I received two reactions when I told people I would be traveling to Alaska with Disney Cruise Line. The reactions were either excitement or surprise. I think the element of surprise has everything to do with people trying to wrap their heads around what seems to be a few conflicting themes: Disney magic and Alaska’s untamed wilderness. There’s also another perceived contrast: Black travelers and Alaska.
Between my port stops with the Disney Wonder, one of Disney Cruise Line’s smaller, more classic ships, I had face-to-face encounters with towering glaciers, sat in the co-pilot seat of a small seaplane to see even more glaciers from above, spotted whales and bald eagles right in front of me, and pushed myself with an adrenaline-pumping ziplining adventure. My seven-day journey through the Last Frontier was better than I imagined.
The cherry on top of this wild adventure was that the exhilaration was set on a Disney cruise, known for bringing the magic you feel at the theme parks to the open sea. There was no shortage of immersive entertainment, nostalgic storytelling, character experiences, and, dare I say, escapism. Disney brings its top-tier customer service, meticulous attention to detail, and guilt-free environments that encourage adventure, play, and relaxation to DCL ships.
The only thing I actually felt guilty about was traveling to Alaska during one of the hottest weeks of the summer so far. Here’s what I want people to know about my experience cruising to Alaska with Disney Cruise Line as a Black traveler during the summer.
Trading Sand For Glaciers
Sometimes, it feels like we live in a world with too many connections. Technology dictates much of what we do, and there’s rarely time to escape it because one device is often connected to another. While I love and benefit from technological advancements, I often remind myself that we miss beautiful moments when we don’t take the time to disconnect. That’s where Alaska comes in.
It’s nicknamed “the Last Frontier” for a reason. Alaska is massive in size and one of the few places in the world with untouched wilderness. It feels surreal being in a place where some sections are only accessible by boat or air. Visiting Alaska forces you to put the phone down to take in the pristine wilderness.
Most people expect the sun, sand, and water with DCL routes because a vast majority focuses on the Caribbean and the Bahamas. With Alaska, you still experience the sun (on most days) and water, but you trade sand for glacier ice and a new outlook on rainy days.
DCL’s Alaska routes depart exclusively from Vancouver, British Columbia, during the warmer months, from about mid-May through mid-September, according to planDisney. There are several itineraries to choose from, ranging from six- to eight-night cruises on the Disney Magic or Disney Wonder. The itinerary is packed with Arctic beauty and outdoor adventure for the entire family, even if you decide to sail without children.
Life Aboard The Disney Wonder In Alaska
Thanks to the parks, when it comes to anything Disney, people expect magic in the form of interactive entertainment, thematic food and delights, and some thrill.
“I think we’re luckier than the parks because we have the same people who have [several] days of the itinerary and the crews. It gives us the opportunity to take care of the guests not in one day, a few hours, or that short period of time they’re staying,” DCL Cruise Director Peter Hofer told Travel Noire. “We get them for a whole period… so we can spread that magic over that course of time.”
While the port adventures brought the thrill, we chose our magical moments during sea days thanks to the DCL Navigator App. There’s an hour-by-hour itinerary of what’s happening each day.
One concern we had going in was what would be available for our party for seven nights, since we didn’t have any children. We realized this is a common misconception. You don’t have to have children to enjoy a Disney cruise, and it’s not weird to be on board without them. There are dozens of activities exclusively for adults, including trivia, crafts, wine and spirits tastings, and live music in adult-only venues such as Cadillac Lounge. Some days, we chose to relax in the adults-only Quiet Cove Pool. Other days were spent in the gym and the Senses Spa & Salon.
A highlight for 18+ cruisers on The Wonder is the Palo dining experience. Guests are transported into an Italian fine-dining experience, named after the signature long poles used by gondoliers in Venice. Reservations are required, and there is a dress code.
Our group experienced DCL’s signature rotational dining scheme that keeps you with the same dedicated serving team even on a seven-day cruise. We rotated through Animator’s Palate, Tiana’s Place, and Triton’s. However, one thing cruisers should not expect is DCL’s fireworks and pirate show. Instead, there is the Frozen-themed deck party.
Port Adventures And The Wild Stuff
One standout for me is how soon the wildlife encounters started. It didn’t take a port adventure for us to head out on the Verandah balcony to experience such excitement. The captain was great about giving people a heads-up on timing for when they could expect to pass through the protected waters of the Inside Passage, see the dramatic fjords, and see wildlife such as whales. This information kept you on your toes. There were plenty of times when we witnessed whales, dramatic mountainous landscapes, and glaciers from the comfort of our stateroom.
Our first adventure on the seven-night sail was the Glacier Explorer experience. We boarded a smaller ship to photograph one of the Stikine Icefield’s prominent glaciers. Our second adventure was in Skagway, a charming Alaskan town steeped in history and surrounded by breathtaking landscapes.
Skagway was our busiest port because we participated in two big excursions. The first was the White Pass Scenic Railway, which retraces the route of the Yukon Gold Rush in a vintage train. While traveling along the White Pass and Yukon Route, our guide taught us about the town’s history and the route’s construction. We had a moment to breathe and change our clothes before one of my scariest moments: ziplining through the Alaskan Rainforest.
After Skagway, our next port of call was Juneau. Alaska’s capital city is nestled between towering mountains and the sea. In the morning, we ventured out aboard a custom-built expedition vessel to whale-watch. It was another highlight because we lost count of how many whales we saw during this excursion.
Juneau is also where we boarded a small seaplane to fly over glaciers on our way to Taku Lodge. The lodge is a meticulously preserved Alaskan homestead from the 1920s. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it’s located in the remote Tongass National Forest and offers a rare glimpse into the early days of frontier hunting camps.
Our last port day was in Ketchikan, also known as the “Salmon Capital of the World.” We had one focus during this port day: eat as much salmon and Alaskan King Crab as we could. We conquered that and walked it off on a hike on the Salmon Walking Trail.
Being A Black Traveler In This Space
@mittimegantv Adventure has no color. But representation does matter. Here’s a peek into my Alaska adventure so far! I hope it inspires more of us to visit 🖤🐋 #blacktravelfeed #blacktravelmovement #AlaskaTravel #DiversifyTravel #BlackGirlTravel ♬ original sound – 🧍🏾♀️🧍🏾♀️
What was clear to me was that more of us should be traveling to Alaska. It felt like a safe space for Black travelers. What sealed the deal in my security was having the Disney Wonder as my home base.
By the end of the week, I understood why people reacted with surprise when I told them where I was headed. Disney magic and Alaskan wilderness aren’t supposed to belong in the same sentence, let alone the same itinerary. But somewhere between the glaciers, the whales, and an attentive crew, the pixie dust and the wild found their rhythm together.
I flew home ready for my next adventure to the Last Frontier. Next time, I hope I’m not counting how many Black travelers I see on both hands. And maybe this nudges someone who’s been on the fence about Alaska, or hesitant about cruising somewhere that isn’t sun-soaked and predictable, to book the trip anyway. The Last Frontier doesn’t ask you to be anything other than curious. Disney Cruise Line doesn’t want anything except your imagination.
