Alaska DCL Excursions

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Sakura1017]

We did mainly ship excursions when we started cruising, too. And still do in many places.

Icy Strait Point : Visited there in Sep 2021. Beautiful area for whale watching. It seemed prettier than the bay near Juneau. Could have just been the weather. I did an excursion from NCL that did a combo with the ZipRider. Our boat was smaller with fewer guests than the ones only doing a whale watch. I can’t say whale watching here is better than Juneau. It depends on the day. The whale watch operators communicate with each other on locations of whales. If one ship sees whales, pretty much everyone does.

I don’t know what riding the gondola would offer. Other than now being a faster route to the ZipRider - used to be a long bus ride. (And a stunning view of the mountains and water). I may be wrong or just different thinking, but I think of it as transportation (tram or gondola). That said, I consider the Skyliner and Monorail at WDW as additional rides - go figure! But I don’t pay extra for them.

I am only slightly adventurous. But that whales + ZipRider tour is probably one of my favorite cruise activities of all time. It was ziplining - but sitting in a seat. No hanging by your arms or harness up your groin.

Hubbard Glacier: I have seen it and the glacier at the end of Tracy Arm (Sawyer) and Glacier Bay only from a cruise ship. Still spectacular. I imagine getting closer (and lower to the water) pretty amazing.

Juneau: Whale watching on two cruises, two cruise lines, did a ship’s tour on each. The first (DCL) was Whale Watch + Mendenhall. Nice first visit. The next year, on Princess, it was the Whale Watch + Mendenhall Hike with photography tips (not the actual name). The second was better for one principal reason: the actual boat and limited passenger capacity. the first boat head 40+ people. The photography people held ~ 12 and was low to the water with large windows. Being close to water seems to make you more a part of the experience. Five trips to Juneau and I always go to Mendenhall. It is not the most spectacular glacier, but it is fairly relaxing few hours.

(I have seen whales on every whale watching tour I have done - AK, Hawaii, Cape Cod.)

Skagway - I rode the train. Regular, not VIP. I wonder what you get for the extra money. That was a one and done excursion for us. It met our needs of that year in our lives. Then we got off and had hours left in port. So we did a helicopter ride to land- and walk- on a glacier.

We also rented a car one year and drove into Yukon, Canada to see Emerald Lake, eventually going to White Horse, the capital. Fun scenery along the way , including a desert and a suspension bridge. Some people visit dog sled camps along this way. Skagway is quite often a long port day in which you can do several activities And not feel rushed.

How long were you at Mendenhall when you did the combo with whale watch? Did you think the time that you had at Mendenhall was enough or did you wish for more time? Did you also explore the adventure garden? Was it a tourist trap on the garden?

 

[Sakura1017]

Here is some info on the trails

View attachment 746481View attachment 746482

It seems that the Nugget Falls Trail is the most popular (based on how many people have been on the trails when I have been there.). It is not difficult, some spots have pavement, some parts are dirt and stone. It ends at a man-made sand spit beside the falls. This brochure lists it as a one-hour walk, RT. Elsewhere, listed as 40-45 minutes. Bottom line, 75 minutes is doable if you don’t dawdle. I wouldn’t bother going into the Visitor’s Center if you have limited time. (And save the $5 fee - it was for the Center, not the trails.). National Park Passes are valid for admission.

Thank you for sharing this. If I decide to do the whale excursion I only have either 60 minutes or 75 minutes. So I wanted to definitely see some great views, but I'm worried those views are further in the trails. Some members in my group will be walking slow too so I can't rush them on the nugget falls trial. So I'm guessing skip the video and don't browse the bookstore. Unless is there anything special in the bookstore to grab? Is there something I can grab that says I went to Mendenhall glacier like a pin/badge?

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Sakura1017]

We did Mendenhall after the whale watch and were running a little short on time (according to the tour lead). Still, I have never needed a lot of time there. I am not “hiking;” just taking pictures and enjoying the setting. And, of course, listening for bears.

I watched a video where they saw a bear near the Steep Creek Trail. The trail is elevated, so they could leave the bear.

Was there a specific trail that you took to take pictures. I have a family member who loves to take pictures.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Sakura1017]

I‘ve gone to the photo opp location. I don't call that a hike. Nugget Falls is my usual. Visited Steep Creek Trail once (it’s the newest; we saw it in 2015). And probably did the Trail of a Time on our photography whale +Mendenhall. I am pretty sure the Trail of Time has the markers showing where the edge of the glacier was over the last century.

The view on the Nugget Falls trail is mainly brush. There is one or two Spots where a waterfall / creek goes under a wooden bridge. The goal is to get to the end and see the falls.

This is basically what I photograph each visit (travel companion may change).

View attachment 746502
Above: 2012, end of June. That trail amid the trees would be on the Trail of Time.

Below: 2015. The sand spit was added sometime after 2012. Or maybe you just had to ford the water to get to it (as my sister did in 2013).
The last photo was taken from Steep Creek Trail or on the way to it.
View attachment 746503
These are all at Mendenhall Glacier. The ice ”sculptures” - not man-made were in the lake in mid-May.

Yes, May, and our week meant tee shirts in some ports.

Thanks my goal would be to see the end of the falls so I'm hoping I can get there by an hour. I don't care much for the forest brush. What trails were from the ice sculptures that you photographed?

So if I chose the salmon bake then I get less time at Mendenhall.

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Sakura1017]

(Lost the post I am referencing. It’s above, with a picture of a King Crab leg).

I would consider Tracy’s Crab Shack as a tasty alternate “excursion.” There is often a line out the door and seating is definitely share a table. I was there when cruising restarted in 2021 and passenger counts were low, so I had a very short wait.

Crab prices are high! Not just to gouge tourists - crab fishing is a dangerous occupation and there are moratoriums of fishing if the breeding count gets below a threshold (in the millions). I think a king Crab was around $55 for a 1# dinner. I went for the snow crab. Then split the King Crab meal with friends. That was easier to hear - less cracking And digging and still warm to the last bite.

View attachment 746512
Snow crab legs:
View attachment 746513

The main location (I think there is now a second) is in Juneau at the base of the tram up Mt Roberts. The shuttle from the cruise ship comes and leaves here.

Thank you for sharing this. I do have a family member that wants to go there. So I was hoping that my first excursion with whale watching and Mendenhall gets done and then get a pass to ride the tram up to that location. They said the tram was close to the port but wasn't sure how far in walking distance or minutes. So do you need to ride the shuttle to get to the tram?

 

[auntlynne]

 

[Sakura1017]

Icy Strait Point: The tram ride includes the gondola, since you have to take it up the hill to the start of the tram ride. Also the gondola isn't really a sightseeing experience, it just moves you from point A to B. Icy Strait is an amazing place to do whale watching and visits the same waters you do in Juneau. I would recommend the whales and crab feast here.

Skagway: yes you can do both the train ride and musher's camp. The VIP car is a nice treat if you have the money but the views and navigation are the same as the normal ride. I've heard reviews that the adults-only car is nice because it's easier to hear the guide. The two dog camps are different, and I heard one is better but I can't remember which one. I will update if I find out.

Juneau: My favorite Juneau excursion is the Alaska Whales and Rainforest Trails. It's a flat, 1 mile walk that ends with a great view of the glacier, and you do the whale watching on a smaller boat where the windows can open up on all sides. Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching if you don't do it at Icy Strait, and exploring downtown Juneau are the 3 things you should schedule for here. If the weather is clear you can also do the tram to the top of the mountain, but do not book this in advance. You save so much money by just buying a ticket at the tram.

Hubbard: The characters only appear on deck in the morning, meaning if you book the morning cruise you will miss them. They typically offer 2 or 3 times, but they may have fewer boats available this year.

Ketchikan: Misty Fjords will be fun. If you have time, I also recommend Rainforest Sanctuary and Totem Park. This is the most likely place to see bears on the entire cruise, since they tend to stick around the area.

Thank you again for sharing. I didn't realize at icy straight point visits the same water in Juneau. Do you know what restaurant you did crab feast after whale washing?

At the moment Hubbard only has 1 time excursion which is 9am which I found weird. Do you know if you had 2 times which side started first? I have a verandah on port side and was hoping to use it to watch glacier. I even asked them what do you do there for the whole time if only one excursion time is available since it's a long day there.

I might have to revisit the one you were recommending in Juneau. I think the reason why I didn't choose that one originally because I was worried about some members in my family having to walk the 75 minutes. But I will look into it. Was it that cold being on the smaller ship with less windows? Did you find sufficient time that you can go on the tram to the top of the mountain after that excursion? Thank you for the tip about not buying in advance because I did request that in my requests.