Alaska Excursions.

[erniebernie]

Hi just wondering if anyone who is booked on next years Alaska cruise on QE  has received their list of excursions that are available, we hope to do it in 2020 and  was curious to know what they offer.  Thanx

[alibabacruisers]

We received the list of excursions 1 October, I think it was.  Do you know which ports you're interested in and I can try to compile a list for you of what Cunard is offering.

[kmerlin14]

They are on the voyage personalizer now. What are you interested in

[Underwatr]

I cruised Alaska on HAL. If Cunard offers bear watching by float plane out of Juneau, it's pricey but worth it as a bucket list item.

[bluemarble]

The Cunard web site has destination pages for the various Alaska/Canada ports listing what they call "typical" excursions for each port. Perhaps these pages could assist as starting points and those with the actual shore excursion lists could comment on how accurate these Cunard destination pages are in terms of the excursions that are actually being offered.

 

Ketchikan: https://www.cunard.com/destinations/usa-cruises/alaska/ketchikan/

Juneau: https://www.cunard.com/destinations/usa-cruises/alaska/juneau/

Skagway: https://www.cunard.com/destinations/usa-cruises/alaska/skagway/

Icy Strait Point: https://www.cunard.com/destinations/usa-cruises/alaska/icy-strait-point/

Sitka: https://www.cunard.com/destinations/usa-cruises/alaska/sitka/

Anchorage: https://www.cunard.com/destinations/usa-cruises/alaska/anchorage/

Kodiak: https://www.cunard.com/destinations/usa-cruises/alaska/kodiak/

Victoria: https://www.cunard.com/destinations/canada-cruises/british-columbia/victoria/

Vancouver: https://www.cunard.com/destinations/canada-cruises/british-columbia/vancouver/

 

[alibabacruisers]

Well I was all ready to compile the list but bluemarble has done the bulk of that work!  I did not even know about this section of the Cunard website!  Thank you!   As you said, this is a great starting point!  

 

As for accuracy, they are pretty accurate, but I here is the comparison of VP to Cunard site:

 

Ketchikan - VP has 5 more than the Cunard site has

Skagway -   VP has 8 more than the Cunard site has

Juneau -      VP has 13 more than the Cunard site has

ISP -             VP actually has 2 less than the Cunard site has (Cunard site has 2 more)

Sitka -          Both VP and Cunard site are the same

Anchorage -Both VP and Cunard site are the same

Kodiak -       VP has 2 less than the Cunard site has (Cunard site has 2 more)

Victoria -      Both have the same list of excursions

Vancouver - Both have the same list of excursions

 

I have noticed that the excursions in Alaska are quite expensive, so I have been enjoying the research to reduce, if I can, the amount to be spent.  It is all quite fun! 🙂

 

 

[kmerlin14]

I think they just added some. When I first looked they didn't have Butchart Gardens in Victoria, but I just checked Voyage Personalizer and now they do, so it looks like they match up. The price seems quite steep though, so I'm thinking we'll try and do a private tour for that one and then we can pay in Canadian Funds. I'd like to rent a car there, especially since the last time I was in Victoria I was too young to rent one, but that would stress my husband out to much. Hard to believe how hard it was to find someone over 25 so we could rent a car in those days.

[alibabacruisers]

Yes, I agree.  When I first looked I know there were less on some ports, but see what you mean as now there are a couple more.

 

When are you going on QE? We are going in May.   Exciting to know that Cunard hasn't been to Alaska in many years!

[kmerlin14]

We're going in June. It will be our first time on Cunard and I'm really looking forward to the dancing because we were disappointed by the dancing on the Allure last spring. I've bribed my husband with a fly fishing excursion so now he's looking forward to it too.

 

[Cathygh]

We are also hoping to go in 2020, just waiting to see if QE will be there in August. If they don't publish the deployment soon I may very well jump ship to Princess as their schedules will be out in the next 2 weeks.

[erniebernie]

Thank you all for the information I am hoping Cunard will do the same in 2020 as this year as I am looking at Vancouver to Vancouver 10 day. Thanx again,will have a bit of reading to do.

[kitkat343]

The ports in Alaska are really small, so it's quite easy to book many excursions independently.  Since all of the excursions are really expensive, its a great place to save money without risking missing your ship.  I sailed on the Coral Princess, and was able to walk to both of our favorite excursions - the Bering Sea tour (which was an excellent introduction to crab fishing) and the amazing helicopter to dogsled excursion (when I sailed 8 years ago TEMSCO was the subcontractor the ships used to book this amazing excursion.)  Please try to do the helicopter to dogsled in Skagway, not Juneau since the weather tends to be a bit more stable there and it is less likely to be cancelled.  Also, book in the morning since they can try to squeeze you in later if your original flight is cancelled (although I sailed in late may/early june so there may have been more availability than the height of the tour season).  Alaska is amazing, and the Alaska board will have people who have sailed more recently who can help you with independent excursions.  You should check with them to see if you can walk to TEMSCO from where Cunard docks - we easily did it from where Princess docks, but I'm not familiar with where Cunard docks in Alaska.  Have a great trip!

Edited November 5, 2018 by kitkat343

[Solent Richard]

Okay, I wasn't there on a Cunard ship however, if the opportunity arises to take an excursion on the White Pass scenic railway then my recommendation is 'DO IT'.

 

I wrote a review of the journey from Skagway to the Yukon Suspension Bridge. Here's a link that may well help you decide...

 

 

https://solentrichardscruiseblog.com/2013/10/15/one-way-to-do-skagway-part-1/