What It's Like Sailing Disney Cruise Line in Alaska

Was it a happy coincidence that our Disney Cruise Line voyage was accompanied by the best weather I’ve ever seen in Alaska? Probably. 

But I’d like to think it was a pinch of Disney magic. During a weeklong sailing onboard Disney Wonder, my wife and I visited the Last Frontier — Disney-style — and experienced plenty of the line’s exclusives along the way.

Though we were traveling without kids, we appreciated everything that sets the family brand apart. Only onboard a Disney ship do animated characters such as Queen Elsa, Princess Anna and Olaf from “Frozen” come to life for both a production show and a deck party, surrounded by the Inside Passage’s snowcapped mountains. 

Other lines may feature engaging lectures by a naturalist, but onboard Wonder, talks are story-focused and engaging enough to keep little ones interested.

Throughout the cruise, passengers can also meet characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Donald Duck. Goofy makes an appearance shoreside before the Exclusive Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show. The special Ketchikan performance is mindful of the youngest spectators and invites them to try their luck in a slingshot competition.

Other shoreside attractions include Disney’s Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour in Ketchikan, where participants dine with crew and listen to tales of king and dungeness crab-catching, and the Liarsville Gold Rush Trail port adventure in Skagway, where passengers pan for gold alongside Disney characters. In Skagway, we chose an excursion that featured a helicopter landing atop a majestic glacier, while in Juneau, a whale-watching outing brought us close to massive humpbacks.

The flavors of Alaska continue onboard with nightly Regional Inspiration dishes, including Bering Sea halibut and baked Alaska (naturally). 

Pro tip: The former Outlook cafe, located above the adult pool deck, is now the private Concierge Lounge, available only for guests in concierge-level staterooms and suites. Travel advisors can use the opportunity to upsell clients on ship-within-a-ship perks such as the observation venue — truly the most comfortable place to take in sights of Alaska — and the sundeck on top of the ship.

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