There are vacations that are fun…and then there are vacations that leave you saying, “When can we go back?” This Alaska cruise was just that!

Traveling with our kids, my parents, and my sister’s family made this one of our favorite family vacations we’ve ever taken. Between glaciers, bald eagles, salmon bakes, endless seafood, charming coastal towns, and more desserts than anyone should probably admit to eating, Alaska completely exceeded every expectation.

If you’re considering an Alaska cruise—especially with kids or multiple generations—here’s everything we loved, what we’d do again, and our favorite things in each port.

Why an Alaska Cruise Is Perfect for Families

One of the biggest surprises was just how easy this vacation was. 

Unlike road trips or road trips where you’re constantly packing, unpacking, and driving, your hotel travels with you. Every morning you wake up somewhere new without having to coordinate transportation or haul luggage around.

Whether you’re traveling with toddlers, grandparents, teenagers, or somewhere in between, there’s something for everyone.

The ports are easily walkable, many attractions are close to the cruise docks, and even simply wandering around each town becomes part of the adventure. Our favorite destination to wander was Ketchikan, for Creek Street alone! The elevated boardwalk above the river is just charming and harkens back to it’s roots when it was filled with bawdy houses and bars for the ragged miners looking to make their dreams come true. 

Our Alaska Cruise Itinerary

We sailed on Holland America Line (HAL), roundtrip from Seattle. Being our hometown port made it easy to get to the last frontier, with a day and a half at sea, before landing in our first port of call in Juneau. 

Our Holland America itinerary included:

• Juneau
• Glacier Bay National Park
• Icy Strait Point
• Sitka
• Ketchikan
• Victoria, British Columbia

Each stop had its own personality, and none of them felt repetitive. You can bask in the views of the wonderful wilderness and coast lines, and each port has it’s own look and feel. Whether you’re interested in nature, history, industry, and the ruggedness of Alaska and the people that call it home, you will get a little bit of everything. In my mind, HAL was the best Alaska cruise for the whole family. While it doesn’t have the waterslides and articulating view points that someone like Princess Cruise Line does, it felt higher end, with better food, and a still robust program of activities for all ages, and a kids club that kept the kids engaged and excited. 

So even when you’re not on land, there is never a moment of boredom to be found. We spent a lot of time in the game room playing board games, wandering the deck, at the arcade playing air hockey, and skee ball, and swimming in the covered pool. My favorite was the water coloring class for a quiet activity!

Juneau: Salmon, Shopping & Local Alaska

Juneau quickly became one of our favorite ports. 

Instead of rushing from excursion to excursion, we slowed down and explored in the morning, and heading to dinner in the evening.

Our highlight was attending an authentic salmon bake. Fresh wild salmon cooked over an open fire while surrounded by towering trees felt like one of those classic Alaska experiences everyone should have at least once. It was budget friendly for our large group, and it had more than just food. The salmon bake included s’mores roasting, live music, a nature walk to the local waterfall, eagle spotting, and even surprise gold panning! The kids loved the panning! We even found a few flakes. 

One tip we heard from locals—and one I’d absolutely pass along—is to look for the Alaska-owned stores rather than the polished jewelry chains and luxury souvenir shops closest to the cruise docks. Many of those larger stores are owned by cruise-related companies, while the smaller local businesses offer more unique gifts and support local families. Most will have signs in their windows that they are Alaska-owned, so key an eye out.

Meanwhile, my sister managed to squeeze in a little geocaching around town, proving there’s always another adventure waiting if you know where to look.

Things to do in Juneau

• Visit a traditional salmon bake – this was done through our cruise company and transportation was included. This was perfect for everyone!
• Shop locally owned Alaska businesses
• Walk the downtown waterfront – we played some corn hole on the docks. So fun. 
• Go geocaching around town
• Visit Mendenhall Glacier if you have extra time – this is a beautiful spot to visit, and see it before the glaciers disappear. 

Glacier Bay National Park: The Visual Highlight of the Cruise

If there was one day that completely took my breath away, it was Glacier Bay. 

Only two cruise ships are allowed into Glacier Bay each day, making it feel remarkably peaceful and protected. Going through the fjords makes the anticipation grow until you see the galciers.

Throughout the day, National Park Rangers boarded our ship and gave fascinating presentations about the geology, wildlife, and ongoing changes to the glaciers. They also put on a kid’s junior ranger program on while you cruise, so Emmett did that and got his Junior Ranger badge, which he really loves as we continue to travel. While you can book Holland America Cruises with northern Alaska excursions that go to Denali National Park and into the interior. But for a one week jaunt to Alaska, our Inside Passage cruise was as a perfect option.

Standing on deck while glaciers stretched across the horizon was something photos simply can’t capture. 

We spotted sea otters floating peacefully, countless seabirds, and even whales in the distance, nearer the mouth of the bay. And there were folks doing private shore excursions and kayaking in the bay. Talk about a bucket list idea!

It felt less like a cruise stop and more like spending an entire day inside a national park.

Icy Strait Point: We Stayed Onboard (And Didn’t Regret It)

Our stop at Icy Strait Point was only about three hours. Rather than rushing off the ship, we took advantage of something that’s often hard to find on family vacations—quiet time.

My parents, my sister and brother-in-law, my husband, and I enjoyed an adults-only specialty dinner while the kids had fun together, and we got them pizza to go at the always available pizza bar on deck. We placed our order early, and the kids all had a movie night in the cabins. 

Our dinner at the on board steakhouse, The Pinnacle Grill, was so lovely, with delicious food, and amazing service. 

Sometimes the best vacation decision isn’t trying to do everything. Sometimes it’s slowing down.

Sitka: History, Wildlife & Incredible Food

Sitka completely charmed us. Instead of booking a large excursion, we simply walked through town.

Our first stop was the Alaska Raptor Center, where rescued bald eagles, hawks, and other birds of prey are rehabilitated. Seeing these incredible birds up close was unforgettable for both adults and kids. We actually walked there from the cruise ship bus drop off area. It was a little over a mile, but you get to walk through town and neighborhood. It was so worth it to burn some cruise calories.

We also took a guided tour of the historic Bishop’s House, which offered fascinating insight into Sitka’s unique Russian and Alaskan history. Understanding the very long history of Sitka was very interesting, as it talked about the history of native Alaskans, through Russian occupation and the transition to it becoming a state. It’s free, very interactive, and amazing to see how they have kept the visual history of the building alive, and the chapel is still a consecrated Russian Orthodox church to this day!

One of our favorite surprises, though, came from a recommendation by our Uber driver.

Across from the cruise terminal is a food truck area serving some of the best food we had during the trip. Ashmo’s food truck had amazing black cod tips, salmon mac and cheese, and a cod fish sandwich that blew me away. 

It ended up being one of our favorite meals in Alaska—and proof that some of the best travel recommendations come from locals.

Don’t miss in Sitka

• Alaska Raptor Center
• Bishop’s House tour
• Walk through historic downtown
• Food trucks near the cruise terminal

Use the Visit Sitka website to look for more information ahead of your travels so you can plan your shore time efficiently!

Ketchikan: Lumberjacks & the Tongass National Forest

Ketchikan might have been the biggest hit with our kids.  The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show was exactly what everyone says it is. It was funny. A little cheesy.

Totally entertaining.  And the kids absolutely loved every second.

Personally, I also got to relive my days as a collegiate lumberjack, which made it even more fun.

After the show, we visited one of the hidden gems of the city —the Tongass National Forest Visitor Center.  This museum is operated by the U.S. Forest Service and does an outstanding job explaining the history, ecology, and wildlife of the Tongass National Forest. It was a $5 entrance fee, which was totally reasonable when you look at the other costs of cruising. 

It’s interactive, beautifully designed, and one of the best attractions we visited anywhere on the cruise. It is right across the street from the Great Alaskan Lumberjack show, so be sure to stop it. It wasn’t crowded at all, and they have free restrooms that are amazingly clean. 

Best things to do in Ketchikan

• Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
• Tongass National Forest Visitor Center
• Explore Creek Street and grab coffee at The Lupine Cafe on Creek Street
• Walk the downtown waterfront

Victoria, British Columbia

Victoria was our final stop before heading home.

Although our visit was relatively short, it was a beautiful place to stretch our legs, enjoy the waterfront, and soak in one last coastal town before returning to Seattle. Because we stopped in Victoria at 8:30pm, it is hard to see much else around the Inner Harbor, or Buchart Gardens if you book a shore excursion.

Its colorful gardens, historic architecture, and relaxed atmosphere made it the perfect ending to the trip. But for us, we will be booking a separate trip with the kids for a more immersive Victoria adventure. 

You can catch up on my previous visit to Victoria here. 

Food on Holland America: Better Than We Expected

Let’s be honest. One of the best parts of cruising is eating.

And we definitely took full advantage. Seriously, if you leave hungry at all, you did it wrong. 

The buffet was consistently good and noticeably higher quality than the buffet on the budget-friendly cruise line we’d sailed previously. There is a rotating menu in the various selection areas of the Lido deck marketplace, including a Canada Night with poutine, or Chinese and Indian selections. Sushi was also available. 

Being a chef, yes I do think I would have liked some things like the dessert line up to have some more impactful flavors. BUT, these cooks and chefs are feeding thousands of people a day and have to cook to the middle of the pack taste buds. Holland America Line balances the need of good food for all very well in comparison to other operators.

The main dining room served many of the same menu items with a more elevated presentation and table service. So you can pick and choose your experience, depending on your mood for sit down or more quick bites feels. 

Where Holland America really shines, though, is its specialty restaurants.

One dinner at Tamarind completely stole the show. My husband still talks about the soy-wasabi beef tenderloin, calling it the best steak he’s ever eaten. I would take offense to that, being the chef of the family, but really he wasn’t wrong. It was divine. 

High praise from someone who takes steak very seriously.

If you’re debating whether specialty dining is worth the extra cost, we’d absolutely recommend budgeting for at least one special dinner and the kids hitting the onboard kid’s club so you can have a date night aboard ship.

Is a Holland America Alaska Cruise Worth It?

Absolutely.

Whether you’re traveling with young kids, teenagers, grandparents, or planning a couples getaway, an Alaska cruise is one of the easiest ways to experience an incredible amount of the state in a relatively short time.

You don’t have to book expensive excursions at every stop to have an unforgettable trip. Some of our favorite memories came from simply walking through town, talking with locals, trying new food, and enjoying Alaska at its own pace.

Holland America Line is geared towards an older crowd expecting a higher level of service, and a atmosphere. Other lines that do water slides, big parties, have articulating observation pods, and laser shows aren’t my travel speed. That is not to knock them, but understand your travel habits and wants when you pick your provider. Were we bored? NEVER. Whether it is onboard talks, watercoloring classes, the spa, the kids swimming or doing the kids club, or just sitting on the promenade and watching the world go by – this is the cruise line for us.

The scenery is unlike anywhere else. The wildlife is unforgettable. The food is incredible. And every morning brings another breathtaking view outside your cabin window.

We came home with hundreds of photos (I checked! It was nearly 600 on my phone alone), full hearts, and one unanimous family decision:

We’ll definitely be back.

Helpful Tips for Your Alaska Cruise

• Pack layers—you’ll wear them every day. Luckily we didn’t have any rain on our adventure, but that was absolutely atypical for Alaska. 
• Bring binoculars for Glacier Bay wildlife viewing. Don’t buy them on board, because they will be hundreds of dollars from an onboard vendor. 
• Support locally owned shops whenever possible. 
• Leave room in your schedule for simply wandering. You never know what Alaska experience you will have when you just leave your day open. 
• Book at least one specialty restaurant onboard. Whether it’s for an adults only dinner, or treating you and the kids to something a bit fancy, this is worth it. 
• Spend as much time on deck as possible while sailing through Glacier Bay—you won’t regret it.

If you’re planning your first Alaska cruise, my biggest piece of advice is simple: don’t stress about seeing everything. Alaska has a way of making every stop memorable, whether you’re hiking, exploring museums, eating incredible seafood, or simply standing on the deck taking in the breathtaking scenery.  This is the experience of a lifetime.