While that particular cruise was aboard a pricey luxury line, there are ships in all price ranges sailing a variety of itineraries, so dont let budget stop you from visiting. I think that is unfortunate. A sighting is guaranteed! You take the train up the Pass and then get off at Fraser (which is in British Columbia, Canada -- so bring your passports) for an additional 15-minute van ride to the White Pass summit. January 25, 2009. My first question is if you get out on Glacier Bay (I mean to do an excursion in that port)?. Carnival's Dress Code: It's All About the Fun. There, you'll be assigned to a special wheeled summertime sled (there's no snow at this time of year), where you'll grab a seat and prepare to have a team of eager huskies speed around a mile of twists and turns in the crisp mountain air. Fan of the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" (or just enjoy seeing fishermen in action)? ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-80180620', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Cruise Critic? Related: Everything You Need to Know for a Perfect Alaska Adventure. #1 Cruise Line in Alaska* Our Alaska cruises are your ticket to adventure amidst the Great Land's glaciers, wildlife and national parks. I had the same question and I live chatted with Princess. I agree with MM to study the excursions offered by the cruise line. So, if you dream of catching an Alaska salmon, this is a great place. Excursions - Princess Cruises Another important element of the town is the logging industry, which was one of the mainstays of the Ketchikan economy through the 1990s. 9 Mickey's Royal Friendship Fair. This is the tour to take if you want to combine a train trip with some action. There are two great stops in Sitka to discover Alaska's wildlife up close. Again, what are your interests? 7 Things I Loved, Plus 4 Things I Didn't During Princess's Alaska Whale/wildlife/glacier cruises, dogsled rides, fishing, train rides, flight seeing, kayaking are a few possibilities. Then head back to the office for a hot shower and hot drinks! These days, you'll travel in the comfort of old-fashioned rail cars, and the route takes you up the 2,865-foot summit of the White Pass, through tunnels and over sky-high trestles, past remote valleys and sights like Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point and Dead Horse Gulch -- so named because so many miners lost their horses there. Your assigned musher will introduce you to the dog team, fill you in on the sport of sled-dog racing and snap some photos of you along the way. Every expedition is different as theres flexibility for some spontaneity. Hike the famous Gold Rush-era Chilkoot Trail in Skagway, kayak to the banks of the Mendenhall Glacier, zipline through the rainforests near Ketchikan, or snorkel the calm waters of Mountain Point, southeast Alaskas prime snorkeling destination. The Sitka Sound Science Center features a salmon hatchery, aquarium, and touch tank. The excursion begins with a narrated bus ride along the Haines Scenic Byway. Like Seattle, Vancouver is a cruise terminal youll visit at the beginning or end of your Alaska cruise. The 28-mile ride on this narrow gauge railway between Skagway, Alaska and Fraser, B.C. With this full-day, small-group excursion, you hit the waters in search of king, silver or chum salmon, as well as halibut. Juneau shore excursions span a wide range on the wow-factor scale, but this combo glacier helicopter tour is undeniably a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You will drive through the heart of Vancouver including the historic Gastown neighborhood with its narrow cobbled streets and the unique Chinatown area, which is over 150 years old. Maybe they can sense that my review would be less than 5 stars You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. From. The best time to cast your line is when the pink salmon are running, in mid-to-late summer. Andthere does NOT appear to be a way to even click on a star to just give that type of rating. The guides follow ethical wildlife-viewing protocols to keep people and bears safe. After about an hour in the water, you'll head back to the dive shop, where a hot beverage caps a perfect day. In Sitka, you can see St. Michael's, the first Russian Orthodox cathedral in America and visit the forested Sitka National Historical Park (where in 1804 the Battle of Alaska was fought between the Russians and native Tlingits). Youll learn the whole processfrom fresh caught fish to vacuum-packed smoked fillet. Mike45LC, April 5, 2022 in Princess Cruises. So when you disembark at one of the ports on your Alaska cruise, you may feel like experiencing the sights and sounds of Alaska without a group or a guide. Plan a Cruise. This tour introduces you to both. At least I can tell you that mine is and many others are. The best part is that no experience is needed; a guide will instruct you in the use of the provided mountain gear, which includes boots, an ice ax and crampons. This tour is ideal for anyone who wants to take a short excursion and still have enough time left in the day to explore Sitka on their own. Once you're geared up, it's on to the shallow tide pools of Mountain Point, where you'll snorkel with your guides over kelp forests, through schools of fish and past sea stars and sea cucumbers -- with ample time to ask questions. Its a historic narrow gauge railway that was built into amazingly rugged and beautiful terrain some 120 years ago. Sitka faces the open Pacific Ocean, so there's often a wider variety of species, including king salmon and halibut. If you're planning a cruise to Alaska, it's natural to have questions about cruising to the 49th state. This tour is ideal for anyone who wants to take a short excursion and still have enough time left in the day to explore Sitka on his or her own. Later in the summer, spawning salmon and brown bears add to the mix. The Best Alaska Cruise Excursions at Each Port - Simply Wander Above & Beyond Alaska also offers tours on Admiralty Island. There are different activity levels depending on how active you want to be. I did post my review as a thread on the CruiseCritic Mexican Riviera Forum, so it is out there! Using the wearable Ocean Medallion technology, staff can pinpoint your location on the ship to provide the most personalized cruise experience. Related: Six Tips for Cruising Alaska on a Budget. Whether you're traveling as a couple, a family or solo, we've found the best Alaska. Linger longer and . As for river cruising, Avalon Waterways was dubbed the Best River Cruise Line, with Crystal River Cruises the Best Luxury River Cruise Line. Alaska Cruise ~ I came back from an Alaskan cruise with Princess Cruises. Your hands will likely hurt from hitting the handbrakes so much. Do you think that is possible to do in Alaska? Just note that if you're booking the tour through your cruise line, it's only open to cruisers on back-to-back voyages that both end and then begin here, or for passengers ending their cruise in Whittier, followed up by either a late-night flight out or overnight stay in Anchorage. Bottom linedont tell operaters your with a cruise ship till afterwards. Then enjoy a time-honored Alaskan traditionthe salmon bake. Or learn to fly fish from an expert guide. On this wildly popular tour with TEMSCO Helicopters, you'll fly over the Denver Glacier by helicopter, then land there to visit a dog camp. The weather in Alaska changes quickly and dramatically and can vary widely depending on where in the state you are. CRUISE EXCURSION TIP: Get the balcony room! Explore a glacier on foot! The ones we took with local operators once we landed (And there were several of them!) The seaplane will also briefly land on water within the park to give you a taste of the serenity down below. We are doing a land tour after and have booked white water rafting in Denali, if we weren't doing this i would have definitely booked some sort of rafting trip, maybe in haines to see the eagles but couldn't do that as well as the train due to time clash. The experience feels a lot like flying. Cruises and land tours are great ways to see Alaska. Southeast Alaska's marine animals join the party as you cruise the waters, renowned as a summer feeding ground for humpback and killer whales. It's a full-day outing. However, if youre looking for a wilderness or wildlife trip, choose the Chilkat float. Now, everything you need on your sailing with Princess Cruises in Alaska is at the touch of your finger tips. Youll learn about the challenges of brewing in a small Alaskan town, and sample some of the states finest brews. With Ocean Now, guests can order their favorite food and drinks to be delivered to them just about anywhere on the ship. For the Train in Skagway we went with Chilkoot Charters. If you arent familiar with Glacier Bay, heres what Princess shares about it. You have a little (but not much) control of your speed and can more or less steer yourself into the platforms. The Skagway excursions are pretty . That way, youll avoid major disappointment and it makes it that much more special when you do see a moose or a bear. It's also open to those who are ending their sailing in Seward with a late-night flight out of nearby Anchorage (or with an overnight stay in the city), in which case the tour includes an airport transfer, too. Then, when you reach the top, get outside and ride a mountain bike back down. Alternatively, cruisetours are the ultimate Alaska experience - a vacation combining an unforgettable seven-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise with three or more nights exploring Alaska by land. Alternatively, you may use, How to find the best Alaska cruise for you. Or ride your bike out to Douglas Island for a tram ride, 1,800 feet up Mt. This excursion offers an experience that hits key Vancouver sights via bus in a 2-3 hour tour. Month Day Year. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-80251833', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Juneau - Whale watching, we picked the trip without the mendenhall glacier as i read there is a bus that goes there from the cruise terminal so relatively easy to get there before our afternoon trip to watch whales.