The key to a great family vacation often comes down to knowing your kids. What type of trips do they most enjoy? Strolling though city streets … or trekking down a nature trail?
Our summer plans took us to Alaska. We booked a small ship cruise through the Inside Passage. We wondered how our eight-year-old son would fare on a small ship. His previous cruising experience was limited to Disney Cruise Line’s big ships. The ships with kids’ clubs, aqua coasters, and big pools, not to mention the opportunity to bump elbows with Mickey Mouse on deck. In his mind, that was a cruise. So we were a little worried about how he’d do on on a weeklong sailing on a 90 passenger boat, comprised mostly of adults. Did we mention there’s no WiFi? Or Mickey Mouse?
What’s the right age to sail with UnCruise?
Here’s what we did know – our son thrives in nature. We also knew that UnCruise is all about getting passengers off the ship and into the wilds of Alaska. So we took a chance, and he loved it. Here’s why UnCruise appeals to younger travelers:
Alaska’s a Giant Playground
The Alaskan rainforest is like a giant outdoor playground (with bears!). Our cruise included daily bushwhacking excursions. Bushwhacking in Alaska means hiking where there aren’t any trails. In our case that meant climbing over logs, sliding down hills, crossing streams and trudging through thick mud! Along the way we ate wild berries, picked up banana slugs, discovered animal bones, and examined scat (aka animal poop). We did it on sunny days and rainy days. Bushwhacking was a highlight of the trip for Griffin.
Wildlife is Everywhere
During our trip, we saw all kinds of animals. Critters that we’d normally view at a zoo or aquarium were visible in their natural habitat. The list of animals we saw was extensive and included stellar sea lions, tufted puffins, mountain goats, brown bears, black bears, bald eagles, porcupines, minks, orcas and humpback whales (bubble net feeding, no less!).
The Guides are Great with Kids
Although most UnCruise passengers are adults, the expedition guides work hard to engage with young passengers. The guides aren’t just knowledgeable, they’re energetic and personable, too. You’ll notice the guides crouching down to talk to kids at eye level, they understand that kids like touching (and tasting!) nature, and make sure to provide an immersive experience.
There’s Dessert with Every Meal
Dessert was served with every meal, except for breakfast. (But I bet if we’d asked, they would have come up with something.) The kids thought dessert at lunch and dinner was the most awesome thing ever. Our picky eater enjoyed the UnCruise dining experience. Although there’s not a specific menu for kids, the crew will cater to your child’s dining needs as best they can. We encouraged our son to try new foods. He even embraced crab night. Although, truth be told, he probably enjoyed cracking the crabs open more than actually eating them.
Related: What It’s Like To Spend a Week Sailing Alaska’s Inside Passage
Kids Can Order at the Bar
Typically kids don’t get to order drinks at the bar. My son thought it was pretty cool that he could climb up on the barstool and order himself a Shirley Temple or Roy Rogers whenever he liked.
Boats, Boats & More Boats
If you have a kid that likes boats, then they’ll love this vacation. They get to sleep on a boat and also go out on smaller boats every day. There were skiffs to take us to shore. And kayaks that allowed us to explore. Griffin loved being on the boats. He also loved jumping off the boat for the polar plunge!
Casual Means Casual
There’s no formal night aboard the UnCruise. UnCruise isn’t pretentious or fancy. You can pretty much dine in your hiking gear. This works well when traveling with a little boy. Also, rubber boots are the required footwear for any shore excursions. Getting to wear rubber boots and stomp through creeks and puddles is a major vacation win for an 8-year-old.
Related: What To Pack When Sailing WIth UnCruise Adventures
Kids Can Sit in the Captain’s Chair
A fun feature on any UnCruise is its open bridge policy. The bridge is open for guests to visit most of the time. Kids can learn about the combination of high and low-tech tools required to navigate the vessel. They can even sit in the captain’s chair.
If you’re lucky, you might even get to have dinner with the captain. On the last night of our cruise, the captain sat at our table.
Hot Tubs on Deck
If all else fails, there are hot tubs on the top deck. Enjoy the mountain views by day, and the stars at night. This was the preferred hangout location for the younger passengers on our cruise.
UnCruise has a minimum age requirement of 8-years-old. Exceptions for kids under age 8 requires special approval. Families traveling with kids ages 8-17 can save $500 per child. UnCruise sometimes offers designated family cruises. These cruises include a special youth guide as well as programming geared specifically to those ages 8-13.
Our teen loved the experience, too! She’s now sailed with UnCruise twice. We thought she’d have a hard time unplugging, but spending a week without WiFi or cell coverage suited her just fine. She brought books and borrowed movies from the on-board DVD library. You can read all about her favorite memories from the experience.
Traveling anywhere provides perspective. That feeling is amplified in Alaska. With its flowing glaciers, towering trees and mammoth mountains, Alaska reminds us that we are just small parts of a big world. It takes your breath away, no matter how young, or young at heart, you are.
