Note: You need to buy a one-day fishing license from the captain of the small boat for $25 cash, as required by Alaska law. Sitka is noteworthy among Alaska towns for its strong Russian and Tlingit heritage. Dog sledding on aglacier is the ultimate blend of Alaskan adventure, as you also get there by helicopter! Check out our helpful checklist so that you know exactly what to pack for an Alaska cruise with Princess. Or try one of our recommended tours below. The area is abundant with whales and other wildlife. On our Alaska shore excursions, step back in time to learn how these traditions came to fruition and how they're practiced today. Onboard the North Stara 48-passenger jet boat with large windows, an outside viewing deck, and acomfortable inside Sailing past them is a sensory experience that inspires both the mind and heart. Experience kayaking in Alaska the way it should beaway from the crowdswith these unique Ketchikan paddling tours offered by Alaska Kayak Company. And, you may not know, that you don't have to book your excursions through the cruise line! That all changed when helicopters became readily available to travelers. Sea Kayaking Experience kayaking in Alaska the way it should be away from the crowds with these unique Ketchikan paddling tours offered by Alaska Kayak Company. Once at the island, youll climb out on the beach, break out into smaller groups, and set off on astunning hike on aboardwalk that snakes through the rainforest. Theres a world of sights to be seen in the Great Land and our Alaska cruise excursions give you a front-row seat to it all. Along with Wrangell-St. Elias and Kenai Fjords, a world of natural wonders awaits on an Alaska cruise or cruisetour. Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, The 9 Best Northern Lights Viewing Spots Near Anchorage, How to Travel to Alaska in January and February, The Best Large Family & Group Vacations in Alaska, How to Get from Anchorage to Your Cruise Port in Whittier or Seward (or the reverse! Land by helicopter on top of Mendenhall Glacier, and feel its strong roots beneath you. Make a payment and confirm your reservation. Visit the gift shop, restaurant, live bald eagle display, and nature center. Then head back to the office for a hot shower and hot drinks! Nearby mountains and wilderness provide access to the interior of Alaska. Itineraries range from 11 - 29 days. Booking an Alaska cruise? Know your cruise lines and best time to go Rush across the snow on a dog sled with a professional musher, fly fish for salmon in fresh rivers and soar over miles of glacial tundra in a helicopter. Icy Strait Point is home to the remote Tlingit village of Hoonah, home to fewer than 800 people and a deep Native history. Are Alaskan Cruises Worth It? Absolutely, and Here's Why There are really only two choices for river float trips in Southeast Alaska: the Mendenhall River in Juneau or the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve float trip in Haines. Or savor tree-inspired bites at our very own Sappy Hour. Juneau On a cruise to Alaska, live a nature lover's dream in the land where guests can catch postcard-worthy sights. The views are spectacular, with giant peaks surrounding the lake, and waterfalls flowing down from the mountains. The train isan Voyage through the untamed beauty from the comfort of our world-class ships, exclusive rail service and Princess Wilderness Lodges near national parks. 7-day Voyage of the Glaciers cruise. When the sockeye salmon are running in July, you may spot 100 bald eagles or more. Youll board a floatplane for a dramatic, 20-minute flight to see the brown bears. Juneau is the Capital city of Alaska and is surrounded by ocean, glaciers, ice fields, and mountains. Insider tips to pick the best Alaska cruise. You start with a float in Mendenhall Lake with a view of the blue-tinged Mendenhall Glacier. Along the way, you stop at waterfalls and other spectacular overlooks. Alaska cruise excursions | Royal Caribbean Blog Best of all, there are dozens of options to combine the train tour with another activity. more, Tours from Skagway and Haines offer an up-close experience with insights from local guides. 15 Alaska cruise mistakes you never want to make Unless youre a serious history buff, we dont recommend it. And thats not even peak season. Youll fly from Juneau to aremote wilderness location, then kayak to Pack Creek Bear Sanctuary on Admiralty Island, home to more than 1,600 brownbears. Unlike Prince William Sound in Whittier, note that those with motion sickness should take precautions since the Resurrection Bay waters can be a bit choppy. "Because of your excellent service and treatment, I would highly recommend Alaska Shore Excursions. Plan your journey with this gorgeous printed map. You'll then bike 15 miles down the Klondike Highway on a guided summit-to-sea tour back to Skagway -- and we mean down, down, down. Visit the Alaska Raptor Center, where injured bald eagles and other birds are rehabilitated for eventual release into the wild. -- Lynda M., Madison MS, "We were impressed by how many great shore excursions and opportunities were available in Juneau." After that, its time to cuddle some puppies! This coastal Alaskan town is home to only 200 year-round residents! Best Alaska Shore Excursions: Locals Pick The Best Cruise Excursions Meet sled dogs? For a more immersive adventure, visit nearby hot springs like Baranof Warm Springs, where youll find a public bath and natural hot springs accessible by a short hike. Then enjoy a time-honored Alaskan traditionthe salmon bake. This 5-hour, high-speed catamaran trip runs out of Whittier into the wilderness of Prince William Sound. Witness everything from wood-carving and ceramic work to jewelry-making and glass-blowing, before trying your hand at the ancient art of Venetian glass-blowing yourself. This is a must-do tour, especially on a clear day. Ketchikan is home to the famous Misty Fjords National Monument, which is a labyrinth of glacier carved mountains towering 3,000 feet high over canals. Carnival Cruises from San Francisco to Alaska. Watch lumberjacks in action, learn from Glacier Bay National Park rangers and craft with a Native totem pole carver. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. Luckily, the cruise lines make it easy with shore excursions that range from the sublime to the extreme -- from a ride on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad to see the beautiful scenery to a hike in crampons atop a pristine glacier. Then experience age-old traditions with the locals. Theres a bike and brew tour, which includes seeing the Mendenhall Glacier as well as a tasting of Alaskan beers. The cruise, called the "Wild Alaska Escape," travels from Sitka to Juneau across southeast Alaska and is run by Lindblad Expeditions, an eco-tourism-focused cruise company, in partnership with nature magazine National Geographic. Cruises to Hubbard Glacier, Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line - NCL Or, opt for the Backcountry Jeep and Canoe Safari. No experience, Glacierview Sea Kayaking with Alaska Travel Adventures offers the opportunity to kayak through Auke Bay while enjoying views of Mendenhall Glacier. Best Ketchikan Excursions & Tours | Alaska Shore Excursions A visit to Southeast Alaska is not complete without an introduction to the areas original inhabitants. From top-rated cruises that visit Glacier Bay National Park to scenic rail travel and exclusive Princess lodges, you will find a seamless Alaska experience with Princess. Alaska Cruises, Alaskan Cruise Deals - Carnival Cruise Line Take ascenic cruise and kayak through gorgeous surroundings as magnificent whales pierce the surface of the water on this six-hour expedition from Juneau. Best Juneau Excursions & Tours | Alaska Shore Excursions Anchorage is the largest city in Alaska and is known as The Gateway to Denali. Take to the skies with Alaska Seaplane Adventures. See glaciers? Every excursion we planned was wonderful and very professional." Your trip begins with a narrated bus tour through the indigenous Tlingit village of Hoonah and then up a mountainside, where it's a short walk to the launching area. It boasts the shortest rod-hour to catch ratio for King salmon in the entire state of Alaska. Alaska is home to a rich array of wildlife, from the famous Big Five animals that live in Denali National Park grizzly bears, wolves, moose, Dall sheep and caribou to bald eagles and humpback whales that migrate through the Inside Passage. Begin with an aerial overview of Misty Fjords National Monument and those granite cliffs. Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. From May to September, you can take walking tours of historic downtown Juneau and the Alaska State Capitol. Alaska Cruise Excursions - Alaska Shore Excursions - Princess Cruises more. You can also choose to hike on the glacier itself. Price: From $139 Duration: 4 hours On this small-group kayak tour with just six tourgoers, you'll paddle through Clover Pass in Ketchikan, searching for wildlife like humpback whales, seals, sea. Paddle across the shimmering lake to ashoreline camp for adelicious snack over an open fire. This is the magic of snorkeling in Alaskaa singular experience that you can only do in the waters around Ketchikan. Book your shore excursions direct! Explore destinations easily on a MedallionClass vacation. Listen to Margerie Glaciers signature crack and boom rumble across the waves. Deluxe Dome Railcar journey between Talkeetna and Denali. In the coastal Southeast Alaskan town of Sitka, marine wildlife typically plays out on abig scenic backdrop. From exploring Denali National Park to fishing for salmon in Anchorage, discover the top Alaska destinations on a Princess cruise. Ketchikan's Fishing Charters operates May til September with trips starting at 2 hours. At first glance many mistake Victoria for an English coastal city or northern European town. Discover the optimal month due to daylight, temperature, and rain. Your small group (usually just 4people) will board the companys comfortable boat and set off from the Ketchikan cruise-ship dock, leaving the big ships and the crowds behind. Here are our favourite Alaska shore excursions among the numerous offerings. As a part of our unique culinary experience, Cook My Catch, bring your fresh-caught fish on board and have our chefs prepare it for your dinner. Tucked inside the lush Tongass National Forest, discover an Alaskan botanical garden unlike anywhere else in theworld. You can also have your picture taken with one of the dance hall girls or the camps Several factors make Skagway an ideal port for flightseeing. That all changed when helicopters became readily available to travelers. Norwegian Communications Center. Alaska Shore Excursions | Local Picks for Each Port | ALASKA.ORG We'll match you with a local itinerary expert to help you plan your trip. Overwhelmed by choices? There are bountiful samples and you may be tempted to ship home a fillet or two! Though Whittier -- set about 65 miles southeast of Anchorage -- is most commonly used as an embarkation/debarkation port, the glacier-filled Sound is well worth making time to explore. Alaska Cruises Shore Excursions | Norwegian Cruise Line Riverboat cruise and city tour of Fairbanks including a stop at the Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline. Choose a round-trip Inside passage or one-way Gulf of Alaska Cruise. Trips available from Whittier, Homer, Seward, Juneau, and Sitka. If you would like to exchange one tour for a different one, you must create a new reservation for the new tour and send us an email to cancel the other tour. Known for its timber, Ketchikan hosts the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, where athletes throw, race and chop their way to victory. This is a real adventure experience. Choose from several options, includinga, Take aspin through Juneau on afun bike tour. Go with Pack Creek Bear Tours to see bears on Admiralty Islandan area with up to 1,500 brownbears;. Trips during the peak months can start higher than that. And at the top, 1,500feet above sea level, youll take in the sweeping vista of shimmering Chilkoot Lake, set in the stunning Chilkoot Valley. Take a short walk to the bear-viewing area, where you can watch these magnificent creatures for hours in their natural environment. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, explore our treehouse and enjoy unmatched views of Denali. Upgrade the experience of Tour 610 with a trip to view the spectacular Mendenhall Glacier and explore the interactive displays at the visitor's center. Local guides offer a short nature walk on a wilderness trail, or you may choose to relax. Combine a cruise + train + lodge + Denali for an in-depth Alaska experience.