Adorable sled dog puppies, fascinating whales, fascinating totem poles, lively lumberjacks and majestic glaciers — Alaska has so much for families of all ages. But if you’re looking for the best Alaska cruise for kids, which ship should you choose?
Families have great choices when sailing up north, including a ship full of Disney characters, laser tag and go-kart race tracks, and large play spaces for kids, waterslides and family-focused onboard activities. Look for big ships with plenty of entertainment; Smaller and older ships may not have child-friendly attractions.
I’m not referring to luxury cruise ships here because they’re geared toward adults, but families looking for a more upscale, small ship cruise to Alaska should know that many high-end lines will put on kids’ programming during summer break cruises. Alaska with more children than usual on board.
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If you’re ready to cross Alaska off your bucket list, here are our recommendations for the best Alaska cruises for families.
7-Night Alaska Adventure Cruise on Quantum of the Seas
The 4,180-passenger Quantum of the Seas is not one of them Royal Caribbean’s largest Oasis Class ships in the world, featuring zip lines, an ice skating rink and an aqua theater. But it still offers a great mix of activities, including a skydiving simulator, a high-tech theater with robotic “dance” screens, an escape room, an indoor basketball court/bumper car pavilion, and dedicated spaces for kids and adults.
Kids can enjoy hot dogs and pizza at themed eateries, while adults can enjoy a date night at Wonderland with its imaginative molecular gastronomy created by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver or Jamie’s Italian.
Seven-night Alaska cruises depart round-trip from the easily accessible port of Seattle and visit Sitka, Skagway and Juneau, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia. A day is spent hiking the scenic Endicott Arm to Daves Glacier. Sailings depart between May and August.
Related: Alaska Cruise Packing List: What to Pack for Sailing Up North
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7-Night Alaska Cruise on the Disney Wonder
The ship is full of Disney magic – photo ops with Mickey and friends and Disney princesses, “The Little Mermaid” and “The Princess and the Frog” themed restaurants, and a musical stage show from “Frozen.”
Cabins are thoughtfully designed for families, with plenty of bunk beds and split bathrooms so two people can get ready for bed together. Waiters help cut food or bring pureed baby food for the little cruisers, and an imaginative kids’ club keeps little ones happily engaged when you’re not exploring in port.
Disney Wonder’s weeklong Alaska cruises sail round-trip from Vancouver, so all Americans, even children, will need a passport to get to the departure port. The ship visits Juneau, Ketchikan, and either Skagway or icy Strait Point, which overlooks the glacier on the Stickin Icecap. Seasonal trips run from May to September.
Related: Alaska Cruise Guide: Best Itineraries, Planning Tips, and Things to Do
7-night Alaska cruise on the Carnival Spirit
Cabins are no-frills but more spacious than comparable cabins on competitors’ ships. Many rooms sleep four, but connecting cabins will give you more space and an extra bathroom while keeping the family together.
Carnival Spirit spends the summer in Alaska from late April to mid-September. She makes a round-trip from Seattle and visits Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan and Victoria, along with scenic cruising in the Tracy Arm Fjord.
Related: Best Time to Cruise Alaska
7-night Glacier Bay cruise on Norwegian Encore
The 3,998-passenger ship is NCL’s largest, and families will be amazed at how much there is to do on board (though be prepared to pull out your credit card for the best activities). The ship features a laser tag arena, a go-kart race track, a virtual reality pavilion and a water park.
Norwegian is also known for its entertainment, and after a day hiking on glaciers or chowing down on salmon back, you can take in the spectacular “Choir of Men”, sing along to a Beatles tribute show at The Cavern Club, or simply fool yourself. can laugh Social Comedy Club.
Like many of the best Alaska cruises for families, the Norwegian Encore makes a round-trip from Seattle, stopping in Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria. The highlight of this itinerary is a scenic cruise through Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, which is visited by a limited number of ships each year. Save even more by taking advantage of Free at Sea perks, which often include a free beverage package, Wi-Fi, shore excursion credit, specialty dining and — perfect for families — a free third and fourth guest in each cabin.
Related: Alaska Cruise Mistakes You Never Want to Make
7-Night Voyage to the Glaciers Cruise on the Sapphire Princess
Families with a little more vacation time can consider visiting Alaska’s interior before or after their cruise, independently or with a cruisetour. For this, you’ll need a one-way cruise that starts or ends at an Alaskan port.
A top candidate for this type of family vacation is a seven-night cruise Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess sails between Vancouver and Whittier, Alaska. The ship stops in Ketchikan, Juneau and either Skagway or Sitka, with scenic cruising in Glacier Bay and either College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier, depending on the itinerary.
Then it’s up to you whether you spend time before or after traveling in the Kenai Fjords area, in Anchorage, or north to Denali National Park, Fairbanks, or the Arctic.
Sapphire Princess is known for its fan-favorite Alfredo’s Pizza, movies under the stars (when Alaskan weather permits), and refreshments and entertainment in the central piazza. With its special activities from as far north as Alaska, families can lure some adorable sled dogs aboard and meet Iditarod winners and other notable locals. Kids can become junior rangers with the help of park rangers who come aboard the Glacier Bay.
7-Night Kids Nature Cruise on Wilderness Legacy
Let’s assume your family isn’t into the big-ship lifestyle and wants it A small-ship, off-the-beaten-path experience that’s also geared toward families with kids and teenagers. In that case, the best family cruise to Alaska for you might be the “Kids in Nature” departure of Uncruise Adventures’ 86-passenger Wilderness Legacy.
The ship makes round-trips from Juneau on the “Wild Wooly and Wow with Glacier Bay” itineraries. This seven-night cruise includes hiking and biking on Chichagoff Island, day and evening kayak and skift tours to places like Patterson Bay and Robert and Crow Islands, the little-visited “outback” of Glacier Bay, and visits to LaConte and Byrd Glaciers.
On some departure dates from late April through August 2025, Wilderness Legacy will be staffed with “Kid Wranglers” who will lead kid-focused activities. The minimum age to sail is 8, but plenty of tweens and teenagers join in the fun, too.
Bottom line
You don’t have to wait until you retire to explore Alaska. Take the kids on a week-long exploration of the 49th state, and you’ll have plenty of great choices for cruise ships and itineraries. The best Alaska cruises for families combine action-packed itineraries with ships designed for family fun, but we’re sure your family will find a way to have a great time up north no matter which cruise ship you choose.
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