Alaska excursions

[Jaylie]

There are so many excursions for each port that my husband and I are totally confused. Hoping for some recommendations for our September 9 cruise RT from Seattle. Our stops are Juneau. Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia. We are in our 70s and can do some walking, but wouldn't want anything strenuous! Definitely no zip lining or whale watching type excursions. I see several choices on the website, but I'm hoping for some info from passengers who have done these excursions. Thanks so much!

[sherryf]

It's hard for us to make recommendations when we have no idea what your interests are.

 

Try filtering the excursions list by activity level. That should reduce your choices significantly. Then filter by price, if that's a factor for you. Once you have a reduced list to consider, it should be much easier to narrow it down based on your interests.

 

Also, whale watching is NOT strenuous! My mother and aunt enjoyed it immensely when they were 70-ish.

[TW6cruiser]

Check the Alaska board, there will be lots of info there too. In Skagway, the train is very popular. We did not take it though as the weather was very foggy the day we were there and figured we would not be able to see much. The train boards right from near the ship so there is little walking. In Ketchikan, we took a fly plane to Neets Bay, had a walk (flat, on a trail) and saw many black bears. We really enjoyed that. It was expensive but for us, worth the splurge. It was only the four of us traveling together in the plane. In Juneau, the Whale watching is not strenuous. We had an excursion that included a hike in the rain forest to the Mendenhall Glacier. That may be too much for you but if there is an excursion with just the whale watching part I think you'd enjoy it.

[Alaskanb]

For each excursion look at the Detailed Itinerary to the left of the general description. It will tell you the number of steps involved.

Also check when sunset is at that time of the year.

For Skagway I highly recommend the train trip --especially if you read about the gold rush before you go. The train for the Princess tour loads next to the ship.

On our last Alaska cruse we did tour KTN-650 in Ketchikan and loved it. At the George Inlet lodge they have a shuttle van if you cannot manage the stairs.

We have always done whale watch tours in Juneau. They are not strenuous at all.

Cannot help with Victoria but I see you are there from 7pm to about midnight.

[DRS/NC]

I'm 70+ & just returned from my 4th Alaska/Princess cruise.

 

Whale watching is not strenuous at all! You sit/stand on a boat. The boat & the whales do all the work. It can be fabulous! It's my MUST DO in Juneau every time!

 

The Tram ride is easy, but is often weather-dependent (gets too foggy to see much).

 

The train ride in Skagway is very easy & usually interesting for a first-timer. Be sure to read the description carefully -- if the train goes into Canada, you'll need your passport or passport card.

 

This last cruise, we took a taxi to Saxman Village totem pole park in Ketchikan. It's very easy walking (I have major walking issues). Totem Bright park is good too, as I recall.

 

Any of the flying trips a great, though quite expensive.

 

Skagway is small & Ketchikan is not large either. If walking isn't an issue, just see the town.

 

Enjoy!

[satxdiver]

In Skagway the White Pass Railway is the thing to do and is very interesting. The train boards right next to the ship. It goes to the Canadian entry point but does not go into Canada so no passport required. Pax are allowed to get off for a very short time for pictures etc. but nothing else is available.

 

Ketchikan is small and is built on the side of a mountain. There is level walking in the bottom part of the town. The big draw here is the native totem poles and there are two parks available with a collection. Little walking is required and you will be transported to one of the parks. They really are educational of the natives that lives in this area. It is in a rainforest (in AK!) with 200" or more of rain each year.

 

Juneau has Mendenhall Glacier just north of the city (~12 miles). There are many ways to get there including ship excursion, taxi, private excursion and is well worth your time. There is a visitor center located there.

 

Victoria BC just take the shuttle (Victoria Express) which will take you down to the center of town and you can return at your leisure. The shopping, food and bars are interesting in that Victoria is the most British of all the places in Canada. You can walk as little or more as you prefer and return at your discretion.

 

A bit of history: Ketchikan is where the now infamous "bridge to nowhere" was to be built by the US government before it was killed. It was to be a bridge to the nearby island where the airport is located. The only airport in the US where you have to take a boat to get to it. I was on a private tour and asked about the wasteful bridge and almost got thrown off the tour by the tour guide!

[triptolemus]

In Skagway the White Pass Railway ... goes to the Canadian entry point but does not go into Canada so no passport required.

 

This is not 100% accurate.

 

There are a number of different excursions associated with the White Pass Railway. Some are round-trip, in which case the cruise line advises that no passport is required since you never get off the train. However, there are a number of one-way excursions where you end up standing in Fraser, BC after having taken the train or bus up to Fraser. On some, you can take the train up, bus down, and others you can bus up, and take the train down. Both of these require that you have your passport.

 

In either case, the train does enter Canada. Fraser is about 12 km inside the US/Canadian border.

 

For the sake of accuracy, folks should check the requirements for the specific excursion they will be taking.

[Sparling]

We just returned from our Alaskan cruise. My mother who is in her 70s did the following. Fished with a very nice gentleman who docked close to the port in Ketchikan. In Juneau we saw Mendenhall Glacier booked through an independent party and in Skagway she made a glassblowing ornament to send home. She tires easily and doesn't always have the best footing but navigated these towns well. Skagway has a smart shuttle that for $5 you can ride all day on from place to place. If you search here on the boards you will find other options for similar experience to the train ride that are not as expensive. I went into Yukon Territory passport required to see beautiful scenery including Emerald lake. Not difficult for people that can manage 2-3 steps into an air conditioned bus. Less expensive as well. Best of luck and safe travels!

 

 

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[Colo Cruiser]

Skagway-train

Juneau-Taku Lodge Float plane!!!!!!!!!!! (one of the best excursions we have ever done on Princess)

Ketchikan-Misty Fjords Wilderness Cruise.

[A&Jfamily]

There are so many excursions for each port that my husband and I are totally confused. Hoping for some recommendations for our September 9 cruise RT from Seattle. Our stops are Juneau. Skagway, Ketchikan and Victoria, British Columbia. We are in our 70s and can do some walking, but wouldn't want anything strenuous! Definitely no zip lining or whale watching type excursions. I see several choices on the website, but I'm hoping for some info from passengers who have done these excursions. Thanks so much!

 

 

 

We walked Ketchikan and took the bus to Totem Bight - loved it. In Skagway renting a car and driving to the Yukon was awesome but you could enjoy the train very easily. The excursion I recommend not to miss is the gardens in Victoria - especially a night. It was magical.

 

 

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[LeeW]

On our transatlantic trip there were twin 84 year old twin brothers from Arizona. They went tours in every port in Norway, Shetlands, Faroes, Iceland and Greenland. Didn't walk around much, just headed for the gift shop. When the bus was ready to leave the guide had to go fetch them. Great fun to talk with them (I had twin grandfather). Lots of tours don't require much walking.

 

Would highly recommend whale watching in Juneau but not through the ship. Dolphin Jet Boats has mid-sized boats with fewer passengers and can easily even handle a wheelchair if you need one.

 

Dyea Dave bus tours is a great choice in Skagway (although the Eagle Preserve raft float is also great, with very little walking).

[geocruiser]

We like just looking around the port town. A lot to see in them. Here are some places in Ketchikan that we went too.

 

http://tourketchikan.com/listing/tongass-historical-museum/

 

http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/en/Things-To-Do/Attractions/Museums-and-Historical

 

Creek Street

http://www.experienceketchikan.com/creek-street-ketchikan.html

Dolly's House (Famous Brothel)

http://creekstreetketchikan.com/dollys-house/

 

 

funicular (cable railway

http://youralaskacruise.com/reviews/alaskacruise2005/cruise2005-378a-ketchikan-funicular-1320.html

http://www.explorenorth.com/alaska/images/0147-cape_fox_lodge-funicular-1168.html

 

I also read some books about the gold rush before my trip.

Klondike Fever by Pierre Berton

 

Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush: Secret History of the Far North

By lael Morgan

 

Gold Rush Women

by Claire Rudolf Murphy.

Edited July 17, 2017 by geocruiser

[arb18]

Husband and I just came back. We did lots of excursions and both of our favorites was the small boat to the glaciers tour. Look at it on the day you are scenic cruising. You will get to the glaciers our ship could not. Best excursion ever!

 

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[satxdiver]

This is not 100% accurate.

 

There are a number of different excursions associated with the White Pass Railway. Some are round-trip, in which case the cruise line advises that no passport is required since you never get off the train. However, there are a number of one-way excursions where you end up standing in Fraser, BC after having taken the train or bus up to Fraser. On some, you can take the train up, bus down, and others you can bus up, and take the train down. Both of these require that you have your passport.

 

In either case, the train does enter Canada. Fraser is about 12 km inside the US/Canadian border.

 

For the sake of accuracy, folks should check the requirements for the specific excursion they will be taking.

 

Last visit to Skagway we rented a auto and drove it to Emerald Lake. Great trip.

[Joy and David]

We like just looking around the port town. A lot to see in them. Here are some places in Ketchikan that we went too.

 

http://tourketchikan.com/listing/tongass-historical-museum/

 

http://www.visit-ketchikan.com/en/Things-To-Do/Attractions/Museums-and-Historical

 

Creek Street

http://www.experienceketchikan.com/creek-street-ketchikan.html

Dolly's House (Famous Brothel)

http://creekstreetketchikan.com/dollys-house/

 

 

funicular (cable railway

http://youralaskacruise.com/reviews/alaskacruise2005/cruise2005-378a-ketchikan-funicular-1320.html

http://www.explorenorth.com/alaska/images/0147-cape_fox_lodge-funicular-1168.html

 

I also read some books about the gold rush before my trip.

Klondike Fever by Pierre Berton

 

Good Time Girls of the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush: Secret History of the Far North

By lael Morgan

 

Gold Rush Women

by Claire Rudolf Murphy.

 

Thanks for these helpful links. You do an excellent job in researching resources. We had not made any firm plans in Ketchikam so giving us info in advance for a self guided walking tour is appreciated. Hope the funicular is still in service.

[xlxo]

Additional thoughts...

• Juneau is popular with Mendenhall and whale watches
  
• Skagway is popular with the historic train.
  
• consider combo excursions to save money and time as you do multiple activities with the same bus away from the ship. The Skagway train is best done with a combo as you get to see both sides of the canyon.
  

These port vids may give additional inspiration....

 

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[dianef]

I second Dyea Dave tours in Skagway>We went last year and was lucky to have wonderful weather,73 degrees.Had a wonderful day and great tour guide.

[geocruiser]

Thanks for these helpful links. You do an excellent job in researching resources. We had not made any firm plans in Ketchikam so giving us info in advance for a self guided walking tour is appreciated. Hope the funicular is still in service.

 

Here are some things that we did in Skagway. The best thing that I did for myself before our trip to Alaska was to read about the Gold rush and Alaska's native people. The streets became alive for me seeing all the things that I read about before my eyes.

One of the best things that I saw in a museum was a rain coat made by Alaskan native Americans, made of of animal intestines.

 

We did stay in the towns and enjoyed it very much. The Park dept. gives a free walking tour.

 

SKAGWAY MUSEUM

http://www.skagway.org/museum

 

https://www.nps.gov/klgo/index.htm

 

Red Onion Brothel

http://redonion1898.com/brothel-museum-tours/

 

Jewell Gardens

http://www.jewellgardens.com/

 

Walking Tour

 

http://www.alaska.org/guide/skagway-walking-tour-non-audio

 

Soapy smith

http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/soapy-smith-killed-in-skagway-alaska

 

http://www.alaskapublic.org/2013/11/19/the-legend-of-soapy-smith/