Top-Rated Shore Excursions

Table Of Content

• Ketchikan’s Misty Fjords Flightseeing by Floatplane
• Alpine Wilderness Trail Adventure by Segway
• Adventure Karts Expedition
• Fishing

Witness all that goes into harvesting crabs with experienced crab fishers, some you may have seen on the Deadliest Catch. If you find yourself with more time to explore Victoria, check out our guide for the Best Things to do in Victoria, BC with Kids. Since you are arriving later in the evening, you’ll only have a few hours to explore the city, so I recommend taking a City Highlights Tour. Take advantage of a day at sea to fully enjoy the amenities offered on Royal Princess.

Ketchikan’s Misty Fjords Flightseeing by Floatplane

Land by helicopter on top of Mendenhall Glacier, and feel its strong roots beneath you. Or navigate its rugged terrain by way of flightseeing or dogsled with our Alaska shore excursions. And maybe you want to be the captain of your own ship while still seeing all Alaska has to offer?

Alpine Wilderness Trail Adventure by Segway

You then head to Saxman Totem Park, home to one of the largest collections of authentic totems in the world, where your guide will help explain the stories and meanings behind the poles. Poles are still created here at the Village Carving Center, where expert craftsmen pass along their skills to apprentices. The ride takes only 90 seconds before your gentle, brake-activated touchdown on the beach.

Adventure Karts Expedition

The top seven Alaskan shore excursions - Vancouver Sun

The top seven Alaskan shore excursions.

Posted: Sun, 07 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

If you're hoping to see the northern lights, booking a cruisetour in September might be your best bet to see the aurora on a cruise vacation. Alaska might be one of the most beautiful places in the world, but it's rugged and can be tricky to get around. Explore the Last Frontier by cruise ship, and you can travel to gold rush towns, glaciers, Alaska Native heritage sites and natural areas brimming with wildlife in comfort, even luxury. If learning about Alaska history isn’t your top priority on your cruise, I’m guessing scenery and wildlife are close to the top of the list.

Musher's Camp and Sled Dog Experience

You’re in for an adrenaline rush of a lifetime as you fly above the treetops at speeds of up to 60 mph. Be sure to take in the views of Port Frederick and Icy Strait on your way down. And don’t worry, a safe, brake-activated landing awaits at Icy Strait Point. Sailing past them is a sensory experience that inspires both the mind and heart. Watch as Hubbard Glacier calves into the water and listen for the rumble of “white thunder” that it leaves in its path.

Best Port for Fishing in Alaska

When cruising, taking a dedicated bear viewing tour is your best chance of seeing a bear. Several Alaska cruises stop in Icy Strait Point, a remote area ideal for observing wildlife in their natural habitats. The five-hour, Skagway-based outing begins with a transfer from your ship to a nearby helicopter pad, where you'll find a helicopter waiting to whisk you high into the surrounding Sawtooth Mountain Range.

Fishing

From the sweeping mountains of Juneau to the fish-bearing seas of Ketchikan, discover our Alaska cruise ports and set sail into the adventures that await you. Home to the highest mountain in North America, Denali National Park is brimming with magnificence. Search for the Big Five — grizzly bears, Dall sheep, wolves, caribou and moose — while on a bus tour in the park.

Dog Sledding with TEMSCO Helicopters

It’s a great way to explore Alaska’s cap­i­tal city, with lots of scenery and his­to­ry along the way. There’s a bike and brew tour, which includes see­ing the Menden­hall Glac­i­er as well as a tast­ing of Alaskan beers. Or ride your bike out to Dou­glas Island for a tram ride, 1,800 feet up Mt. Roberts for some spec­tac­u­lar views. Pack Creek Bear Tours offers ful­ly guid­ed adven­tures to Admi­ral­ty Island or Chichagof Island, each home to more than 1,500 brown bears!

The Skagway Historic District has been designated as a National Historic Landmark and several cruise excursions offer historical city tours. Ketchikan, known as the 'Salmon Capital of the World,' provides a deep-sea fishing experience like no other. Venture into the rich waters and engage in the thrill of catching salmon, halibut, or rockfish.

I am going to let you in on a little secret, you don’t need to book any excursions here to enjoy Juneau. We actually found that much of what we wanted to see didn’t require booking expensive tours. Sharing all the best Alaska cruise excursions and popular spots found in Juneau below.

The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024 - AFAR Media

The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024.

Posted: Wed, 27 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

It is such a peaceful place and you’ll most likely only be sharing it with your small tour group. Our boys especially loved having a rock skipping contest at the lake. The 12-mile tour is equally beautiful and thrilling as you traverse along an old logging road through the George Inlet fjord.

You’ll have a thrilling adventure high above the rushing river and glacially-fed waterfalls. It was interesting to learn more about the history of the town and we were surprised at just how small and remote it is. Gold wasn’t actually found in Skagway, it was just a jumping-off point for gold seekers who traversed the 33-mile Chilkoot Trail. Another iconic building belongs to the Arctic Brotherhood, a well-respected fraternal organization during the gold rush.

The massive and mighty Mendenhall features an explosive river of ice, complete with rugged crevasses and a azure blue color. Once you snap a few photos of the glacier, explore the trails to look for salmon and wildlife. Dog sledding is Alaska’s favorite pastime and a must-do for travelers. There are many ways to experience it for yourself, but one of the most spectacular is riding atop a glacier.

Most port and tour staff hail from Hoonah, Alaska's largest Tlingit village. The port is set on Chichagof Island, which is known for its large bear population. Wildlife lovers have plenty of opportunities to search for whales and eagles here; adventure-seekers won't want to miss the ZipRider, with its course of six zip lines. Floatplane and helicopter tours take you around scenic areas like Misty Fjords or land you on a glacier, perhaps for a dog-sledding or hiking adventure on the ice. If you prefer to stay grounded, you can find informative trolley tours of ports like Skagway. Some activities are included in the cost of the cruisetour; other outings can be booked like shore excursions, depending on your interest and budget.

The 5 Best Ketchikan Shore Excursions for Your Alaska Cruise 2024

Table Of Content

• Misty Fjords Flightseeing
• Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour
• Dog Sledding or Helicopter Flightseeing
• Heli-hike and rail adventure
• Best Family-Friendly Alaska Tours
• Sport Fishing

I've tried a large number of the shore excursions in places such as Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. This breath-taking excursion takes you south of Juneau to the Taku Glacier by helicopter. When you first arrive at the glacier, you will hop on an airboat that will take you right up to the face of the glacier. After returning to the helicopter, this flight takes you right on Taku for 20 minutes of exploration by foot. When you return to the air, you get your 3rd aerial view of the glacier before heading back to Juneau! No other Alaska shore excursions will allow you to see more of what these rivers of ice have to offer!

Misty Fjords Flightseeing

Sitka is also noteworthy among Alaska towns for its strong Russian and Tlingit heritage. This tour combines the work done at the raptor center with Sitka's cultural side. Check out the views if you dare to open your eyes as you literally zip down the mountain at speeds of roughly 60 miles per hour. Screaming is, of course, not required (but just might make the ride more fun). At certain points, you are 300 feet above the forest floor and might also catch views of Port Frederick, Icy Strait and your cruise ship.

Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour

Many lines offer a private boat charter for whale watching as a tour option, or you can arrange one through a local company. For those with a hefty bankroll, this might be the ultimate Alaska shore excursion. Combining helicopter flightseeing over the seemingly endless Juneau Icefield with a landing on a glacier for dog sledding, it hits two of Alaska's most iconic experiences. The beauty of the land and its immense history; the thrill of seeing bears, moose and bald eagles; and the mysteries of the surrounding marine life will astound you. It's a trip worth taking the time to plan and doing right — because who knows if or when you'll make it back to the Last Frontier.

Dog Sledding or Helicopter Flightseeing

The 8 Best Alaska Cruises For Every Travel Style 2024 - Forbes

The 8 Best Alaska Cruises For Every Travel Style 2024.

Posted: Tue, 08 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If you’re a fishing enthusiast, embark on a salmon fishing excursion and try your luck at catching the renowned Alaska salmon. To learn about the indigenous culture, take an excursion to Saxman Native Village, Totem Heritage Center, or Totem Bight State Park. Our kids especially loved being able to participate in the Junior Ranger Program at Camp Discovery onboard the Alaskan cruise ship.

Motor to an elevated observation area in a postcard-perfect remote valley to safely observe bears, deer, and bald eagles in their natural habitats. Learn, too, about Tlingit Indigenous Alaskans who reside in nearby Hoonah, Alaska’s largest such settlement. Below, I've listed six of my all-time favorite Alaska shore excursions. These all are tours that you'll find in the tour lineups at every major cruise line that operates in Alaska. That said, different lines sometimes have different names for these tours — and sometimes different pricing. Icy Strait Point is notable among Alaska cruise ports because the area and its attractions are all Native Alaskan-owned.

I once took my entire family of five on this excursion, dropping more than $2,000 in the process. For the listings below, I've used the tour names and pricing listed in the current tour sheets at Princess, which along with sister line Holland America, is the biggest cruise operator in Alaska. I should also be clear that the towns themselves aren't devoid of attractions. While I highly encourage Alaska-bound cruisers to get out into the wilderness, there are plenty of worthwhile things to do in each of the main port towns. Don’t miss your opportunity to see one of our nation’s most remote national monuments.

Best Family-Friendly Alaska Tours

Experienced climbing guides will meet you at your ship and drive you up the Klondike Highway to an area of granite cliffs that's the perfect playground for beginner and more seasoned climbers alike. Upon arrival, the guides provide you with all the gear you need — climbing shoes, helmets and harnesses — for a safe scramble up a 70-foot-high wall. They'll also offer plenty of instruction (and encouragement) plus a snack of trail mix and hot chocolate.

Remember, Alaskan weather can be unpredictable, so packing for various conditions is essential. Strike it rich on any of our cruise excursions in Alaska where you can pan for gold like the many treasure hunters before you. Or board a gold rush-era train that takes you through Yukon territory and brings you up close to some of Alaska's most historical sites. We strive to provide only the best experiences and at the best price for your shore excursions. We’re here to ensure you have a smooth & secure booking process, and that you leave for Alaska with all the knowledge you need to have an amazing time.

If you're an avid fisherman and your cruise itinerary also includes Sitka, fish there too! Sitka faces the open Pacific Ocean, so there's often a wider variety of species, including king salmon and halibut. Below is the result is our list of recommended cruise ship excursions.

The boat used for this excursion has both inside and outdoor viewing areas. The trips last about four hours, including transfer time from your cruise ship to the whale-watching boat. To get the most out of an Alaska cruise, you'll want to sign up for a tour in most if not all of the ports you visit. You'll be looking for the best Alaska shore excursions that get you out into the Alaska backcountry.

16 cheap and free things to do on an Alaska cruise to avoid spending hundreds on shore excursions - Royal Caribbean Blog

16 cheap and free things to do on an Alaska cruise to avoid spending hundreds on shore excursions.

Posted: Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

If you just stay in the towns and explore on your own, you'll miss a big part of what Alaska is all about. This exhilarating adventure offers a bird's-eye view of Alaska's stunning landscapes, including glaciers, mountains, and dense forests. It's an opportunity to witness the grandeur of Alaska from a unique perspective, making for unforgettable memories and spectacular photo opportunities.

Choosing Alaska cruise excursions is critically important to your experience – if you choose lame ones, you’ll definitely come home disappointed. So who am I to make these suggestions that matter so much for your Alaska memories? I’m a gal who grew up in Alaska and worked for one of the major cruise companies for three summers – selling excursions just like these to people. I’ve visited Alaska many times (most recently in August 2023) and have done three Alaska cruises.

If you want to make the most of your time at each port, I would highly recommend booking the excursions directly through Princess Cruises. This is one of their most popular Alaskan cruise routes and includes stops at Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Victoria, BC. You’ll also have a full scenic cruising day through Glacier Bay National Park. Following your aerial adventure, embark on a glacier trek, a truly unique Alaskan experience.

It was an amazing excursion and even left us time to get a lunch of crab legs back in town before heading back to the ship. This tour takes place aboard a very famous crab fishing boat, fitted with a special on-deck aquarium for watching as the crew brings in their daily catch. Besides giant crabs and other amazing marine life, you might catch a glimpse of whales, octopus, sea lions, porpoise, sharks and seals. Depart from the train depot for a thrilling 40-mile roundtrip train ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. Visit Dredge Town, where you will enjoy an authentic barbecue lunch including ribs, chicken, and various side dishes.

Gaze out windows, eying otherworldly views of the Placer River Valley and soaring peaks of Spencer Glacier, while enjoying a box lunch. Then meet guides to go rafting, paddling between dramatic icebergs and down the serene and scenic Placer River. The best Alaska cruise excursions can range from the thrilling to the serene. Passengers can fly on sleds led by huskies, ogle bald eagles and salmon-gobbling grizzlies, and soar over towering glaciers in a helicopter. All these activities are planned for you as part of the cruise itinerary—as a way for travelers to sample the diverse wonders of The Last Frontier in one fell swoop.

Day cruises transport visitors to habitats where otters and whales, orcas and seals live and thrive, as well as migrating and seacoast birds. You might even see bears lumbering along the shoreline in search of a meal or Dall sheep dotting the hillsides. This isn't just because I spent more than two decades writing about Alaska and other cruise destinations for major newspapers. For many years, I was the co-author of Frommer's "Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call" guide. In researching nearly half a dozen editions of that book, I spent many days exploring each of the major cruise ports in the state.