We Worried Our Kids Would Be Bored on an Alaska Cruise. We Were Wrong.
If you’re planning an Alaska cruise with kids, you might worry they’ll get bored looking at glaciers all day—we certainly did! An Alaska cruise is packed with incredible scenery, wildlife, and adventure—but let’s be honest, kids aren’t always impressed by glaciers and mountain views for hours at a time. Before our cruise, we wondered if our kids would get bored. To our surprise, they had an amazing time. One of the biggest surprises was how much our kids enjoyed the unofficial cruise duck hunt. Between searching for hidden ducks, attending shows, trying new foods, and making friends in the kids club, there was always something exciting happening on board.
1. Don’t Assume the Pool Is Off Limits
One of the biggest disappointments for our kids before the cruise was realizing the outdoor pool wasn’t always practical because of the chilly weather. However, we quickly discovered that there were designated family swim times in some of the indoor pool areas.
Those opportunities became highlights of the trip. If your ship has an indoor pool or family swim hours, check the daily schedule and plan around them. A chance to splash around can be a great break from sightseeing.
💡 Our Tip: Pack swimsuits even if the weather forecast looks cold.
2. Attend the Family Activities
Every day our ship offered family-friendly games, trivia contests, scavenger hunts, and interactive activities. Some of our best family memories came from participating together.
These activities gave everyone a chance to laugh, compete, and meet other families on board. They also helped break up sea days and provided something fun between meals and excursions.
💡 Our Tip: Review the daily planner each morning and highlight activities your family might enjoy.
3. Give the Shows a Chance
We expected our kids to sit through the evening shows simply because we wanted to see them. Instead, they ended up genuinely enjoying many of the performances.
The live music, dancers, comedians, and Broadway-style productions were often entertaining enough to hold their attention. Several shows became family favorites and gave us something to talk about afterward.
💡 Our Tip: Arrive a little early to get good seats and avoid last-minute stress.
4. Turn Meals Into an Adventure
One of our favorite cruise traditions was encouraging the kids to try one new food every day.
The rule was simple: they didn’t have to finish it, but they had to take at least one bite. This turned meals into a fun challenge instead of a battle.
By the end of the cruise, they had discovered several new favorites—and a few foods they definitely never wanted to see again. Either way, it was a win.
💡 Our Tip: Buffets are perfect for food exploration because kids can try small portions without feeling pressured.
5. Encourage the Kids Club
If your children are hesitant about joining the kids club, encourage them to give it a try.
Many cruise lines offer excellent programs for younger children, preteens, and teens. Our kids made friends, participated in games, and looked forward to returning each day.
Some parents worry their kids won’t want to leave them. We had the opposite experience—they often didn’t want to leave the club.
💡 Our Tip: Visit the club during the open house on embarkation day so kids can see what it’s like before committing.
6. Bring Binoculars for Wildlife Spotting
Alaska offers countless opportunities to spot whales, sea lions, eagles, seals, and other wildlife.
Giving kids binoculars turns wildlife viewing into a game. Suddenly they’re scanning the horizon looking for the next animal instead of asking when lunch is.
Some of our most exciting moments happened when the kids were the first to spot something.
7. Let Kids Help Plan the Day
Kids are often more excited when they feel involved.
Each evening, let them choose one activity they want to do the next day. It might be a show, a family game, swimming, wildlife watching, or a favorite snack stop.
Giving them some ownership helps build excitement and reduces complaints.
8. Pack a Few Comfort Items
Even the busiest cruise includes downtime.
A favorite stuffed animal, travel game, coloring book, card game, tablet, or downloaded movies can be lifesavers during quiet moments, long excursions, or rainy afternoons.
You probably won’t need them as much as you expect, but you’ll be glad they’re available.
9. Get Outside for Glacier and Scenic Viewing
While it can be tempting to stay indoors where it’s warm, some of the most memorable moments happen on deck.
Bundle up with layers, hats, and rain gear and spend time outside during scenic cruising days. Kids often enjoy seeing glaciers calve, spotting wildlife, and feeling like they’re part of the adventure.
A little preparation goes a long way. (Not sure what rain gear to pack? Check out our Alaska Cruise Rain Gear guide.)
10. Join the Cruise Duck Hunt
One activity our kids absolutely loved was searching for hidden cruise ducks around the ship.
If you’ve never heard of cruise ducks, passengers hide small rubber ducks throughout the ship for others to find. Sometimes the ducks include a note, a social media group name, or a message from the family who hid them.
Our kids spent time checking stairwells, lounges, public spaces, and hidden corners looking for ducks. Finding one felt like discovering treasure, and it kept them engaged while walking around the ship.
We also brought our own mini ducks to hide for other cruisers to find. The kids had just as much fun hiding them as they did searching for them.
💡 Our Tip: Pack a small bag of inexpensive rubber ducks or the little resin ducks before your cruise. Adding a simple tag with your first names and hometown can make the experience even more memorable for the families who find them.
🧳 A Few Things That Helped
A short list of small, inexpensive items that made a real difference for our kids on this trip:
- Binoculars — turns wildlife spotting into a game they’ll actually stay excited about
- Rubber ducks (for hiding) — cheap, easy to pack, and one of the most memorable parts of the whole trip
- A comfort item or two — a stuffed animal, travel game, coloring book, or tablet with downloaded movies for quiet moments
Final Thoughts
Before our Alaska cruise, we worried that the cooler weather and lack of beach days might leave our kids disappointed. Instead, they found excitement in swimming when they could, making friends in the kids club, trying new foods, attending shows, and spotting wildlife.
With a little planning and an open mind, an Alaska cruise can be an unforgettable family adventure for kids of all ages.
