I recently sailed Alaska's 7 Day Alaska Itinerary out of Vancouver on the Disney Wonder. We had stops at Dawes Glacier, Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway. The weather was amazing-70's and 80's many days in the ports and really clear weather until the last day at sea. We saw whales, porpoises, seals, and bald eagles without ever even leaving the ship. It was an incredible experience for my children.

We had a great time, but there's a few things I wish I had done differently:

• We tried to do character photos early. The lines are LONG at the beginning of the week but by the last few days the lines were much shorter and my kids were much happier after a short wait to see the characters!


• I scheduled too many shore excursions. We booked the glacier cruise, 2 excursions in Skagway, 1 in Juneau, and another in Ketchikan. A few days before the cruise we canceled our excursion in Ketchikan (and weren’t charged for it) and I’m so glad we did. By the time our last port rolled around my kids were ready for a little more freedom and to be able to explore at our own pace. They napped when we pulled into port so when they woke up we explored the town on our own and had a great time.


• We didn’t book a balcony. It’s better to go to Alaska in an interior room than not go at all, but it would have been great to have splurged and been able to use the balcony while my kids napped! From our window we saw whales, porpoises, seals and of course icebergs! The visibility from a balcony would have been even better.


• I didn’t pack swimsuits for my kids. Really, I had no idea kids would be swimming in the pools in Alaska! But we had several warm days and the pools and splash areas were used every day. We managed to grab my oldest a swimsuit in port and she got to use the pools for the last few days.

Let's skip to the good part! There are 4 things I was glad I did that made our cruise just a bit more enjoyable.

• We chose Disney Cruise Lines over other cruise lines. I’ve sailed on six different cruise lines, 2 of those in Alaska (now 3!). There’s nothing that compares for a family vacation than Disney Cruise Lines! The kid’s clubs, character experiences, family activities like crafts, animation classes, family dance parties, theme nights really set Disney apart from all the other cruise lines. There was something for all ages to participate in all day!


• I booked the glacier explorer at Dawes Glacier. I was worried my kids (ages 2 and 4) were too young to appreciate it but they were amazed by being so close to a glacier and watching seals float around on icebergs! The deck hands even brought an iceberg onto the boat and gave each child their own piece to eat and play with. We bundled them up to up on deck after we reached the glacier and they were able to watch it calve. We got MUCH closer to the glacier and wildlife than we were able to on the ship.


• We chose early dining. My kids absolutely loved the rotational dining! Their favorite drinks were on our table when we arrived each night along with crayons and a kids menu with coloring activities. Tianna’s was so fun with the Mardi Gras parade and it was such a neat experience to see our artwork come to life in Animator’s Palate! However, with the time difference, I know if we had late dining they would have been too tired to enjoy any of it.


• We packed costumes for Frozen Night. The deck party is so fun and you even see all of the moms and dads really having the best time and singing along! Frozen night happens on glacier viewing day, so be prepared at both dinner and after dinner for special Frozen activities!

I've sailed Alaska 3 times on 3 different cruise lines! I would love to help you plan your next Alaska or Disney cruise! Jessica@VincentVacations.com

Your travel planning just got easier

What is a travel agent and why do I need one?

A few things you should know about travel agents:

• There is no fee for my services. I work off of commission, just like the online companies you have most likely booked with before. When you book with an online agency, they receive a commission from the hotel or resort. When you book with a local travel agent, we receive the commission instead.


• I provide personalized service. During a consultation, I will ask you questions about your travel plans and preferences to help ensure that the resort, tour, or destination matches your travel style and expectations. I know what resorts have nightlife, and what resorts offer a quiet, relaxed vibe. The same goes for different cruise lines and itineraries as well!


• Itinerary customization. Want to visit several cities in Italy? I can book all of your hotels and transportation for you AND help you decide how long to stay in each city. Dreaming of a destination wedding? I’d love to help you with that. Taking the kids to Disney and not sure what dining plan you need? Let’s visit and I can help you weed through those decisions.


• The lowest prices. I have access to discounts and specials to help you get the lowest price. Find a lower price online? The vendors I work with value travel agents and are wiling to match online pricing if a lower price is found.


• Flexible payment options. I can often accept low deposits with final payments due 45-60 days prior to the dates of travel.


• Knowledge is power. As a travel professional, I am constantly working to keep my knowledge up to date. I participate in ongoing education and love to learn about new destinations and resorts! Travel agents visit resorts and destinations so that we have first hand knowledge of the places we send our valued clients.

Contact me for a free consultation or quote for your destination wedding or vacation!

Experience the nostalgia and elegance of the American Queen Steamboat Company

Luxury River Cruising on American Waters

What sets them apart?

What’s included?

• 1 night pre-cruise hotel with breakfast


• Transportation from the hotel to the vessel on embarkation day with luggage porterage


• All meals with a culturally immersive menu with steak and lobster included


• Unlimited drinks on board including unlimited wine, spirits, specialty coffee, and soda


• Guided tours in each port


• Daily entertainment and enrichment with local influences


• A fleet of bicycles on board to use in ports


• Pilot house tours


• Unlimited wifi on board

How should I dress for my cruise?

What rivers American Queen sail?

Can I customize my experience?

Email to start planning your luxury river cruise: Jessica@VincentVacations.com

Traveling with a toddler is like A Tale of Two Cities.... 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times' Haha! No, really, I love traveling with my daughter.  Are there challenges? For sure! Public meltdowns aren't fun for anyone, time differences can be challenging, and pressing pause for nap time can be a downer sometimes.

But it's 100% worth it all.

My husband and I recently took my daughter on her first cruise to Alaska. We had so much fun with my daughter on this trip. So often people comment 'oh she won't remember the trip'. But you know what? We will remember. We'll remember all the little moments of experiencing the world through her eyes.

We'll remember her...
Waking up every morning and saying 'I on toot toot boat!'
Playing with the sled dog puppies and giggling when the mama dog licked her face
Running to the balcony to see the other ships go by
Seeing a bear catch a fish and saying 'I want another bear!'
The first time she saw a whale
Chasing birds on the deck
Eating ice cream after EVERY meal

She might not remember it but we'll tell her stories of her first cruise for forever. And certainly she'll be influenced by all the new foods she ate, people she met, and experiences she had. Traveling with a young kid isn't always easy, but it's so worth it.

Do you want to travel with your children? I'd love to help your family discover the best family-friendly destinations, resorts, and cruises! Or maybe you're thinking of taking them someplace magical with a certain mouse? I'll help with all of the details! Contact me to start planning!

I was worried that on my second Alaskan cruise I would find the ports repetitive and boring since I had already been there.  I was SO wrong.  Every port had something to offer that I didn’t get to experience last time-different excursions, different restaurants, and different wildlife.  On my first cruise, I sailed Holland America in June, and this time I cruised on Princess in September.  The weather was absolutely beautiful in September! It was cool but not cold and the leaves were just beginning to change.

Balcony vs. Ocean View Ya'll I've done it both ways, and absolutely hands down if a balcony cabin is in your budget, you will not regret it!  We loved hanging out on our balcony with a hot cup of coffee while we cruised the inside passage, pulled into ports, or just to step outside first thing in the morning to breathe in that cool crisp air!  It was also a great place for our toddler to run around.

A few pictures from our balcony:

Seattle If you’ve never been to Seattle, arriving a couple of days prior to your cruise is a great idea. The city is easy to get around and there are plenty of sites to see: Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, Chihuly Gardens, the Seattle Japanese Garden, and many more parks and attractions.

Skagway My biggest regret on our first Alaskan cruise was not doing a float plan over the Misty Fjords and I definitely wasn’t going to miss it again!  The views are absolutely breathtaking and bonus-my toddler slept the entire time!  We had a delicious local lunch, I include this info for all of my booked clients in my tips sheet!

Juneau Although September isn’t peak time for whale viewing, we really got a treat by seeing a pod of orcas, humpback whales, porpoises, sea lions, jellyfish, and more.

Ketchikan In Ketchikan we explored the Klondike Highway including the Klondike Suspension Bridge.  There are options for those who would like to experience the Klondike all the way into Canada-let’s chat about the best way for you to explore this beautiful piece of countryside!

Victoria Even if you port in Victoria for just a few hours, get off the ship and explore! This was a new port for me and Chihuly Gardens at night is truly magnificent. If gardens aren't your thing, there is plenty of history, food, and shopping to experience in this lovely town!