KidTripster Teen: My 7 favorite things about my UnCruise vacation in Alaska.
When asked “what did you do over summer break?,” my response is hard to beat. I went on a cruise in Alaska! I’ve been dreaming of sailing the Alaskan seas once again, ever since my first trip there two years ago with my mom. This year we made it happen in spite of the pandemic. This time, my whole family … my dad, mom and little brother … were there for the adventure.
I experienced everything from whale watching to extreme hiking in the wilderness, and I had a blast doing it! Here are some of my favorite adventures and experiences while sailing with UnCruise this summer.
#1 Bushwhacking
The first time I sailed with UnCruise, I did exactly one bushwhack. And hated it! I thought it was awful. I got my boot stuck in mud, and I definitely cried afterward. This time was much different.
With my whole family going, it made the experience a lot more fun, and this time I persevered – whether it was climbing to the top of a slippery cliff, or following a game trail right into mud so strong it could suck you right under, I ventured on.
This time, I wanted to bushwhack every day, although my family didn’t think that was such a good idea. Every other day was good enough for me!
#2 Skiff Tours
My family and I enjoyed several skiff tours throughout our trip. Skiffs are basically small motorized boats. One of the guides and a driver would take us out in the seas, whether rain or shine, glacial or non-glacial water (I preferred the glacial water). I really enjoyed these 90 minute rides because it was so peaceful.
We saw porpoises swimming, eagles soaring, deer frolicking, and on the last day I even saw a bear fishing for salmon! The pictures were incredible. Andrew, one of the guides, even let me sample some edible sea kelp. It was very salty, I’d rather get my sodium in potato chips!
Related: KidTripster Teen’s 8 Reasons Why Small Ship Cruises Are Better
#3 Food
Okay, the food on UnCruise is amazing! The meals served onboard are some of the best I’ve ever eaten. There was dessert for dinner AND lunch, which I really enjoyed.
My favorite meal was definitely crab night. It was really funny watching my dad and brother try to crack crab shells. I was a pro, of course. Our table took the prize for most crab eaten. Well, there wasn’t really an award, but judging by the pile of crab shells left in the discard bowl, we were the definite winners.
Related: A Teen’s Favorite Thrills, Chills & Snacks on the World’s Largest Cruise Ship
#4 Wildlife
I saw SO MANY ANIMALS! It was amazing. I saw deer and bears and eagles and porpoises, all up close. I’m lucky I didn’t get eaten! Just kidding. We were always very safe, and respectful of the animals.
We learned some fascinating facts about these animals at trivia night, too, like how Black-tailed deer are the biggest game animal that are hunted in Alaska, or that the Giant Pacific Octopus can squeeze into holes as small as a quarter! That night was very fun, even though my team came in 7th place.
I also took a really cool photo of a bear that we saw fishing for salmon while we were on a skiff tour.
Related: What It’s Like to Spend a Week Sailing Alaska’s Inside Passage
#5 Kayaking
Kayaking was an option on most days during our cruise. I went with my dad a few times. (The last time I went kayaking was with my mom, and we did not have a good time. It hailed on us. Then we started arguing, which isn’t so fun on a kayak in the middle of nowhere in Alaska.) This time was different, thankfully. One day we sailed out to a glacier. Another day, we paddled all the way out to a little cave that was really neat. We even saw eagles soaring above us, and crabs floating in the water around the kayak.
#6 Polar Plunge
Not to be forgotten, the polar plunge. Also known as jumping into frigid, freeze-your-socks-off, glacier water! Two years ago I tortured myself with this activity, while my mom watched from the ship.
Unfortunately, I had to do it again this year, with my whole family. The anticipation was horrible, but once it was done … it was done.
Truth be told, it wasn’t as bad as I remember. And this time my whole family took the plunge with me which was kinda cool. Not that I’d admit that to them.
Related: How Big Should Your Kid be for a Small Ship Cruise?
#7 Sightseeing in Juneau & Sitka
In addition to the cruise itself, I also enjoyed visiting both of the towns of Juneau and Sitka.
Juneau was so fun to walk around in. We could walk from our downtown hotel to the water’s edge in seconds. I also had the best crab there. I highly recommend getting a meal at Tracy’s King Crab Shack. Some other recommendations include visiting Mendenhall Glacier, taking the tramway up Mount Roberts and going to the Alaska State Museum.
Related: 48 Hours in Juneau
After our cruise, we were able to explore Sitka, too. I loved learning about the Russian history there. We went to the Fortress of the Bear, the Alaska Raptor Center, the Sitka National Historic Park, and the Sitka Sound Science Center.
One of the best things, though, was just seeing how the local kids lived. I watched kids younger than me wade knee-high in the ocean with fishing nets trying to catch jumping salmon. I also saw kids out picking wild berries and others, bundled up in rain jackets and rubber boots, playing in the rain at the playground. It was fun seeing a glimpse of everyday life in these small towns.
Alaska really is a dream, and I hope to return soon! If you haven’t been, you should add it to your to-do list.
Related: KidTripster Tween’s Favorite Moments in Alaska
The author received a complimentary cruise for purposes of this review. All opinions are her own.
