging on the Resort deck.  

Hubbard Glacier  

The Hubbard Glacier was well worth the 27 layers of required clothing!

The naturalist had warned us that we would approach the Hubbard Glacier very early on Day Seven, so despite my distaste for early mornings I was out of bed by 6 a.m. Yawning and bleary-eyed, I bundled up before waking Dad. We were warned that the air temperature, which had been hovering in the upper 50s, would be about 20 degrees colder as we approached the glacier. Climate-controlled viewing was available in Cosmos, and the naturalist’s narration would be broadcast throughout the ship. But being Southerners determined to have an Alaskan adventure, we headed for the Resort deck.  

Dining in front of the Hubbard Glacier was awe inspiring

Grabbing breakfast from the buffet restaurant, we headed outside to the large seating area at the ship’s stern, where a handful of people were gathering. What an experience, eating breakfast on the open deck just feet from one of Alaska’s most spectacular glaciers! As the narration began, the naturalist noted over the loudspeaker that while most cruisers sought warmth indoors, a few hardy souls could actually be found on the open deck. It was a pleasure to feel like part of the elite few!  

Don't believe the commercials--this is "clear" glacier water!

The biggest shock for us was the water. Filled with not only chunks of ice, but silt and dirt, the “clear glacier water” was anything but. The naturalist drew our attention to sections of the glacier that were calving, or producing large chunks, and we sat open-mouthed as we marveled at the sights and sounds.  

That night was the last night of the cruise, so we went to the obligatory debarkation talk. Most cruise lines now allow what is known as “self debarkation.” If you are able to handle all of your own luggage, then you can debark the ship at any time after the All Clear is sounded. Unfortunately, Celebrity didn’t offer this option on this particular cruise. Instead, everyone was assigned colored luggage tags according to cabin placement on the ship, and called for debarkation according to tag color. Those with early flights could arrange early debarkation at the purser’s desk.  

Debarkation  

Time to say goodbye to the cute Ukranian waiter

Since Dad is disabled, we were placed in a separate debarkation group with strict instructions to meet at 10 a.m. Our bags had to be packed and left in the hallway by 11 p.m. Packing is my most hated part of any cruise, but we managed to get it done before dinner. The last dinner is always bittersweet, but it’s a great chance to say goodbye. Tipping is automatically added to your shipboard account, but some cruisers like to give a little extra to those who made their vacation magical. With that in mind, we tracked down our cabin stewardess, the waiter from the casual bistro, and the bartenders from the aft Resort deck bar and Cosmos. We said our goodbyes and discreetly handed over a few dollars each.  

We had a little hiccup at debarkation. Somehow Dad had completely lost the key to his ECV, and we didn’t have a spare. We checked with Lost and Found and with our cabin stewardess, but it had not been turned in. Our quick-thinking stewardess suggested we call maintenance. The mechanic was able to bypass the ignition system and wire a simple on-off switch for the scooter. This was less secure than using a key, but enabled us to get the scooter off the ship. We tried to pay the mechanic, or at least tip him for his trouble, but he refused. We did write a nice note to Celebrity thanking him for his efforts.  

The Millennium docked in Seward

Otherwise, debarkation was a breeze. We had just enough time to grab a quick breakfast from the buffet restaurant before meeting our group. The disabled group was debarked just after those with early flights, so there was virtually no line. The cruise port in Seward is extremely visitor-friendly, with representatives of the city’s tourist bureau on hand. We picked up a free map and got verbal directions to our hostel, and then retrieved our luggage. The hostel was just a few blocks away, so we decided to walk/roll rather than getting a taxi.  

What We Learned and Tips for Parents  

Our cabin stewardess left cute towel animals every night

The second half of our cruise was just as exciting as the first. While we did not experience the highly personalized service and utter relaxation of a luxury cruise, our ship was packed full of high-energy activities and entertainment. We had to be more proactive in seeking out friendships and developing relationships than we would on a ship that held fewer people. However, the larger crowd gave us more potential friends to choose from.  

Despite being a mega-ship, the Millennium offers numerous quiet spots

The Celebrity cruise fit our lifestyle, and at no time did we ever feel like we missed out on anything by choosing an inexpensive inside cabin. But that’s because our focus was on meeting new people, seeing the sights and having adventures. If our goal had been relaxation, private time and peace, we probably wouldn’t have been happy with our choices. Your selection will ultimately be based on your budget and your goals for the cruise.  

We saw dozens of kids around the ship and in port. They always seemed happily engaged in an activity, rather than simply roaming the ship in packs. Alaska’s low crime rate, status as a US state and mix of activities make it an excellent destination for kids of all ages. Most cruise lines offer kids’ programs, allowing families to renew bonds without spending every waking moment together. I would go back in a heartbeat with kids of any age.

My favorite quiet spot

The first full day of our Vancouver to Seward Alaska cruise was everything we could have hoped for: relaxing, entertaining and filled with activities. Read about part one of our Alaskan adventure in Traveling 5,000 Miles on Two Weeks’ Notice, and part two where we are introduced to, and are discovering the Celebrity Millennium Cruise.  

We both absolutely love sea days, and this was no exception. We explored the ship more thoroughly and in the process discovered my favorite quiet corner — the Conservatory. I’m not sure if other cruisers didn’t realize it existed, tucked away in a nook near Cosmos disco, but we had the place to ourselves every time we stopped by. Very peaceful to sit and watch the ocean surrounded by plants and trees. We also loved the glass elevators that look out onto the ocean.  

Day Two: Sea Day  

The outdoor pool was rarely used

On a typical Caribbean cruise, the outdoor pool is packed with swimmers on every sea day. On an Alaska cruise, with temperatures barely breaking 60 degrees F, the outdoor pool was deserted. An indoor pool got a bit more traffic, but hot tubs were definitely preferred. We’re not big swimmers or hot tubbers, so we didn’t even bring swimsuits. Instead, we spent the day at silly group activities such as Name That Tune and Win, Lose or Draw. We also attended the port talk for Ketchikan, our first stop, even though we had already booked an independent tour. Hey, they give away free swag at those talks — sit in the first three rows, since they sometimes throw small gift items into the crowd.  

This was the first of two formal nights on the cruise, and included the Captain’s Cocktail Party before dinner. Since this was a day at sea, everyone had plenty of time to dress to impress. If you want to wear a tuxedo or long gown, many Celebrity Cruise passengers do, and formal wear is available for rent on board. However, many male passengers opt for a suit or coat and tie, with ladies choosing cocktail dresses or pantsuits. Having done formal nights many times, and having packed a month’s worth of clothing into two carryon bags, we opted for less formal attire. Dad has a snazzy black velvet coat, which he paired with dark dress pants, while I wore black dress pants and an elegant top.  

Every night after dinner we caught the main show in the Celebrity Theater. Acts ranged from Broadway-style production shows to comedians and magicians. If your kids are young, you may want to choose early dinner seating, which allows you to attend dinner and the show and still get the kids to bed by 10 p.m.  

Day Three: Ketchikan  

The Bering Sea Crab Fisherman's Tour

Both Dad and I are in love with The Deadliest Catch, a Discovery Channel show that follows crab fishing boats on the Bering Sea. So imagine our delight when we discovered a tour named The Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour! Fans of the show might recognize the Aleutian Ballad, featured on Season 2 and most noted for taking a rogue wave that nearly destroyed the boat. Today the Aleutian Ballad is used for tours in Ketchikan that are guided by men and women who have actually fished on the Bering Sea. Fans will recognize most of the crew including Derrick Ray, who took over as relief skipper on the Cornelia Marie in 2010 after Captain Phil Harris passed away.  

Kiwi and Chief are among the well-known crew

Although the tour is offered through most cruise lines, you can also book on your own. We booked directly through the company, 56 Degrees North, using a coupon from the Great Alaskan TourSaver. A brand-new $100 coupon book is released each year, offering two-for-one savings on attractions, rental cars and lodging throughout Alaska. The tour price was $168.54 with tax, and the coupon gave us the second ticket free. So we more than made our money back just on that tour alone.  

The wheelhouse of the Aleutian Ballad

The Aleutian Ballad has been completely retrofitted for tourism, offering comfortable stadium-style seating. The seating is partially covered and heat lamps provide some respite from the chilly Alaska weather. We traveled in completely calm waters as the crew shared stories from their lives on the Bering Sea.  

Up close and personal with 800-pound crab pots

We watched them set crab pots and pull in pots that had been soaking, as well as demonstrate other types of Alaska fishing. We were allowed to handle some of the sea life. If you are interested in Alaska fishing, it really doesn’t get any more up-close and personal than this tour! Of course, at the end of the tour we couldn’t resist the gift shop. We picked up a DVD of the tour, a long-sleeve T-shirt for Dad and an Aleutian Ballad crew jacket for me.  

Ketchikan was a relatively short port visit, and the tour took up the bulk of our time. We did a little shopping near the pier and returned to the Millennium. As was becoming our routine, we did dinner and the show, followed by late-night fun at Cosmos.  

Day Four: Juneau  

Downtown Juneau

Juneau is the only state capital not accessible by road or rail, and we were excited to see it. We decided not to book a tour in advance, but see what we wanted to do when we got off the ship. We slept in a little, since the ship would be in Juneau for most of the day.  

Chris was our tram operator and tour guide

We stepped off the ship into a crowded downtown. It seemed like every ship in Alaska must have been in Juneau that day! Just off the dock was a large park ringed by vendors offering tours of every description. We read some signs and asked some prices, but decided to wait till afternoon for a tour. The Mt. Roberts Tramway is located directly across from the dock, and we wanted to make sure we had plenty of time. With our coupon from the Great Alaskan TourSaver, we paid just $27 for the two of us including unlimited tram rides and all-day admission to the attractions at the top of the mountain.  

Juneau was stunning from above the cloud line

The Tramway offers six-minute rides 1,800 feet up the side of Mt. Roberts, and is one of the most vertical trams in the world. We were in Juneau on a foggy, drizzly day, and it was quite an experience breaking through the clouds on the Tramway!  

At the top we found a large visitor center and gift shop, a nature center and several hiking trails. Local musicians sometimes perform in the visitor center theater, and a film depicts the life of the native Tlingit people.  

Juneau by Bus  

Although we could easily have spent the day at the top of Mt. Roberts, we wanted to see as much as possible. Back on the ground, we signed up for a city tour with a stop at the Mendenhall Glacier. We negotiated hard and, while I don’t remember our exact price, it was quite reasonable.  

Juneau is just plain fun

Juneau is just a cool city. Despite being a government town and major tourist destination, Juneau retains a small-town flavor. We drove all around the city, visiting the Government District and several residential neighborhoods before stopping at the Chapel by the Lake. This little log cabin church dates to 1950, when Alaska was still a US territory (it gained statehood in 1959).  

The little log cabin Chapel By the Lake

Although Juneau was the second-largest Alaska city, the Auk Lake area where the chapel is located did not have paved roads or telephone service. A single city bus served the area, and also delivered the newspaper. An itinerant preacher named Reverend McCluggage landed in Haines, Alaska in 1950. He heard that a small chapel was operating out of a tiny building in Juneau and needed a minister. Reverend McCluggage took the job. A few years later he built the log cabin on the shores of Auk Lake. Although the church now has a large new sanctuary, the little log cabin remains.  

Mendenhall Glacier  

Mendenhall Glacier as seen from Photo Point

Back on the bus, we traveled a short distance to Mendenhall Glacier. Glacier viewing had been at the top of my must-do list, and I was breathless as we drove up to the parking area. They say the glacier has been retreating since the mid-1700s, but it remains a massive and imposing piece of ice. We had about an hour at the glacier, so we made a quick stop in the visitor center. A small museum inside is operated by the US Forest Service, but we didn’t have time to look around in great detail.  

Mendenhall Glacier offers numerous hiking trails, including the strenuous West Glacier Trail. We heard that the views of the glacier’s west face are spectacular, but the five-hour hike was out of our reach. Instead, we opted for the flat, paved walk to Photo Point. The trail is accessible for wheelchairs, scooters and strollers, and ends at a spectacular overview just a quarter mile from the glacier. My jaw dropped in amazement as we heard the glacier heave and chunks dropped from it, a process known as calving. You generally think of glaciers as solid and immovable, but it actually seemed almost alive.  

Downtown Juneau and Government Row  

Imagine negotiating that when it's icy!

After the tour, we headed out on our own to take some photos. Government Row is located on high ground, so be ready to climb some major hills. One of the most surprising things to me, being from the consistently flat southern United States, was the steepness of some people’s staircases. I can’t fathom carrying groceries up those stairs in snow and ice!  

Incidentally, we stopped by the Governor’s Mansion. Remember when Sarah Palin supposedly said she could see Russia from her house?  Well, it was actually Tina Fey from Saturday night live that said it during an Emmy award winning impression of her, but try as we might, we couldn’t see any farther than downtown Juneau.  

Can you see Russia in this photo?

Back in downtown, located in the valley along the waterfront, we must have stopped in dozens of little shops and cafes. Our favorite was the Red Dog Saloon, which dates to the Gold Rush era. Among other artifacts is a gun that belonged to Wyatt Earp. He checked it at the US Marshall’s office on June 27, 1900, but left for Nome, Alaska on June 29 without reclaiming it.  

After a long day in Juneau, we headed back to the ship. Tired from our day, we decided to skip the main dining room. At night, a section of the buffet restaurant seating is transformed into a casual table-service bistro, at an upcharge of $2 per person. The food and service was fantastic, and we ended up becoming friends with our Ukranian waiter. Dinner revived us, and we closed out the evening with the main show followed by meeting friends for drinks at Cosmos.  

What We Learned and Tips for Parents  

Save some money by booking tours independently

Having cruised several times before, we have learned that booking tours through the ship is almost always a waste of money. Cruise ships contract with outside vendors to provide tour services, and the ships charge a high markup for the convenience. On both the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen’s Tour in Ketchikan and the bus tour in Juneau, most of the group consisted of people who had booked through the ship–either the Millennium or another ship that was docked in town. They paid more than double what we paid, and were sitting right next to us.  

Look for Wyatt Earp's gun at the Red Dog Saloon

The ships promote safety and convenience as reasons to book their official tours. If you’re a savvy traveler, you can check out tour providers online, read reviews from other travelers, and even find out who the “official” tour providers are for the cruise lines. If you go out on your own, make sure your watch is set to ship’s time. The ship will wait for delayed passengers on an official shore excursion, but will not wait for late passengers who are on their own. Try to be back on board 30 minutes prior to the announced All Aboard time.  

Bald Eagles are everywhere in Alaska

Alaska is an excellent destination for adventurous kids. It’s exotic enough that you could almost believe that you were in a foreign country, yet you have the security of knowing that you are still in the United States. The crime rate is stunningly low even in the bigger cities, and locals are almost uniformly friendly, helpful and welcoming. Everyone has a story to tell, and the state operates on “Alaska time.” No rushes, no worries, just a fascinating blend of history and culture, wildlife and rugged terrain.

Next stop: Skagway Gold Rush and Alaskan Glaciers.

Amtrak makes things easy for disabled travelers

On Day 2 of our Alaska adventure, we awoke bright and early in Seattle. Thankfully, my body was still on Orlando time, so the 7:40 a.m. departure felt more like 10:40 a.m. We had coach seating in the disabled section, providing us with two comfortable seats and room to simply park Dad’s scooter on board. Read about Part One of our Alaskan Cruise here!   

We settled in and then headed for the Club Car, where fast-food style breakfast was being served. Our table turned out to be in a wonderful location for photography, so we stayed put for half of the four hour ride and then went exploring. We love the ability to wander through the train at our leisure rather than being stuck in an airplane seat.  

Border Crossing  

That little white building is the official border crossing

Despite the enhanced security regulations on border crossings, we found crossing by train to be a breeze. At the Seattle train station, we showed our passports and tickets at the counter and were on our way. No need to take off our shoes or pour out our beverages. About an hour before we arrived in Vancouver, train personnel passed out standard customs forms. If you’ve ever left the US, you’re familiar with these forms. We had to state where we were going and how long we planned to stay in Canada. There were lines to declare things like alcohol and cigarettes, and any cash over $10,000. I can’t fathom why anyone would travel with $10,000 in cash, but I’m sure people have their reasons!  

We walked through Customs on the way off the train, where we basically spent under a minute answering the same questions that were on the form. The agent scanned our passports and we were free to go. It really couldn’t have been much easier!  

Embarkation  

Arriving at the cruise terminal

We caught a taxi from the train station to the pier, and checked our luggage curbside. Due to Dad’s disability, we were ushered past the regular check-in line and permitted to check in with suite passengers. We presented our passports and cruise documents and were directed to a waiting area.  

We got to skip most of this line

Boarding was scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m., but was slightly delayed. We found out why when we were handed two forms. The first explained that on the previous cruise, the ship was struck by Norovirus! This is a highly contagious gastrointestinal illness that spreads rapidly through enclosed populations such as cruise ships and dorm rooms. We’ve been lucky enough never to have had Norovirus, and certainly didn’t want to start in Alaska! The second form was part of the cruise line’s outbreak control procedures, where we had to state whether we had felt ill or run a fever in the past week. If so, then the ship’s doctors would check us out free of charge before boarding. Thankfully, we were feeling perfectly healthy.  

Our First Impressions  

Free drinks were a nice touch

Boarding commenced a short time later, and we were eager to see the ship. We’ve cruised on Royal Caribbean and Carnival, but this was our first experience on Celebrity. I was impressed right off the bat, when we stepped off the gangway into the lobby, and were met by a team of wait staff with trays of free Welcome Aboard champagne and mimosas. I believe there were nonalcoholic choices as well, but free alcohol is a rarity on a mass-market line, so we took advantage of the offer. As it turns out, on every port day, returning passengers are greeted with the option of hot chocolate or water. On cold Alaska days, the hot chocolate feels like a godsend!  

I loved the graceful wooden furniture

The ship was beautiful, decorated in soft colors accented by dark woods. We love the Vegas-style glitz of Carnival, but appreciated the quiet elegance of Celebrity. I was particularly impressed by the wooden deck chairs, a throwback to a more genteel age of cruising and a stark contrast to Carnival’s white plastic chairs.  

Our Cabin  

Dad relaxing in the cabin

As we knew it would be, our cabin was a standard handicapped-accessible inside stateroom, located on the lowest passenger deck. However, the size and location next to an elevator made it quite convenient. Whenever we cruise, the cabin stewards assume that we are a married couple, rather than father and daughter. Invariably, we have to request that the beds be separated (standard cruise cabins feature twin beds that can be pushed together to create a king). The request was handled cheerfully, as were all requests throughout our cruise. We tipped our cabin stewardess a few dollars in cash the first time we saw her, as well as giving a full tip at the end.  

Our storage space was very well laid out

Our cabin also featured a convertible sofa bed and coffee table, and a small desk. Storage space was plentiful, with more than enough room for our clothes, Dad’s medications and all of our toiletries. The handicapped staterooms are a bit larger than average, and we were able to park the scooter out of the way.  

Lunch and Lifeboat Drill  

We couldn't resist the Welcome Aboard buffet

All cruise ships put on an elaborate spread at the buffet restaurant during embarkation, and the Millennium was no exception. The sprawling buffet easily accommodated everyone with minimal waits, and we found seats at the back beside a large plate glass window.  

This was our first introduction to Norovirus precautions. Two crew members were stationed outside the restaurant giving everyone a squirt of hand sanitizer. There was also a large sanitizer station that was kept refilled for off hours, when the crew members were not present. Wait staff did double duty fixing coffee and dishing out condiments so that no containers were touched by multiple passengers. The buffet staff served our food cafeteria-style, rather than everyone taking their own portions. Throughout the week, the library was closed for deep cleaning, and we saw housekeeping staff all over the ship cleaning furiously. Thankfully we never got sick.  

The lifeboat drill was short and painless

After lunch was the mandatory lifeboat drill. Many people hate this process, but it actually goes quite smoothly if everyone participates. All passengers must retrieve their life jackets and meet in designated locations to review emergency procedures. The drill is mandated by the Coast Guard, and provides essential information.  

Celebrity Cruise’s process was simple. Everyone was assigned to a lounge or other large gathering space. We checked in at the door, where crew members were taking names. We sat comfortably for a few minutes, noted the information, and were then free to go. The only hard part was trying to get an elevator afterwards! Since Dad is on a scooter and couldn’t take the stairs, I ran the life jackets to our cabin and met him on the Resort deck. We had seen a great deal of outdoor seating along the ship’s stern, which looked like a great place to enjoy sailaway.  

Sailaway  

This seagull sat with us as we got underway

It may be incredibly cheesy of me, but sailaway is my favorite part of any cruise. We always settle into a comfortable spot on deck, grab the drink of the day, and listen to live music as the ship sets sail. It’s not quite the same as the Golden Age of cruising, when crowds gathered on the dock to wave goodbye and the ships launched streamers as they departed, but it’s pretty close. A seagull came to join me shortly after I found a seat.  

He took great care of us all week

Dad finally made it up the elevator just before departure. He went to buy cards for unlimited soft drinks, and ended up making a new friend. That bartender, as well as the ones in Cosmos Disco, took excellent care of us all week.  

The Vancouver coastline was ruggedly beautiful

Sailing out of Vancouver was so different for us. We’ve mostly done Caribbean cruises out of Port Canaveral, Florida or New Orleans, LA. We did a cold weather itinerary on a fall Canada cruise out of New York City, but this was different yet. Everything was foggy and chilly and rugged-looking. It was the perfect beginning to an Alaskan adventure.  

Evening Activities  

Dinner was a highlight of our trip

Dinner is an important part of cruising, and we have strong preferences. We want traditional seating, in which we are seated at the same table with the same companions and wait staff throughout the cruise. We prefer late seating, which is generally around 8:15 p.m., and we like to be at a table for eight or more. We genuinely enjoy getting to know our dining companions.  

The Celebrity Theater is used for all sorts of events

We received exactly what we requested on the Millennium, and it was an excellent experience. Our wait team was top notch, and our companions were friendly. The food was terrific, and we ate until we were stuffed. Then it was off to the Celebrity Cruise Theater for the Welcome Aboard show.  

We’re generally night owls, and love sitting out on the open deck late into the evening. We usually make a few shipboard friends who do the same, and late night is our time to hang out and relax. That night, we went out on deck and realized it was deserted! Would this prove to be an early to bed crowd?  

We soon realized that we were freezing. Earlier in the day we had noticed warm blankets folded into every deck chair, and a large supply of blankets on counter tops throughout the open decks. We now realized why–it’s rather chilly that far north, even in June! We wondered if, perhaps, the late night crowd was keeping warm somewhere inside.  

Cosmos Disco became our go-to late night spot

After a bit of exploration, we ended up at Cosmos. Surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows and located at the top of the ship, Cosmos combines amazing views with climate control. By day it’s a massive lounge, and at night it turns into a disco. The late-night crowd was out in force, and we made a few friends. Cosmos took the place of the open deck as our default go-to spot for late night socialization.  

Late night on deck

I went to bed around midnight, after an exhausting but fun-filled day. Dad went out on deck around 2 a.m. to take photos. We weren’t quite far enough north for true midnight sun, but it was definitely not the sort of night we’re used to down south!  

What We Learned and Tips for Parents  

Despite holding nearly 2,000 passengers, the Millennium never felt crowded

I recently read about Joe and Amy’s luxury Alaska cruise adventure on Regent Seven Seas. They had a wraparound balcony and butler service, and apparently had a fantastic time. We too had a great time, but our cruise on the Celebrity Millennium was the polar opposite, a last-minute budget cruise in an inside cabin. Although Celebrity is a highly rated mass-market cruise line, the Millennium is a mega-ship, holding 1,950 passengers to Regent Seven Seas’ 500 passengers.  

Did we make a mistake? I don’t think so. There is a cruise style to fit virtually every budget and personality, and I think the Millennium fit ours. We’re independent travelers, prefer youth hostels over hotels, and don’t mind crowds in the slightest. We’re very active, and would rather spend time in a ship’s public areas than a private balcony. Everyone told us we “needed” a balcony for Alaska, but I honestly don’t think we would have used it. For others, such as Joe and Amy, a balcony is a major key to their enjoyment.  

In my opinion, a luxury cruise is a better choice when the kids are a little older. Largely due to cost, the average passenger age skews a bit older on the luxury lines. Consequently, children on board have a harder time meeting kids their own age. While children’s programs are standard fare on virtually every ship, the more kids are on board a line’s average cruise, the more extensive the programming tends to be. Beyond looking at the price, I think it’s important to look at the overall experience that you desire, and choose a cruise line and cabin that best fits your personal criteria.

The cruise continues in Celebrity Millennium Alaska Cruise Part Three: Ports Galore

Skagway, Alaska offers multiple forms of transport

My parents always meant to visit Alaska. They gathered tour books, visited websites, and even planned out a driving itinerary. Unfortunately, health issues and real-life concerns prevented them from living out their dream. After my mom passed away unexpectedly in 2004, at the age of 50, I moved in with my dad, who has some chronic health concerns. We travel full-time in an RV and I write about our experiences while he takes the photographs. I was determined that Dad would make it to Alaska, but the timing never seemed to be right. 

The Deal of a Lifetime 

The Celebrity Millennium was our ship of choice

That all changed at the end of May 2009. Dad and I were at a crossroads trying to plan out our summer. Nothing quite seemed to be working out. Then I got an email from Travel Zoo, an online service that compiles the best travel deals around the world. Celebrity Cruises was having a massive sale on their Alaska itineraries but for the best prices, we would need to leave in June. It took all of five minutes of discussion to realize that this was the opportunity of a lifetime. 

Dad was in the Navy years ago, and we knew that many cruise lines offered military rates for veterans. He called Celebrity directly and was offered a rate of $299 per person, plus taxes and port charges, for a 7-night Northbound Alaska cruise from Vancouver, BC to Seward, Alaska. The cruise would depart June 12, 2009. Dad’s disabled and uses a travel ECV for long distances, so we needed a handicapped cabin. We got the last one on the ship!

Planning and Packing in Two Weeks Flat 

Living in an RV makes traveling simple

Living in an RV has a number of advantages. One of the biggest is that it’s significantly easier to shut down an RV than a house. We are members of the Thousand Trails RV camping system, and happened to be staying in a membership park near Orlando, FL. We also have a climate-controlled storage facility nearby. After making arrangements to store the RV in the storage lot at the campground, we started moving things that could be damaged by heat (CDs, DVDs, etc) into our storage unit. 

Since we would be traveling all that way, we couldn’t see hopping directly on a plane after the cruise. We decided to expand the trip by staying in youth hostels for an undetermined period of time following the cruise. We had airline credits from a cancelled trip the previous summer, so we booked Southwest one-way from Orlando to Seattle, with plans to use a combination of credits on Alaska Airlines and US Airways whenever we were ready to come back. 

We’re big fans of Rick Steves, the guru of independent travel in Europe, and we love exploring new places on a budget. So we ordered official Rick Steves luggage (a rolling suitcase for him and a backpack for me, both carryon sized, along with two smaller daypacks), with priority shipping. We wanted to be able to easily handle our own luggage on and off the ship and while traveling independently throughout Alaska. It took me several tries to pare down my clothing options, but we managed to make everything fit. One entire backpack was dedicated to Dad’s medications–since we didn’t know how long we would be gone, he took plenty of extra meds!

Time to Go Already? 

The ECV makes a pretty good pack mule

Before we knew it, departure day was upon us. On June 11, 2009, we stored the RV and drove to the Hawthorne Suites near the Orlando Airport. We booked through parksleepfly.com, which gave us one night in the hotel and 30 days of free parking. If we needed more than 30 days, it would be $5 per night. 

Our flight departed at 9:35 a.m., so we took the free 7:30 a.m. airport shuttle from the hotel. I’m not a morning person at all, so I actually woke up sometime during the flight. We had an hour and a half layover in Chicago, and landed in Seattle at 3:15 p.m. local time. It was 6:15 Orlando time, and we were starving. But as it turns out, food would have to wait. 

Stairs Plus Scooter–Now What? 

It doesn't go up stairs too easily

We were booked at the Green Tortoise Hostel near Pioneer Square. Never having been to Seattle, this seemed like a perfect location for getting the feel of the city. Being a hostel, the price was right too, at $29 each for two beds in a mixed-gender dorm room. We caught the city bus from the airport and soon arrived at our destination. 

We opened the front door and found ourselves staring at a very steep stairway! There was no room to maneuver Dad’s ECV into the building, so parking downstairs was out of the question. Carrying the 80 pound scooter up those stairs was not happening either. I’m not sure why the hostel didn’t mention the stairs when we called to find out if they could accommodate the scooter, but there we were. Dad left the scooter and our luggage with me and went up to ask about a second entrance, but there was none. 

We walked–well, I walked, he rolled, to a nearby Starbucks and got online. Thankfully we carry our laptops everywhere. We finally found a Holiday Inn downtown for $150. Not quite as good a deal, but the hotel was beautiful and we were grateful to have somewhere to sleep! 

Seattle in an Evening 

The Seattle cruise port is pretty spectacular

We got settled and had some dinner, and then headed out to explore. While picking up a few items at the gas station behind the hotel, we realized that the Space Needle was just a couple of blocks away. We were exhausted by this point, having spent hours solving the lodging problem, but we were determined to see SOMETHING in the city. So we headed for the Space Needle. 

All I can say is wow! The view was absolutely spectacular! A museum at the top explained the history of the Needle as well as some Seattle history. It’s the kind of thing that I usually really enjoy, but I was honestly too exhausted to take much in. It was around 11 p.m. local time, 2 a.m. Orlando time, and we had been up since 5 a.m. We decided to call it a night, since we needed to be up early the next day to catch a train to Vancouver. 

What We Learned and Tips for Parents 

An Alaska cruise is always worthwhile

We’re very fortunate to be able to travel on a whim, and I realize that most families have too many obligations to simply up and leave on two weeks’ notice. If you do happen to have that flexibility, there are many deals to be had. If not, then book as far in advance as possible. Cruise lines generally offer early booking discounts that are nearly as good as last minute deals. Your cruise fare is guaranteed not to go up, but if prices drop before your final payment date, you may be able to ask the cruise line to match the lower fare. 

Our struggles in Seattle made me realize the importance of backup plans, particularly when traveling with children. As two adults, we were able to drag ourselves and our luggage all over Seattle, but I would not want to put small children through that. When experimenting with independent lodging of any sort, whether a hostel, guest house or even small motel, I would recommend booking a chain hotel as a backup. Most chains allow you to cancel your reservation until 6 p.m. on the day of arrival at no charge, allowing you to check out your intended destination before making a final decision.

Read on in Part two of our Alaskan Cruise, Was the Deal too Good to Be True?

Alaska Railroad train station

Last month I found out through my mother that Joe and Amy (my aunt and uncle), were about to embark on an extravagant 7 day trip to Alaska.  We were on the phone when she mentioned it, and I was absolutely intrigued! A good friend of mine went there on a fishing expedition just over a year ago and I’ve had a longing to visit ever since. He returned a year ago with an icebox full of frozen Halibut, but what really peaked my interest were the stunning scenic coastal photos of this great state!

It was mid August 2010 on the eve of their trip and my mother said she would convince my uncle Joe (her brother) to take time throughout his Alaskan adventure to document their experiences. Thanks to my mother’s powerful gift of persuasion (and some arm twisting), he brought his computer and digital camera  on their journey to “The Last Frontier”, where he promised to log periodic journal entries and take lots of photos.

Below are six of Joe’s journal entries which he sent us by email along with attached photos.  I also interviewed both Joe and Amy after their trip, so be sure to read my concluding remarks outlining some important tidbits of valuable information about their trip, as well as my thoughts on how well suited the Alaskan cruise would be for children.

Entry 1:

When I travel I want to take time to daydream. I am not your curious tourist, nor do I want to be busy with anything. So writing down my daily journal on this exciting adventure is not my cup of tea. My problem is that my bossy sister ordered me to do it, and because I don’t want to be forever pestered for not doing it, here I am writing during our flight to Anchorage from Los Angeles.

We are almost 4 hours into the Alaska Airlines flight and the scenery out the window is phenomenal. We’ve just past the town of Ketchikan. I can see thousands of Islands and a vast expanse of rugged terrain with sharp top mountainous edges. There’s scattered snow, and we’re in mid August!

This morning I woke up at 4:30 AM. My wife Amy woke up 15 minutes later. We had everything ready to go when Shahid, our loyal town car chauffeur picked us up. He loaded the luggage with care and off to the airport we went. O.K. enough for now, ‘cause I want to daydream a little while looking out my first class window before we land. Toot-lu…

Entry 2:

Mountain side view from Alaska Railroad trip

This is all from memory, since we were enjoying ourselves too much.  It’s August 18, 2:40am and I woke up to use the bathroom; My mind keeps me from going back to sleep. Finally Amy wakes up at 5:30 and we’re at the Alaska Railroad train station in a jiffy. This coastal classic train departed on time at 6:45AM

Wow! What a ride! 4 hours through the Alaskan wilderness with some amazing glaciers to behold, not to mention the numerous rivers, streams and brooks with some raging white waters! The scenes are continuously unfolding with barely the time to assimilate the aw-inspiring splendors of nature! The photos are better than any narration, so go ahead and soak them in. The second story, first class with glass dome-top car we were in, allowed for maximum visibility. Breakfast was called in around 8:00AM. By then I was starved and could have eaten a horse, but the omelet had to do. I washed it down with an “Alaskan Amber”, one great local brew.

The living room in our Regent Seven Seas suite

Once at Seward, our destination, we were told to get onto the yellow school bus. If we only knew in advance that the ship was only a half mile away, and that our luggage was already booked to go all the way into our cruise ship suite, we would have walked. The bus driver? I could write a small book about that weird guy. He was standing by the bus with his long, unwashed hair dangling by his cheeks when we asked if this was the bus headed for the Regent Seven Seas Cruise ship. It was as if he had absolutely no idea what we were talking about. A few words were exchanged and I entered the bus under the impression that we would eventually get there on this crazy bus: maybe 45 minutes or one hour. Turns out the moron bus driver talked the same way to everybody, no matter where their destination was. I’m not sure whether he had the brains of a squirrel, or whether he just hated his job.

We’re at the ship within 20 minutes, we check in and we’re so impressed by the beauty of this ship looking at it from the dock. On the ship, the check-in is very methodical and lengthy. Our suites are going to be available at 2:30PM.

Our master bedroom cruise suite

Our suite is gorgeous with 2 bathrooms, marble top, floors and walls. The large bathroom has a full deep tub plus a shower stall. The bedroom has a giant bed, a walk-in closet with plenty of room for both of us, drawers and all. Very nice comfortable living room, with convertible couch and desk for my laptop. We have our own stewardess and our own butler. Both are extremely courteous. They explain in details their function, which is basically all the things we could ask for. There doesn’t seem to be any limitations! We could order unlimited room service, and because we’re in a grand suite, we could order from the top notch restaurant and have our own private romantic dinner. A bottle of Veuve Cliquot is sweating in its silver ice bucket trying to lure me into popping it….Wrap around balcony is phenomenal! We can see more than 180 degrees!

Joe takes a nap; the rest of the day is just getting acquainted with the ship, eating and soaking in the realities of the most famous cruise anywhere in the world!

Entry 3:

This morning Jojo wakes up energetic after a solid 9 hours of dodo (sleep)! Amy is feeling lazy, so yours truly goes up to the fitness room, and for the next hour or so, he shows off like Tarzan. Back in the suite, we nibble through the breakfast that John, our butler, served. This was ordered last night by checking certain items on a hanger list. Did you know what a hanger list is? OK it’s a sheet of paper with a design you can “hang” onto your exterior door knob listing your wants and needs; there, now you know.

At 11am Amy goes to a lecture on glaciers and in particular on the Hubbard Glacier, the largest and most awesome glacier in the world. I sit with her for 5 minutes and decide this is a bunch of BS they’re trying to impress us with. What’s a glacier? It is nothing other than a river; it does all that a river does: constant movement in one direction, from land to the sea. It just moves much slower than most rivers, but when it finally pours into the Ocean, it does so with spectacular shows! The giant edge, breaks through one chunk at a time and splashes phenomenally into the Ocean, creating all kinds of chunks of ice, some as large as a small island: thus the “ICEBERG”!

Calm ocean waters from Regent Cruise ship

Tonight we are invited at the table of the cruise director for dinner, s’il vous plais!!! I am not sure who’s going to be honored more: Mr. director, or Joe and Amy.

As we approach Hubbard glacier, the scenes are extraordinary. All taken from our giant wrap-around balcony, of which there are only 4 on the entire ship. Everybody else has to scurry to the deck and run from one end to the other, just to get a glimpse of what we see on full display from the panoramic view on our balcony suite.

Entry 4:

Hubbard Glacier Alaska

It is 10 am and we have just stopped by the Aleutian Islands: about one thousand of them, a lot of them privately owned with amazing fairytale  picturesque houses.  These people must have a drastically different kind of life than ours.  They each have a dock with a boat anchored.  I imaging this must be their vehicle; the highways are the waterways surrounding them and leading to the little town. WHAT A LIFE!

In the meantime, Amy and I are gearing up for our 3-hour excursion in Sitka, where, by the way, the signing of the purchase of Alaska took place!!!  Months ago Amy booked us on this bike ride and walk/hike in one of the rain forests.  We’re feeling great and the service is out of this world.  All of the staff members are super polite and eager to help.

Entry 5:

What day is this? I really don’t know. Having a hard time telling where exactly I am. Am I in heaven? Is this the beginning of eternal life? Not sure.

Look how calm the waters are in the channels!

All I know is that yesterday, when confronted with SITKA I thought I was still in my early thirties. I went chasing after Realtors all over town. “I’m looking for an Island to buy”. “No problem” came the answers in a most simple and spontaneous fashion. “Here is a  list” of the Islands for sale, ranging in price from $150,000 to $2.4 Million. Depending on size, availability of utilities, and whether there is existing structures, i.e. a gorgeous, to-die-for, dream-like, only-in-your-dreams (maybe), Disney-imagination HOUSE.

They say there are a thousand Islands here. If anything, they’ve under estimated or under-counted. Some of the homes we’ve seen on these private Islands, as we were approaching Sitka, left me in a stupor with the bottom half of my jaw dragging on the ground and eyes wide open and bulging. To add on to all of these fairy-tale images, the climate is MILD year-round. Never mind that this is Alaska. Temperatures almost never dip below 30 degrees: Normal “winter” temperatures are 30 to 40 degrees. Summers are in the 60′s and 70′s. There is a lot of drizzle in the warmer temperatures, and there are no bear problems to speak of. Why? Because apparently there is such an abundance of natural foods like salmon by the zillions, and so forth, that they just don’t bother humans.

View of the Aleutian Islands from our Regent Cruise

Really! To own an Island with a house here is no big deal.  And, most of them have electricity and water, channeled from the city in pipes under the ocean to the Island.  Think of your dream vacation house: Nature like you’ve never dreamed of, fishing like you’ve never imagined. There is no rocking waters for those who get sea sick – the channel and rivers are calm!  You can hunt for moose or elk: Like to eat delicious meat with NO CHOLESTEROL? Lovely little town with a bunch of sweet-as-honey folks, total silence at night, no traffic, no police harassment, total and absolute serenity. Only one problem: can you handle it?

Entry 6:

We are now sailing within one of the channels in the “Inside Passage” toward JUNEAU, the Capital of Alaska. The climate is somehow similar to that of Sitka, but the city is larger. We are beginning to see some houses built right on the shores of the channel. This channel has got to be at least 20 miles across and the waters are as calm as a lake! Amy and I did not schedule ourselves for any excursions on this stop (schedule arrival 1:00 PM; departure 11:00 PM), because I refuse to act like your typical tourist. We’ll get off and just browse around the town; do some spontaneous discoveries, have lunch, fart around, and then get back on board. Then, maybe we’ll fart around a little more.

Conclusion from Interview with Joe and Amy

It’s been about two weeks since Joe and Amy returned from their Alaskan vacation cruise.  Yesterday (Labor Day) they hosted a family lunch party at their house in Los Angeles for about 20 people where I was fortunate enough to be able to take a few minutes of their time and ask some key follow-up questions about their trip.  The information I gathered should prove valuable to anyone who decides to follow in their footsteps, whether you are travelling as a couple as they were, or on a family excursion as I plan to do when our 11 month old son is a little older.

AAA Travel is the agency they used to book their Cruise.  They booked everything from their Alaska Airlines first class round trip air fare, to their Regent Seven Seas Cruise suite, to the many “excursions” available to them on each of their stops between the Seward shipping dock and Vancouver.  Apparently there are both free and paid excursions, and both need to be reserved far in advance because of high demand.  They did several of these excursions including the rain forest hike/biking in Sitka, and the tram ride up the mountain in Skagway.  One excursion they did not do but discussed for their next visit was the float plane which flies over several islands populated with bears.  It’s supposed to be an amazing view from that height!

The Regent Seven Seas Alaskan Cruise stopped at several ports from Seward to Vancouver, so there were quite a few shore excursions to chose from. For a complete list of available excursions for each port between Seward and Vancouver click on each of the ports below for a list of associated shore excursions.

- Hubbard Glacier
- Sitka
- Juneau
- Skagway
- Ketchikan

If you are travelling with children I recommend reading the details about each excursion to determine if it’s something your kids can handle and enjoy.

Our Regent Seven Seas Cruise Ship

They stayed overnight at a Comfort Inn in Anchorage just minutes away from the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.  They described it as having a seedy motel like quality, not a very flattering description! The Captain Cook hotel was their first choice, but it was booked months in advance because of all the cruise ships scheduled to leave the next day.

Sitka rain forest excursion Alaska

Joe and Amy had a first class upper deck cabin on their Alaska Railroad train ride from Anchorage to Seward where their Regent Seven Seas Cruise liner was waiting.  Shortly after departing the train station they were treated to a wonderful breakfast. Throughout their 4 hour ride the train conductor was like a scenic tour guide focusing their attention on the various points of interest along the way.

They specifically chose to ride the smaller 500 passenger cruise instead of the larger ship (700-800 people capacity) for several reasons.  The smaller ship was more expensive, but the higher price tag provided for a more exclusive experience with a much higher class of service.  Another significant benefit in choosing the smaller ship was that it had much better access to ports in the Inside Passage that the larger ships could not reach because of the narrow channels.

The Inside Passage is a highly travelled coastal shipping route through one thousand islands and thousands of coves and bays extending approximately 15,000 miles.  The popularity of these routes are due in large part to the calm seas that result from the natural island formations littering the coast line.  The seas were choppy prior to entering the Inside Passage and Amy was feeling nauseated even after taking the complimentary Meclizine pills provided by the cruise ship.  She returned to normal once they entered the channels, but in hind sight she says she would have brought the “patch”, presumably the Transderm patch that can be placed behind the ear and cure seasickness for 3 days.  She also mentioned that eating extra “carbs” helped her keep the nausea under control.

Their accommodations were fantastic and they were treated like royalty.  They had a very large private wrap around deck with a panoramic view like no other on the ship.  It was very cold outside especially with the wind factor, so in hind sight Amy said that for the same price it would have been better to get the larger suite with a smaller private deck.  This was their first Alaskan cruise, so these are just tips they learned as first timers on what they considered to be an extraordinary adventure.

The Regent Alaskan cruise is not really made for children under 3 years of age from what I have read.   The minimum age requirement to travel on the ship is 12 months old.  Also, there is no official babysitting service on the cruise, but you can hire crew members to assist as a nannies on an individual basis if necessary.    There is a complimentary program for older children called the Club Mariner Youth Program.  The crew’s youth counselors provide all kinds of fun activities targeted for 3 different age groups: ages 5-9, 9-12, and 13-17.  This is a perfect way to entertain and educate the kids while parents can enjoy some alone time.  Activities include games, whale and glacier watching, craft tasks, on board films, and other functions designed specifically for each age group.

View through window of Regent Seven Seas Alaskan cruise