Last October (2024), my dad and I took a father-daughter cruise to Cabo. I wish I had blogged about it! It was such a special trip, and I would have loved being able to read back on those memories. We wanted to go on another cruise, so we planned one to Alaska. These trips mean a lot to me because growing up, my dad wasn’t really around until about eight years ago, so spending this time together has been healing for my inner child.

Why Alaska?

Last year in May (2024), I cruised from Vancouver with my mom, sister, and a few aunts, and the scenery was so breathtaking I knew my dad would love it. We originally planned a mid-May cruise with my friend Mai Ly and her boyfriend, but unfortunately had to reschedule for September so we could attend my brothers’ high school graduation. In the end, I’m glad we still made it happen!

Our Ship: Discovery Princess

We went on the Discovery Princess, which departed from Seattle, Washington. When I did the Alaskan cruise with my mom previously, it was a 10-day cruise and we departed in Vancouver, Canada and ended the trip in Anchorage, Alaska. Because I wanted to make the trip process as simple as possible, we decided on a 7-day cruise that departed from and returned to Seattle, so I didn’t have to book multiple airfares, and transportation felt simpler.

The Vista Suite Experience

My dad and I got the Vista Suite with two twin-size beds, which was so nice and spacious. It also had a balcony and minibar. Another thing that I love is that the toilet and shower were separated! It was super convenient.

The suite allows you access to the concierge lounge, so you can get soda, alcoholic drinks and coffee without needing a drink package. Since we don’t drink alcohol and only have the occasional coffee or soda, it didn’t make sense for us to get a drink package, but with the access to the concierge lounge, I was able to have a cup of decaf cappuccino every morning. The Vista suite also came with free dry cleaning! Another perk of staying in a suite is that you get a complimentary dinner at one of their specialty dining restaurants on the first night.

Now that I’ve stayed in this suite, I don’t think I can ever go back to an interior room, ha. Consider me spoiled!

Sea Days on Board

Sea days simply mean you’re on the cruise ship all day! In between our port days, we had two sea days to wander around and explore. There are always plenty of activities and shows during this time, such as afternoon tea, comedy shows, karaoke, game shows, and more. My dad loved afternoon tea when we did it on our last cruise, so I made sure we went again this time. We also went to the gym, and I even taught him Pilates. It was special being able to share with my dad something I’ve been passionate about for the past year and a half.

Another event cruises typically offer is a galley tour, where you can walk through the kitchen and see how the food is prepared. I didn’t know about this until our last cruise when a friend mentioned he had done it. I thought it would be fun for my dad to see since he used to work as a dishwasher when he first came to America. He likes to call himself a professional dishwasher, haha.

On one of the sea days, we also had formal night. Passengers were asked to dress up, and the restaurants served a special menu with dishes like lobster and filet mignon. Definitely something to keep in mind when packing for your cruise!

Cruise Itinerary

Our cruise was from September 7 through September 14, 2025. Here’s our itinerary:

• Sunday, September 7: Seattle, Washington
• Monday, September 8: Sea Day
• Tuesday, September 9: Ketchikan, Alaska
• Wednesday, September 10: Juneau, Alaska
• Thursday, September 11: Skagway, Alaska
• Friday, September 12: Sea Day
• Saturday, September 13: Victoria, B.C.
• Sunday, September 14: Seattle, Washington

Ketchikan: Wild-Life Tour

Our first stop was Ketchikan. One of my friends, Sienza, grew up in Ketchikan and gave me a few recommendations. I’ll share a few of her recommendations down below!

The moment we got off the cruise ship in Ketchikan, we started looking for a Starbucks. My dad says there’s no better way to enjoy cold weather than a hot beverage in one hand. The only Starbucks we found within walking distance was one in a Safeway and the barista ended up being on lunch break, so we headed over to McDonald’s instead.

At first, I didn’t understand why my dad was so persistent about Starbucks and McDonald’s – I thought, “Shouldn’t we try a local spot?”. Then I realized that the main reason my dad specifically wanted Starbucks is consistency. It made me see chain stores in a different light. It’s the familiarity and consistency that these brands carry throughout their stores. Sometimes we crave that familiarity, especially on a trip when you’re completely off of your routine!

Anyway, we planned to watch the Great Alaskan Lumberjack show but by the time we got off the ship and to the ticket box office, the shows were already sold out. My friend Sienza also used to work at this coffee shop in high school called Candy Corner and while we tried looking for it so I can send Sienza a photo, the store had already closed for the season. Tourism season is typically from May until September. Instead, we decided to book a last-minute wildlife tour, which took us to see salmon, black bears, and the Saxman Totem Park.

During the tour, while my dad was taking photos and selfies, he told another passenger that she should take photos where he was standing because it had great lighting. He jokingly mentioned that he was going to post his photos on Facebook where he has a thousand followers.

Back on the bus, my dad fell asleep during the ride and the passenger that he spoke to earlier told her mom that my dad has a Facebook following. Her mom then told me to take a photo of my dad asleep on the bus so he can share it with his followers. It was hilarious – I love when my dad gets silly and jokes around with strangers, haha.

Recommendations from my friend who grew up in Ketchikan:

• Eat at Alaska Fish House
• Ride the Duck Tour
• Walk Creek Street
• See the Tunnel of Ketchikan

Our initial itinerary included scenic cruising through the Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier before arriving in Juneau. Unfortunately, the cruise ship had to do a detour because of the weather. We ended up arriving in Juneau much earlier than expected. I was a little bummed since I remember it being so beautiful when I went last year.

Juneau: Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls

Our second stop was Juneau – Alaska’s capital! Did you know that in order to get into Juneau, you can only travel by boat or plane? You can’t drive since there are no roads that connect to the rest of Alaska!

In Juneau, I wanted my dad to see the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls. I remember it being so surreal when I went last year. We got off the cruise ship and found a tour bus that was departing within the next 5 minutes. We didn’t look around for other tours or activities.

The trail to Nugget Falls is more of a walk than a hike. There wasn’t really much incline, so if that’s something you’re concerned about, no need! It was a relaxing stroll.

During our walk, it was raining quite a bit. Neither my dad nor I packed an umbrella, but luckily our suite room had an umbrella that we could borrow. I would also recommend wearing rain boots. My dad dusted off his pair that he bought over a decade ago – since he lives in southern California, there’s no need for rain boots. I recently purchased a pair since I know I’ll need it at some point now living in New York City.

Another item that I would recommend getting if you’re not used to the cold is hand warmers! I bought these reusable rechargeable hand warmers right before the trip because I had a feeling that my dad would like them while we’re in Alaska. I figured I might need them for the cold winters in the city as well. My dad said that having the hand warmers made walking in the windy and rainy weather more tolerable. He ended up loving them so much that he asked if he could keep them!

We ended our day at Juneau by grabbing dinner at Tracy’s King Crab Shack. This was my second time eating there since I previously ate there the last time I came. It was definitely worth the wait! My dad loved it too.  

Skagway: Around Town

The next day we went to Skagway. Another passenger we befriended on the cruise mentioned to us about the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. But of course, by the time we got off the cruise ship and to the ticket booth, they were already sold out. We ended up walking around town looking at all the shops. My dad wanted to get a sweater that says Alaska on it, but he didn’t see one that he liked. It was our last opportunity since we would be in Canada on our next stop.

Victoria, British Columbia: Downtown and Chinatown

We arrived at our last stop in Victoria, British Columbia, late in the evening. Shuttles were available from the cruise port into downtown for $15 per person. You could also stay at the port, where there was a small marketplace with local artists and a gift shop. We decided to head downtown and walked to Chinatown – it wasn’t a far walk at all, maybe 10 minutes.

My dad felt bad that he hadn’t bought me anything during the trip. He asked if I could pick something out so he could buy it for me, and I decided on ice cream. The shop made all its ice cream fresh in-house, and it was good, but the owner wasn’t the friendliest.

Since it was late, most of the shops and restaurants were closed. Overall, I didn’t think there was much to do given the timeframe, and I wish we had been in Victoria a bit earlier in the day!

After the Cruise: Seattle, Washington

After Victoria, the next morning we were in Seattle, Washington. My dad had never been to Seattle before, and I’ve visited when I was around 12 years old. My mom, sister, and I went with our family friends many years ago. While I don’t remember much of Seattle (my memories were more of our family friends), I do remember visiting the first Starbucks and the Space Needle!

My dad loves Starbucks so we had to go to the first location! We waited over 30 minutes in line, but it was worth it seeing my dad get excited. After that, we spent a few hours at Pike Place Market before our flights back home. It was quite a struggle walking around Seattle with our backpacks and carry-ons.

Nonetheless, my dad loved Seattle and told my siblings that Seattle is a must-visit place.

Tips for Your First Alaskan Cruise

After two trips to Alaska (and with tips from a friend who grew up there), here’s what I’d recommend for your first Alaskan cruise!

• Waterproof everything – Alaska gets a lot of rain, so if you have waterproof clothing, bring it! I didn’t have water-resistant pants, and my jeans were soaked by the time we got back to the ship.
• Gloves, beanie, thermal clothing – the first time I went to Alaska, I remember freezing the whole time. Luckily, I was more prepared this trip!
• Umbrella – Alaska is known to be rainy, so packing an umbrella will come in handy.
• Rain boots – I didn’t have rain boots the first time I went to Alaska, so I had to be very careful of my shoes. This time around, I was walking everywhere and didn’t have to be so cautious!
• Binoculars – I thought about bringing mine but ended up not bringing it since I didn’t have the luggage space. My dad made a comment about wishing he had binoculars on the trip so I felt guilty!
• Research excursions – a passenger we befriended told us that they watched YouTube videos of the excursions they picked. I didn’t know that people review excursions on YouTube! They watched a tour video of the exact stateroom they chose as well.
• Bonus: Hand warmers – If you’re not a fan of the cold, getting electric hand warmers might be a great idea! I’m so glad to have gotten these for my dad. I will surely be ordering a pair for myself once it gets cooler in New York City.

Father-Daughter Trips

We said our goodbyes at the airport, and I walked him to his gate back home. It makes me so sad saying goodbye to him after a trip. Some days I want to quit everything and go live with my dad, to make up for lost time. I know it’s a bit irrational, but those are my genuine thoughts.

I love spending time with my dad and getting to know him. For the longest time, I longed for a relationship with him and finally in my late twenties, I feel that I truly have that in life and I’m so blessed for it. I’m grateful for these trips with just me and my dad and I’m already looking forward to the next one!