Multi-Generation Alaska Cruise Onboard Discovery Princess

To celebrate my mom’s 70th birthday, we decided to take a Family Cruise to Alaska. We were a group of 11, five adults and six teenagers.

We arrived two nights before our cruise in Seattle. I like to arrive at the departing port town at least one full day before the cruise to make sure my luggage gets there. This summer in particular was crazy with flight travel. We were very lucky, and had no problems getting to Seattle on time, with all our luggage.

We stayed at the Hyatt House, across the street from the Space Needle and Chihully Garden and Glass Museum. We had the perfect view of the Space Needle from our hotel room.

We visited Chihully Garden and the Glass Museum. It was beautiful!!!. Dale Chihully is a glass blower artist; his work is amazing. The museum has so many colorful installations and even live demonstrations.

After the Glass Museum we decided to walk all the way to Pike Place Market. It was a 15-minute walk. Pike Place is one of the oldest operating markets in the US. You can see fishmongers throwing fish, and a beautiful selection of fresh flowers and vegetables. We got to try very good smoked salmon (they deliver to the whole US). You must also stop by the amazing mini doughnut shop. The Daily Dozen is a delicious indulgence.

In the afternoon we took a Beneath the Streets Underground History Tour of Seattle in Pioneer Square tour. We got to learn a little bit about the history of Seattle. It was an hour long; I would definitely recommend it.

The next day we got on the Discovery Princess. We like cruising because you don’t need to worry about packing and unpacking, and get to visit so many amazing places in seven days. Each one of us got $100 credit in our account, as a perk from booking with a Virtuoso partner like FORA. It was used in the spa (by the ladies in our group), and on excursions: The spa was amazing.

Our first port of call was Ketchikan, where we had pre-booked a Zodiac Boat adventure, offering an opportunity to navigate our own zodiac (mini boat) along the picturesque coast. spotting bald eagles and seals along the way. My brother's family, on the other hand, opted for a whale-watching tour.

The next day, as we approached the Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, the captain decided it wasn't safe to venture closer. We later learned that Princess offered a shore excursion for a closer glimpse of the glacier, a regrettable oversight on our part.

Later that day we arrived in Juneau (the state capital), a much bigger town than Ketchikan. We pre-booked the most amazing excursion of our trip. An helicopter ride to Mendanhall Glacier. It was super organized. The helicopter ride provided awesome views from different angles as it rose to the top- landing on top of Mendenhall mountain glacier. We were given special boots to put on top of our shoes so we could walk safely around on the glacier. It was a phenomenal experience.

After the helicopter ride, we went back to town and had lunch at Tracy’s King Crab Shack, a must stop for king crab enthusiasts.

Our next stop was Skagway, a charming small town. We rented two SUVs and we drove along the Klondike Highway into the Yukon Territory. The rental came with an iPad with an audio guide that detailed, mile by mile an explanation on what we were seeing on our drive and the history of the place. It is a great way to venture, we stopped a couple of times for some small hikes and took beautiful pictures next to waterfalls and lakes. We had to cross the Canadian border, so if you take this trip, make sure to bring your passports.

The last port was Victoria BC. It could have been omitted. We got there at 7pm, and had to be back on the cruise by 11pm, you don’t get to see much. One of the main attractions of Victoria is to visit Butchard Gardens, which by the time you get there is closed. We got to have dinner in town. And my niece got to do some shopping at Roots.

The next day we got up very early in the morning in Seattle, but we were not able to disembark until 7:30. We were a little bit stressed to get to our flight, leaving at 10:30am. We managed to get there on time, Thanks to the fact that I had a driver waiting for us at the port, and we could use Seattle’s Airport version of Disney’s fast pass, called SEA PORT SAVER. Just go to the website and you can save your spot in the Security Line up to five days before your trip.

It is FREE and works like magic. We just went to the special security line entry and an agent opened the door and took us in front of the TSA officer.

Another great service Seattlee’s Airport offers is called PORT VALET, which is great for flights leaving in the late afternoon or evening from Seattle the same day that you disembark from any cruise. You fill out a paper with all your flight information while on the cruise and they take your luggage (the last night of the cruise), and check it directly with the airline (if there are any baggage fees, you pay them during the cruise). So when you disembark in Seattle, you can spend the day visiting the city and then just go to the airport and straight through security, without worrying about your luggage.

I recommend an Alaska cruise, especially for multigenerational trips, as there are activities for all age groups and interests. Itineraries and pricing for cruises in 2024 and 2025 are already available, so don't hesitate to call me to start planning this bucket-list-worthy journey.

Here are my 5 travel trips for an Alaska Cruise

1. Pack layers. Everyone in Alaska tells you that you can experience many seasons in a single day.

2. Book a Balcony Cabin. You will appreciate a private place to enjoy the scenery, especially when the public decks are too crowded.

3. Reserve and pay for shore excursions in advance. The best excursions will sell out.

4. Manage your expectations. Weather is unpredictable, and itineraries might have to adjust, especially when safety is involved.

5. Bring your binoculars and a camera with a zoom lens to fully capture the stunning landscapes and wildlife.