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Setting off from the Juneau harbor in a whale-watching boat, you'll cruise to nearby areas to see not just humpback whales but harbor seals and sea lions, too. Indeed, in some cases, the cruise lines own the tour operators in Alaska ports, or at least a piece of them. For instance, the parent company of Princess Cruises and Holland America is a part-owner of Skagway's big attraction, the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway.
Tours to Haines from Skagway
If you want to see nature at its finest, you must book a tour or venture farther afield. Active travelers can explore Alaska by sea kayak or canoe, hike on glaciers and through rainforests, zip line, bike, ride an ATV and even snorkel (you'll need a dry suit). The personalized service and all-inclusive nature of luxury voyages might also be attractive to anyone celebrating a milestone, such as an anniversary, big birthday or retirement. Some lines also offer Alaska cruisetours that venture into Canada's Yukon, including a few Holland America tours that combine half a cruise with a cruisetour that starts or ends in Skagway. Generally, these one-way sailings travel from Seward or Whittier (the cruise ports closest to Anchorage) to Vancouver (or vice versa). Most itineraries are seven nights, but you'll find a handful that are longer.
Rainforest Canopy and Zipline Adventure
Holland America Line serves sustainable wild Alaskan seafood, with park rangers and local Indigenous tribe members often boarding for presentations. Gawk at one of North America’s most spectacular glaciers and learn about glaciers’ remarkable force in a compelling visitor center. Ride to Auke Bay and board a water-jet-powered expedition vessel designed for superior wildlife viewing. When sailing Stephens Passage—renowned as a summer breeding ground for humpback whales—you may well get close enough to hear these giants breathe. Unlock a world of adventure with Discovery at SEA™, our exclusive partnership with Discovery™ and Animal Planet™. But since dog sledding is a winter activity, cruise ship visitors in the early days never had a chance to experience it.
Glacier Bay National Park Scenic Cruising Day
In that case, you should definitely consider booking the Misty Fjords & Wilderness Explorer excursion (or others similarly named) for your time in port in Ketchikan. There are dog sledding options in many ports, including Juneau, Skagway, and Anchorage. Each excursion typically includes a helicopter ride and dog sledding on a glacier. Floatplane trips include views walls of granite, lush forests, and more. Along the way, you’ll see cascading waterfalls, majestic fjords, and abundant wildlife. The highlight is landing on an alpine lake or remote fjord and stepping out onto the pontoon to enjoy the fresh mountain air and dramatic scenery.
Alaska's Whales & Mendenhall Glacier Trail: Small-Group Experience
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The historic district still has a Wild West feel, though that's been a bit commercialized for the modern era. This port can get crowded in summer when several ships can call on the same day. Hop a bus, kayak, boat or plane to look for bears, eagles, whales, sea otters and other wildlife. Note that moose don't regularly show up in the Inside Passage; you'll need to head farther north to find them. Alaska cruises offer a wide range of activities in port, with options for active travelers, wildlife lovers, history buffs and shoppers.
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These gastronomic delights provide a perfect break from your explorations, allowing you to savor the local flavors and enjoy a culinary adventure. Guided tours offer a blend of serene nature walks and educational insights into the region's ecology and history. It's a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle and immerse yourself in the soothing sounds and sights of the forest.
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The minimum age is 2 years old, making it accessible for most family members. Some cruise lines include all excursions in the cost of your cruise passage, allowing you to choose the ones that suit your desires. Others include no excursions, which helps keep the initial cost of the cruise low, but you may find your onboard charging slipping higher than you expected. Still other cruise lines offer a hybrid option, where the basic tours are included and there is an upcharge for the higher-priced options. There you have it – my take on the best Alaska shore excursions in Ketchikan. Have other questions about visiting Ketchikan, taking an Alaska cruise, or choosing Alaska cruise excursions?
You will get the opportunity to visit a dogsledding summer training camp, take a ride on a sled pulled by specially trained dogs and you might even get a chance to meet some cute puppies. The tour is surprisingly family-friendly with even younger children being able to withstand that long drive. During the lunch break, there is an opportunity for a nature walk or to go panning for gold. It was the only successful gold panning of our entire trip and my kids were able to bring home their gold on laminated cards as a souvenir. We spotted 4 of the Denali Big 5 missing out only on the elusive wolf. When heading to Alaska, it’s imperative not to miss Denali National Park.
Scenic cruising
For even more adventure, some tours combine the Icy Straight Point zipline with an ATV ride. The Juneau zipline glides above the treetops on Douglas Island (accessed by a high-speed channel crossing from Juneau aboard an expedition craft, which is an adventure of its own). And if you dare to look down, you'll also see the flora and fauna of a rainforest and the remains of an old gold mining operation. Fed from the precipice of Mt. Deborah, which towers over the glacial valley that you'll land on. You'll truly encounter the great Alaskan Wilderness on this Denali adventure.
The region has a fascinating history tied to the fishing and timber industries. For more information about the ship, see our guide, What to Expect on a Royal Princess Alaska Cruise. Wake up early the next morning to breathe in the intoxicating views of Glacier Bay at sunrise. Once you arrive at the staging area, you’ll have a safety briefing and gear up for your adventure. Everyone will then board a Unimog, an open-air all-terrain vehicle, and take a rugged 15-minute ride up the mountain to the base of Grizzly Falls.
But the real action begins when you learn to climb up and rappel down glaciers using special equipment. The best part is that no experience is needed; a guide will instruct you in the use of the provided mountain gear, which includes boots, an ice ax and crampons. For an adventure on the water, cruise along Juneau’s Auke Bay in search of humpback and killer whales, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, harbor seals, bald eagles, and more.
A self-guided tour can take you through historic downtown, bustling with shops, galleries, and eateries. Highlights include a visit to the Alaskan Brewing Company, where you can sample locally crafted beers. Culinary adventurers should not miss the chance to try an oxtail or ox mual burger, a unique twist on American comfort food, perfectly paired with a cold local brew. Choosing the right time to cruise to Alaska is crucial for an optimal experience. The season runs from May to September, with each month offering its unique charm.
Experience a glimpse of the life of a prospector when you join a colorful cast of characters to learn the art of gold panning. As you cruise through the park, keep an eye out for marine wildlife, including humpback whales, seals, and sea lions. You can even experience a dog sledding tour on the Mendenhall Glacier, where you’ll take a helicopter to the glacier and then mush through the breathtaking Alaska wilderness. Best of all, there are dozens of options to combine the train tour with another activity. History buffs can add a visit to Liarsville, a re-created gold rush camp complete with Vaudeville entertainment and a salmon bake.
Two other popular tours to Haines from Skagway include the Takshanuk Mountain Trail 4x4 Adventure and Steve Kroschel’s Wildlife Center. The Juneau-Douglas City Museum sits on the site where Alaska officially became a state. View the exhibits and watch an award-winning documentary about the city. From May to September, you can take walking tours of historic downtown Juneau and the Alaska State Capitol.
Your small group (usually just 4 people) will board the company’s comfortable boat and set off from the Ketchikan cruise-ship dock, leaving the big ships and the crowds behind. If it's Alaska's famous humpback whales that you want to see, you'll want to book a whale-watching tour. The waters around Juneau are particularly known for humpback whales — so much so that the operator of this excursion offers a whale-sighting guarantee. There are some cruise destinations — Barcelona, for instance, or Venice — where you really don't need to sign up for shore excursions. You can just walk off the ship and head to the major attractions on your own. When I describe Juneau in a quick synopsis to friends, I always mention glaciers and whales.
Top it all off with some time by a cozy fire, gourmet lunch and some rest before returning to the ship with timeless memories. Lying northwest of Canada, Alaska is known for its diverse terrain, wide open spaces, stunning mountain views and abundant wildlife. An Alaska cruise isn’t complete without exhilarating shore excursions.
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