A Disney Cruise to Alaska: Glaciers, Bears and Unlimited Ice Cream With Kate Merrow - Ep. 687

This week, Curtis welcomes his good friend Kate back to the podcast to share her family’s unforgettable seven-night Alaskan cruise aboard the Disney Wonder.

The trip was originally planned for Kate and her husband, Pete—but when their 16-year-old daughter, Allie, asked to join them, they realized there might not be many more years when she would want to vacation with Mom and Dad.

Together, they sailed from Vancouver to Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan for an adventure filled with breathtaking scenery, incredible wildlife and plenty of Disney magic.

We geek out about:

🏔️ Taking a helicopter to Mendenhall Glacier—and walking across the ice

🐻 Watching bears catch salmon from the river

🦅 Seeing bald eagles everywhere they looked

🚂 Riding the historic White Pass train through Alaska

🦀 Fresh king crab, Dungeness crab and one very unusual salmon donut

🚢 Whether a balcony is worth the extra cost on an Alaskan cruise

🎭 Broadway-style shows, dueling pianos and entertainment aboard the Disney Wonder

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Allie stepping outside her comfort zone and making friends at Vibe

🍦 Why unlimited ice cream ranked alongside the glacier as a trip highlight

🥤 The special Cast Member touch that put a Shirley Temple at Allie’s seat every night

Kate also shares helpful advice about arriving in Vancouver early, packing for unpredictable Alaskan weather and saving room in your budget for excursions that can turn a great cruise into a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

But the heart of this episode is about taking one more family adventure together, meeting wonderful people along the way and making memories before the kids are all grown up.

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