Alaska Excursions--post your reviews here!

[peachygreen]

Was there other people on the trip beside your party of 6? Did the price include RT transportation from the pier? Were there any other extra cost beside the crew tip? What refreshments were included?

Thanks,

There were 2 other people. 8 is the max number of passengers they will take. It did include RT transportation to the pier. We choose to add a drop at Mendenhall so we did have to get our own transportation from Mendenhall to the pier. They had Reindeer Sausage and crackers along with soda and water. My girls loved the reindeer sausage. I'm going to have to order some from Alaska for them. They are begging for more.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

This is Tracy arm.



http://youtu.be/kAIUmlbKofg

http://youtu.be/6h9x_0ZGNlg


http://youtu.be/uB6wDGLVzlM

 

[sunryzez]

Anyone that privately booked their tours ever used alaska coach tours? reviews? Thanks =)

 

[Korkyjohnson]

Skagway: White Pass Railway -
We booked this through Disney - in retrospect I wish we hadn't. I had heard reports that they provide water and a guide as well as board you in a different space but in reality once we were off the ship we were told to just hop on one of the back three cars where some people were already loaded and we did not go to the station for anyone else. We had the same piped in voice and they also had access to the water so I am not sure what the point of the Disney excursion is. We chose the back so we could go out and take pictures but the platform was crowded the entire time making it difficult (everyone had the same idea). You can't cross cars so if your platforms are full they are full. You also can't hear the narration from outside, though it is very little narration anyway. They also provide a map that shows where points of interest are along the way so you know if something is coming up. Once you reach the top everyone is told to stay in their seats while they move the engine from the front to the back, and then you move your backrest from one side to the other so everyone can stay on their bench on the way back down too. That way you see one side on the way up and the other on the way down. Since we had been in the back we were now in the very front car and there were quite a few fumes from the engine on the way down. The scenery was, of course, breathtaking. We did not see any wildlife at all, even goats (I had my binoculars out the whole time).

Juneau - Extended Helicopter Trek
We REALLY lucked out with the weather in Juneau on this trip - wonderful visibility and very warm. Disney used North Star Trekking for this one and they did a wonderful job. We were led to their van to the airport where they passed out appropriate clothes for the venture. They also gave us a fanny pack with a bottle of water and granola bar with a pack of tissues. We had three guides to nine people in our group - since we were the first group of the day the guides went up with us - we filled every seat in two helicopters. After brief sightseeing (we could look down on the dog camps and saw them mushing away on this day) we touched down on the glacier and they put on our crampons and passed out axes. Much of the time was spent showing us how to move around with the crampons then we just romped around through the ice with the guides choosing our way and making sure no one got stuck. We stopped a few times to listen to them speak about the glacier and to dump our bottled water in favor of glacier water. At one point they took pics for anyone who wanted by a waterfall. This was really fun and in our opinion worth the cost.

I plan on taking these two excursions as well. I'm sorry to hear that the WPR wasn't that great for you. I hope it is for us . Thanks again for your reviews.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I used these for a helicopter landing and trek whilst I booked for four and they could add two go become six it was just us four on the copter, we landed on the glacier and walked around, photos in the link in my signature line and Aldo the DCL Picture of the day thread recently.

It was fantastic and far cheaper than DCL.

For White pass we did more than DCL and at a price less than DCL with these, again we had a van go ourselves.

Full details, here

 

[Korkyjohnson]

Morning Disney Fantasy,

Do you happen to remember the cost for the White Pass Rail Summit excursion? They don't have it on their site (that I can see).

Any help is appreciated and thank you for the info!

 

[piglet33]

Morning Disney Fantasy,

Do you happen to remember the cost for the White Pass Rail Summit excursion? They don't have it on their site (that I can see).

Any help is appreciated and thank you for the info!

We booked our Whitepass excursion through Chilkoot http://www.chilkootcharters.com/. We're doing this one that has more than DCL's, and we have a train car and van just for who booked through Chilkoot.

Yukon Rail & Bus Excursion With 15 Minute Dogcart Ride (lunch included)
Duration: 7.5 Hours
Departure: 7:30AM (Depart Skagway by train)
Departure: 8:30AM (Depart Skagway by bus)
Cost: $211.00 Adult $151.00 Child (12 & Under)
Lunch Included: BBQ chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, dinner roll, cake doughnuts, coffee, tea, water
Admission to the Yukon Wildlife Museum, Husky Puppy Camp and the 15-minute dogcart ride also included
Itinerary: Skagway/White Pass Summit/Fraser by train – 1 ¾ hours on train to Fraser, Fraser to Carcross & Emerald Lake and return to Skagway by bus

Chilkoot Charters & Tours offers a full service package with all of its excursions. This means that all of the applicable components of the excursion are included in the already discounted excursion price as well as U.S. and Canadian sales taxes. Our passengers also enjoy the convenience of courtesy transportation to and from all cruise ship docks in Skagway. Lunch accommodations for the 7.5 hour excursions, train tickets and ground transportation have been pre-arranged for you so there is no waiting in line to purchase anything once you arrive in Skagway. Just meet us at the dock and we are ready to go!

Definitely look into booking with Chilkoot. They have great reviews.

 

[m&m's mom]

Just got back yesterday so I wanted to post while fresh in my mind:

Skagway- Chilkoot for White Pass train trip.
When we were on Alaska several years ago we used them and took train up and bus back. This time we took bus up and train back.
We had a native, Mike, for the drive up who was very nice, knowledgeable and funny. We were a group of 30 and he lined us up for pictures at the Alaska sign using all our cameras perfectly. Very good sport about it too.
If you take the train down, be sure and sit on the right side of the train for best views. Since I had been there I did not stress about it and sat on the left. I was rewarded by numerous waterfalls; they were everywhere. Just beautiful! If anyone has fear of height issues- definitely sit on the left going down.

Juneau- Orca Enterprises for whale watching.
We were a big group again and I am very glad we arranged to have the whole boat to ourselves.
Orca sent a bus to get us because the DCL ship docks not right in town like the other ships and there were 24 of us.
We had Capt Larry (What a hoot of a character). They gave us extensive knowledge about whales and their behavior on our way to the whales. They mentioned how they find the whales but in our case we turned a corner and there were 5 boats floating and parked so he decided to check it out.
For the next 45 mins we watched about 13 whales doing bubble net feeding where they work in unison to crowd together and the whales all rush to the surface together. Absolutely amazing!! Truly a once in a lifetime experience. YMMV.
On the way back to the shore we saw bald eagles, harbour seals, and sea lions.

Ketchikan- Island Wings with Michelle for Misty Fjord Floatplane Tour.
It was incredible. Most beautiful views through the fjords and the lake landing was amazing.


Overall- Loved all 3 excursions; booked independently; had zero issues with any of them and all everything more than I had even hoped for.

 

[Rather Be At WDW]

I've searched this thread but haven't seen any recent reviews of the Mendenhall Glacier Adventure Hike in Juneau. Is it necessary to wear hiking shoes? The activity is listed as Active but curious as to how strenuous it is and if it's appropriate for 8 yr old. Appreciate any info in this excursion. Thank you!

I think it depends on the route they take! We did this hike last month and the guide mumbled something (to his associate, not to us) about good weather and taking the west route instead. While this is billed as a "fun wilderness hike for the entire family", I would not classify the hike we were taken on as such. I would have been uncomfortable without my hiking boots. I considered it fairly strenuous and it was apparent that there were a few of us on the hike who were expecting more of a "family" adventure.

But again, the "normal" route may be quite different than what we experienced.

 

[jtkboston]

We did the Skagway Sled Dog and Musher's Camp.
We booked this direct with the excursion operator, Alaska Excursions. (Saved us $$ since DD #1 is 11 years old and Disney would charge us adult prices for her.)

This excursion was EXCELLENT. We had a small group (since our time was not one of the ones offered by the cruise lines) and that meant more interaction with the driver/tour guide. We drove about 1/2 hour to the camp, near Dyea, AK (now-abandoned former settlement). The shuttle ride is on dirt roads for about 2/3 of the trip, so it's bumpy.

We arrived at the base camp where we got into mountain-road capable big trucks with comfortable guest seats behind the cab. (They call them Unimogs.) We drove up a mountain road, past the dogs' living quarters, to a loop road where the dog teams were lined up ready to run. Guests get onto a cart (6 guests per cart, plus musher). The musher explains about the summer and winter training, and is available for questions before/after the ride. The ride is two loops around the road, plus a stop in the middle for the dogs to rest briefly. Afterwards, you can meet the dogs and ask more questions.

Part two: ride down the mountain in the Unimog, stopping at a scenic overlook, and then at the camp. Another musher shows some of the sled equipment, with Q&A, and finally a chance to visit the puppies! There were some older puppies (several months) that we looked at, some newborns (5 days old, eyes shut) that we looked at, and some about 2 months old that we could hold and cuddle. We got some great pictures of our girls interacting with the puppies, the sled dogs, and at the scenic overlook.

Finally, back to the shuttle van and back to port, right on the schedule listed by the excursion operator.

 

[jtkboston]

The excursion was to Mendenhall Glacier, a salmon hatchery, and a salmon bake. We took the morning departure for this.

We started with a bus ride to the glacier. We saw lots of bald eagles in the river beds, on light posts, etc. Almost so many to make you stop noticing them as special?

We had 90 minutes at the glacier--just the right length of time for our girls. There are some easy walking trails near the water level of the lake, and a visitor center atop a hill. An elevator is available if needed, or you can walk up a serpentine ramp. We got some nice photos of our family near the glacier, and some excellent photos of blooming flowers along the Steep Creek trail.

The hatchery had plenty of returning fish: chum salmon were just starting their run. We could see fish swimming up the fish ladder from the harbor, and lots of fish crowding the harbor working toward the stream's outlet. In the hatchery, there were fish trying to jump out of their pen. We learned about the hatchery's operations.

The salmon bake for lunch was at Gold Creek Salmon Bake. The food was tasty, but the salmont was not so much to our girls' liking (some tiny bones in the salmon pieces, to which they are unaccustomed). However, there was marshmallow roasting, a big hit among the children. There is an easy forested walk to a waterfall and nice places for photographs there.

 

[lindaso]

I will add ours...we had 3 amazing excursions. My kids are 16, 14 and 12 and they loved this cruise to Alaska. I wasn't sure if they would be bored but they weren't. They even loved the sightseeing. We got them binoculars for Christmas and they used them a lot.

Yukon Rail and Bus Excursion with Chilkoot Charters...this is the trip to Emerald Lake without the dog sledding. It was amazing. We sat in the caboose of the train and we got so many amazing pictures and videos from the outside back of the train. The train was full but most people were polite about coming and going from the outside of the train. There were about 20-25 people on our little bus and we had James as a tour guide. He told us a lot of great stories about the locals and about his life. We saw 3 different sets of bears and stayed on the side of the road for a long time just snapping picture after picture. Lunch was decent and just the right amount of time. The puppies were a little disappointing as they were napping and we weren't allowed to touch them. Oh well, it wasn't that big of a deal. Emerald Lake was stunning and I highly recommend taking the extra drive to see it.

Whale watching with Harv and Marv...I can't say enough about this excursion. It was better than I could have ever imagined. We were 13 people and had the boat to ourselves. We had a driver and a naturalist (college student who gave narratives and answered all of our questions). We saw so many whales, we learned what bubble netting was, we have so many awesome pictures and videos. I really can't say enough about this trip. Highly recommend!!!

Bear Creek Ziplining...only 3 of us did this one as the less adventurous did the Lumberjack show and had a good time. The zip lining was soooo much fun. They made sure we were all geared up correctly and made sure we knew how to stop and they have a little practice line so you can test it out. We had a blast! We had 2 guys helping us and there were 7 people in the group. The views were beautiful and the zip lines were challenging but not overwhelming. There was a slide at the end which was surprisingly scary but fun.

DCL Alaska was an amazing vacation. While it was expensive and a pain to get our family to Vancouver, it was completely worth it.

 

[blossomz]

We did the adult only whale watch, salmon bake and Mendenhall Glacier. Same as the hatchery trip, but the whale watch instead. We were on a small boat of about 16. IT WAS AMAZING!

We also did the Ocean Raft adventure. It was SO much fun!! Saw lots of wildlife and got to ride the raft which is powered by 2 engines.


We did the flight plane to Misty Fiords. That was also amazing. The beauty and landing right in the fiord where there was only a waterfall and silent beauty.

Loved all of our excursions! Wish we would have had more time to have done more!

 

[jofo]

The puppies were a little disappointing as they were napping and we weren't allowed to touch them.

Were you not allowed to touch them because they were napping or because they were too little? Or do they never let you touch the puppies there?

 

[islandsnoopy]

Thanks for the reply. We were on the 30 June sailing. There was a light rain that day in Juneau and while I had running trail shoes, a pair of waterproof hiking shoes would've been better. The rocks were a bit slippery in areas. The whole family had a great time!

 

[lindaso]

Were you not allowed to touch them because they were napping or because they were too little? Or do they never let you touch the puppies there?

They weren't too little, I think it was just their nap time. We got there a little late bc we stayed on the side of the road watching a bear for a good 20 minutes. It was also really hot that day so I think the puppies were just on a break. It certainly didn't ruin the day, there were plenty of older dogs there to pet and play with.

 

[islandsnoopy]

Ketchikan: Bering Sea Crab Fisherman Tour and Dinner, 1:15 - 6:45pm

Short walk from the ship to the Aleutian Ballad (boat from 2nd season of Deadliest Catch). I had only watched Deadliest Catch once or twice so I was not familiar with the boat.

The crew talked about the ship and equipment used in deep sea fishing as they made stops to haul in lines and bait new lines. They hauled in the huge king crab pots which had snow crab, king crab and an octopus. They also hauled in crab and prawns. We got to hold the crabs, prawns with plenty of photo opportunities.

We learned much about deep sea fishing, but the highlight of the trip was seeing the bald eagles. They threw out halibut and the eagles swarmed the ship. Absolutely beautiful to see so many eagles at one time.

We stayed on the boat for the tour of the ship and afterwards we were served dinner which was delicious. It included: King crab and Dungeness crab, garlic bread, coleslaw, dessert, and beverages. I would definitely recommend this tour!

 

[LindaBabe]

Ketchikan: Bering Sea Crab Fisherman Tour and Dinner, 1:15 - 6:45pm

Short walk from the ship to the Aleutian Ballad (boat from 2nd season of Deadliest Catch). I had only watched Deadliest Catch once or twice so I was not familiar with the boat.

The crew talked about the ship and equipment used in deep sea fishing as they made stops to haul in lines and bait new lines. They hauled in the huge king crab pots which had snow crab, king crab and an octopus. They also hauled in crab and prawns. We got to hold the crabs, prawns with plenty of photo opportunities.

We learned much about deep sea fishing, but the highlight of the trip was seeing the bald eagles. They threw out halibut and the eagles swarmed the ship. Absolutely beautiful to see so many eagles at one time.

We stayed on the boat for the tour of the ship and afterwards we were served dinner which was delicious. It included: King crab and Dungeness crab, garlic bread, coleslaw, dessert, and beverages. I would definitely recommend this tour!

Sounds good! What did you wear on the boat? Was it cold? Did you get wet?

 

[islandsnoopy]

We went on the tour the first week in July so it wasn't too cold. We all wore long-sleeve shirts with rain jackets. If you needed a rain jacket, they were available on the boat.

The seating areas are covered, so you won't get wet on this tour other than the rain. ;-) There was a light rain that day but nothing to hamper the tour.

 

[islandsnoopy]

Sounds good! What did you wear on the boat? Was it cold? Did you get wet?

We went on the tour the first week in July so it wasn't too cold. We all wore long-sleeve shirts with rain jackets. If you needed a rain jacket, they were available on the boat.

The seating areas are covered, so you won't get wet on this tour other than the rain. ;-) There was a light rain that day but nothing to hamper the tour.