Tours on Princess

Is it better to get them on the cruise line or look independently on line? Lots of info here, but I'm afraid of getting taken!

"Better" is in the eye of the beholder, but many people do their own tours. Be aware some ports don't require tours at all...you can simply walk around, take a bus or cab.

If you use the venders frequently discussed here you won't get ripped off.

Using a ship excursion can and usually is where the "rip-off" comes into play.

Read thru trip reports and photo journals in the STICKYs above. Past travellers have included lots of details about their activities and the vendors they used, good AND bad.

There is all kind of information available to you. Plenty of trip reports on Trip Advisor.

Alaska is the US, with high business standards. There are many well recommended long standing excellent vendors in Alaska. Anyone who is not up to these standards doesn't stay in business long and the bad reports are easy to find. :)

It all depends on what you feel most comfortable doing . . . private vs cruise line sponsored tours.

We always book our shore excursions through the cruise line. That's just our preference.

As someone has already mentioned, there are some ports where you may wish to get off the ship and walk around. Ketchikan and Skagway are wonderful and very walkable.