Thread: Tour Suggestions

Originally Posted by Talks to Strangers

Thanks Chris. I have booked whale watching for Icy Strait Point. This is apparently a stop created for cruise ships. We will be booking the railroad tour in Skagway. We want to see Mendenhal Glacier in Juneau. I'm hoping for flightseeing of Misty Fjords in Ketchikan if I can get anyone to join me.

Hey Ruth!

We took a whale watching tour in ISP with one of the local fishermen. It was wonderful! The boat only held 6 passengers and kept in contact with other fishermen who were out with cruise passengers. When one would spot any wildlife, on land or sea, they would radio and the other fishermen would head in that direction.

We ended up in the middle of a pod of humpbacks where there was a mother and her calf cavorting, with the calf breaching many times! Our guide also had a mike that he lowered into the water so we could hear the whales "talking" to each other. I hope you get to see many whales!

I set up a page a few days ago that attempts to answer the common question about the best excursions in the Alaska ports. While everyone has their own priorities and interests, there are some "standard" excursions at each port that appeal to many people, and some activities are best at certain ports. It's at Alaska Cruise Ports: Top Excursions - YourAlaskaCruise.com

That sounds like Floyd you were out with, Char - we'll be with him again in May

Originally Posted by explorenorth

I set up a page a few days ago that attempts to answer the common question about the best excursions in the Alaska ports. While everyone has their own priorities and interests, there are some "standard" excursions at each port that appeal to many people, and some activities are best at certain ports. It's at Alaska Cruise Ports: Top Excursions - YourAlaskaCruise.com

That sounds like Floyd you were out with, Char - we'll be with him again in May

Hey Murray

Yes indeedy...it was Floyd! I think it's the best shore excursion we have ever had!

Floyd with F.I.S.H.E.S.? That is who I booked with! And all six spots are filled with me and my brothers and sisters. I'm really looking forward to that.

Chris - thanks for the suggestions. I will probably be eating salmon and/or crab at every port since I love the stuff and my Mum will be traveling with me. ;-)

Thanks for the link, Murray. I'll take a look. We have decided to definitely do the White Pass Railway in Skagway. Hopefully all the way up through the Yukon. I think I have convinced a few people to join me in the float plane flight over Misty Fjords. I found a couple discount books. One of the bush pilots actually still had discount flights available. I just need to get 4 people to book and it is a 25% discount. The discount book is $50 but each discount should be more than that unto itself.

The two discount books I found are: Alaska Tourism Coupons | Alaska Travel Discounts | Alaska Tour Discounts and Alaska Travel Deals | Alaska Vacations | Alaska TourSaver . They are great deals if you plan on going on any of the big tours they have in there.

Ruth, you are in for a real treat! I could do that tour again over and over because it would be different every time.

I am all giddy and excited to hear that. Thanks Char.

I think the flight tour I'm going on is with Island Wings. I have heard good things. I tried to book with one of the others but they contract with the cruise ships so they have limited spots they can offer to those booking outside of the cruise ship.

Island Wings has a very good reputation. I don't remember who we did the helicopter and the floatplane tours with. We also have done the rafting down the Mendenhall river. That was fun! I'll have to get the info on those cruises out to see who we booked with.

The White Pass Railway in Skagway is another spectacular tour if the fog doesn't obscure the views. You will want to be on the left side of the train going up. They may ask folks to swap sides for the trip back down, but the going up is the better part with more information being given. You can stand out on the area between the cars to take pictures.

The tours will end up costing as much as the cruise! Nothing is cheap in Alaska.

We have been there 5 times already and May will be #6.

Thanks. I will make a note to make sure to sit on the left side of the railway trip going up. I think we are going on a one way trip all the way up. They didn't have any round trips for the trains that went way up into the Yukon.

An alternative for Skagway is Southeast Tours. They run a van tour that covers everything the train does at about half the price. I have used them for my groups every year and have always had a great time.

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Originally Posted by reggierail

An alternative for Skagway is Southeast Tours. They run a van tour that covers everything the train does at about half the price. I have used them for my groups every year and have always had a great time.

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Thanks Reggie, but we don't just want the scenery. Part of what we want is the train ride. I wanted to go up to the Yukon but there are only a few trips that do that. Not sure if it is worth it to do that.