Who doesn't love a little Disney magic? Even better, how about the fun and adventure of Disney on a once in a lifetime cruise to Alaska? Disney Cruise Line's growing fleet captures everything that fans love about the family-friendly brand, with a number of sailings to Alaska.
Although the cruise line only has five ships in their fleet, they do have a number of sailings to Alaska, heading north to classic ports like Ketchikan, Stika, and Juneau, plus lots of scenic cruising of glaciers.
Disney makes it easy to explore the incredible scenery, glaciers, wildlife, and charming towns that Alaska is so well known for. A whole host of excursions, onboard activities, and venues make for a great time both on and off the ship.
Since there are a few different options for a Disney cruise to Alaska, here is a breakdown of what you need to know when planning an unforgettable Alaska cruise vacation.
Disney Cruise Line’s sailings to Alaska
With only 5 ships currently sailing, Disney Cruise Line has one of the smallest fleets among the major cruise lines. For the upcoming Alaska cruise season, Disney Wonder will be the sole ship sailing this northern route. It is one of the most senior ships in the fleet, launched 24 years ago, although refurbishments and its elegant style have kept it a fan favorite.
For the 2024 season, this classic ship will homeport in Vancouver, Canada, sailing the calmer waters of the Inside Passage. There are no scheduled sailings that embark from popular cruise ports like Seattle or other locations on the West Coast.
Disney Wonder will run 19 sailings from May to September with itineraries that range from 5 to 9 nights. There are no one-way cruises that start or end in Alaska and no voyages that head farther north to places like Anchorage, Prince Willian Sound, and College Fjord in the Gulf of Alaska.
Alaska itineraries
With only one Disney ship sailing to Alaska, there is a limited number of itineraries to choose from, but there is some variety in the ports of call. They include:
- The majority of the Disney Wonder cruises are 7-night cruises out of Vancouver, with ports of call in Skagway, Ketchikan, Juneau, and Stikine Ice Cap.
- There are also 7- nights of sailing, heading to Icy Strait Point, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Stikine Ice Cap.
- Disney offers a smaller “sampler” cruise – a 5-night cruise from Vancouver to Ketchikan with scenic cruising of Stikine.
- Their longest Disney cruise is a 9-night cruise with stops in Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Straight Point, Sitka, and Victoria, Canada, as well as glacier viewing at Stikine Icecap.
One of the more unusual inclusions on Disney itineraries is the less traveled route along the Stikine Icecap. Forty-five minutes from Juneau, the area is renowned for its iconic granite formation and imposing peaks. Stikine is Alaska's southernmost icefield and is one of the three biggest icecaps in the state.
Alaska excursions
Although Disney Cruise Line is geared toward families and kids, they still have a wide selection of excursions for all ages, activity levels, and interests. In fact, Disney has over 200 excursions with numerous categories such as nature, sightseeing, private, culinary, water adventures, and cultural activities.
Probably one of the most unusual excursions is the chance to look for the famed big foot! Guests ride an ATV and hike into the wilderness in the Tongass National Forest, known as the Sasquatch “Stomping Ground.”, in search of the famous creature.
Other Disney Cruise Line Alaska excursions include:
- Animals - Alaska is home to many of North America’s most impressive animals, and Disney offers many ways to see, interact, and learn about them. There are oodles of whale-watching expeditions and places to see bears and many more animals.
- Glaciers- People cruise to Alaska to see its ancient glaciers that are so important to this land. Guests can fly over them in a plane or take boat tours of numerous glaciers, such as Hubbard and Mendenhall Glaciers.
- Classic Alaska - Disney also gives its guests a chance to try iconic Alaska experiences, like dog sledding, watching a lumberjack in action, taking a ride on one of Alaska’s famous trains like White Pass Railroad, or even crossover into Canada to visit the Yukon Territory.
- Water activities - There are many ways to explore Alaska's waterways, such as kayaking, rafting, zodiac adventure, canoeing, and sailing with a crab fisherman for the day.
- History and culture - Explore the rich, diverse history of Alaska, including the art of totem poles, the Gold Rush, and even get a chance to do panning for some of the magic metal.
Disney ships sailing to Alaska
Disney Wonder is a busy ship sailing every week during the summer cruise season. The ship is the second oldest in the fleet, launched in 1999. It has that classic ocean liner look with atriums that serve as a hub of activity. Overall, the ship has aged well, partly due to enhancements in 2016 and 2019.
Disney Wonder welcomes 2,713 guests onboard with 875 cabins. Many of the reviews for this ship say that it is a perfect size, small enough to make it easy to get around, yet plenty of activities and amenities to keep guests busy and having fun while onboard, especially during sea days. It is designed in an Art Deco/ Art Nouveau theme with a number of New Orleans-themed venues.
A plus of sailing on this ship, Disney Wonder was built to allow for more flexibility when cruising in the cooler waters of Alaska. For example, the Cove Café boasts more windowed spaces than its Disney Magic counterpart.
Disney's onboard offerings
Despite being a smaller Disney ship, Disney Wonder has much to offer. There are plenty of complimentary dining venues, kids’ activities, free kids’ clubs, adult-only areas, and much more.
In terms of food, there are casual dining options, including Cabana buffet, as well as some fun casual snacks and bites at Daisy’s de-Lites and Pinocchio’s Pizza. A major plus of sailing with Disney is its rotational dining. Guests get to enjoy meals in three different themed dining venues, and their wait staff follow them for an added level of service. On Disney Wonder, rotational dining includes Triton's Little Mermaid, Animator's Palate – animation-themed and Tiana's Palace from The Princess and the Frog.
Disney Onboard offerings:
- Live shows, Broadway-style musicals, and live shows like Frozen
- Character experiences, including theatrical dining and hands-on activities
- Magical makeovers at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
- Themed Days/ Nights - Pirate Night, Pixar Day at Sea, Marvel Day at Sea
- Complimentary kids clubs for ages 3-17
- 3 pools, including the adult-only Quiet Cove Pool
- Adult-only spaces like the spa and lounges
- It is important to note, though, that there are no casinos on Disney cruise ships.
Disney cabins
Picking the right cabin for an Alaska cruise is essential, and Disney is known for its family-friendly staterooms, which have been thoughtfully designed to accommodate guests' needs and have plenty of space to lounge and store stuff. This is important for groups who may need downtime in their cabins, especially after a busy day in port.
Cabins onboard Disney Wonder are larger than average and exceedingly comfortable thanks to a 2016 refit that added more storage space, electrical outlets, USB connections and revitalized soft furnishings. Many fans love the split bathroom concept - a bathroom with a vanity, sink, shower, and tub and a half bathroom with a vanity, sink, and toilet.
Disney offers standard cabin categories like inside, ocean view, veranda, and concierge. Many guests love to see the majestic views of Alaska from their cabins, and Disney certainly has many options. Although Disney has introduced virtual portholes on some of their ships, this is not an option of Disney Wonder, something to consider if a view of Alaska is critical. Larger families may appreciate the Disney Wonder's Deluxe Family Oceanview Stateroom, which sleeps 5 and is 304 square feet.
Disney Cruise Line pricing
Disney cruises tend to cost more than comparable cruises on other family lines, such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival. Currently, a cruise to Alaska for 2024 starts at around $5,000 for 4 people in an inside cabin. Disney does a few things differently that are worth highlighting. When comparing cruise prices, Disney shows their prices for all of the guests, including taxes and port fees. Many other cruise lines show the price per guest.
The cost of a Disney cruise covers most of the onboard experiences, such as staterooms, port fees, taxes, meals, soft drinks (during meals and at beverage stations), snacks, and ice cream throughout the ship. It also includes many of the entertainment options like character meet and greets, shows, and movies.
Guests onboard Disney ships pay extra for the spa, babysitting in the nurseries, photos, alcoholic drinks, and specialty dining like Palo. Unlike most cruise lines, Disney does not offer unlimited drink packages; guests pay a la carte. There are some deals on wine and beer; however, nothing covers cocktails.
What to know when picking a Disney cruise to Alaska
For fans of Disney cruise ships, there are some good options for those wanting to try a cruise to Alaska. Here are a couple of important points to consider when picking a Disney cruise to Alaska:
- Disney ships are geared toward families but also have adult-only areas on the ship. There is a good balance of activities to have fun on sea days.
- The cruise line does provide unique experiences, especially for families with kids who enjoy Disney-theming, live shows, character experiences, and rotational dining.
- Complimentary kids' clubs can also give parents the opportunity to spend time alone and enjoy adult-only areas like lounges, spas, or specialty dining.
- There is a sizeable range of excursions, not just for young kids.
- A Disney cruise tends to be more expensive than other major cruise lines sailing to Alaska. There are no unlimited drinks packages or casinos, which are must-haves for some adults.
- There are limited itineraries, with all cruises sailing the Inside Passage with no add-on land tours.
- Cruises start from Vancouver, Canada, which requires a passport to fly into and may further increase the costs.
- Disney Wonder is almost 24 years old. Although it has been refreshed, it does show its age in some areas and lacks some of the more modern touches that Disney has added to their newer ships.
