Disney Magic Alaskan Cruise Review – Day 3: May 30, 2026

Today marks what most would consider the pinnacle day of an Alaskan cruise: glacier viewing. While technically a sea day, it’s full of activities and offers some of the most spectacular sights you can imagine. Welcome to the Stikine Icecap!

The Stikine Icecap Description from Disney Cruise Line:

Take the route less traveled and discover a place known for mammoth glaciers, rugged mountains, and abundant wildlife. Cruise through the scenic Stikine Icecap—located approximately 45 miles south of Juneau, Alaska amid Tongass National Forest—and behold a paradise in sight and sound amid a serene remote wilderness.

Gaze upon an unspoiled natural world of wonder as you weave your way down the near-frozen waterway. Observe nature raw and beautiful, where immense rock formations, steep valleys and rushing waterfalls open up to frigid sapphire water and glowing blue ice adrift in every direction.

Renowned for its iconic granite spires and imposing peaks, Alaska’s southernmost icefield is one of the 3 biggest icecaps in the state. Straddling the Alaska-British Columbia boundary, the Stikine Icecap boasts an abundance of glaciers and serves as a primary source for the Taku River and the Stikine River. Behold the natural wonder of the Dawes Glacier, standing over 600 feet tall, spanning a mile in breadth and stretching 15 miles long. Its icebergs provide breeding grounds to the area’s majestic harbor seals and a tranquil habitat for whelping their pups. Stand in awe at this spectacular icefield and be on the lookout for the process known as calving, where giant chunks of ice break off and spill into the sea below without warning.

Witness the unforgettable natural splendor of the seemingly timeless corner of the world in and around the Stikine Icecap. During your picturesque and peaceful voyage, breathe in the fresh air and snap photos of the stunning scenery in your midst: rushing waterfalls, floating icebergs, sculpted valleys and soaring cliffs perched thousands of feet above glacial blue waters. And take a moment to listen to the silence of your surroundings. You just may hear the sudden crackle or pop of a wayward iceberg taking on water and breaking apart.

In addition to its geological wonders, the Stikine Icecap is home to numerous wildlife including bald eagles, brown bears, goats and whales. A nature lovers’ paradise to be sure, the majesty of the area provides ample opportunity for even more photography.

As the ship gently coasted along, you could enjoy the day from a multitude of vantage points. For those wanting a bird’s-eye view, the upper decks were the place to be, with guests lined up along the railings. Instead of searching for the perfect spot at the pool, most of the deck chairs were turned around facing the water. Others wanted to be a little closer to the action and found a spot around deck 4 along the walking track. Sitting back and relaxing on the verandah was another popular choice, which we took full advantage of.

The expedition starts with the ship making its way through Stephens Passage, then turning into Endicott Arm leading to Dawes Glacier. Once entering the Arm, the captain came to a near stop and coasted, allowing two smaller vessels to pull alongside. These were the Glacial Explorer boats, and passengers loaded onto them the same way you would when tendering to go ashore at ports too shallow for the ship to dock directly.

This is the one excursion that is offered this day – the Glacial Explorer Adventure which Disney Cruise Line describes as:

• Board a deluxe, Alaskan-built vessel directly from your Disney ship and enjoy nearly 3 hours immersed in the beautiful Alaskan inlet channel connected to the Stikine Icecap, a large icefield that spans the Alaska–British Columbia boundary in the Alaskan Panhandle.
• Weave through shimmering icebergs and travel near the rugged shoreline aboard a boat with exceptional agility. As occasions arise, the captain will stop to allow for viewing and photography of wildlife, such as pigeon guillemots, bald eagles, harbor seals, mountain goats and bears.
• Enjoy compelling narration about the area from a knowledgeable naturalist and crew members. The small group offers Guests personal access to these guides for additional questions and conversations.
• Feel the “white thunder,” if you’re lucky enough to see the immense spires of ice break from the glacier and crash into the sea. Although glacier calving is likely, it is not guaranteed. Either way, views from the topside observation decks offer a chance to take in unforgettable views.
• Spend time in an extended drift near the glacier’s face.
• Return back to the ship after maneuvering back into open water.

We went back and forth on booking this at a cost of $350 per person. While we did initially reserve it, as it sells out quickly, we then spent a bit of time deep diving into reviews from past cruisers. The results were very mixed. While many proclaimed it the best experience they’d ever had, others said it was a letdown, mostly because of weather-related issues. Choppy waters, foggy skies, and rain can severely impact how close the boats can get to the shoreline, and obviously visibility can become a factor. We came across plenty of comments that the ship itself gets close enough, and since it’s barely moving, you get an excellent experience staying on board.

The appeal is the proximity you get to the glacier, as well as potential wildlife and scenic points along the way. Most guests say you get so close to the glacier that when the guides idle down the engines you can hear the ice cracking as pieces melt and fall into the water below. Some have even compared this to the sound of thunder. Think about listening to ice cubes cracking in your favorite beverage, then magnify that by a million. It can be impressive to not only see, but hear.

Ultimately, we opted to cancel our reservation and enjoy the day alternating between the upper decks, deck 4, relaxing on our verandah, and one other venue we’ll discuss later.

Disney Cruise Line Room Service

While room service is included in your cruise fare on Disney Cruise Line, an added benefit of staying in a one-bedroom stateroom is the option to order from the main dining rooms for breakfast and dinner as well, in addition to the standard room service menu. What does this mean? Instead of being limited to cold breakfast items and pastries, you can get a full lineup of eggs, bacon, french toast, or even Mickey waffles delivered directly to your room. Below left is the standard breakfast room service menu, with the two on the right being the expanded offerings for one-bedroom suites and above. To place your order, you simply fill out the form with your selections, including delivery time, then hang it outside your door by 3 a.m.

We decided this was the perfect opportunity to take advantage of this perk, and honestly it was a factor in our decision to upgrade our stateroom. Sitting at our dining room table to enjoy breakfast with spectacular views out the patio door was a marvelous way to start the day. In fact, we spent almost the entire morning alternating between the verandah, wrapped up in our bathrobes, and the table with the patio door open. With the air chilly and the wind persistent, moving between inside and outside was frequent. When lunchtime approached, we made a quick walk through Cabanas for a few items and took them back to the room to supplement with a few items from the room service lunch menu.

Once the first wave of excursion guests were offloaded, the ship led the way down through to the glacier. This was a calm pass with still water. We made our way through at around 6 knots, equivalent to about 7 mph. This slow voyage gave us some great views as we got our first glimpses of floating ice chunks passing by. It wasn’t long before we spotted water spouts followed by the flip of a whale’s tail. Standing on the verandah, you could hear excited shouts from nearby cabins pointing them out. Of course, in most cases by the time you got your camera up it was too late. We managed to get a few pictures, but the whales were mostly teasing us.

The further we traversed, the larger the chunks of ice floating past became. These aren’t classified as icebergs, though. To be officially classified as an iceberg, the ice must rise at least 16 feet above sea level and be at least 98 feet thick. Some were at least the size of a car.

We were cautioned by some of the experienced cast members to keep an eye out around them. It’s common to see seals playing in the water nearby and on top of them. As hard as we looked, we couldn’t spot any. I was also keeping constant watch along the shoreline in hopes of seeing a bear or moose meandering along. Another miss. A bear was spotted by other passengers on the opposite side of the ship, though. In fairness, we were warned that it’s early in the summer and the bears are just coming out of hibernation, so activity levels are still low.

At that casual pace it took more than an hour to reach the glacial wall. How close the ship can get varies day to day based on weather conditions and the amount of ice floating by. We were pleased, as we got to what I’d guess was approximately a quarter to half mile away. We were later told that this is the closest the Magic has gotten so far, but to be fair, it’s only the third Alaskan sailing to date.

Don’t worry, I’ll add a gallery at the end of the post with some of the highlights!

Before we made the final push into the glacier, it was time to change venues for observation: the Captain’s Verandah!

Concierge Takeover of the Captain’s Verandah

That’s right. As one of the exclusive benefits for concierge guests, we had a private afternoon on the Captain’s Verandah on Deck 7 forward, right below the bridge. Hot chocolate, coffee, and treats were served, and warm blankets were available to wrap up in if needed. Angie turned hers into a makeshift skirt to keep her legs warm. This experience was offered between 1:00 and 3:30 p.m. and included a visit from Minnie, complete in her Alaskan attire!

We had about a half hour for guests to get family pictures with her before she had to scurry off to other areas of the ship.

Once the captain reached the nearest point he could safely approach the glacier, he brought the Disney Magic to a hover position with the aid of local pilots who had joined early that morning. We floated there for a little over an hour, allowing plenty of time to watch the ice blocks drift by and admire the glacier and surrounding bay. The cliff sides were impressive and a geologist’s dream. The exposed layers and sculpting were truly remarkable. Small waterfalls were scattered around as mountain precipitation and snowmelt made their way back into the sea.

It was a spectacular sight, to say the least. The photos don’t do it justice. The deep blues of the ice calves floating by almost glowed out of the water. Between the snowcapped peaks leading to forested hillsides, scattered waterfalls, ice drifting by in the slow current, and the glacier itself, there was an abundance of natural beauty to take in. The weather was a mixture of light winds, a few moments of misting, and finally the sun breaking through. The passage itself had its own weather system, and I think we experienced the full gamut. There were a few moments when the sun broke out directly over the glacier while clouds remained overhead. This made it seem almost backlit and was a truly remarkable sight.

As 3:00 p.m. approached, the Glacial Explorer crafts made their way back to the ship to swap out for the next wave of guests. Once they were reloaded, the captain began a slow 180-degree turn to head back out through Endicott Arm. There was still plenty to watch for on the way out, with a keen eye out for any bears roaming the shore or seal activity. Sadly, we didn’t see any. Other travelers shared photos they’d captured of the lone bear sighting, and a few seals were spotted by the Glacial Explorer groups. Once again we paused just before re-entering Stephens Passage for the second wave of excursion guests to board back onto the ship. From there it was a northern heading to our next port of call: Skagway, Alaska.

Video: Disney Magic’s Captain’s Verandah Hallway Tour

Photo Gallery Stikine Icecap:

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Video: Scenic Cruising the Stikine Icecap

Frozen Night on the Disney Magic

We’re accustomed to sailing through the Bahamas and Caribbean. On Disney Cruise Line, that of course means Pirate Night festivities are a feature of the sailing. Pirates of Alaska just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Fortunately, Disney has a certain princess who’s famous for her icy ways, and Disney just can’t “Let It Go!” when an opportunity like that presents itself. In that vein, we partied with Elsa, Anna, and the gang with a For the First Time in Forever: A Frozen Sing-Along Celebration. If you’ve been to Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World in Orlando and experienced that show, it’s the same thing.

The primary players are the Arendelle Historians, who retell the tale of Frozen and lead the audience in a sing-along. Brief appearances from Anna and Kristoff occur before the Queen herself makes an entrance. She even puts her powers to use and conjures an impromptu flurry over the deck.

It’s nowhere near as impressive as the Pirate Night festivities and fireworks, but it fits the theme of the day and fills some space on the activities guide. There were a number of Frozen-themed crafts and skits throughout the afternoon as we made our way out of Endicott Arm and toward our next destination.

Frozen-Themed Dinner on Disney Magic

Frozen Themed Dinner Menu

Served in all main dining rooms on Alaska and Northern Europe cruises in place of Pirate Night.

Available on: Fleetwide

Small Plates +

Duke of Weselton’s Charcuterie Sampler

Selection of charcuterie, knackebrod, mixed pickles

Arendelle Gravlax

Apple chips, lingonberries, dill crème fraîche

Fried Pierogies

Caramelized onions, sour cream, caviar

Jarlsberg Cheese Tart

Shortcrust pastry, thyme, creamed leeks, crisp onions

Sven’s Carrot Soup

Toasted caraway seeds, sour cream

Split Green Pea and Ham Soup

Crisp thyme croutons

Oaken’s Red and Yellow Beetroot Salad

Asparagus, pickled radishes, cornichons, mustard dressing

Andersen’s Baby Field Greens

Vanilla poached apricots, brioche croutons, candied walnuts, lingonberry dressing

Six-Grain Viking Bread

Soft white and whole wheat rolls

Entrees +

Hans’s Juniper-Marinated Pork Tenderloin

Spaetzle, buttered kale, roasted baby turnips, wild mushroom cream sauce

Anna’s Honey Mustard-Marinated Salmon

Sauteed spinach, fingerling potatoes, aquavit sour cream sauce

Herb-Roasted Chicken

Roasted fennel seed potatoes, seasonal baby vegetables, port wine reduction

Lobster Ravioli

Ricotta cheese, buttered spinach, lobster tarragon Riesling wine sauce

Grilled Grain-Fed Sirloin Steak

Oven-baked potato, asparagus

Pabbi’s Cabbage Rouladen

Savoy cabbage, brown rice, asparagus, leeks, carrots, lingonberry-dill cream sauce

Buldas Crisp Pastry Vegetable Turnover

Celeriac, carrots, spinach, shallots, white wine-thyme cream reduction

Kristoff’s Rosemary-Marinated Striploin

Crushed Red Bliss potatoes, cipollini onions, buttered green beans, Cabernet jus

Alesund Smoked Trout Salad

Flaked smoked trout, roasted carrots and parsnips, sour cream, red beets, walnut vinaigrette

Desserts +

Kvæfjordkake

Butter cake, baked almond meringue, vanilla cream, berry compote

Eplekake Apple Cake

Caramel sauce, vanilla bean ice cream, Florentine almond crunch

Troll Family’s Rock Chocolate Bar

Chocolate cake, pistachio cookie rocks, hibiscus meringue

Sundae +

It’s Elsa’s Coronation Sundae

Mint chocolate chip ice cream, marshmallows, fresh whipped cream, snowflakes

No Sugar Added Dessert +

Citrus Almond Cake

Lemon-almond cake, buttermilk ice cream, orange-fennel salad

📄 View Menu as PDF or Image

The Frozen theme continues with dinner, as it features a special menu served in all three main dining rooms and only offered on Glacier Day. This was our first time experiencing Anna and Elsa’s themed dinner, so some sampling was in order.

Looking at the appetizer offerings, we made sure to order one of each between the table. Our daughter can live on charcuterie boards, so that was the obvious choice for her, while Angie tried the Jarlsberg Cheese Tart. I rounded out the list with the Arendelle Gravlax and Fried Pierogies.

All were terrific. The charcuterie was pretty straightforward, although Becca wasn’t expecting the veggies to be pickled. The expression on her face when she bit into the cauliflower was classic. The cheese tart is best described as a quiche with a blend of cheese and scrambled eggs in a pastry crust. Savory and smooth with a flaky wrap. The Gravlax was your standard smoked salmon fillet. It can be a little overpowering, but alternating bites with the pierogies offered a nice balance.

I couldn’t pass up the Split Green Pea and Ham soup. This was a staple in my grandmother’s kitchen growing up. It’s one of those comfort foods that instantly takes you back to her dining room table. I’ll give credit to the chef: this was about as close as you can get to that nostalgic taste. Grandma’s will always be the standard by which all else is judged, though. I’ll give it a B+.

The entrees offered another all-new lineup with a number of appealing selections. The girls both settled on the herb-roasted chicken while I got as close to surf and turf as the menu offered, combining the rosemary-marinated striploin and the smoked trout salad.

We’ll call the roasted chicken a solid selection for those who want to keep it simple. Nothing extravagant, but well prepared and seasoned. No complaints, as they both ate a healthy portion. If anything, it’s one of the more generous servings, as it included a thigh and breast cut along with roasted potatoes and carrots.

I mainly selected the smoked trout salad for the fish. This was a bit of a disappointment. The few shavings of meat amounted to maybe two bites combined. Personally, I don’t feel this should have been listed in the entree section of the menu; it would have been more appropriate in the soup and salad category. The trout itself was very good, just not nearly enough of it.

Once again the steak was perfection, accompanied by chunky mashed potatoes and green beans. Here’s where I’ll throw a little shade Disney’s way. In all the cruises we’ve done, green beans are a common vegetable pairing on many of the menus. Unfortunately, none of the chefs have figured out how to cook them properly. In most cases they’d be better described as warmed rather than cooked, as they’re still rather firm and crunchy. Maybe it’s just my personal preference, but I like them steamed thoroughly and on the softer side. The way they’re served feels more like chewing on a twig. Hey, if this is the biggest gripe I can offer, I guess they’re doing pretty well overall.

Once it was time for dessert, we settled on the Eplekake Apple Cake and the Troll Family’s Rock Chocolate Bar. The apple cake was essentially an apple crumble and bread pudding cross. It was just okay. The cake-to-ice-cream ratio was too even. More cake and apple pieces would have been better, or skip the ice cream entirely and just use a chocolate or vanilla sauce. The Rock Chocolate Bar must have been good, as the parentals weren’t offered a taste before the plate was clean.

Broadway Stars Series on Disney Cruise Line

As if there wasn’t enough to see and do throughout the day, we still had a featured performance in the Walt Disney Theater. In a new series they’ve recently started, each ship is currently hosting a pair of star performers from Disney Broadway musicals. Disney describes this show as:

Experience the magic of the Broadway Stars Series, an elite entertainment offering on select Disney Cruise Line sailings. Created by 10th & Main Productions founders, Susan Egan and Adam J. Levy, this series brings world-class performers directly from the stages of New York and London to the high seas. A duo of powerhouse vocalists – many of whom headlined in iconic Disney roles – deliver showstopping performances of Disney favorites, while sharing heartfelt, behind-the-scenes stories from Broadway, the West End and beyond!

In addition to the family-friendly performances in the Walt Disney Theatre, this series offers a sophisticated, after-hours cabaret of Broadway hits, plus a ‘meet-the-stars’ Q&A on select sailings. With a rotating roster of talent, the Broadway Stars Series promises a variety of stars, stories, and unforgettable moments that stay with guests long after they’ve returned to shore.

After a brief introduction and bio, we were treated to a medley of iconic Disney tunes. The stage sparkled with more than just their sequined attire. Both performers were amazing as they recreated some of the signature songs that first brought them to the Disney stage, along with other popular selections.

Hiba Elchikhe became the first actress of Arabic descent to be cast as Jasmine in a major Disney Broadway production when she earned the role in the Australian tour of Aladdin in 2017. Overall it was a great show, with a little audience participation mixed in and capped off with a sing-along.

After a long day of cool temps and plenty of fresh Alaskan air, bed was calling. It was one of those days you almost felt guilty giving in, especially with it still being light out at 10:00 p.m. The battle between FOMO and exhaustion raged on. One thing I’m definitely struggling with is the length of the daylight hours. I’ll dig deeper into that another day once I’ve had a bit more time to see how the body adjusts.

For now, that’s a wrap on Glacier Day. It was truly one of those postcard-type days that won’t soon be forgotten. Thanks for checking in!

Disney Magic Day 3 Daily Program

Personal Day-By-Day Disney Magic Alaska Cruise Review: