Ketchikan/ Bering Sea Crab Tour

[TweedleDee/Dum]

Has anyone been on the Bering Sea Crab Tour? This sounds really cool but I also think that my 9 yo son would like the lumberjack show. Help!!

 

[WDWDeb]

We have done it twice. The most recent was 1.5 years ago with my 11 year old twin daughters. They LOVED it. I had been on it the year prior during an adults only cruise, and enjoyed it a lot then. I knew the kids would enjoy it so we did it with them the next year.
The first time I went it was during July. On the way out to see how they do the 'crab potting' we passed an area where there is a very large gathering of bald eagles on an island. They throw out fish and the eagles swoop down and get the fish. It was INCREDIBLE seeing all the eagles up close. We got some amazing pictures and had a lot of time to enjoy the eagles before the excursion really started. I felt like it was 2 excursions in one! When we went back with the kids the following August, we passed the same island, but they said that during that time of year, the eagles move up into the river areas where the salmon were running. There were only 2 eagles and none were interested in coming down for any of the fish. However, we got some nice pictures of them in the trees. It was disappointing though that the kids missed what we saw in July. I bring this up because if you are going in July, this is a great unadvertised bonus, but it probably won't happen much in August.
Regarding the actual crab excursion, we thought it was great. The members of our family ranged from 11 to 80 years old and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. LOTS of sea life to see and touch during the entire excursion. Anything they pull up, they let you hold or touch, including crabs, and some are put in water tanks for closer viewing. There are lots of photo opportunities. If you watch the show, it is neat to be on an actual ship that was in the show. They have the Deadliest Catch show running on the boat that shows you the episode when that ship was overturn by a giant rogue wave. It was just very interesting seeing and learning about life on a crab boat and seeing the mechanics of how they pull in the crabs. Several times, dolphins were running along side the boat and we passed a boat that was pulling in salmon so there was just lots going on to see.
I would highly recommend it if you like wildlife, have seen the Deadliest Catch show and thought it was interesting, and the kids enjoy handling crabs, fish, octopus, and starfish.
I would be glad to answer any more questions that you have.

 

[WDWDeb]

...and just to add a few more things.
The excursion stays in calm bay water. We had some who were worried about getting sea sick, but the boat really didn't rock at all.
We also passed an island with lots of seals. That was another bonus! There was lots of wildlife and because we are all animals lovers, that was one of the big reasons we enjoyed this so much....we saw so much wildlife and got to hold a lot.
Also, it can be cold. Wrap up if you go. They have heaters over the seats but it can be chilly. If I remember correctly they do have large coats that they give you too that you can wear.

 

[TweedleDee/Dum]

Thanks for the information!! I think I am sold on this excrusion. Do you remember how long you were out to sea? My concern is that we are only in Ketchikan from 7:15am-12:30pm! I really want to make sure the kids see the totem poles or at least a little bit in the downtown area.

 

[mellers]

Thanks for the information!! I think I am sold on this excrusion. Do you remember how long you were out to sea? My concern is that we are only in Ketchikan from 7:15am-12:30pm! I really want to make sure the kids see the totem poles or at least a little bit in the downtown area.

This should give you a good idea of the timeline, and may be cheaper than Disney's tour:

https://secure.shoretrips.com/main/tripdetail?mode=REGION&code=PNW&port=KET&tripcode=032241

 

[TweedleDee/Dum]

This should give you a good idea of the timeline, and may be cheaper than Disney's tour:

https://secure.shoretrips.com/main/tripdetail?mode=REGION&code=PNW&port=KET&tripcode=032241

Thanks for the site. You are right it is cheeper!! Disney has this tour listed for $265 and they have it for $176. Have never book independantly. Should I be concerned about not booking with DCL?

 

[mellers]

Thanks for the site. You are right it is cheeper!! Disney has this tour listed for $265 and they have it for $176. Have never book independantly. Should I be concerned about not booking with DCL?

We went on last year's wonder cruise to Alaska and we did not book a single excursion to Alaska through Disney--we did it all on our own. Our experiences:

Skagway: We booked the White Pass on our own. After the White Pass made such a big deal about the fact that we couldn't board at the dock, we found out that what that meant was that we had to walk from the caboose end to the engine end and check in at the station--a grand total of less than a block. It saved our family $50 booking it on our own--and we were on the same train as Disney!

Moreover, we found out that no wheelchair passengers had been booked on the early train, and our tickets (for the later train) could be moved at no charge, because we had booked the train on our own. Because of that, I didn't have to get split up from the rest of my family (the late train's wheelchair car was booked solid), and my family and I had a private car on the White Pass!

Juneau: We walked over to the Alaska State Museum--it was rainy, and a long walk, but we could have taken a taxi. We really enjoyed the museum, and it wasn't a good day to see the glacier.

Ketchikan: We did Ride the Ducks Alaska--it was fun.

We never had any trouble getting back to the ship, and all of the tour operators in Alaska know that if they ever don't return someone to the ship on time, they will be out of business. I wouldn't be a bit worried about booking an Alaska excursion on your own. (That said, given the State Department warnings, I'd go through Disney for Mexico or Greek excursions.)

The one thing I would do, however, is add any non-refundable excursion costs to your cruise insurance (as long as you haven't bought insurance through Disney, this shouldn't be a problem.) That way, if there's a problem and you can't go on the excursion, you money has not been lost--check to make sure your insurance will cover this possibility.

 

[mellers]

Thanks for the site. You are right it is cheeper!! Disney has this tour listed for $265 and they have it for $176. Have never book independantly. Should I be concerned about not booking with DCL?

Looking at the timeline, you could do the 8 a.m. tour (8 a.m.-11:50 a.m.) but you would not have time to do anything else, so if the totem poles are the big draw, I would probably skip this.

 

[TDC Nala]

My tour got to see a guy put an octopus on his head.

 

[TweedleDee/Dum]

Looking at the timeline, you could do the 8 a.m. tour (8 a.m.-11:50 a.m.) but you would not have time to do anything else, so if the totem poles are the big draw, I would probably skip this.

I really think my family would enjoy this tour!! I would like to see the totem poles but I am sure my kids would prefer the action of the Bering Sea tour!! It's all about the kids anyway. Maybe I can sprint downtown real quick and check the totem poles out. A picture or two would satisfy my need to see them.

 

[Scoobydoo76]

I’d like to give you a few other options to see totem poles. Depending on your ports of call with your cruise year, you can see totem poles in both Victoria and Vancouver.

Stanley Park in Vancouver offers a nice little array of totem poles. This park is just a short cab ride or a long walk from port area.

There is also a smaller selection of totem poles in Victoria in Thunderbird Park. The Park is located near the Royal British Columbia Museum (on the corner of Government St. & Belleville near the Empress Hotel).

I hope this makes your day a bit more enjoyable and relaxing.

 

[TweedleDee/Dum]

I’d like to give you a few other options to see totem poles. Depending on your ports of call with your cruise year, you can see totem poles in both Victoria and Vancouver.

Stanley Park in Vancouver offers a nice little array of totem poles. This park is just a short cab ride or a long walk from port area.

There is also a smaller selection of totem poles in Victoria in Thunderbird Park. The Park is located near the Royal British Columbia Museum (on the corner of Government St. & Belleville near the Empress Hotel).

I hope this makes your day a bit more enjoyable and relaxing.

Thanks... I don't know why I want to see them so much!! I also want to pan for gold but I don't want to do a cheezy excursion. Any suggestions?

 

[mellers]

I’d like to give you a few other options to see totem poles. Depending on your ports of call with your cruise year, you can see totem poles in both Victoria and Vancouver.

Stanley Park in Vancouver offers a nice little array of totem poles. This park is just a short cab ride or a long walk from port area.

There is also a smaller selection of totem poles in Victoria in Thunderbird Park. The Park is located near the Royal British Columbia Museum (on the corner of Government St. & Belleville near the Empress Hotel).

I hope this makes your day a bit more enjoyable and relaxing.

I second this--I've visited the totem poles in Stanley Park.

There is also a totem pole being built by Native Americans on the waterfront right now in Seattle.

 

[Scoobydoo76]

Thanks... I don't know why I want to see them so much!! I also want to pan for gold but I don't want to do a cheezy excursion. Any suggestions?

HAHA! Of course the only excursion that we booked with Disney was the cheesy Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp and Salmon Bake Featuring Exclusive Disney Character Experience. I have to admit that I booked it for selfish reasons. My children are teenagers, 13 and 16 at the time of our cruise. I really love the Disney Characters and wanted pictures panning for gold with the characters and our family. Let’s face it, there is no real gold to be found in the places we could pan (visit). At least this way I was still able to get something “priceless”, our photos.

Plus the salmon was very good!

Here is a list of our excursions that I booked on our own.

Ketchikan Taxi Cab Tours
http://www.ketchikantaxicabtours.com/
We requested to see Potlatch Park, Totem Bight, the rainforest and the possibility of eagle and bear viewing.

In Juneau we booked a dog sled adventure using Alaska Icefield Expeditions. This was truly an adventure of a lifetime and I highly recommend them.
Email: (aie_juneau@hotmail.com) http://www.akdogtour.com/

I have to suggest TRACY'S CRAB SHACK in Juneau. It was the best. Our family wants to return to Juneau just to eat there again. I will warn you that it is expensive, but well worth it. It truly is a small stand that sits near the ocean with outside seating. It is just off the main street past the tram ride. Ask any local, they will know where it is.

In Skagway we booked the White Pass Rail and Bike tour using M&M Tours in Skagway. http://skagwayadventures.com/bicycle_tours.asp
M&M offers many other tours. We found them to be very reliable and cheaper than the Disney Excursions.

We booked the Liarsville Gold Rush Trail Camp and Salmon Bake in the morning (8:00 or 8:30) and then we scheduled the 12:30 bike tour with M&M. Disney would not let us book the two excursions because the timing was too close for DCL. We had plenty of time to do both events and then some shopping in the town.

 

[Disneyluvr81]

We did this tour back in 2010. We (DH & I) booked independently and my dad booked directly through the cruiseline, although I can't remember if there was a price difference. We sailed on the NCL Pearl on the 2nd to to their last trip out in September and it was the only day we got really good rain the entire trip. We definitely stayed dry and nice and warm in their ampitheater and by the time the tour was done the sun had come out and we had maybe an hour or two before we had to be back on the ship do so some shopping in Ketchikan.

I can't recommend this tour highly enough - we all loved it (and of course are all fans of Deadliest Catch. It was informative and fun and for me getting to see the eagles was a huge highlight.

Hopefully this link works to take you to the pictures from our tour, although feel free to browse the rest of the pictures. You should be able to get back to our pictures from all of the ports we went to (stated in Seattle, Junea, Skagway, Glacier Bay & Ketchican) http://ouralaskancruisesept2010.shutterfly.com/pictures/183

 

[WDWDeb]

Thanks for the information!! I think I am sold on this excrusion. Do you remember how long you were out to sea? My concern is that we are only in Ketchikan from 7:15am-12:30pm! I really want to make sure the kids see the totem poles or at least a little bit in the downtown area.

We had time to shop a bit downtown before we had to be back on our ship (NCL Pearl / Star). Tongas Trading was a good store with lots of stuff, and we enjoyed the Christmas shop.

We did the gold panning in Skagway. We all enjoyed that too. It was an excursion that was booked on the end of the White Pass rail tour.