Coral

It took me 1 minute in Vancouver for my Alaskan cruise last year.

The other option is to switch your sled dog excursion to Skagway and then do whale watching in Juneau. Though - there is a chance in both ports that weather or other conditions could prevent the helicopter ride from happening.

This is a booking site. I prefer to deal direct with the vendor for tours. As @wolfie11 noted, Dyea Dave is no longer alive. He had cancer and his tours hadn't run in many years.

I am going to encourage you to book independently. Chilkoot Tours has a great reputation. You will not miss the ship. I personally will always try to book independently and have never missed the ship. You will be in a much smaller group (van vs bus). https://chilkootcharters.com

I did find that also after @wolfie11 posted. I had to search. I honestly have never seen anyone say "I had a great whale watching experience in Ketchikan" on this board. I am not even sure I have seen anyone say they went whale watching in Ketchikan on this board.

I don't live in Alaska like @wolfie11 does (so they are more the experts) but I haven't seen whale watching excursions in either of those ports. Juneau is going to be your best bet for whales. I would be afraid if you go in the other ports - you will be disappointed. Do you have time to do 2 excursions in Juneau. That would be what I would do. Expensive day, yes, priceless though.

I had issues with Princess before Padgett arrived so I won't comment on that. Princess can't be blamed with the delay in the Sun Princess. The ship yard Fincantieri has been plagued with staffing challenges, supply chain and construction issues which has affected several lines, not just Princess. Read the news, it is all out there. This is a ship yard issue, not a cruise line issue. Remember - Princess (or any cruise line) doesn't take possession of the ship until the ship yard is done with it. Thus, some of the things they would like to add can't be done until possession is taken. Thus the delays in the Sun Princess experience. I have no doubt they wish they could have taken possession sooner. I am not a Princess cheerleader. I have been critical of Princess. I just can't blame them for the roll out of the Sun Princess and the delay in the Star Princess.

I don't find it safe for those on bicycles. Car - it is fine. It is a safe drive. It is easy (I live in flat lands). Sometimes it is rainy and foggy in Skagway and clear on the drive on the Yukon (meaning just because it is bad in Skagway doesn't mean it is bad on the drive). There was only one time when it was foggy for me up there (and I go every trip).

I would agree with you about the one ways are so much better than round trip Seattle cruises. Last year I did an 11 night round trip Vancouver with Princess and that was great as we had the extra days. Doing a 7 night round trip out of Vancouver is better than Seattle but still not as good as 7 nights one way. Having the 11 nights allowed for long port days and hitting extra ports than normal cruises. Though they are not doing those this year.

I can't say that is the rule. It depends on the insurance and the individual person. There are definitely reasons to buy insurance early.

I have to say I did many Caribbean cruises also so you are not alone. I had a friend who had done Alaska and I wondered why he loved Alaska. I only went because I had a free trip as "I would never pay to go to Alaska". Well - Alaska has sold me and I will pick Alaska over the Caribbean time over time. Honestly I can't remember the last time I was in the Caribbean as I have been cruising elsewhere including Alaska. My first trip to Alaska for in 2002. Alaska has changed a lot. Glaciers have retreated quite a bit. Also, the ports now seem over run as the cruise ships coming now are much larger and more ships are coming. Thus, I encourage you to get out of the port towns. Have fun planning. Very few people do not love Alaska. The good thing is that you have plenty of time to plan. Alaska also attracts a lot of people who are not cruisers but want to see Alaska so there are plenty of new cruisers on the ships also.

Yes it sells out. It is one of the more popular excursions (with limited space) in Juneau.

Wow! Have a blast!

Congrats! I am sure it will be an amazing trip! Envious 🙂

You have plenty of time 🙂

Just realize "average" shore excursions are much more expensive than the Caribbean. A lot of individuals are shocked at the prices after they book and expect shore excursion prices to be similar to the Caribbean. They definitely are not. You have time to budget for them. I would start looking at them because if you just walk off the ship and stay in the port towns you may see a lot of jewelry stores. IMO - the best part of Alaska ports are not in the port towns, but outside the port towns.

I actually have also in the past, just not last year (which was the earliest I have gone in May). I just have to say last year in Juneau was my worst whale watching ever. Maybe it was the day I went. I prefer to travel in May and have always had great luck. Last year ICP was much better than Juneau for me and Juneau was lackluster.

I had never heard of Boring Company - too funny! Yea, my last Juneau whale watching was uneventful. No bubble feeding, no breaching - just fins and tales.

My insurance has pretty poor coverage outside of the US. Thus, I need to buy something else. Glad you have good coverage!

I went whale watching 2x for a May 12th cruise last year. I saw more activity in ICP than Juneau but we did see a several whales in Juneau. They just were boring and not doing anything fun.

No - I think you are right. I typed the wrong period. Regardless - anyone interested in Princess's insurance, make sure you look carefully at pre-existing conditions, 60 day look back period and the amount of medical it covers (and your coverage outside of the US). Theresa

Alaska by Cruise Ship by Anne Vipond is a great book to get a feel for Alaska planning.

If you are only doing 3-4 nights on land - I would skip Fairbanks. That is too far to go IMO for that short of trip. I would be tempted to do it on my own. Rent a car and do Alyeska (Girdwood) and Seward.

I don't like Princess's medical coverage (max $20K). That doesn't cover much. Plus they have a 90 day look back window so if you have pre-existing conditions, read carefully about it. I usually buy Allianz. I have had to file a claim - I broke my wrist on vacation and had to fly home. They were amazing to work with. They sent a medical escort (paramedic) to fly home with me. I can't say enough great things about them. One doesn't appreciate how good a company is until you have to use them. Once I called them, they had me approve flights in 24 hours and I was flying Business Class home in 48 hours. If you want increased medical coverage - look at GeoBlue coverage (medical only).

I would budget for shore excursions on the cruise also. You don't want to be stuck in port towns. Look through these and see what interests you and then budget for them. Also this may help you decide which ports you like also. Many one way cruises include 2 glacier days (as opposed to just one) -I would aim for that. I personally think Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay would probably be my choices though Glacier Bay is #1 because it is always accessible and is a National Park. BTW - I thought I would never like Alaska and only went because we got a free cruise. I much prefer Alaska to the Caribbean any day.