Alaskan Cruise
Dive into our Yang annual extended family trip as we cruise through the Pacific Ocean to Alaska for our 2024 summer. My husband's side of the family started their 'annual' vacation trips recently, making our Alaskan Cruise the second in our books and it was a well worthy time sailing away. If you've ever wondered what a cruise consists of, maybe this post may be of use to you and your family before booking.
For our cruise line, we traveled to the following destinations from Seattle:
- Sitka
- Skagway
- Juneau
- Victoria, BC (make sure to have your passport)
Preparation is K E Y
As a family of 3 (that includes a 4 year old), preparation was one of the biggest things we had to invest in when traveling: traveling early or late, overpacking or underpacking, bring the toys or no toys, and which snacks to bring to last him throughout the trip. Mind you, we ended up staying in Seattle for an additional 4 days before our 7 day cruise. Since we were also traveling with a toddler, we ended up bringing a booster seat and his stroller AND a carrier. We know he's a wanderer but when those little legs get tired, we were guaranteed to carry. Something very worthy to note! We used a travel agent, Rachel Saefong, who graciously assisted us in our travel bookings. She was able to provide us different cruise lines to choose from and sent us recommendations and follow ups. This helped tremendously as we were able to have a smooth sailing experience. If you're looking to travel with your family, don't hesitate to reach out and I can send you to her!
So, we flew into Seattle a few days earlier than we anticipated due to flight changes, forcing our upper hand to get a VRBO. We ended up staying about .2 miles from Pike Place Market which was...quite the experience. For starters, we are relatively quiet home bodies. If you're not used to the busy city life, I suggest staying outside of downtown for peace of mind, however, it was somewhat convenient for us as we were close by to our family members who were staying in the heart of downtown. There were street parking and luckily, we were able to snag the 1 of 3 every single night, allowing us to park without overnight fees (these can get hefty during the day!).
Day One: Embarkation
Loading passengers on a cruise ship feels much like going through TSA; you tag your bags ahead of time, go through scanners, identify you are who you are about 3 times and then you board the ship. Thankfully, you get to pick times you 'check in' so people aren't crowding the lines at the same time. Though they are not super strict on this, it definitely made the process smooth allowing all 12 of us to be together. Remember to pack a light bag. Just like bag drop off, it takes a couple of hours to actually receive your bag dropped off to your room (or near it for that matter of fact). The workers do not actually put your luggages into your room, rather they are stationed close by in the hallways, or dropped off directly in front of your room. They are normally really good about this and we didn't lose any luggages or belongings. Your light bag or backpack can secure an additional outfit if you feel like dipping into the pool right away and also carry your legal documents in case you run into any issues. Plus you don't want to leave your ID or passport behind.
Before even boarding, you'll download the Royal Caribbean app, which helps you stay connected on board. This also helps with the check-in process and complete it before getting your room. Some perks of the app differs from one cruise line to another; ours allowed us to keep tabs on our people via wifi chat on the app, however, I've heard of others where they're able to locate their group of people by following their location. WIFI is free for using the app, but if you want to use the internet, you'll be charged daily and it can get quite e x p e n s i v e.
LUNCH: if you don't eat before boarding, just know that the buffet that is opened daily will be available as soon as you board. It is worth noting that it WILL get busy and you may not find a seat if you do a late check in. The food was pretty decent, giving you a variety of options. From American to Asian and Indian cuisine, it felt pretty endless. It never tasted old, food was always fresh and the staff are absolutely amazing. If you got a soda package for your cruise, you'll be given a little travel cup that'll help identify you're a soda package holder. Your key card will also be printed with a soda package so staff can easily identify your package status, and yes carry your key card at all times! There are a variety of drink packages (alcohol included). If you opt for this, just know every adult in your room will have to get the package as well.
Some have asked whether we felt the boat rocking when traveling in the open sea. Depending on where you're sleeping or staying, yes and no. It's not the same 'turbulence' feeling you get on a plane. The sway is so minimal (we stayed in midship) so it did not have any impact on us. Joshua did take dramamine for preventative measures and it helped as he did not feel the motion - actually, he didn't even know we were already in open sea. Smooth sailing is always a plus, right? LOL
See below for our group of travelers!
Day Two: Sailing Day
This day consisted of sailing, so our family got to explore all 15 floors. From game rooms, to play rooms, the endless lounging areas and food stops, you could not ask for more. There are also kiddy areas for drop off, however, fees do apply per hour. We were able to utilize a free spot for our kiddo to hang out and play with other children, so long as we were there to watch him play. He loved this. Our son also loves anything numbers, so he remembered what every floor consisted of, where we stayed and constantly called his uncle's room to talk to him.
DINNER: again, on your RC app, you have the chance to make dinner reservations ahead of time. These are for formal dining, which you are seated at your selected times and they even have 'themed' nights allowing you to dress your best, or come casual. Don't wear your bathing suit to dinner - you'll get rejected and forced to change. Formal dining is not required as you still have the buffet to depend on for food. There are other cafes that are constantly open for a small charge, or some are completely complimentary. While dining is free, there are also upgrades if you prefer, and these charges will be put on your tab.
See below for some on board action: 1. CJ and papa in the kiddie pool, 2. CJ at his first formal dinner 3. Our first group photo on the ship
Day Three: Sitka
Like all cruises, you're only at a location for so long. Sometimes it's only 4 hours and sometimes it might be a full 8. Regardless of how long you are at each stop, make sure to always have your state room ID and legal documents with you for checking out and in on the ship. Also, don't be late to your excursions. Excursions are activities paid in advance to travel outside of your ship and explore with your group of travelers, or others on board. It gives you an experience of the location you're stopping. For Sitka, we ended up doing a quick 1.5 mile hike which was breath taking. Our family loves nature, so it felt like it was right up in our alley. Luckily, our shuttle was free. For those who stay behind to explore, there may be some shuttle buses to the city for free OR for a small fee. It's still worth getting off the ship to see the area if you're able.
**We saw Salmon swimming up the stream, wild animal turd during our walks, lots of birds and received a breath of fresh air. In one of the photos below, you'll see CJ plugging his nose saying "Ew, it stinks Mommy."
Day 4: Skagway
Skagway was a cute little city full of tourism, life, and freedom. We didn't do much here, but was able to pay for decently priced shuttle (to and from, only $10 bucks a person) to travel to the city. There were lots of shops, most who targeted tourists to claim 'free' charms or necklaces. This enticed lots of people to walk into the little shops to explore, grab their free item, or even purchase a thing or two.
Once we were there, we took a second shuttle which drove us about 2.5 miles out to a small hike. This lead us to see a beautiful view of waterfall. Though it was filled with people, we were able to snag a few snapshots of the fall, leaving us refreshed and filled with happiness. **It is very windy in July, so if you're planning on going, be prepared for all sorts of weather. We experienced lots of wind and fog, but that didn't stop us from exploring.
Day 5: Juneau
I'd say I was disappointed when I woke up a 5AM to see no visible glaciers at Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, but... I can't really say that either.
One of the perks of waking up at 5AM was cruising through Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier. This gave people on board the opportunity to view natural glaciers and thousands of waterfalls of the area. However, most of the ice have already melted or it was too gloomy to get a view. I was able to step outside while sailing through the area but it was too wet, even with my raincoat on. My camera would not be able to withstand all the rain coming down. It wasn't until about 7AM when we arrived to our final destination to get the full view. People were up by 5AM but didn't see much so many opt to go back to bed. As a photographer though....my heart was steadfast and I knew I would be in regret not capturing nature at its finest even in the midst of glooms and rain. See here for some breathtaking photos, worthy of print.
When we docked in Juneau, we did lots of shopping for family members back at home. There were 2 other cruise ships that stopped as well, so the city was filled with people and it was much crowded. Once we had our dose of collective souvenirs, we ended up on the ship again to drop off our goodies and son. He had the pleasure of hanging out with his cousins while some of us grown ups ended up getting out again to get a taste of Tracy's King Crab Store (or shack). This was about a .3 mile walk from the port and very well worth the experience. We got to eat fresh king crab, crab legs and more, AND left completely satisfied. What better way to eat fresh seafood out on a bench, sipping on beer and be surrounded by mountains? Sadly I don't have images of this (my husband does) but if you're a seafood lover, this is a must try.
We did get rained on, so our ponchos and rain coats came out. Our trip thus far consisted of lots of foggy days (fortunate that it wasn't hot, but we didn't get crisp clear skies).
Day 6: Sailing Day
Now our trip is slowly coming to an end. Day 6 consisted of sailing, so there were no cities to tour. That means, more swimming, eating, and lots of different time zone changes. It definitely threw us off as we were waking up later than usual (coming from MN, there were 3 and 2 hour time differences between days). Here are just a few images of our day. CJ sitting at the same window at dinner, a delicious lobster to devour and CJ patiently waiting to get on the elevator. When there's about 4 thousand other people traveling with you, it takes a minute before you can get on.
Day 7: Victoria, British Columbia
For our second to last day of our cruise, we were able to snag a couple hours off shore in Victoria, BC. A few of us ended up at The Butchart Garden. This little gem was 50+ acres of beautiful garden. Our shuttle bus driver gave us an overview of how the garden became to be and as the stories are, this place was b e a - utiful in person. It was worth the price for the excursion and I'd say our group agreed. If you're looking for a fun walk in the garden, filled with activities, snacks and souvenirs, this is for you.
Day 8: End of Cruise - Tips & Tricks
Day 8 couldn't come any slower. By the time you know it, the cruise comes to an end. We set our departure time to about 9:30 AM so we were able to grab breakfast before leaving. Thankfully, we had packed our bags the night before and the crew members were able to take our luggages and set them out of the ship for our convenience. That means we had a stress free departure, picked up our bags and headed on the shuttle to the airport. Was it well worth the trip? I'd give it a 4 out of 5. All the excursion and experience on Royal Caribbean has been a pleasure. I understood the limitations when docking and experiencing short adventures we got on land, but felt a little robbed with the time in beautiful cities. Again, no high expectations as I knew our journey was spent on the Pacific Ocean. It was well worth it, and we would do it again on a different cruise line.
Here are some tips and tricks to know pre, during, and post trip:
- Don't pack light.
- With dinner, travel, excursions and ship activities, you'll be in and out of so many outfits. If you're already paying for the experience, enjoy fun nights of fine dining by dressing your best, and then being comfy at the pool side. Don't forget to pack when you leave off the ship. Weather can be bipolar, and you don't want to be left soaking wet.
- If you travel with kiddos, be prepared.
- We are lucky to have a great traveling toddler. He doesn't get any motion sickness so it was one less thing to worry about, but having his tablet and headphones kept him busy along with his favorite snacks. We downloaded lots of videos ahead of time so he had something to do during down time. The ship has limited shows and some paid ones (up to $12/movie). If you have a picky one, make sure you're prepared! Actually, make sure to download YOUR favorite shows as well. If you're bored, at least you'll have something to watch during sailing days!
- What we packed for our toddler.
- Stroller
- Booster seat
- Favorite blankey
- Snacks, and lots of it
- PJs, casual clothes, button ups, rain jacket, rain boots, lots of swimwear
- Cruise Essentials
- Download the cruise app. This will help make reservations, pay for off shore excursions and save your credit card on the app for on cruise purchases. It also helps keep you connected to your cruise party via chat (or other, depending on your cruise line).
- If you're not sensitive to specific shampoo or body wash, each state room includes it. No need for additional soap or towels. Think of it as a mini hotel room. You'll have a private bath, safe lock and mini fridge for your convenience. DO bring your body and face lotion.
- Bring a first aid kit if possible. Accidents happen and you never know when it'll come in handy. While there is medic on board, it can get costly to be seen, let alone getting meds. Our kit included scissors, bandaids, Advil, Dramamine and more.
- Luggage tags - these are provided in advance for your convenience. Simply print from home and purchase luggage tags online. This saves you time when you get your bags checked to board the ship
- Lanyard - You'll need your stateroom ID just about anywhere you go (especially if you're a beverage holder or more). These lanyards will come in handy as you'll need it to scan to purchase items, get arcade credit or buying snacks/drinks. Lastly, you'll need your IDs when you leave off the ship for excursions. What better way to be attached to your ID and be worry free.
- Camera. If you want to make memories, bring your camera! While phones these days are just as sufficient, there's no better way to experience beautiful scenery by capturing with a great DSLR or mirrorless camera. As a matter of fact, most images from our cruise experience has already been sent to the print lab.
- Shoes! We knew we were doing lots of walking, so we brought regular tennis shoes, hiking shoes and sandals (and one pair of heels for dinner). No need to go all out, but it's nice to be able to dress for the occasion.
- Packing cubes. This helped us organize a lot of our stuff. Once we were on ship, we were able to access our belongings without really laying everything OUT if you know what I mean.
- Travel toiletry bag - instead of using it for our toiletry items, we used it to store all of our kiddos snacks. We were able to bring various kinds to keep him busy, especially if he didn't want to eat. He was able to share his snacks with his cousins throughout the trip and we were lucky to bring nothing home (that saved space in our luggage lol).
- Magnetic hooks - we didn't think we'd need these but it did help. You'll be pretty limited to drawer space so having magnetic hooks allowed you to hang up additional jackets or items. Better hung than them laying on the floor :)
- Wrinkle Free spray - while we did not bring this, I would say it is essential to bring on a cruise. There are no irons or steamers as these are prohibited to bring. OR try bringing clothes that don't wrinkle easily. Problem solved, right?
- Besides your clothes, make sure to have a positive attitude. After a few days, you might get cranky being stuck in a 200sqft room. Just remember you're in it for the experience, and life is too short not to enjoy days stuck together (am I right, or am I right? lol)
- Duck Hunting.
- Did you know hiding ducks and f i n d i n g ducks on board is a thing? It derived a while back from a little girl who left a duck behind leaving it with a note. Since then, it became a sensation for people from all over to bring ducks that represent their city/state. Ducks can mostly be found in early mornings or really, any time of the day. Feel free to bring some to hide, or wake up super early and find ducks on all levels of the ship. If you have a kiddo, this could keep them busy. We found about 3 in total, but didn't know about this until the 3rd day. Some cities during our excursions, sold ducks too. Make sure to buy some on your way and hide them! There's a whole community on facebook if you'd like to join.
- Drink Packages
- While this may be considered an upgrade, it is not necessary. We ended up getting one drink package for us which allowed our family to get soda drinks any time of the day. If you do not have a soda package, you can still have it at your reserved dinner time.
- We also opt to get a water package, which allowed us 12 bottles of water delivered to our stateroom before arrival. What we didn't know ahead of time is that you can also purchase water outside of the cruise ship to bring on board. There are limitations, but it could surely save you some money.
- Lastly, there are plenty of water stations throughout the ship. If you don't buy any water packages before boarding, just bring a travel tumbler. You're able to get water just about anywhere for the price of $0 and it is well worth it.
- If you're over 21 and decide to get an alcoholic package, just know anyone in your stateroom over the age of 21 must also get the package. That means you're paying $$$ daily, OR for the full trip.
- WIFI
- While there is free onboard wifi for your RC app, internet packages are also available for the duration of your trip. BUT you're on vacation. Stay off the internet if you can! When you're docked for excursions, you'll have access to your data again (data rates may apply depending on your travel).
- Onboard Food
- There are so many restaurants and cafes on board so you'll never go hungry. Just remember to reserve your lunch/dinner ahead of time if you want to sit down, relax and be served. If you're on the go, there's always the buffet. Note, some cafes and restaurants come at a cost, and many are FREE. If you reserve something and don't show up, just know you can be charged for the inconvenience. There are, again, over four thousand travelers with you. Be courteous!
- Photos taken by cruise workers
- You're going to see a lot of cruise workers photographing moments, especially during dinner. If you want the experience, make sure to get your photos taken! Each photo can cost up to $20, or buy a package of 10+ at a discount.
- On board activities
- There are a lot of activities (paid and free) that you can participate on the ship. From plays to bumper cars, indoor basketball, table tennis and flowrider experience, make sure to book them ahead of time on your app. There are plenty of free things to claim too. Most of our group had timers to claim free bracelets and charms so it was always something to look forward to.
- Debarking
- Participating airlines with your cruise ship allows you to check in your luggages the day before debarking. That means your cruise line will do a complimentary bag check for you, taking your luggages to the airport for your convenience! If you have a day of travel before you head out on your flight, you'll be luggage free.
- If you didn't book your shuttle to the airport, no need to worry. There are plenty of shuttle rides for you. Simply pay a small fee for travel and they'll take you directly to the airport. If there are less of you, consider getting an Uber. It actually might be cheaper.
- It is well worth it to also finalize and note that the cruise workers are so efficient at their jobs. From daily cleaning, to servicing and serving, consider tipping if you feel the need to! We were amazed by how the staff treated us. You have the same dinner servers knowing your custom menus to cleaners who listen to your requests. We had the opportunity and privilege to give back to those who worked extremely hard, and for that, we were thankful.
Our Travel Items
If you've made it this far. Thank you. We truly enjoyed the experience being on the Pacific Ocean, and we absolutely will consider another cruise in the later future. For now, enjoy some of the things we loved during our cruise trip. Please note, items below may be linked to an affiliate store, and I may be compensated if purchased.
