Ketichikan

[Diva Onboard]

Our group believes that you can see much of Ketichikan on your own by foot (in the main town that is). So we are not interested in taking any of the 1 hour "History" of tours there.

Has anyone done the shore excursion into the Misty Fjords by flightplane? Is it worth the $$$?

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<Marquee>I'm getting out there - SERENADE OF THE SEAS - July 18, 2004<Marquee>

[Budget Queen]

Be certain to pick up a walking tour map at the dock visitor center. BUT if interested in native culture the Saxman Village tours are very informative and worthwhile. AND yes- Misty fjords floatplanes are the top excursion- have flown several times. Consider booking direct for better tours- Southeast Aviation, Carlin Air, Island Wings.

[newbiecruiser54]

BQ - which tour company would you recommend for the Saxman tour? Should we book in advance? Thanks [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]!

Radiance of the Seas - Alaska!
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[Diva Onboard]

Budget Queen -

Do you know if there are walking tour maps available for Skagway and Juneau also?

Thanks for your help.

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[tadjr]

Inside Passage walking tours : exploring major ports of call in southeast Alaska / Julianne Chase.
by Chase, Julianne.
Seattle : Sasquatch Books, c1998. vii, 144 p. : ill. (some col.), col. maps ; 22 cm.

This was mentioned on a thread a month or so ago so I borrowed it from the library. It was a good book of tours. I plan on borrowing one to take with me when I head off next month.

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Ryndam Pacific Coastal May 3

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Dawn Princess Alaska May 17

[mscloyd]

SE Avaitaion has a 2 for 1 toursaver coupon for the floatplane. Cost of book is $99 but would save $100 on this excursion alone.

[luv1another4ever]

Mscloudy - Call SE Avation before spending the $100 on the coupon book - someone in our group called and the time of our cruise - May 29 - the coupon would not be valid! SE Ava. did offer 10% discount.

Buyer beware!! Makes me wonder about the other coupons in the book.

Shelly

[Budget Queen]

Yes all the ports have walking tour maps at their visitor centers. Fodors/ Frommers Alaska also lists walking tours. Head to your library and take a look. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[mscloyd]

Thanks. Yes, I did contact SE Avaition along with every other vendor that I was planning to use. SE Avaiation did not have any restrictions for using coupons, but that doesn't mean there is availability. Some of the hotel coupons were only for certain days of the week, and some excursions are only for specific times. Good advice to call first. We couldn't use every one that we wanted but it was still a great deal - saved over $600.

[fabnsab]

I just bought Fodor's book "alaska Ports of Call" and will take that with us when we go. It is small enough to fit nicely in a small purse. It was 9.95. We booked excursions in Juneau and Skagway but we're going it alone in Ketchikan and this book provides a nice walking tour outline plus dinner and shopping suggestions.

[Diva Onboard]

Thanks everyone for all the great advice. I'm headed out to the local Borders to get Fodor's book too. Keep those suggestions coming.

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<Marquee>I'm getting out there - SERENADE OF THE SEAS - July 18, 2004<Marquee>

[shay1]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mscloyd:
Thanks. Yes, I did contact SE Avaition along with every other vendor that I was planning to use. SE Avaiation did not have any restrictions for using coupons, but that doesn't mean there is availability. Some of the hotel coupons were only for certain days of the week, and some excursions are only for specific times. Good advice to call first. We couldn't use every one that we wanted but it was still a great deal - saved over $600.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Southeast Avaiation does have restrictions on using the Tour Saver coupon.

I called to see if they had availability and would take the coupon. I expained there would be two couples and we both would have the Tour Saver coupon.

He told me he would only take [B]One[/B] couple with the coupon per flight. The other couple would have to book another flight in order to use it.

So be sure to check before purchasing the Tour Saver coupon. Glad we did not purchase it.

He did offer to give a 10% discount for one couple if they wanted to fly together.

Hope this helps.

Celebrity Mercury 5/29/04
Carnival Victory 10/26/03
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Tahitian Princess 4/23/03
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Paradise 5/02/02
Horizon 1/4/02
Monarch of the Seas 10/11/01
Majesty of the Seas 5/4/01

[Guest]

I am gfoing to get that Fodor's book "Alaska ports of call" today and take it with me even though I only have three days left and have my tours book can still read it. Sounds like it is really good to have.
Delores

5/6 Regal Princess/ San Francisco
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[Budget Queen]

I prefer the "regular" Fodor's Alaska- good concise information on the whole state. [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Diva Onboard]

We have also been reviewing flightseeing over the Misty Fjords. Does anyone have information about this? Is the excursion really worth it?

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[dustyroad]

try northerntoursofalaska or citytours.alakamade for the totem pole tours. i have decided the village will be better for the money. you get to go into a clan house and then see a carver work on totem poles. good luck and have fun.

DUSTY

Carnival Spirit, 9/10/03 Alaska glacier bay

Carvival Spirit, 5/11/05
Alaska glacier bay again

[Budget Queen]

Misty fjord float planes are a top tour. Independents- Southeast aviation, Carlin Air, Island Wings.

[lmcd]

We did the Misty Fjords floatplane with Michelle at Island Wings, [url="http://www.islandwings.com"]www.islandwings.com[/url]
Terrific flight. Landed on a lake and got out of the plane to walk around on shore.

Larry

Fantasy 08/99
Ecstacy 05/00
Westerdam 04/01
Legend of the Seas 08/02
Zaandam 04/03
Carnival Spirit 08/03

[Diva Onboard]

Thanks everyone for all the great info. Several of us will do the Misty Fjords Seaplane.

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<Marquee>I'm getting out there - SERENADE OF THE SEAS - July 18, 2004<Marquee>

[zoocruiser]

Since Ketchikan is our last port, we were thinking of just taking it easy and exploring the town, like shopping on Creek Street. I think by then we will be burned out of the formal tour guide thing. However, we would like to see one of the totem pole attractions. Is getting a cab up to Totem Bight State Park easy from the pier or town? I know it's a bit further than Saxman, but we'd like to create our own schedule.

[BJS]

[B]zoocruiser [/B]This may interest you and is close to downtown.
"The Totem Heritage Center was established in 1976 to house and display a priceless collection of 19th century totem poles retrieved from uninhabited Tlingit and Haida village sites near Ketchikan. The thirty-three magnificent, original poles are displayed at the Center in conjunction with numerous other City-owned totems and displays of Native Alaskan artifacts. In addition to its museum function, the Totem Heritage Center also preserves and promotes the traditional arts and crafts of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people through a full schedule of Native Arts classes and other activities."

Future cruises:
May 04 Amsterdam
Sept. 04 Star Princess x 2
Jan. 05 Diamond Princess
July 05 Star Princess
Aug. 05 Star Pincess

Past cruises:
04 Dawn Princess x 2
03 Grand,Sun,Tahitian,
Royal Princess x 2,Island Princess
01 Ryndam x 2
00 Sky Princess
79 Sitmar's Fairwind

[Budget Queen]

There is a big difference with Totem Bight and the Totem Heritage museum. Yes you can arrange a cab to Totem bight but a guided Saxman Village may offer you more- with the carving shed and most important the commentary that makes the tour. As for the totem heritage museum- these are "rescued" poles in varous states of decay, most are displayed horizonality, they are also in their "natural state" so not much if any color. Priority of the museum is preservation. Easy walk from the dock however- without any mobility limitations.

[famcruiser]

Budget Queen, I've visited many websites for info on the Saxman tour and was hoping you would be able to recommend one or two.
Thanks, Carole

[Diva Onboard]

You guys are wonderful. Thanks for all the great info.

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<Marquee>I'm getting out there - SERENADE OF THE SEAS - July 18, 2004<Marquee>