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After a 35-minute drive, you’ll arrive at the base camp where you’ll find a recreated 1800s mining town. The shuttle bus will continue along the scenic Klondike Highway to the ghost town of Dyea. But you won’t find many modern conveniences here, the closest major grocery store is 2 1/2 hours away in Whitehorse, Canada.
Dog Sledding or Helicopter Flightseeing
There was a nature hike offered in the Tongass National Forest and we jumped on it. It was a couple of hours in length with a knowledgeable guide (she knew her plants and bears) who trekked along at a pace easy enough for almost anyone to keep up. When it comes to what to do in Alaska, adventure is at the top of the list!
Top Alaska Shore Excursions
Find other excursion options on my guide to the best Skagway cruise excursions. Find other excursion options in my guide to the best Sitka cruise excursions. Find other excursion options in my guide to the best Ketchikan cruise excursions. Find other excursion options in my guide to the best Juneau cruise excursions.
Dog Sledding on a Glacier - Juneau
If you are adventurous, you may even have branched out and booked some excursions direct with outfitters in port. There are a few things to consider when booking through the cruise line or direct. With only a week and a limited budget, an Alaskan cruise from Seattle was what worked best with our schedule and budget. With Alaska covering twice the size of Texas, getting there and traveling around is a challenge. This is why approximately half of all visitors coming to Alaska arrive by cruise ship. Marvel at the jaw-dropping cliffs rising 4000-feet above the serpentine sea.
It was one of the most amazing experiences I had in Alaska and I highly recommend it. The ship has 12 cabins and a crew of 14, all experts in the area and simply amazing. Each night Captain found a small inlet to tuck into and the course may change day-by-day based on the 24 passengers’ desires, another one of the great advantages of small ship cruising. If the passengers want another hike to a waterfall and stream fishing, the course is changed. Most people concentrate on the glaciers when in Alaska, and rightfully so, they are fabulous.
Most Princess Alaska cruisetours include a tour into Denali National Park. Cruises are great and all, but another great way to see Alaska is by train. You can hop off your cruise ship in Whittier or Seward and climb right into an Alaska Railroad passenger car destined for some of Alaska’s finest locales. The Alaska Railroad’s northern terminus is Fairbanks, the Golden Heart City of the Interior. No matter what your selected route, there are countless and breathtaking natural sights all along the way as historic Alaska Railroad speeds along its transcendent tracks.
25 BEST Alaska Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Alaska on Cruise Critic - CruiseCritic.co.uk
25 BEST Alaska Cruises 2024 (Prices + Itineraries): Cruises to Alaska on Cruise Critic.
Posted: Mon, 23 Oct 2023 15:08:06 GMT [source]
Best Alaska cruise ports
In August and September you have a good chance of seeing brown bear walking along the river and along the lake’s shore. Adventurous couples relish Celebrity’s adult-oriented amusements, including inviting bars and lounges, fine restaurants, and relaxing spas. Big spenders book the Retreat, a luxurious private enclave—its Luminae restaurant showcases dishes by famed French chef Daniel Boulud. In Ketchikan, a four-hour Wilderness Exploration and Crab Feast in Tongass National Forest (America’s largest national forest) scores big buzz. Drive past jaw-dropping sights, like Native Alaskan totem poles, snowcapped mountains, and thunderous waterfalls. Relish a sightseeing vessel ride, assist crew pulling in crab pots (if you like), before tearing into unlimited fresh Dungeness crab with warm clarified butter, and cheesecake drenched in Alaskan blueberries.
9 Best Alaska Cruise Tour Destinations - Cruise Critic
9 Best Alaska Cruise Tour Destinations.
Posted: Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
You'll find a small armada of floatplanes waiting to take you to nearby Misty Fjords National Monument. Returning to Glacier Station, you'll end the day with a ride back to Skagway on the White Pass & Yukon Railway, which makes a special stop to pick you up. If it all sounds a bit daunting, know that you don't need any experience at climbing to do it; I sure didn't have any when I tried it, nor did my young daughters, who absolutely loved it. After making it to the top, you'll rappel back down — an entirely different kind of thrill. That said, you can sometimes get discounts by calling a tour operator directly.
Trip Planning Help
If you are asking yourself where should I book the best Alaska Cruise excursions, you’ve come to the right place! The truth is there is more than one option to choose from depending on factors like budget, protection and variety. Begin with a short, guided drive through the quaint seaside town of Skagway. Then, after a quick nature hike from the bus stop, you’ll be fitted with safety equipment and ready to zip!
Most Alaska itineraries include some "scenic cruising," where your ship sails past incredible natural sights. If you're interested in Alaska's gold rush history, Skagway — 90 miles northwest of Juneau — is a port you shouldn't miss. In fact, it's the gateway to the Klondike and Dawson mining district in Canada's Yukon territory, where prospectors searched for gold in the late 1890s.
Our family had the best time soaring over waterfalls and through the moss-covered trees in the Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world. For an active adventure, try a hiking excursion along a portion of the historic Chilkoot Trail, retracing the footsteps of gold seekers. Over a century after the peak of the gold rush, the town still retains its charming 19th-century atmosphere.
From your departure in Skagway, you’ll climb 3,292 feet above sea level in your deluxe motor coach to White Pass. Visit the authentic Yukon town of Caribou Crossing, marvel at sparkling lakes, and more. Between the amazing lunch location, informative guides, tales of simpler times, and the majestic views, you’ll love this combination excursion. With so many Alaska shore excursions to choose from, which one will you pick? Ketchikan not only showcases its rich native heritage but also offers unique cruise excursions that highlight the city’s natural beauty. Juneau, Alaska's capital, offers a vibrant mix of nature and culture.
Pile your plate high with salmon, barbecue chicken, scalloped potatoes, cornbread, rice, beans, and salad. The outdoor tables are nestled on the banks of the scenic Gold Creek where gold was first discovered in Juneau. While in Alaska, nursing calves gain an average of 5 pounds per hour! Once fully grown, a humpback whale averages between tons and is about feet long. You are even guaranteed to see a whale on the tour or you get your money back. It is named after Joe Juneau, one of the prospectors who made the initial discovery of gold.
