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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.
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