Itinerary pointers for Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait and Ketchikan

[JayFank]

What is the closest and/or best hotel to stay in Anchorage closest to the Alaska Railroad train station?

[don't-use-real-name]

1 hour ago, JayFank said:

What is the closest and/or best hotel to stay in Anchorage closest to the Alaska Railroad train station?

Use this (one of many) LINK: 

15 Closest Hotels to Anchorage Alaska Railroad Depot in Anchorage | Hotels.com

 

Map or area near RR Depot: Map centered on Depot

 

Google Maps

[JayFank]

Went ahead and booked two nights at the Home2Suites by Hilton in Anchorage and one night at the Harbor 360 Hotel in Seward. Plan is to take the train down on the day before the cruise and do the Kenai Fjords cruise that day and the day of cruise do Seavey's dog sledding and take it easy prior to boarding.

[SightCRR]

Look into doing Exit glacier after the dog sled. Make sure to notice the signs that mark where the glacier was in past years and how much it has receded. 

[JayFank]

Unfortunately due to some schedule conflicts, we had bump our cruise back a week. That changed the itinerary from Icy Strait to now Sitka. Here is what we currently have planned:

 

Alaska -- May 2022
-- Day 1 (May 19, 2022) -- Fly to Vancouver, Canada
    -- 8:30 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. -- Columbus, Ohio to Dallas, Texas
    -- 10:25 p.m. - 12:39 a.m. -- Dallas, Texas to Vancouver, Canada ($666.24)
-- Day 2 (May 20, 2022) -- Board Radiance of the Seas
-- Day 3 (May 21, 2022) -- Inside Passage (Cruising)
-- Day 4 (May 22, 2022) -- Ketchikan, Alaska -- 6 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    -- Misty Fjords flightseeing by Island Wings ($825)
-- Day 5 (May 23, 2022) -- Sitka, Alaska -- 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
-- Day 6 (May 24, 2022) -- Juneau, Alaska -- 7 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
    -- 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. -- Harv and Marv whale watching ($482.85)
-- Day 7 (May 25, 2022) -- Skagway, Alaska -- 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    -- 1 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. -- White Pass Railroad ($335)
-- Day 8 (May 26, 2022) -- Hubbard Glacier (Cruising) --    9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 
-- Day 9 (May 27, 2022) -- Arrive at Seward, Alaska, 5 a.m.
    -- 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. -- Seavey's dog sled tour ($247.50)
    -- 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. -- Kenai Fjords tour ($417.35)
    -- 6 p.m. - 10:15 p.m. -- Alaska Railroad transfer from Seward to Anchorage ($255)
-- Day 10 (May 28, 2022) -- Anchorage, Alaska
    -- Matanuska Glacier
    -- 8:05 p.m. - 5:22 a.m. -- Anchorage, Alaska to Chicago, Illinois
    -- 8:20 a.m. - 10:33 a.m. -- Chicago, Illinois to Columbus, Ohio ($684.90)

 

Sitka is going to be a day off of adventures; likely just enjoy the ship and meander around near the port.

 

Since we'll be taking the Alaska Railroad from Seward to Anchorage, is the White Pass Railroad a "must" considering the Seward-Anchorage trip is "one of the best scenic routes" in Alaska?

[don't-use-real-name]

Since we'll be taking the Alaska Railroad from Seward to Anchorage, is the White Pass Railroad a "must" considering the Seward-Anchorage trip is "one of the best scenic routes" in Alaska?

 

An ABSOLUTE *MUST* in my opinion and I am sure others will agree.

Lots of history engineering scenic stuff all rolled into one !

 

The WPYRR is a whole different railroad from the Alaska RR -

First it is a narrow gauge track railroad climbing even more steep grades than the AK RR

You will be up close to the edge of the track as it ascends to the Canadian border Summit.

And then the descent back to Skagway (one of the excursions available).

You will have views of where you were a few minutes ago and looking ahead to

where you are going.

The Summit train trip is great for the first timer - for those who have done this before

recommend taking it a step further with the bus or train to the Canada interior just over the

Summit and then the train/bus return to Skagway (Lake Bennett - Carcross excursions).

If taking just the Summit trip you will have ample time to putz about Skagway before your

ship is calling and getting prepared to sail away to the next port. Taking a train/bus trip

into Canada leaves a little time for the Skagway visit.

The WHITE PASS AND YUKON RAILROAD is the prime excursion at the Port of Skagway !

Get your cameras cell phones video devices ready "Action" !

[Ihibernate2]

Double check train, bridge out and stops at mile 14. Supposed to be fixed by spring 2022 but worth checking.

[JayFank]

Any ideas of something to do in Sitka? Seems like the options are very limited at this port unless we go to the Fortress of the Bears and Raptor Center. This is what I have so far for everything else:

 

Alaska -- May 2022
-- Day 1 (May 19, 2022) -- Fly to Vancouver, Canada
    -- 1:59 p.m. - 3:47 p.m. -- Columbus, Ohio to Dallas, Texas
    -- 6:43 p.m. - 9 p.m. -- Dallas, Texas to Vancouver, Canada ($666.24) -- BOOKED
    -- 10 p.m. - 11 a.m. -- Stay at Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel ($338.00) -- BOOKED
-- Day 2 (May 20, 2022) -- Board Radiance of the Seas ($1967.98) -- BOOKED
-- Day 3 (May 21, 2022) -- Inside Passage (Cruising)
-- Day 4 (May 22, 2022) -- Ketchikan, Alaska -- 6 a.m. - 4 p.m.
    -- 12:45 p.m. - 3 p.m. -- Misty Fjords flightseeing by Island Wings ($825) -- BOOKED
-- Day 5 (May 23, 2022) -- Sitka, Alaska -- 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
-- Day 6 (May 24, 2022) -- Juneau, Alaska -- 7 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
    -- 10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. -- Harv and Marv whale watching ($482.85) -- BOOKED
-- Day 7 (May 25, 2022) -- Skagway, Alaska -- 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
    -- 1 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. -- White Pass Railroad ($335)
-- Day 8 (May 26, 2022) -- Hubbard Glacier (Cruising) --    9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 
-- Day 9 (May 27, 2022) -- Arrive at Seward, Alaska, 5 a.m.
    -- 9 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. -- Seavey's dog sled tour ($267.68) -- BOOKED
    -- 11:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. -- Kenai Fjords tour (326.96, originally $417.35) -- BOOKED
    -- 6 p.m. - 10:15 p.m. -- Alaska Railroad from Seward to Anchorage ($255) -- BOOKED
    -- 10:30 p.m. - 8 a.m. -- Stay at Comfort Inn Ship Creek Hotel ($206.08) -- BOOKED
-- Day 10 (May 28, 2022) -- Anchorage, Alaska
    -- 11:30 A.M. - 3:30 p.m. -- Matanuska Glacier tour with MICA Guides ($314.82) -- BOOKED
    -- 10:15 p.m. - 07:30 a.m. -- Anchorage, Alaska to Chicago, Illinois
    -- 8:45 a.m. - 11:05 a.m. -- Chicago, Illinois to Columbus, Ohio ($684.90) -- BOOKED

[SightCRR]

Does the Matanuska glacier tour include transportation to glacier? If not start trying to rent a car now. If it does never mind. 

In Sitka The Fortress Of the Bears is like a zoo w/ bears. The raptor center is worth a visit. The downtown area has some nice things you can walk to including a forest stream w/ totems. Look on line or you tube for tourist guide. We liked Sitka as it is not over run with shops selling junk. Likely your ship will tender or park at pier several miles out of town with shuttle busses. sightcrr

Never mind about tender. STI dock (Sitka Terminal Inside). 

 

Edited March 16, 2022 by SightCRR

[Northern Aurora]

4 hours ago, JayFank said:

Any ideas of something to do in Sitka? Seems like the options are very limited at this port unless we go to the Fortress of the Bears and Raptor Center. This is what I have so far for everything else:

 

.......

 

Sitka is one of my favorite ports.  Not as commercialized as a number of the others.

 

If you dock at the pier north of the downtown area you will be take a free shuttle down to the Harrigan Convention Center.  There you will find vendors selling last minute excursions.  The Fortress of the Bear is popular, and there will be options to go to that facility; some companies include a stop at the Raptor Center.  The Raptor Center is walkable from the HCC but the Fortress is not.  The  Sitka National Historical Park (which the locals refer to as "totem pole park" is a lovely walk along the harbor; the park has an interpretive center and a nice collection of totem poles along a forest pathway.  Along the walk to SNHP you will pass the Sheldon Jackson Museum which is an adjunct Alaska State Museum.  The National Park Service operates the Bishop's House which is "kitty-korner" from the HCC.  And while you already have whale watching on your itinerary Sitka is one of those places where vendors will guarantee you will see marine wildlife or they will refund your excursion costs.  

 

Check the Sitka convention and visitor's bureau website for more details.

[JayFank]

19 hours ago, SightCRR said:

Does the Matanuska glacier tour include transportation to glacier? If not start trying to rent a car now. If it does never mind. 

In Sitka The Fortress Of the Bears is like a zoo w/ bears. The raptor center is worth a visit. The downtown area has some nice things you can walk to including a forest stream w/ totems. Look on line or you tube for tourist guide. We liked Sitka as it is not over run with shops selling junk. Likely your ship will tender or park at pier several miles out of town with shuttle busses. sightcrr

Never mind about tender. STI dock (Sitka Terminal Inside). 

 

I rented a car through Turo, which is a rental car site similar in vain to Uber or Lyft.

[alohayall]

Looks like a great plan.  The original one left me tired, just from reading it.  Too many short connections between activities, with no room for activities running late.

 

Nice price on the Pan Pacific (for Vancouver; but you are going shoulder season).  Such a subdued, refined hotel.  
 

If you have never been to Vancouver, a walk out the front door in either direction will give you a nice sightseeing glimpse of the area; Olympic flame to the West or Gastown to the East.  A free excursion between breakfast and cruise check-in downstairs.
 

We flew with Island Wings back in 2011. I have only heard good things from others, too.

White Pass Railroad. My response was been-there, done-that. But we also did a helicopter ride that afternoon. So maybe my memory is a comparison of long and slow v. high and fast.  Definitely depends on your interests (and how tired you are by that point.)

 

 

I’d let you plan our next AK cruise vacation.  I was taught that planning was half the fun. Looking back over the years is great, too.  These forums are great for reliving happy vacations.

[llkoolj40]

On 7/1/2021 at 7:17 PM, JayFank said:

Our family of three -- Myself (38, male), wife (35) and daughter (7) -- will be cruising on Royal's Radiance of the Seas in May 2022. Prior to cruising, we will be visiting the Matanuska Glacier while in Anchorage and going to Seavey's dog sled camp in Seward.

For Juneau, I really want to do a Mendenhall Glacier hike/tour, however, age restrictions prevent us from doing so unless we travel via helicopter. The other option would be whale watching either with Harv and Marv or another company. Given we will be visiting Matanuska and get the full "glacier experience" by walking through crevasses, possible ice caves, etc., would a glacier tour via helicopter bring anything new other than the aerial views? Also, are there "better" glaciers to visit in Juneau other than Mendenhall?

For Skagway, we are considering the White Pass railroad, but are open to options.

For Icy Straight Point, we are going to do whale watching.

For Ketchikan, we plan on doing the Misty Fjords Flightseeing, but are open to which companies to use or other alternatives.

We used Island Wings in Ketchikan and it was a trip to remember. We have been on 3 Harv and Marv tours, saw whales each time and all were wonderful. Loved the smaller boat with plenty o f room to see. The train is something to see in Skagway if this is the first time there.

[Barwick Cruiser]

We’ve booked with Sitka Sound tours in obviously Sitka lol. Whale as well as other marine and land wildlife tour. Gets good reviews. 

[JayFank]

Are there any benefits to booking the White Pass Railroad trip through the cruise website as opposed directly through the company?

 

Reason I'm asking is this on the White Pass Railroad site: "For passengers arriving via cruise ship, this tour is available from your ship’s Shore Excursion Department. By booking through the cruise line, you will be able to take advantage of the dockside service and board the train on the pier alongside your ship. Contact your cruise line’s Shore Excursion Department for more details."