Alaska Excursions--post your reviews here!

[poohj80]

We were out on the water from 11:30 - 2:30 and saw a ton of whales. Our captain said there were plenty out in the morning as well. Not sure how long it continued after 2:30, but there was lots of activity all morning and afternoon that day.

Thanks!

 

[HiMagicFan]

PJ was this the one with Harv & Marv or via the ship? I am having second thoughts about doing a whale watch in hopes of seeing more and up close.

If it is the ship are you doing the early one?

 

[CruisingSarah]

I was wondering if anyone who did the Exclusive Whale Encounter with the ship knows who the operator was please? Or at least what type of boat they use and how many people onboard?

I like the sound of the Alaska Whales and Rainforest Trails trip which I gather is with Gastineau and I like the look of their boats, but I think the duration of this trip is too long for us.

I just wondered is Gastineau is also contracted for the Exclusive Whale Encounter?

Thanks for any info

 

[stsomewhere]

Thanks to everyone who reviewed Juneau Limo. I booked them for our cruise in a few weeks.

 

[poohj80]

PJ was this the one with Harv & Marv or via the ship? I am having second thoughts about doing a whale watch in hopes of seeing more and up close.

If it is the ship are you doing the early one?

We booked outside DCL but not with Harv & Marv. I believe the operator is called Rum Runner Charters. They are willing to either whale watch first then drop us off at Mendenhall or let us go to Mendenhall first and pick us up there for an afternoon cruise.

Speaking of which, had another question for those who have been already...are there any food options at Mendenhall Glacier? If we are being picked up there we will need to have some lunch before our whale watching adventure.

Thanks!

 

[MrsG]

We booked outside DCL but not with Harv & Marv. I believe the operator is called Rum Runner Charters. They are willing to either whale watch first then drop us off at Mendenhall or let us go to Mendenhall first and pick us up there for an afternoon cruise.

Speaking of which, had another question for those who have been already...are there any food options at Mendenhall Clacier? If we are being picked up there we will need to have some lunch before our whale watching adventure.

Thanks!

There might have been some food in the Visitor's center, but can't recall. You might want to pack a lunch. I do recall seeing tables outside so you can sit and eat there.

 

[smeecanada]

Speaking of which, had another question for those who have been already...are there any food options at Mendenhall Glacier? If we are being picked up there we will need to have some lunch before our whale watching adventure.

Thanks!

I don't recall any food options when we were there a couple of years ago. They specifically told us to leave any food we had on the bus due to the bears. There are rangers wandering around watching out for bears at the glacier. We seem to always miss seeing the bears.

 

[sabrecmc]

I didn't see any food available at Mendenhall, but on our whale watching tour, they had light snacks and drinks at no additional cost. Having a child along, I always take snacks though!

 

[MrsG]

I don't recall any food options when we were there a couple of years ago. They specifically told us to leave any food we had on the bus due to the bears. There are rangers wandering around watching out for bears at the glacier. We seem to always miss seeing the bears.

Yes, this poster is absolutely right as I recall. In fact, while we were there, a bear cub wandered onto the path trying to catch a spawning salmon. It happened about 5 mins after we left that same spot. A ranger warned everyone a bear was coming and someone on our tour got pics of the bear and gave us copies. So obviously the tables around were not for food, my mistake.

 

[GrumpyBelle]

I was wondering if anyone who did the Exclusive Whale Encounter with the ship knows who the operator was please? Or at least what type of boat they use and how many people onboard?

I like the sound of the Alaska Whales and Rainforest Trails trip which I gather is with Gastineau and I like the look of their boats, but I think the duration of this trip is too long for us.

I just wondered is Gastineau is also contracted for the Exclusive Whale Encounter?

Thanks for any info

We are cruising with you so I haven't done this, but I did research these when I booked my excursion. I believe the exclusive Whale Encounter is done through Dolphin Jet Boat tours and their boat holds 36 passengers. The boat used by Gastineau for their Alaska Whales and Rainforest Trails tour is smaller holding only 15 passengers.

 

[CruisingSarah]

We are cruising with you so I haven't done this, but I did research these when I booked my excursion. I believe the exclusive Whale Encounter is done through Dolphin Jet Boat tours and their boat holds 36 passengers. The boat used by Gastineau for their Alaska Whales and Rainforest Trails tour is smaller holding only 15 passengers.

Thank you so much for this I had worked out the gastineau ones but couldn't work out who did this trip.

 

[beachbunny]

Skagway: Disney Exclusive Liarsville with Salmon Bake. 3 out of 5 stars. This excursion included musical entertainment, marshmallow roasting, an old west type of show with singing and story telling, gold panning (3-4 teeny-tiny pieces of gold in each pan), picture taking with Goofy, Donald and Dale, and finally a buffet lunch of chicken and grilled salmon. The kids had fun but the food was just so-so.

Juneau: Disney's Exclusive Musher for a Day. 10 out of 5 stars. This is one of the best land excursion experiences ever and I've been on a half-dozen cruises. A minivan took us to an airfield. We were given a safety briefing and then fitted with a life jacket and snow boots. A helicopter flew us over the Juneau ice fields and landed on a glacier with lots of snow. We then went dog sledding on the glacier where the scenery was spectacular! Everyone had an opportunity to be the musher. About 3/4 of the way through the ride, we stopped and got to unharness (and play with) our dogs and take off their booties. Lunch was served - sandwiches, pasta salad, chips, cookie, and drinks. (This lunch was way better than Liarsville.) We then reharnessed our dogs and rode back to the starting point. There was a tour of the dog sled camp and we got to visit with a litter of 4 week old sled dogs. Finally, our helicopter took us back to the air field. Awesome, awesome, awesome! Absolutely worth the exhorbitant price!

Skagway: Eagles, Totems, and Lighthouses. This was absolutely fun! Five out of 5 stars. A boat takes you past many eagles and nests (with chicks), stopping so you can take pictures. The boat also passes near the totem park and a light house. We saw many seals resting on a huge rock and in the water. We were served awesome hot cocoa with homemade whipped cream, cookies, and crackers with salmon spread. Each child received a nice sized stuffed animal. Our kids loved this excursion!

 

[smeecanada]

Has anyone done the Mendenhall Glacier Adventure Hike?

Good/Bad? Can it be done with runners?

 

[DenverVal]

Has anyone done the Mendenhall Glacier Adventure Hike?

Good/Bad? Can it be done with runners?

This is the only review I've seen on it, earlier in the thread:

Hi. We did the glacier hike on the 5/3 cruise.

As point of reference, I had just run the Vancouver Marathon the Sunday before; my wife had done the 1/2 marathon. Another couple in our group had done a trail 1/2 marathon outside San Francisco on the layover on the repositioning cruise. We all showed up in old running shoes, expecting well maintained trails, which is what I believe the brochure said. None of us were experienced hikers, but there were people in our group who were.

It starts off very easy. You walk along beautiful trails with big trees, plenty of shade, water rushing in streams in a few places. The guides maintain a brisk pace, stopping now and then to let people catch up while they point out facts about the forest and stuff.

Soon, however, it became almost like mountain climbing. There was one area where they had steel cables up on the sides to keep you falling off the mountain and to use to haul yourself up. Other areas had to be climbed on all fours, especially for my wife and the other woman runner, since they are short and couldn't get their legs from one rock to another w/o using their hands to crawl up.

The hardest was at the very top. Now, we did not know this, but maybe we missed it in the literature. The end of the hike is no where near the actual glacier. You end up with a great view of it, but you're not close to it at all. And getting to that point required climbing the rocks on all fours.

BUT WAIT! There's more!

Getting down was pretty bad. At the summit, the guides went down first so they could basically catch people as they slid down those rocks we had just climbed up. Remember, these rocks are wet from snow runoff.

I made it down the first part so well they let me go ahead on my own, as did the other running couple. They were a little ahead of me when the wife fell, rolled into her husband and the both sort of slid down the rocks. His knee was a little banged up but they were basically OK.

Just then, I saw a nice flat rock to make my next descent, but didn't notice it was wet and slippery. My old running shoes went right out from under me, I went down on my back, cut my shoulder, both elbows and a lot of my right hand as I grabbed for a tree or something, because I wasn't go straight down the "path", I was heading off the side of the mountain.

Point is, I think you need to be in good shape. I think you need real hiking boots. You have to realize after all this you only get a picture of the glacier from a distance. Funny part was when we finished back at the parking lot, if you look out across the water you can see the glacier just fine.

Oh, and things were so dicey on that first descent the guides took us back along another trail which is longer, w/o rocks or tow ropes, but which they said isn't always available due to runoff later in the year.

We had a good time. But I think they sell this adventure as being easier than it really is.

 

[smeecanada]

Thanks, DenverVal. Based on that review we won't be doing it. Way more than just a hike.

 

[DenverVal]

There was also a review for the glacier hike in Skagway around the end of June or early July that was very favorable, and I wish I had done it, since it was my first choice. I was outvoted. It was a fairly lengthy review if I remember right.

 

[debc1212]

Has anyone done the Alaska wildlife expedition in Skagway? DH is looking at doing this to take wildlife photographs.

Wildlife photography is his hobby & he wants me to ask this question: of the three ports in Alaska, is there one port or excursion in particular that is best for photography. Yeah, I know it's Alaska & the photo opportunities are probably beyond amazing. He's just wanting to see if one is better than the others.

TIA for any responses!

 

[smeecanada]

There was also a review for the glacier hike in Skagway around the end of June or early July that was very favorable, and I wish I had done it, since it was my first choice. I was outvoted. It was a fairly lengthy review if I remember right.

I read the review for that one. It's was tempting - it's a very long excursion. We're doing the train and bike excursion there.

 

[smeecanada]

Back when you could start booking the Alaska excursions there was a thread with times of the excursions? Anyone remember this? I've done a couple of searches but haven't been able to locate it.

The DCL website leaves much to be desired when it comes to booking excursions. Very frustrating. Wish there was a pdf with all the excursions listed and times available.

 

[poohj80]

Back when you could start booking the Alaska excursions there was a thread with times of the excursions? Anyone remember this? I've done a couple of searches but haven't been able to locate it.

The DCL website leaves much to be desired when it comes to booking excursions. Very frustrating. Wish there was a pdf with all the excursions listed and times available.

Mileage may vary...

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2666085