Princess Excursion to Neets Bay

[fireflymd]

This question is specifically directed towards those who have taken the floatplane excursion to Neets Bay for bear viewing through the cruise line.

 

1) I have read that there may be 3 floatplanes of 10 each arriving at the same time. Were there 30 people at the site at the same time when you went? Did you feel this was too crowded?

 

2) Did you feel this excursion was worth the cost, considering the number of people on the excursion and the limited amount of time at the site?

[Budget Queen]

The contractor for Neets Bay is Pro Mech. They do not fly the planes at the same time. When you arrive- you are met, and go to a "holding" area off the dock. It is a 10-15 minute walk to the viewing platform. This tour is tightly timed and they have significantly cut back on it compared to my first trip over 10 years ago. You used to cut through the hatchery and have the ability to line up anywhere along the river. Now you are escorted back and forth to/from the platform. There will be a group waiting behind the platform about 5-10 minutes prior to you having to leave. The viewing time, is cut in half now, so I consider this my last choice, of the 3 available out of Ketchikan.

[fireflymd]

If anyone has booked this tour recently through Princess, I would love to hear your review.

 

Questions rephrased:

 

1) How many people will be on this tour with you? Princess states there is space for 20, which would be 2 float planes. One review said there were 3. I will contact the vendor as well.

 

2) Did you feel it was worth the expense? Yes, I'm asking for your opinion. Everyone's view of "worth" is different of course. If you saw black bears at other times briefly during your Alaska cruisetour, is this additional experience worth it, or did you feel it was redundant?

 

All of the reviews I have read for Neets Bay are very good. Only one reviewer felt the expense of this floatplane trip was not good value. And of course, there was the rare occurence when no bears were seen at all.

[Budget Queen]

I don't find this tour a top choice, my opinion, having been to Neets Bay three times.

[Assateague Island Princes]

fireflymd - I went to Neets Bay thru the ship excursion, (on HAL not Princess), back in mid-August of 2011. Loved it! I knew it would only be black bears, and I was more than okay with that. My experience was mmore like what BQ described as how it used to be - we actually did walk thru the hatchery on the way to the creek, and we were allowed to go right to the edge of the creek along the expanse in front of the viewing platform, which I'd describe as a gazebo with benches all around. I stayed right at the creek's edge the whole time, with our guide, Puck, and felt so fortunate to be so close to up to 10 black bears at a time, fishing right in front of me - literally yards away. I'd never gone on a bear viewing excursion like it before, so to me it was thrilling and I loved every minute of it. I would say we were at the creek area for about 45 minutes, then we walked back to the hatchery, and watched thru large glass windows as they "milked" the salmon (for lack of a better word) of the sperm, and then it was mixed with the eggs in big white buckets. I found it fascinating! We were probably there for about 15 or 20 minutes, then walked back to where we reboarded the floatplane (ProMech) and made our way back to Ketchikan.

 

The flight over and back was like an excursion in itself - our pilot was wonderful, giving us great commentary and flying over some mountain tops repeatedly so each passenger could see the sheep on the ledges, and beautiful deep blue lakes and craters. Except for the bit of bumpiness we experienced on the way over to Neets, it was a smooth flight and just an amazing experience. I loved it and would do it again in a heartbeat. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, but you asked;)! Hope this helps.

[fireflymd]

fireflymd - I went to Neets Bay thru the ship excursion, (on HAL not Princess), back in mid-August of 2011. Loved it! I knew it would only be black bears, and I was more than okay with that. My experience was mmore like what BQ described as how it used to be - we actually did walk thru the hatchery on the way to the creek, and we were allowed to go right to the edge of the creek along the expanse in front of the viewing platform, which I'd describe as a gazebo with benches all around. I stayed right at the creek's edge the whole time, with our guide, Puck, and felt so fortunate to be so close to up to 10 black bears at a time, fishing right in front of me - literally yards away. I'd never gone on a bear viewing excursion like it before, so to me it was thrilling and I loved every minute of it. I would say we were at the creek area for about 45 minutes, then we walked back to the hatchery, and watched thru large glass windows as they "milked" the salmon (for lack of a better word) of the sperm, and then it was mixed with the eggs in big white buckets. I found it fascinating! We were probably there for about 15 or 20 minutes, then walked back to where we reboarded the floatplane (ProMech) and made our way back to Ketchikan.

 

The flight over and back was like an excursion in itself - our pilot was wonderful, giving us great commentary and flying over some mountain tops repeatedly so each passenger could see the sheep on the ledges, and beautiful deep blue lakes and craters. Except for the bit of bumpiness we experienced on the way over to Neets, it was a smooth flight and just an amazing experience. I loved it and would do it again in a heartbeat. Of course, this is just my personal opinion, but you asked;)! Hope this helps.

 

Oh, that's so great to hear! Our excursion is also described as 45 minutes at the site, and that's fine with me. I'll be happy with skipping the fish hatchery (there's a small one near where I live and have no need to visit another one). Oddly enough we recently saw the show Bizarre Foods on the Travel Channel and watched them "milk" the salmon for sperm--I don't need to see that in person!

 

I am really looking forward to this--there are also some great reviews on HAL's website, so that was good to read.

 

Thanks so much for your response--I really appreciate it!

[Assateague Island Princes]

You're welcome. Glad to help. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!