Hi Alexandra!
I am so glad you stopped by with your question about
Alaska Port Adventures! Hands down, these experiences are some of my favorite memories from all our Disney cruises. We still talk about our kayaking excursion during our Disney Wonder sailing as one of the best travel adventures we’ve ever had.
As far as whale watching tours, I would recommend the
Whale Watching, Salmon Bake and Mendenhall Glacier or the
Whale Quest and Orca Point Lounge, both in Juneau. My family chose the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour in Ketchikan, so the boat was similar in size to many of the boats used for whale watching tours. I can assure you that we had no issues with seasickness as this area of Alaska called the Inside Passage usually has calm waters. (I'd still pack dramamine and seasickness bands just to be safe though.)
Sounds like your family loves zip lining like we do! When I did a search of the Alaskan Port Adventures for zip adventures, a few popped up that will accommodate kids ages 8 and up:
Adventure Park and World’s Largest Ziprider in Icy Strait and Skagway’s
Adventure Park and Zip Lines. There’s even a Port Adventure that combines zip lining AND whale watching called
Whale Watching and ZipRider Combination. Not that you have to do it all on the same day, but it’s uncanny that there’s actually one that has both the activities you are seeking!
All the Alaskan Port Adventures have full descriptions, including the ever-important Know Before You Go details. I always review these thoroughly to see if there are any age, height or weight requirements or things I need to bring with us.
While I’m chatting about Alaska, I must make a few more recommendations. First, don’t miss one of the Alaska Naturalist Presentations. Local naturalists provide heads up information on all the scenery and wildlife about to be encountered. While surveying the scenery, the naturalist points out in real time all the nature and wildlife surrounding the ship. During our cruise, we saw porpoises, dolphins, harbor seals, sea lions, bald eagles, and whales. Be sure to add binoculars to your
packing list!
Character meet and greets in Alaska are quite possibly the best ones we've had on a Disney cruise. These one-of-a-kind photos often have snow-capped mountains and glaciers in the background since many of them take place outdoors. I love seeing the characters in their Alaskan-themed outfits...our favorites were Donald in his lumberjack plaid and Mickey in his fishing gear.
Cruise back to the Disney Parks Moms Panel if you have any additional questions before you set sail. Wishing you a whale of a time on your WONDERful voyage!
Happy Sailing!
Sherry