Help! Favourite Optional Alaskan Excursions?

[cruise_newbie]

I'm taking the round-trip seattle in early July on the Sapphire. What do people suggest are the best excursions to book? Are the float planes/ helicopters worth the price? The flying time seems pretty short.

[mii]

If you go the Ports of Call board and check the Alaska board you will fine a wealth of info there.


Marilyn

[GandGinSoCalif]

We highly recommend the Heli-Hike-Rail excursion out of Skagway. A 30-minute helicopter ride took us over and around vast ice fields and glaciers (narrated wonderfully by the pilot), then let us off next to the tracks of the White Pass Railway, about 15 miles from town. From there, led by two highly knowledgeable guides, we hiked a couple of miles through the forest (incredible trees, meadows, and endless varieties of lichen) to the terminus of another glacier--not to the glacier, but to the sedimentary remains following its recession 300 years or so ago. After a descriptive discussion of the area, the guides led us back down to the railroad tracks, where we enjoyed a light snack and beverage (cold beer!!). One of the passing trains stopped for us, and our group of about 14 was directed to the rear of the train, where our own car awaited us for the scenic ride back to Skagway.

The trip is a bit pricey at $300 per person, but it gave us an incredible look at the beauty of Alaska. We'd do it again in a heartbeat.

[Cruisinforever]

I've done the White Pass Railway too twice. There are different "configurations" of this excursion, but it's a wonderful train ride full of gorgeous views. I can't remember the cost at this time, so you'd have to look it up. It's out of Skagway.....

I would have loved a helicopter excursion, but my traveling friend is afraid of them. Boo hoo...

Have fun!

JJ
Caribbean Princess 5/1/04
Star Princess 5/24/03
Sun Princess 6/12/00
Carnival Fantasy 1/18/98

[GKR]

In Skagway, we loved the White Pass Railway tour. We took the one that has the coach bus up to Yukon Territories, then the train back down to Skagway. Spectacular!

[FredS]

We took the flight in a ski equipped plane (not a helicopter) for a glacier landing. We were flying about an hour. Pilot kept looking for a good spot to land, so we saw a lot. We signed up for the flight after we got off the ship at the edge of town. There were several people there offereing tours. There was only the one ski plane flying. A real experince to land on a glacier and then take off. One moment you are on the glacier the next there is a 1,000 foot drop below you as you fly off the edge of it. We spent about 20 min walking around on the glacier. Cost was about $250 a person with the landing included. No glacier landing cuts the cost by about $50-75.

[tadjr]

I enjoy the floatplanes and have done a Glacier tour in Juneau and just recently the Misty Fjords tour in Ketchikan. Check out This website (http://www.seawindaviation.com) to see some of the sights on the Misty Fjords tour. Sea Wind uses a 4 seater plane so everyone gets a window. The narration was fantastic and the landing on the isolated lake and walk on the pontoons was unbelieveable. Tell them you saw them on the CC board, they all seem to like that and know what it is!

I'm having withdrawal. Need help!

[Budget Queen]

My clear preference are flights and YES they are worth it. But my clear favorite is a glacier helicopter landing over a ski plane- have done both. The helicopter will land on far more ice than the ski planes. ALSO do not count on getting a flight at the dock, reserve ahead. A glacier helicopter landing is $180 via Coastal. I've done them all- several times- flights allow so much viewing of the vastness of Alaska.

[cnmiranda]

The wildlife excursions are also wonderful. Skagway and espescially Ketchikan were great. You will be there when all the bears are feeding on the salmon and there will be lots of harbor seals abound, not to mention the foxes and bald eagles, whales. Have a great trip. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Majesty of the Seas (2)
Norwegian Dawn
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Grand Princess 9/04

[gaschatt]

Has anyone been on the "Gold Panning and History Tour" out of Juneau. My son loves the whole Gold Rush/Mining thing (he thinks he'll be able to pay for the trip with the 'guaranteed gold' he'll find :-) ), and this appears to be a bit more true to life than the Liarsville trip in Skagway (where I'm renting a car to to up to Emerald Lake and do a little free-form touring).

[Folladori4]

Don't miss Capt Larry Whale Watching! It was the best part of the b2b trip we just returned from. There were only 10 of us on a small and fast boat. We saw many whales and sea lions up close. One came up next to the boat , went under us to come up again on the other side. We could see into the blow hole and then it made whale sounds. It was the best and you can book Capt Larry on line but he fills up fast. The helecopter tours are also worth every penny. And the bus into the Yukon is good too since it goes all the way to Emerald Lake and stops for photos, lunch and at out of the way places.

[Budget Queen]

If you are looking for authentic gold history- take the long walk to the Last Chance mining museum in Juneau (or a short cab ride), also a look at the Juneau Douglas city museum- right downtown. Any cruise tour is going to be less authentic. And yes Liarsville is totally fake. http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif Be certain to stop also at the Park Service visitor center in Skagway- loaded with Gold rush information- all free http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif http://www.nps.gov/klgo/schedule.htm