Hi Jeff!
Wahoo! Alaska is calling, and you and your family have heard the call of the wild! My family heard that call too, and we all agree that
Alaska is hands down our most memorable cruise to date. From seeing whales, seals, and bald eagles up close and personal, glaciers calving, and the unbelievable scenery, it was simply stunning and enthralling from start to finish.
Some of the most important things you will plan for your cruise are your
Port Adventures. Unlike other sailings where you may sometimes opt to stay onboard, the Alaskan itineraries beg for excursions to be taken. The difficult part will be deciding between them all! I would suggest deciding on a budget for what you'd like to spend. But then remind yourselves that this could possibly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so factor that in and be willing to start saving your Disney dollars for these EPIC adventures. They are SO worth it!
Under the Destinations tab on Disney Cruise Line, there's a category called Port Adventures where they are organized by destination. Click on the
Alaskan Port Adventures photo and you can then search by location, experience type (like nature, sightseeing, cultural), activity level, accessibility, and price range. Be sure to read the "Know Before You Go" descriptions on each excursion as they have valuable information such as any restrictions, suggested attire, and what to bring.
Since you said you are Silver level in
Castaway Club, your
Advance Booking Window actually opens 90 days prior to your sailing. On that day, if your cruise is paid in full, you can make your selections online once the clock strikes midnight. I'd suggest having two or three excursions for each port in case your first choice is not available. I've found that we usually can get the Port Adventures we want, especially if I am ready to go with our selections when the window opens.
The flip side is that sometimes despite the best planning, things don't work out. Case in point: we were totally willing to spend top dollar on the
Dog Sled Adventure by Helicopter because it was on our bucket list. However, Disney Cruise Line had to wisely cancel our Port Adventure because of fog. While we were disappointed that we didn't get to experience dogsledding, we received a full refund because we booked with Disney. Instead, we went to Plan B and did a Mendenhall Glacier tour. As Mrs. Incredible says, it's important to "be a bit more flexible!"
I hope this has got you pumped up as you plan your Alaskan adventure! Cruise back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel if you have any additional questions before you set sail. Have a WONDERful voyage!
Happy Sailing!
Sherry