What type of animal life will we see cruising

Just wondering what type of aninal life we will see cruising from Seattle to Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan and Glacier Bay

Thanks

Marcy

Probably none - the ships stay far away from shore and the whales generally stay far away from the big ships. Excursions are necessary to see the wildlife, marine or land. Seals are possible in Glacier Bay, but again, they're usually at quite a distance.

Murray

Thank you, I was afraid that my be the case.

Marcy

We say many otters inn Glacier Bay. One Bear! Cruising the inside passage we did have a whale next to us...Other than that, the tours are the way to go.

We are going to Glacier Bay and I hope to see some otters, they are so cute.

Marcy

I think Yukon may have been pulling your leg. You should see lots of wildlife from the ship. In places you are what appears only a few feet from shore. We seen lots of sea otters, lost count on the number of Bald Eagles. Our cruise was in July and seen maybe a dozen or so whales, a few breaching right alone side the ship. Did see one bear but only for a second.

you get really close to land i could throw rocks at the land. You will see fish jumping, porpoise's killer whales, and a million other animals its awesome.

Thank you, seeing some will be better than none!

Anyone that has never been to Alaska really has no idea what to expect, so that's why this board is here to ask question & learn from those of you that have experienced these places.

Thanks,

Marcy

Maybe even a few party animals......

Actually, I was serious - the vast majority of people see no wildlife at all from their ship except as a dot in the distance. If anybody has a good picture of anything wild taken from a ship (other than seals near the glaciers - and the animals in the lounges near closing time :D ), I'd sure like to see it.

Murray

cyscopup,

Cool!!! Alright!!!!

Marcy

other than seals near the glaciers - and the animals in the lounges near closing time :D Murray

Good one :D

We actually did see 2 brown bears on our way home from Alaska. A small one and a large one. The captain tried to get as close as he could, but they were two dots on the landscape. They were in an green grassy area by a pond. We had binuculars and could definately see them moving about. It was neat because we did not see any bears any where else. We drove up to Emerald lake and saw zero, but we loved the drive! Sorry Murray. This was when it was quite smoky out due to forest fires. That was in '03.

When we were docked,my DH saw a Dall's porpoise. We thought it was an Orca but when we got home, we compared the video w/the photos and it was a Dall's porpoise. Also, when we went to Hubbard Glacier, we did see some seals on the ice floats.

Claudia

Don't forget all of the whales around the buffet lines!?!

But seriously I've spent many days on my own boat going up and down from here to Ketchikan and I would say that since there was no casino etc. to distract me I lost count long ago of the whales of several and diverse types which got real close to my boat. I do have a picture taken by my girlfriend, at the time, of the back of a large whale so close to the boat that there was no water in between the rail and this large, dark whaleback which had just gone under from the other side! We were motoring along in our thirty foot doublender that day, just south of Juneau and it must have been about this time of year since I remember we were headed north. I was at the wheel and she was doseing in the warmth of the cabin when I saw this whale coming right across the bow. So, I grabbed the camera and shook her awake, and handed her the camera just as the whale went under the boat. She hadn,t seen it so she thought I was spoofing her nap! I told her to watch out a back from our boat hoping that at least she might get a glimpse. As she turned to scan out of the window, she looked down just as the water on that side of the boat disappeared and the whaleback appeared! She snapped the shot as she jumped off of that seat cussing me out for running over the whale.!?! These creatures are very agile in their domain and I don't know how we didn't make contact, but the whale swam away unscathed! This little snapshot wouldn't do justice to the adventure but it sure provokes memories for those who were there!

Maybe the whales just don't get that close to the cruise ships because of fear of being outsized. I just don't think that people are that observant with all of the distractions.

The bears should also be numerous at this time of year, as well, since they all need to get down to the beach for their first meal of grass to clear out the old system each spring! Be on watch.

DD

In my 3 trips to Alaska, I have always seen wildlife.

I saw more humpback whales on my cruise last year than in my past cruises. Approximately 25-30 whales.

Just be on the lookout around Admiralty Island outside of Juneau.

On all my cruises, I have see:

humpback whales

orcas

brown bears, including cubs (once at Glacier Bay)

bald eagles

harbor seals

puffins

those were just from the ship.

on shore excursions i have seen:

moose

bald eagles

humpbacks

orcas

Thank you all so much, maybe we will see some on May 21st cruise.

Marcy