Alaska Excursions

[SuzMate]

We are taking our second cruise to Alaska early this summer (first cruise on Regent). We have booked the following excursions:

PORT: Ketchikan, Alaska
EXCURSION: Cruise George Inlet and Crab Feast
PORT: Juneau, Alaska
EXCURSION:Evening Whale Watching Quest
PORT:Skagway, Alaska
EXCURSION:White Pass Scenic Railroad by Steam Train
PORT:Sitka, Alaska
EXCURSION:Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest

I would appreciate reading your comments on them if you have taken them. On our first cruise we took the float-plane to the Misty Fjords, and the helicopter ride to Mendenhall Glacier, so we are looking for some different experiences on this trip. We are still talking about the Tracy Arm excursion - I'm not a morning person and would hate to be grouchy all day. :) Is it really a must see?

Look forward to your comments.

[Joanandjoe]

We have our own inquiry about excursions, so check that thread as well. What date will you be cruising? We're going on 5/27, and we have a roll call started with three or four participants.

[hvsteve1]

The White Pass rail trip is really special. It is one of the most spectacular rail excursions in North America. Regent books the steam train, which adds extra appeal. I was surprised at the amount of traffic on the line, as the railroad ferries thousands of people daily into the Yukon. They had only one steam engine at the time with another on the way. They may have the second running by now, but most people take that ride behind a diesel engine. Seeing that smoke belching locomotive in front of you as you go around curves and watching passengers on the other trains gawk and reach for their cameras as you go by made me realize how special it was to travel with Regent.

In Juneau we did the helicopter glacier tour which was the highlight of the whole trip. We just wandered around town in Sitka and stopped in Prince Rupert, BC rather than Ketchikan. That last stop had another train ride where Regent had managed to get railroad collectors to put their locomotives and cars together for a one-of-a-kind ride into the BC wilderness.

[kuddles 2008]

White Pass Railroad excursion was a truly phenomenal tour and worth every penny. As I am afraid of heights we sat on the left side of the train and didn't feel too squeamish being on the edge of a cliff.

Whale watching was such a treat !!! We were privileged enough to see a pod fishing - even the rangers were most impressed by such a sight.

I would do the trip again in a heartbeat and take the exact same excursions. Have a great time.

[RachelG]

The Tracy Arm excursion really is a must do. I is probably the favorite ship excursion of any I have been on anywhere. The calving glaciers are magnificent. I have been to Misty Fjords, and it is nice, but nothing compared to Tracy Arm. Your grouchiness at having to get up early will disappear, trust me. And you will probably see plenty of whales too.

[OrpingtonT]

We did the same exursions as SuzMate except that we "did" Misty Fjiords whilst in Ketchikan and we included Tracey Arm. I agree totally with RachelG's comment. It was the highlight of that, and any other, trip.

The whale watching in Juneau was superb as was the Sea Otter Quest in Sitka. We saw plenty of Killer whales whilst on that Quest and with the background of the extinct volcano there are some good photo opportunities. Perhaps to our surprise, we liked Sitka very much and strolled around for quite a while.

The only excursion I differ from others is the White Pass Railroad. It was OK, passed half a day, but coming down the same route was a bit boring. In fact, a lot of passengers slept on the way down. But we did see a couple of brown bears by the trackside, which was exciting. However, I know others feel that trip was a highlight, so I hope you, also, really enjoy it.

[cstrick]

We did the Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest last year and are still talking about it. Tracey Arm is definitely a must do. You leave from the ship and the Mariner caters the food for breakfast and lunch. So you do the trip in style.

[SuzMate]

Thanks for the comments. I'm going to buck it up and book Tracey Arm.

[Cattravel10]

Has anyone done the Eagle Preserve Float and Cruise Adventure out of Skagway or the Crab Feast in Ketchikan? I'm signed up for those on the June 18 sailing aboard the Mariner.

[Grothj]

We have done both the Eagle Float and the Crab Feast. We enjoyed both.

The crab feast was interesting in that you go out onto the water and catch crabs for research purposes only. You get up close and the crew tells you a lot about the crab. The lodge is very nice and the food excellent!

The eagle float is in beautiful scenery. We were there in late September so we didn't see too many of the eagles. However, we really enjoyed the float, the weather and the scenery.

I

[Cattravel10]

Thank you. I am Really looking forward to the Eagle Float!! Sounds outstanding. Have signed up for the Tracey Arm also and the Sea Otter/Wildlife Quest. We did the Sea Otter trip last year and absolutely loved it. As for the Crab Feast, we arrive Ketchikan at 2p.m. and depart at 7:00pm. So there'll be alot of eating going on. Two lunches I guess and dinner. But I'm not complaining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - Barb

[AtMaui]

I noticed in the listing of shore excursions there is a Scenic Railroad and Yukon Suspension Bridge tour in Skagway. This says there is a motor coach down the "west side of the canyon." Am I to assume you go up one side and come down the other? That sounds more interesting that going up and down on the same side. Has anyone done this particular one?