He turned around to find a bear directly behind him, which led to John's involuntary and extraordinary leap and scream that startled the bear into retreat. We did it in 2009 and still talk about it. We had an awesome time. I don't know much at all about the attraction, but I do know a local Native carver worked on some of the poles because we saw her doing it. If we get a chance to come back again, we will sign up with you for sure, and we will tell our friends to choose you as well. Ketchikan Alaska: Which excursion should we do? - Tripadvisor I just had to go see those bears! Celebrity Cruise Lines Alaska Shore Excursions - Tripadvisor: Over a Ketchikan is a delightful town. Juneau Alaskan Brewery Tasting Experience, World Famous George Inlet Lodge Crab Feast, **LIMITED DEPARTURES AVAILABLE FOR 2023**. The Alaska Raptor Center has mini outpost here, with a rescued owl and bald eagle. was excellent as well as Marcus and I think Andrew. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. . It was incredible. Ketchikan is famous for "doing . Nature? It depends on the weather conditions. Final stop is Great Alaskan Lumber jack show. John led our small group of bear seekers through a 1-mile stretch of a 64-acre rainforest sanctuary, teaching us about bears and other animals along the way. Best Alaska Shore Excursions - Cruise Critic 5 Juneau, Alaska 99801. We hit one of the few days in Ketchikan during which it didn't rain and the sun came out. We loved everything about this trip. There are multiple cab companies in town..I like Sourdough at 907-225-5544 but Holy Name used to do some van pickups. Ships' Registry: Malta and Ecuador. Comfortable walking shoes highly encouraged. Guests must be able to climb 3 steps into and out of the vessel. There were rumors for years that they were going to build their own attraction and I guess this is it. Terrific tour! We work with reputable, local tour operators to offer you a wide variety of excursions to choose from, in every port youll visit. Charters available for groups. The sanctuary is just one portion of the 17 million-acre Tongass National Forest, the world's second largest rainforest. The bear was a mile from land. If you have questions about tours prior to booking, please email [emailprotected]. Travel + Leisure is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Holdco, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Destinations, Inc., and is used under limited license. The 10 Best Ketchikan Excursions & Cruise Tours in Alaska We're here to answer them. After a short stint in the gift shop, where complimentary cookies and coffee were offered, we hopped back onto our bus for the ride back to the cruise ship. http://travellove.one/Our-Trips/Alaska-Radiance-01---Vancouver/alaska-radiance-01---vancouver.html, Click here to reload the page in order to enable certain features. Yes, please. Thank you all for your helpful sharing and advice. We saw a lot of eagles and their babies! Tour was great , wish the weather was nicer,rained. The Heritage Center is indeed adjacent to a lovely city park, our oldest, but it is not a totem park and does not have a clan house. Retired after 10 years as a college professor to focus full-time on her primary research interest: travel. more. 3.5 Hours. A good create with bonus nibbles and great hot chocolate drinks. Each cruise line has different rules and regulations about bringing food onboard. Hope that helps! Where? Members who are knowledgeable about this destination and volunteer their time to answer travelers' questions. 1512 Sawmill Creek Road. Its an easy mile and a half walk through the woods bordering the river to Brooks Falls and the elevated viewing platforms from which most of our pictures were taken. local tour operators to offer you a wide variety of excursions to choose from, in every port you'll visit. She is one of the few Native female totem carvers. Write up included visiting falls and totems, 30 min tour of town. There are also several Alaska residents who post there who may be able to help you decide. Listening to the stories and meaning behind each one was awesome! This thrilling excursion is perfect for adventurers who want to fly through the mountains of Alaska. Go to site . In Ketchikan there were several bear-focused excursion options. Keep a lookout for bald eagles, harbor seals, sea lions, moon jellyfish, humpback whales, orcas, deer, pigeon guillemots, blue herons, and other seabirds. Rainbird Trail May 09, 2023. Overview Home Shore Excursions More Than 280 Breathtaking Destinations. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Specially there are: 2. https://www.alaskacruises.com/about/best-bear-viewing-on-alaska-cruise.html. The photo that inspired our Alaskan cruise, taken at Brooks Camp in Katmai National Park (Photo by Tom Lanin). Good weather and visibility and presentation by the operators. I said, Because we came to Alaska to see bears!, Our bear encounter on our Celebrity Cruise Line Bear Country & Wildlife Expedition excursion. You had some amazing luck seeing wildlife! Re: Ketchikan Alaska: Which excursion should we do? Thanks. As you reach street level at the port, theres a colorful map that details not only downtown streets, but also locations of the towns many totem poles and of buildings with totem carvings. Our small-ship cruise itineraries offer a mix of excursions in intriguing towns, Native villages, adventures in raw wilderness bays, and glacial fjords. She is an expert in travel with kids and without. All Rights Reserved. The tour that went on a bear watch that day saw nothing, though. be aware that we may not be able to confirm this reservation before your tour date. In order to receive a refund, changes and cancellations must be made more than 7 days prior to your tour date. We recommend that you check with your ship for customs policies. Took the cruise bus back to the airport to go home and as the bus turned into the airport, there was an open field on the left.they finally saw a moose, but never saw a bear! Prof. Cruise 2023. Excellent tour. On our last cruise we booked a whale watching excursion where whales are spotted 90% of the time, and saw nothing at all. So true, wanderingeds! Neets Bay Bear Watch by Floatplane $399, 4. Yes, Ketchikan experiences a lot of rain due to it being located in a rainforest. 1-888-751-7804 CONTACT 1-888 . Saw many eagles and more gorgeous scenery among the totem poles and lighthouse. "Tour Guide of the Year" 10 years and 5 STAR Rated! Mostcommonfood restrictions (GF, DF,vegetarian, vegan) can be accommodated with a modifiedsnack plate. Get our most popular amenitiesdrinks, Wi-Fi, and tipsprepackaged when you . Learn how your comment data is processed. Explore Misty Fjords National Monument aboard our luxurious, high-performance catamaran. I want to go back to explore more of Alaska and see more bears! We sat less than 50 yards away from these mighty giants. Andrew sang for us on the way back to the pier. Good boat trip and commentary, but a bit disappointed we didn't go ashore to see the Totem poles. My husband and I, along with a dozen or so other bear seekers, stood staring at the trees. A totem carving demonstration in the Tongass National Forest near Ketchikan, Alaska. Wilderness Cruise and Rainforest Island Adventure. Would have loved to see some whales. From August 2022 Travel + Leisure, published by TI Inc. There is a free shuttle bus ride around the town too which is . Like really love them. Celebrity Cruise Dock to Holy Name Church - Ketchikan Forum http://alaskacrabtour.com. The full cancellation policy can be found here. it helps! The average temperature duringour summer months is ~55-60 degrees F. However,temperatures onthe water can feel ~10-20 degrees cooler. Drink with locals! If you have already received tickets, please call the local tour operator phone number listed on your tickets for tour-specific questions as they will be the best resource to answer unique questions. Run by the same guys from Deadliest Catch. Must be able to walk a distance of 3/4 miles. View Totem Poles Totem Bight State Historical Park Totem Heritage Center Chief Johnson Totem Pole Saxman Native Village 5.. On the Celebrity cruise, for example, we learned that the fifth Edge-class ship -- known internally . Pairs of eagles everywhere. OBC has no cash value, is applicable to cruise only, non-transferable, not redeemable for cash, and will expire if not used by 10:00 PM on the final night of the cruise. It was our last stop and we were ready for something a bit more unstructured. Its easily a two mile or more walk from port and a good portion uphill. We alwayssuggest guests dress in layers to accommodatevariableweather. Please send an email to [emailprotected] letting us know which tours you would like to cancel as we must have all cancelation requests in writing. No tricks, no . What Kind of Idiot Brings a Skateboard on a Cruise Ship? Even the boat captain was in shock. All reservations must be made through the website as our customer service representatives cannot take credit card information over the phone. When I went last year, we took the public bus for $1/person each way. looking at the excursion list, there are a few excursions from Ketchikan that is associated with bear watching and I am confused as to which one I should pick. We did finally find one vendor who would take us that day and booked them right away! 19952023, The Independent Traveler, Inc. Q&A: Cruise Insurance with Steve Dasseos of the TripInsuranceStore.com - Summer Session '23, ANNOUNCEMENT: Regent Seven Seas Cruises 2025-2026 Voyage Collection Debut. Took a float plane in from Homer on a guided tour. Take a stroll off the beaten path as you immerse yourself in the rich culture that fills the streets. I am always glad for those extra features so the excursion isnt a total loss. John pointed out adolescent bald eagles in the treetops (lacking in their telltale white heads due to their youth). I understand sighting of bears is not guaranteed but does any of these tours give a higher chance of seeing one given the location they go to and the design of the tour? Bald eagles every where the tour guides were awsom they explained every thing in detail. Scheduled on Celebrity (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? When we went to Denali on our first Alaska cruise in the month of July we saw an amazing amount of wildlife on our bus tour - moose, grizzly bears, caribou, and many others whose names escape me right now. Then families are rewarded for their efforts with a Dungeness crab feast at the George Inlet Lodge. An Evening at Orca Point Lodge: Dinner & Cruise; Ketchikan. Your staff was courteous, helpful and nice in every aspect. We saw too many whales to count. Visiting from {country-flag} {country-name}? Shore Excursions | Cruises - Home | Costco Travel Go to site . Read my Disney Bears movie review now! Alaska's native legacy is clearly visible from the moment your cruise ship docks at Ketchikan, and happily, it's equally visible in the nature and character of available Ketchikan shore excursions.As you reach street level at the port, there's a colorful map that details not only downtown streets, but also locations of the town's many totem poles and of buildings with totem carvings. Its really cool to see bears in real life! The excursion was good. All reservations must be made through the website as our customer service representatives cannot take credit card information over the phone. We hurried to the next platform and within a couple of minutes a black bear came lumbering along and strolled past on the path below us. Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail. Our pictures did not do it justice. Has anyone that has gone on any of these that can share their experience? Duration: 1.5hours. and fishing industry memorabilia. Quack, quack, quack! Get answers to your questions about Ketchikan. Celebrity Cruise Dock to Holy Name Church May 11, 2023. Moments I will never forget in my life Heres a review of the cruise: http://travellove.one/Our-Trips/Alaska-Radiance-01---Vancouver/alaska-radiance-01---vancouver.html. And, when booking Ketchikan shore excursions, you can thoroughly explore the wonders of Alaska that persuaded you to taking an Alaska cruise in the first place: Unrivaled scenery that starts with Tongass National Forest, the largest forest in the United States; incredible crystal-blue waterways - Misty Fjords, the Tongass Narrows, and the Revillagigedo Channel to name a few; and world-class fishing for salmon, halibut, cod or crab. Passengers could either sit inside and view exterior through large windows or go outside for a better view. Boat ride was perfect and staff was GREAT. seward, alaska. We did not book the tour through the cruise line, we did it through them. They know where all the bald eagles are! . Book your Celebrity Cruise today! Visiting from Germany? I heard from those that went to the Lumber Jack show that they really enjoyed it and found it funny. my husband did this though Celebrity Cruises last year. I have read many of the postings on both topics (most people agree the lumberjack show is good) so we'd appreciate which is the best value and see the most. Captain Jeff and his crew took care of us and made sure we had a great experience. Ketchikan is famous for "doing business at the bar" and you'll learn why as you hear infamous stories of days gone by, the prohibition era when the red-light district was in full swing and the colorful history of Ketchikan's most popular hot spots. Ketchikan, AK 99901, USA. Ketchikan shore tours that put you in touch with Tlingit culture, including totem art and carving, canoe building, foods, dance, and most importantly, the Tlingit people, will create priceless memories. We watched her work with an adze and other tools, so I know she was actually doing the carving on some of the poles. Really enjoyed each pub's specialty cocktail. She went slow and myself and guide were there to help her. 14 IDEAL Things to Do in Ketchikan, Alaska for 2023 - Cruise Hive Brown bear at Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park (Photo by Tom Lanin). Best Ketchikan Shore Excursions & Excursion Tours | Celebrity Cruises Im going to have to do this one of these days. My kids posing with a bear totem in Ketchikan, Alaska. Once in Denali and another one swimming in the waters of the kenai fjords. Ketchikan. For any nature lover, exploring aboard a luxurious cruise boat to the rugged coastline bordering the Revillagigedo Channel is a great choice. The staff and captain were great, the weather was perfect and we saw a lot of eagles. Allison Oh no! 2023 Celebrity Cruises, Inc. We saw so many bald eagles - diving and hovering - more than meet expectations. The boat was a 15 minute walk down the wharf from where our ship was docked. The jokes were endless. Compare and book excursions for your next cruise . Comfortable, casual, seasonal clothing is recommended. We also saw very large ship tour boats come in and out of the area 3 times. Sport Fishing 4. excursions you book. Would have loved to walk amongst the totem pole, however pics were great. (Part 2). But you might be able to see fish entering the hatchery on their own just out side of the hatchery. You will enjoy an hour of flightseeing over this massive wilderness area outside of Ketchikan, accompanied by your expert pilot guide. We walked to the Totem park from Creek St. What a beautiful 10-15 min walk. in the end I really enjoyed it. Ketchikan, Alaska Features animals Contact Thank You. Shore Excursions in Celebrity Eclipse sailing 8/20/2023 | iCruise.com Many Southern Alaskans are descended from the Tlingit and throughout Ketchikan, youll see homage to that legacy. As the author of the book, "The Travel Mamas' Guide," she teaches parents how to make the most of traveling with babies and children. i love that your guide was so knowledgeable and humorous. Ketchikan (Ward Cove), Alaska Ketchikan Pub Crawl Excursion - NCL Cruises Fancies herself a bit of a comedian youve been warned. We saw many bald eagles and several of their huge nests. charged if your order can be completed in time for your requested excursion. You will then receive your tickets Somehow we had not understood it was to be by boat, however that did not detract from the experience. Ketchikan developed in the late 19th century as a saltery and cannery. Hi - will be cruising on Celebrity 7-night Alaska cruise from Alaska and pondering over the many shore excursions offered by Alaska as well as the shore excursions offered by local operators. Like most ports in the Last Frontier, Ketchikan has character - as do the Ketchikan shore excursions you can book during your Alaska cruise. All opinions are mine, as always. We are in arainforest, so we also stronglyrecommendbringing a waterproof jacket or poncho. And though it wasn't apart of the tour we were able to see two humpback whales breaching. Excellent info. Shore Excursions for Celebrity Cruises sailings - higher quality cruise Instead we enjoyed a trip to Creek Street including Dolly's House Museum and the shops. Report inappropriate content Knowing what I know now, would I sign up for this excursion again? Alaska's native legacy is clearly visible from the moment your cruise ship docks at Ketchikan, and happily, it's equally visible in the nature and character of available Ketchikan shore excursions.As you reach street level at the port, there's a colorful map that details not only downtown streets, but also locations of the town's many totem poles and of buildings with totem carvings. Colleen Lanin, MBA, is the founder and editor-in-chief of the popular travel blog, TravelMamas.com. Salmon remains indicated black bears were nearby, Telltale signs indicated bears had recently been in the area. *I participant in several affiliate programs including Amazons Associate Program, bluehosts affiliate program, CruiseDirects affiliate program, Viators affiliate program, and booking.coms affiliate program. looking at the excursion list, there are a few excursions from Ketchikan that is associated with bear watching and I am confused as to which one I should pick. The hot chocolate lived up to it's name. The excursion is 4.5 hrs for $159 per person (4-6 people on boat). Great excursion. The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show 3. Recommend this shore excursion. The buildings and waterfront are a mosaic of color: greens, reds, purples, and yellows are punctuated with totem poles (including the one in the U.S. Fishing of another sort, that is, crab fishing, is a king-size industry in Ketchikan, and if you can never get enough of a good thing, there are crabbing charters that let you set pots in the Bering Sea, then help pull in the catch, and others that let you sit and enjoy a crab feast while viewing the glorious natural wonders of Ketchikan. 1-888-751 -7804 CONTACT 1-888-751-7804. A little far to watch the Eagles but still can spot some. The free hot chocolate was delicious. If we didnt see a bear, I think your goose wouldda been cooked, my friend. Bear sightings occur on about half of all tours and are not guaranteed. If you have further questions please email [emailprotected] or if it is an urgent matter you can call 1-888-586-8489. The totum poles were from a distance ( boat to shore view). Holland Americas 2021 Christmas and New Years Menus, Guide to the Best Excursions for your First Cruise to Alaska, A Guide To Hiking At Every Port On Your Cruise To Alaska, Why Youll Love Icy Strait Point Or Sitka On Your Cruise to Alaska, A Guide to Hiking at Every Port on your 2023 Cruise to Alaska. We were a bit disappointed that we didnt see any bears on our Alaskan cruise and a few days after returning we were visiting grandparents on Manitoulin Island when a black bear crossed the road in front of us the kids were thrilled! 1-888-751-7804 1-888-751-7804 . One of the loudest grumblers said, You just lucked out, John. Are there any age restrictions for children? The crew rocked, they loved what they were doing. Our guide was very informative. Saw Several Eagles. Unfortunately we didn't see any eagles the weather wasn't the best. Very interesting and saw several humpback whales along with other wildlife. The other had been the center on the local football team. Captain Kyle's humorous and informative narration was interesting, and we saw dozens of eagles and lots of other wildlife and beautiful scenery. Alas, no bears or whales. That also was beautiful. shore excursion Sightseeing Package (JU65) Join a package tour that includes sightseeing highlights from Juneau, Ketchikan and Sk-agway. We have over 45 years of experience in SE Alaska conducting narrated cruises, special events & marine transportation. Be sure to check with businesses and locations regarding travel restrictions and safety precautions before visiting. Crew was awesome! Saw a number of bears and one sow and her cubs. We got started a little late since the bus from the cruise ship got there late and we (not with the cruise ship) had to wait a while. Cruise Critic provides thousands of reviews and ratings to help you plan your next cruise vacation. Probably not. If a Norwegian organized tour is late, the ship will wait for you, Peace of mind knowing your tours are run by insured operators. We did go on a bear watch excursion in Icy Strait Point but again saw nothing. We lucked out! Scheduled on Celebrity Cruise in early Sept of this year (2013): . Dear All, we are going on Solstice in July on a big family trip. Visiting Ketchikan on a cruise: What to do? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-50107553', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise - June 2, 2013. Be the first to experience Celebrity Ascent. INCLUSIVE 7- to 14-night cruises. Please send an email to [emailprotected] letting us know which tours you would like to cancel as we must have all cancelation requests in writing. Ketchikan Tours; Icy Strait Tours; Sitka Tours; Additional Ports. turned out it was a boat ride of area. In Ketchikan we decided not to take an excursion. Please send an email to [emailprotected] letting us know which tours you would like to cancel as we must have all cancelation and change requests in writing. We had the same experience on all of our excursions. While this excursion is entertaining and provides a nice overview and history of the area, you'll be limited in how much you can actually see from the boat/bus/duck thingy. We started with a brief visit of an abandoned sawmill. A Note from The Travel Mama: Celebrity Cruise Line hosted my family during our 7-night Alaskan Cruise aboard Solstice. We watched them for an hour since we were the last group to get to the lookout stand due to the delay crossing the bridge with the bears. Phone: (907) 747-8100. Enjoy a bonus $50 in onboard credit, plus up . The boat captain in this tour was absolutely awesome! The full cancellation policy can be found here. Another option is to go to the Totem Bight totem park on your own. For a sure thing, if you stop in Sitka, Fortress of the Bear is one place we saw bears, although in captivity. I will look into the further info provided, and yes I have also posted this question on the Alaska port forum, too and got some helpful advice as well. After some brief safety instructions, we bounded into the woods thrilled at the prospect of witnessing throngs of black bears scooping up lunch from a stream. The handler wore a sturdy glove lest her hand be crushed by their powerful claws. I can't speak to all the excursions, but we did a coastal wildlife cruise a number of years ago - it was not through Celebrity but I suspect it would be similar. Beverages include hot chocolate, freshly-brewedcoffee, hot tea, assorted sodas, and water. Saw bears, moose, caribou, doll sheep and even a lynx. Get insights from expert local guides who will drive you to the region's most memorable places. Awesome! Tour times below are approximate: What if it is raining? What a fun time plus a nice walking history tour of Ketchikan, especially if you've visited before and looking for something new. Don't think because of the word "pub" it is all about beer. be aware that we may not be able to confirm this reservation before your tour date. Select your ship below to see shore excursions for that ship, or call: 1-866-578-7508 or 1-954-449-6309 between 9-5 Eastern time for expert advice to help . They instinctively know which plants to eat to ease ailments of all sorts. Ketchikan - Alaska Shore Tours Top-Rated Shore Excursions We highly recommend this excursion! Introducing our newest award-wining resort at sea, the fourth and most innovative ship in our highly awarded Edge Series. We saw many eagles & their nests, binoculars were provided. Ketchikan, Alaska is known for its premier fishing resources. Agree 100%. Ketchikan Lighthouse, Totems & Eagles Excursion Ketchikan Excursions - Bear Watching - Celebrity Cruises - Cruise Given name Sarah, but also answers to Prof. Cruise. We're planning a floatplane trip to Anan Creek in early July! By the 1920s, Creek Street was a den of bars and brothels. Most groups were allowed 30 minutes. Visiting Ketchikan on a cruise: What to do? Colleen loves sharing tips on hotels, cruises, spas, theme parks, and global lifestyle topics. Everyone on the boat were very knowledgeable about the tour. Karlson and his crew. Flexibility to modify or cancel excursions without penalty up to 48 hours prior to arrival into port. Loved seeing Eagles. Great staff. Driver to and from the port was excellent and gave us an excellent over view of life in Ketchican. Saw lots of Eagles and Harbor Seals. No one on our island takes guests there.it is purely a cash cow for (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? Fortunately my camera was able to zoom in for some nice pictures, I think actually being on the ground next to them would be cool. Question for your mom How did you manage this excursion with your hip? Visiting from {country-flag} {country-name}? Nature takes center stage aboard our small boats, with adventure, place & connection at the heart of every exploration. Ketchikan Alaska Private Fishing Charter 2023 - Things to Do, Tickets you can have the peace-of-mind of knowing you will enjoy the very best of wild Alaska on every excursion. They saw it and left, while we experienced this event. The totem poles and light house were anti-climatic. Very good tour. Cruise Alaska: A Review of the Duck Boat Excursion in Ketchikan We brought two friends with us who had never been to Alaska; we've been there 4 times, and we so wanted to show them as much of Alaska as possible, and you didn't let us down. Not offered by the ships. We saw lots of bald eagles, seals and the totems. The crew stopped the boat and let us look at the whales for a period of time. 1. You can do the lumberjack show on your own and get a walking map to see the downtown area on your own. In order to receive a refund, changes and cancellations must be made more than 7 days prior to your tour date. Great tour! Fully detailed instructions are included on your finalized ticket vouchers. You can take a taxi or the public bus. Also saw humpback whales feeding what an added treat. We offer you convenience, flexibility and peace of mind. When my parents returned from their trip to Alaska a few years ago, I was as green with envy as Alaska is green with trees.
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