Alaska Cruise - Helicopter Tours

[Wfamilycruiser]

It’s our first Alaska cruise and we wanted to do the helicopter tour but it appears all excursion companies with and without the ship are all full already. Has anybody else run into this issue? Do they open up frequently? We’re a couple of months out from our cruise. Any other adventurous recommendations for a family of 4? Kids are 10 and 12, so limited to the glacier hikes that have a 12 age minimum, sadly. 

[Host Kat]

On 3/26/2024 at 4:55 PM, Wfamilycruiser said:

It’s our first Alaska cruise and we wanted to do the helicopter tour but it appears all excursion companies with and without the ship are all full already. Has anybody else run into this issue? Do they open up frequently? We’re a couple of months out from our cruise. Any other adventurous recommendations for a family of 4? Kids are 10 and 12, so limited to the glacier hikes that have a 12 age minimum, sadly. 

 

Hello @Wfamilycruiser 

 

Welcome to the Cruise Critic message boards and thank you for your new thread! However, it was posted on an incorrect forum. It was off topic there. Therefore, no replies.

 

To help you out I have moved your new thread to the Ports of Call - Alaska forum where it will be on topic. The majority of your fellow Cruise Critic members that have taken Alaskan helicopter tours frequent this forum and provide feedback here. Browse through the thread titles on this forum looking for threads of interest. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers that may be of interest to you.

 

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[Cruise-a-Hallic]

On 3/26/2024 at 4:55 PM, Wfamilycruiser said:

It’s our first Alaska cruise and we wanted to do the helicopter tour but it appears all excursion companies with and without the ship are all full already. Has anybody else run into this issue? Do they open up frequently? We’re a couple of months out from our cruise. Any other adventurous recommendations for a family of 4? Kids are 10 and 12, so limited to the glacier hikes that have a 12 age minimum, sadly. 

I see your post is from the end of march, so this may be a little too late, but have you tried with the helicopter companies directly in the ports of call you will be stopping?  Looked at all of the helicopter excursion options, even the more expensive ones? The closer it gets to embarkation, the harder and more expensive it gets to book popular excursions such as helicopter ones.  I guess it all depends on when your cruise is, what ports it will be calling on, and how many ships are in port at the same time filling up those excursions.  It will be expensive for a family of 4 regardless, but the experience and memories of it will be priceless if your budget can afford.  We’re booked for a helicopter/glacier/dog sledding one ourselves this June and glad we booked early.  I see there is still some availability with one of the popular helicopter services depending when and where. I hope you already did, or will find an available option for your family to enjoy.

[SightCRR]

We had good luck with Costal Helo in Juneau. Call direct. Remember AK time is one hour later than Seattle. Many times weather cancels so be ready with back up plans. Likely been full for several weeks but may have someone canceled. Skagway may have better chance with better weather. 

[LAX]

On 4/25/2024 at 9:04 PM, SightCRR said:

We had good luck with Costal Helo in Juneau. Call direct. Remember AK time is one hour later than Seattle. Many times weather cancels so be ready with back up plans. Likely been full for several weeks but may have someone canceled. Skagway may have better chance with better weather. 

Do you mind sharing your experience with Coastal (like or dislike)? I am doing my research for next year and seriously considering doing a helicopter tour out of Juneau. So far, I have been able to find 3 companies (Temsco, Coastal, & Northstar) that offer such tour. I am trying to see if there is one preferred by more people than others.

 

LAX

 

[SightCRR]

We had great time with Costal. Pilot mapped out our route on a brochure after flight. It was really great.  

[rcprncss]

16 hours ago, SightCRR said:

We had great time with Costal. Pilot mapped out our route on a brochure after flight. It was really great.  

What an amazing photo and experience!