Cruising to Alaska isn’t just about the journey on a large, mid-size or small cruise ship. Once docked in port towns along the southeast coastline of Alaska, passengers have many tours and activities to choose from. Float-plane excursions and helicopter flight-seeing combine with glacier walks or dog sledding. Kayaking and snorkeling afford visitors up-close views of sea life. Railroad tours, cultural presentations and tours of historic towns are enriching experiences.
Alaska Cruise Line Excursions
Benefits of cruise line excursions include:
- Explore Alaska with a group on a schedule.
- The cruise ship will wait for passengers to return before sailing if the excursion runs into delays.
- Companies operating excursions booked through cruise lines are reputable, reliable and have good safety records.
- Shore excursions have a money-back guarantee if they are cancelled due to weather or unforeseen circumstances.
- Excursions can be booked on cruise line web sites to ensure space on popular tours.
- Supervised onboard children’s programs allow parents to sightsee ashore alone.
- Some family and teen excursions are offered.
Independent Alaska Shore Excursions
Individual shore excursions afford passengers spontaneous travel:
- Tours booked individually allow for more variety.
- Individual excursions may or may not be less expensive than those booked through the cruise line.
- Tour operators have booths set up on the cruise pier when ships are in port, making excursion booking easy.
- Last-minute deals can be obtained from tour companies if they have tour tickets returned from cruise lines.
- The more popular excursions, such as float-plane tours or helicopter flight-seeing with glacier walks or dog sledding, are often booked solid in advance.
- Car rentals should be made in advance.
Ketchikian Shore Excursions, Tours and Activities
Ketchikan, the sport fishing capital of Alaska, has many tours:
- Flightseeing Misty Fjords National Monument includes views of thousand-foot waterfalls, rainforests, narrow fjords and soaring granite cliffs.
- Bear watching with flight-and-hike tours of Tongass National Forest or Traitor’s Cove.
- Fish the waters surrounding Ketchikan for 5 species of salmon, halibut, red snapper, cod and crab.
- Snorkeling at Mountain Point isn’t that cold and worth viewing the rich marine life of the sea and tide pools.
- A walking tour of Ketchikan includes the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center, historic Creek Street and Dolly’s House Museum, the Dog Sled and Mushing Museum and cable car to Cape Fox Lodge.
- Native cultural centers Totem Bight Historic Park and Saxman Native Village feature fine collections of totem poles, a clan house, nature walk, native music, dance and carving.
Sitka Shore Excursions, Tours and Activities
Sitka, on Baranof Island, enjoys a picturesque setting, Russian heritage and interesting shore excursions:
- 75% of the world’s population of sea otters thrive around Sitka. Otter tours are known for also spotting whales, bald eagles and bears.
- The Alaska Raptor Center, 10 minutes outside Sitka, displays eagles, owls and other wild birds.
- A walking tour of Sitka highlights St. Michael’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Totem Square, Isabel Miller Museum and the Russian Bishop’s House.
- Dance performances by authentic Russian folk dancers and Tlingit traditional dancers take place in Sitka.
Juneau Shore Excursions, Tours and Activities
Alaska’s capital city, Juneau, offers activities from glacier hiking to cultural tours:
- Explore the massive 1,500-square-mile Juneau Icefield and its glaciers with guided tours by helicopter.
- Buses drive to nearby Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and lake, with guided hikes available.
- Kayak the Mendenhall River or take a float trip down the Tatshenshini River.
- The Mt. Roberts tramway, next to the cruise ship pier, glides 1,800 feet up a steep slope and affords majestic views, with walking trails, shops and restaurants.
- Trolley tours of Juneau’s waterfront and boardwalk include the Red Dog Saloon, Alaska State Museum, Juneau-Douglas City Museum’s native and pioneer exhibits, and many shops.
- Pan for gold in Gold Creek, guided by a prospector, and hear about the history of the Gold Rush.
- Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure features waterfalls, hanging gardens, wildlife and views of glaciers.
Skagway Shore Excursions, Tours and Attractions
Skagway’s famous Klondike Gold Rush, railroads and dog sledding are now popular tourist activities:
- The White Pass and Yukon Railway follows the Gold Rush trail through the mountains to White Pass summit on a narrated tour.
- Dog sledding is at its finest at Klondike Gold Rush National Park, with forests, tidal flats and waterfalls as a backdrop.
- The Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve attracts the world’s largest gathering of bald eagles, as well as bears, moose, river otter, beaver and trumpeter swans.
- Jewell Gardens includes a miniature town site and train, garden teas and luncheons.
- Skagway’s boardwalk is home to many original buildings from Gold Rush days and the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park Visitor Center.
Travel to Alaska by cruise ship and discover the Great Land, its wildlife and attractions, such as glacier tours, sport fishing and cultural tours.
Susan Lynne Hamilton - Award-winning writer Susan Lynne Hamilton is the Topic Editor of Suite 101's Northwest U.S. travel section, showcasing its rich ...
Join the Conversation