Answering Your Questions About Our First Alaskan Disney Cruise: Excursions, Travel Tips & More

Currency and Travel Cards

• 💰 On the Disney cruise ship, payments were in American dollars and linked to Magic Bands, automatically charging a credit card.
• 🇨🇦 In Canada, transactions were in Canadian dollars, but their Capital One Venture card automatically converted currency with no fees, offering a good conversion rate.
• 💳 They recommend using a travel card to avoid foreign transaction fees and earn points on purchases.

Ship Amenities and Travel Tips

• 🔌 American-style plugs were available on the ship, including traditional two-prong outlets and European-style 240-volt plugs near the beds, compatible with most modern electronics.
• 📱 A tip for traveling with kids is to use suction cups on the back of phones to attach them to windows, especially for entertainment.
• 🚢 For couples without children, a Disney cruise is highly recommended, with many excursions suitable for adults.

Alaskan Cruise Experience vs. Caribbean

• 🌊 The rockiness of the ship was minimal on the Alaskan cruise, especially once it entered the channel with land on both sides, making it feel like sailing on a lake.
• 🏞️ The scenery in Alaska is a major highlight, with stunning natural beauty of mountains and evergreen trees, offering a different experience than the Caribbean.
• 🚢 Disney's Alaskan cruise aims to help guests connect with nature while still enjoying the comforts of the ship.

Traveling with Young Children

• 🍎 Packing snacks is crucial for toddlers to avoid meltdowns, along with essentials like swimming diapers, wipes, bibs, and disposable placemats.
• 🛌 Disney provides amenities like diaper genies, bed rails, and pack-and-plays, though pack-and-plays can take up significant room space.
• 🧸 Bringing toys, books, or downloading content onto a tablet is recommended for in-room entertainment, as onboard TV options can be limited.
• 👶 Disney can also puree baby food upon request, eliminating the need to pack it.

Excursions and Travel Logistics

• 🗺️ The trip was sponsored by Disney in collaboration with Be Our Guest Vacations, which helped select excursions suitable for their young children.
• 🚢 Passports are required for cruises departing from Canada, and the customs process was surprisingly quick and efficient, with express lines available for those with strollers.
• ⛰️ While they didn't experience altitude sickness in Banff, one of the children was concerned about needing oxygen at high altitudes, though they were at a manageable 7,800 ft on Sulphur Mountain.
• 🐢 A sentimental item, Jackson's turtle toy, was lost and not recovered despite efforts, highlighting the importance of keeping track of cherished belongings.

Cruise Line Preferences and Future Plans

• ✨ The speakers express a strong preference for Disney Cruise Line due to its family-friendly amenities and character experiences, finding it ideal for traveling with young children.
• ✈️ They are considering a trip to Tokyo Disney and an Alaskan cruise in the same year, suggesting a strategy to combine both bucket-list destinations.
• 📸 PhotoPass photographers were available at the port but not typically on excursions, though scenic photo backdrops are available on the ship.
• 🚗 A GPS audio tour app called Guide Along was used in Banff and Calgary, providing interesting facts and different information for each direction of travel.