Alaska shore excursions

[alaskacruiser2010]

Has anyone booked shore excursions in Alaska themselves and not through the cruise line? I'm thinking about doing this. Cruising May 8th on NCL. :rolleyes:

[mpk218]

many times , easily done . Pick your port and go online to see what is offered or brows the NCL excursions and then go online . You will get on the same bus half the time. Good luck . Just remeber the ship only waits for NCL booked excursions if you happen to be late .. DONT BE LATE ;)

 

Edit: Note you will find a few things that are exclusive to the cruise line . ( Rock climbing , a few others ). But if it were the case that you happen to being staying in town , then your ok .

wink.

[big green]

click on boards above--then scroll down to ports of call--click on alaska--many threads on your question.

 

BG

[flowerchild]

We sorta did our own thing...I am not a fan of ship sponsored excursions, way overpriced...

 

In Juneau, we hopped on a bus and went to Mendenhall Glacier on our own. Super inexpensive. In Ketchikan, we took a pubic bus to Totem Bight park, also inexpensive. In Skagway, we DID do an excursion, did the train thing on our own, independantly of the ship. Did not like the train excursion, it was boring and long and the car reeked of diesel.

 

The only ship sponsored excursion we did was a catamaran that rode ahead of the ship into the fjord that took us into Endicott Arm and the glacier. The ship was way far behind us and we got very close to the actual glacier. The trip was fantastic and worth every penny we spent.

[garycarla]

Lots of people do this. Best advice you can find is at the PORTS OF CALL message boards.

[terrymtex01]

 

The only ship sponsored excursion we did was a catamaran that rode ahead of the ship into the fjord that took us into Endicott Arm and the glacier. The ship was way far behind us and we got very close to the actual glacier. The trip was fantastic and worth every penny we spent.

 

I SO agree with this. One of the most expensive excursions we have ever taken and WELL worth every penny. It seems that we did the same thing you did. We were supposed to go to Tracy Arm and had to go to Endicott instead due to too much ice in Tracy Arm. It was a beautiful excursion. Misty Fjord was a beautiful one too. Probably my second fav of all excursions.

[flashdog_1]

ALL of our shore excursions were booked independently. Saved probably $400 per person doing it that way. (Excursions in Alaska are expensive since everyone is paid American wages). If you're afraid of missing the ship, book your excursions for first thing in the morning.

 

Do lots of research. Make a list of things you think you'd like to do as you read. And write the prices and names of companies. You won't remember, and will be glad you have a list to refer to, and email addresses to contact the companies. Don't be surprised if your list contains more than you could possibly do in any one day.

 

As the months go by you may change your mind, weighing cost vs. safety vs convenience etc. Some people apparently just get off the ship and walk around and write extraordinary reviews of these simple activities, too.

 

If you run across an excursion that needs a certain # of people and you are only 2, check with your fellow travelers on your roll call & ask if anyone is interested in this same excursion etc.

 

There is so much to see and do in Alaska that one cruise will not do it. Even though you think it's a once in a lifetime experience, you may find you want to go back. Save your pennies and have a wonderful cruise!

[Budget Queen]

Most Alaska excursions do NOT offer big savings going independent vs ship tours, and extremely few are half price. BUT, the bonus is smaller groups, longer tours etc.

 

There are many long established well recommended vendors on the Alaska board. Do your homework, find out what tours are of interest to you, then look for an independent vendor.