Alaska Excursions HELP !!!- Pearl May 19

[poly3503]

Hi,

 

This will be our first time visiting Alaska. I usually scour these boards for recommendations on tour operators who operate excursions that are similar to those operated by the cruiseline.

Here are our tentative plans-

 

Skagway- White Pass and yukon-( found an operator already)

 

Ketchikan- interested in Misty Fjords ( not by air!)

 

Juneau-Mendenhall and whale watching or

Tracy Arm or

Photo Safari

Victoria- open to suggestions

 

Thanks!

Linda

[Budget Queen]

The only option you will have for Misty Fiords will be by boat. Some port times only allow the ship contracted tour, which is Allen Marine.

 

An independent combo whale watch/Mendenhall tour out of Juneau is superior with an independent operator who will drop off/pick up between the two. Saves at least an hour of transit time. This then becomes open ended at Mendenhall allowing you to leave/arrive when you wish. If you wish to walk the Nugget Falls Trail you need at least an hour. The ship combo tours, don't stay more than 45 minutes.

 

I highly recommend Orca Enterprises, they are long term well established. They have extremely accurate informed naturalists on board, and a superb 360 unobstructed upper deck (which is open when in areas of whale activity)

 

Tracy Arm is unlikely to have full access in your timeframe- since you are limited to a shorter timed ship tour.

[bonvoyagie]

Since the Pearl arrives around 2:00 PM make sure that your independent operator's tours are after then (it looks like Orca has one at 3:00)

Also make sure that they have transportation for you Auke Bay is on the other side of Juneau from where the ships dock and to add insult to injury, the Pearl is at the most southern dock - AJ. Other operators include http://www.harvandmarvs.com/alaskawhalewatching.html

 

https://www.weatherpermittingalaska.com/Home_Page.php

 

and many more - you can simply Google Juneau whale watching tours

I also agree with BQ that Tracy Arm will most likely be iced in - also if you read the fine print on the tour description it says that the tour does not run in May.

 

As for Misty Fjords - this area is probably best seen from a floatplane - but if you only want to see it from the water then Allen Marine is your best bet - and since they are the ones that provide the cruise line tours you should probably book through NCL - the price is the same.

 

I have heard the the snorkleing tour in Ketchikan is a real hoot as well as is the Crab fishermans tour but you are only there for the morning - 6:00 to 1:30.

 

If you are going to use independent tour oprators make sure that you are back on board the required 1/2 hr prior to sailing - last summer our captain took off the instant all pax were back onboard.

[jamminlion]

I highly recommend Orca Enterprises whale watching in Juneau.

 

Captain Larry and his crew are top notch. Actually, Capt. Larry was the original whale watch tour operator. He doesn't talk much, but he knows those waters, and he knows where to find the whales.

 

We had a fabulous trip with them. Saw all kinds of whales, sea lions, and eagles.

 

You can't go wrong with the purple boats!