Private Excursion Companies?

[Andie272]

Can anybody recommend a company I can use to book excursions not through the cruiseline.

 

Thank you

[3rdGenCunarder]

What ports? Try looking at tripadvisor or google what you want, like "whale watch Juneau" to get a basic idea of what you might want to do or ask about.

[JT1962]

We have used Viator, ShoreExcursioneer, Shore Excursions Group, TripAdvisor and others over the years with no issues. We generally like to book directly with the actual vendors when possible.
 

In Skagway we have used Chilkoot Charters and booked directly with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. 

In Juneau, Juneau Whale Watch has a whale watching & Mendenhall Glacier tour that allows you a flexible amount of time at the glacier.  Harv & Marv tours are excellent if you just want whale watching. If you want to ride the Mt Roberts tram, you can purchase tickets directly.

 

in Ketchikan, you can book directly with the you can book directly with the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour, the Lumberjack show or walk Creek Street on your own for free.

Edited April 11, 2022 by JT1962

[Andie272]

42 minutes ago, 3rdGenCunarder said:

What ports? Try looking at tripadvisor or google what you want, like "whale watch Juneau" to get a basic idea of what you might want to do or ask about.

Thank you, we are going to Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan.  In some of the ports what we want to do is either sold out from the cruiseline or at a bad time, so I am looking for more options.

[Andie272]

40 minutes ago, JT1962 said:

We have used Viator, ShoreExcursioneer, Shore Excursions Group, TripAdvisor and others over the years with no issues. We generally like to book directly with the actual vendors when possible.
 

In Skagway we have used Chilkoot Charters and booked directly with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. 

In Juneau, Juneau Whale Watch has a whale watching & Mendenhall Glacier tour that allows you a flexible amount of time at the glacier.  Harv & Marv tours are excellent if you just want whale watching. If you want to ride the Mt Roberts tram, you can purchase tickets directly.

 

in Ketchikan, you can book directly with the you can book directly with the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour, the Lumberjack show or walk Creek Street on your own for free.

Thank you, this is very helpful.

 

Are the whale watching one's worth it? Is the likelihood of seeing whales just as good on the ship?  Can we go to Mendanhall on our own, just walk there or is it too far? 

[dfilpus]

1 minute ago, Andie272 said:

Thank you, this is very helpful.

 

Are the whale watching one's worth it? Is the likelihood of seeing whales just as good on the ship?  Can we go to Mendanhall on our own, just walk there or is it too far? 

You certainly may see whales from the ship. We did see many orca and humpbacks at a distance from the ship. However, the whale excursions will take you to the whales. Excursion boats keep in touch with each other and with whale research ships to know where the whales are hanging out. You still may strike out on an excursion, but the odds of seeing whales up close is much higher on an excursion.

[JT1962]

8 minutes ago, Andie272 said:

Are the whale watching one's worth it? Is the likelihood of seeing whales just as good on the ship?  Can we go to Mendanhall on our own, just walk there or is it too far? 

I think the whale watching excursions are worth it, but I have friends who thought it was ok, but nothing extraordinary. I like it because you are much more likely to see whales, be much closer to them and seeing them from a small boat is a much different experience than seeing them from the ship.

 

There are several options to go to Mendenhall on your own - city bus, taxi, Uber / Lyft, shuttles, tours, rent a car, etc. Each had it’s advantages / disadvantages, depending on how many are in your party, etc. Here is a link from their website that gives you more details: 

 

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=fseprd495443
 

[karatemom2]

43 minutes ago, Andie272 said:

Thank you, this is very helpful.

 

Are the whale watching one's worth it? Is the likelihood of seeing whales just as good on the ship?  Can we go to Mendanhall on our own, just walk there or is it too far? 

 

You will almost certainly see whales from the ship - we always have and are generally ready with our binoculars in hand to make the most of those sightings. But typically they are from a distance and the ship keeps moving so you have a small window of opportunity to catch these glimpses. It's always a treat, but not really quite as good as seeing them close up on a smaller boat with the purpose of providing a whale watching experience. So, if you can try to book an excursion, but if not, just get some great binoculars and be ready to spend time looking.

 

You can definitely go to Mendenhall on your own - not walk, it's too far for that. But there are shuttle buses and taxis that can take you. Another option for your ports is to look into renting a car and planning your own day of touring - we do this often as it allows you to customize to what you want to see and do.

[cruising twosome]

We caught the big blue bus to Mendenhall, inexpensive and easy. (Like a city bus/8 years ago)

Edited April 11, 2022 by cruising twosome

[3rdGenCunarder]

For Juneau whale watching, look at websites carefully and find a vendor with a small boat. Harv & Marv have a small boat. Gastineau and another company have a larger boat, but on one level with large windows that open and groups that are reasonable for the boat. I've gone with Gastineau twice and recommend them highly. I suggest you avoid anyone that uses a larger boat with an upper outside deck and a lower enclosed one. Any time I've seen a boat like that, it's been crowded. 

 

If you've never been to Skagway, I suggest the train. If the ship is sold out, check other times booking direct. They aren't crossing into Canada this year, so it's up and down on the train, no transfer to a bus for one way. Or consider just looking around Skagway. There are a few museums, even the National Park system is there. Great microbrewery for lunch. 

 

[SightCRR]

Costal in Juneau and Temsco in Skagway for helo tours. Not cheap but provides days you will never forget. sightcrr

[Suzanne123]

We’ve used Above and Beyond Alaska for hiking and kayaking  in Juneau 

https://beyondak.com

and Southeast Sea Kayaks in Ketchikan

https://kayakketchikan.com

[disneyochem]

15 hours ago, Suzanne123 said:

We’ve used Above and Beyond Alaska for hiking and kayaking  in Juneau 

https://beyondak.com

and Southeast Sea Kayaks in Ketchikan

https://kayakketchikan.com

We’ve used these two companies as well.  I can highly recommend them!  Great excursions, great guides!

[bartexas]

On 4/11/2022 at 11:44 AM, JT1962 said:

We have used Viator, ShoreExcursioneer, Shore Excursions Group, TripAdvisor and others over the years with no issues. We generally like to book directly with the actual vendors when possible.
 

In Skagway we have used Chilkoot Charters and booked directly with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. 

In Juneau, Juneau Whale Watch has a whale watching & Mendenhall Glacier tour that allows you a flexible amount of time at the glacier.  Harv & Marv tours are excellent if you just want whale watching. If you want to ride the Mt Roberts tram, you can purchase tickets directly.

 

in Ketchikan, you can book directly with the you can book directly with the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour, the Lumberjack show or walk Creek Street on your own for free.

Got an email from Shore Excursions Group today that they canceled DHs Juneau Salmon Fishing and are unable to find an alternate. This was after emailing multiple times for the ticket more than 10 days after booking.

[Ashland]

On 4/11/2022 at 9:44 AM, JT1962 said:

We have used Viator, ShoreExcursioneer, Shore Excursions Group, TripAdvisor and others over the years with no issues. We generally like to book directly with the actual vendors when possible.
 

In Skagway we have used Chilkoot Charters and booked directly with the White Pass & Yukon Route Railway. 

In Juneau, Juneau Whale Watch has a whale watching & Mendenhall Glacier tour that allows you a flexible amount of time at the glacier.  Harv & Marv tours are excellent if you just want whale watching. If you want to ride the Mt Roberts tram, you can purchase tickets directly.

 

in Ketchikan, you can book directly with the you can book directly with the Bering Sea Crab Fisherman’s Tour, the Lumberjack show or walk Creek Street on your own for free.

OP should price the Bering Sea Tour if their interested. We have always gotten a better deal booking directly with them. However for our September cruise the pricing was better booking through RCI....Go figure...very surprised !!!!

[Andie272]

Thank you all. I ended up finding ones though Princess that were better times, and booked those. I was too nervous to book on my own. Thanks for the advice.