Alaskan excursion/port question

[Chrislovesdisney]

We are going to have to cut one of our Alaskan ports a little short to squeeze in BBB (such is the way with young ones on a DCL cruise….). we booked the photo safari tour for Ketchikan - can anyone who has done this tour comment on whether it hits enough “must see” sights around the port so that after the excursion, will about an hour and a half on our own to browse/explore the port before reboarding be sufficient? I’d bring prepackaged snacks so we wouldn’t be lunching here.

Our other option is to cut Skagway short, leaving about 3 hours after our train ride to both eat lunch in Skagway and explore.

I’d appreciate feedback on which port can better be squeezed into a short amount of time! Thank you!

 

[lklgoodman]

I don't know about that excursion, but we walked around both areas after our excursions. I thought Ketchikan was nicer and had more in the area. Our cruise was in 2014, so don't know if either area has changed much since then. You could also keep checking before your cruise and when you board to see if you could switch your BBB to a better time.

 

[Intr3pid]

Skagway has tons of excursions you can spend the whole day on. In fact, we feel it should be an overnight stop to allow a multi-day excursion farther inland. It's easily our most enjoyable port on the Alaskan cruises.

Now, it will most likely rain in Ketchikan on your visit - or at least part of it. Most photo safaris target the wildlife rather than the scenic spots, and some of the best scenic spots - such as Misty Fjords - are excursions of their own.

 

[Ronneeaght]

If it were me, I'd cut Skagway short rather than Ketchikan if you can't fit in another excursion in Skagway. Skagway is my favorite port for excursions, but if you are comparing just walking around town I think there is more to do in Ketchikan than Skagway.

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

This was all helpful, thank you! I am stalking the website, hoping a better bbb appt will open up (and will ask when we board as well). Any idea how late you can cancel or change a bbb appt without penalty?

 

[Anna131517]

Just my 2 cents but skip BBB. You can do hair and makeup anywhere any time. You can’t do Alaska that often. I have two little girls and they are perfectly happy wearing princess dresses and having me do their hair. Spend the saved money on more princess dresses and let her wear one every night to dinner.

 

[auntlynne]

I have been on several AK cruises and expect to do more. My opinion is that in any of these ports you can cut it short if just are just walking around.

If you are in a tour, you are going to get a good taste of the area.

Ketchikan - walking around, there is a stream with wooden, former brothels overlooking it. They are now shops. There’s a small walk-through park with Totems. From the ship berths to the stream is < 10 minutes walking. it is the most photographic place in town. If your tour takes you more into the woods for wildlife, you might not feel a loss. Look it up on the internet.

Skagway - a very small town. A walk-through after your train ride will give you a good idea of the area. There are some fun buildings to see as you walk the wooden-plank sidewalks. And I mean small - a few blocks each way.

And if you are spending money to be on a Disney cruise (especially with children), go ahead and make use of the Disney-specific aspects. BBB? Go for it. The idea of dressing like a Princess every night, too? Brilliant. Have fun with it.

Just being in along the coast of Alaska is wonderful. The ports are used by many cruisers as a jumping off place for activity shore excursions - planes, trains, helicopters, float planes, glacier-viewing.

Have a great cruise!

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

I have been on several AK cruises and expect to do more. My opinion is that in any of these ports you can cut it short if just are just walking around.

If you are in a tour, you are going to get a good taste of the area.

Ketchikan - walking around, there is a stream with wooden, former brothels overlooking it. They are now shops. There’s a small walk-through park with Totems. From the ship berths to the stream is < 10 minutes walking. it is the most photographic place in town. If your tour takes you more into the woods for wildlife, you might not feel a loss. Look it up on the internet.

Skagway - a very small town. A walk-through after your train ride will give you a good idea of the area. There are some fun buildings to see as you walk the wooden-plank sidewalks. And I mean small - a few blocks each way.

And if you are spending money to be on a Disney cruise (especially with children), go ahead and make use of the Disney-specific aspects. BBB? Go for it. The idea of dressing like a Princess every night, too? Brilliant. Have fun with it.

Just being in along the coast of Alaska is wonderful. The ports are used by many cruisers as a jumping off place for activity shore excursions - planes, trains, helicopters, float planes, glacier-viewing.

Have a great cruise!

Thank you, this was very helpful. I couldn’t find specific stops of the photography tour online, which is why I posted here. And grandparents are treating the family to this cruise (specifically DCL) for those “magical” moments as well with the grandkids, so BBB does rise in value! The girls did want to cancel their original afternoon appts on the glacier day once we were able to call and manually be added to the glacier explorer excursion. Right now I have 5pm appts on the Juneau day (which is after all-aboard) for one daughter and 5pm Skagway for the other. I think 3hrs. post-train ride in Skagway should work out for us!

 

[auntlynne]

Sounds like this trip is shaping up nicely. I don’t think the glacier excursion was offered when did DCL in AK 11 years ago. That should be a spectacular day.

Bon Voyage!

 

[auntlynne]

Thank you, this was very helpful. I couldn’t find specific stops of the photography tour online, which is why I posted here. And grandparents are treating the family to this cruise (specifically DCL) for those “magical” moments as well with the grandkids, so BBB does rise in value! The girls did want to cancel their original afternoon appts on the glacier day once we were able to call and manually be added to the glacier explorer excursion. Right now I have 5pm appts on the Juneau day (which is after all-aboard) for one daughter and 5pm Skagway for the other. I think 3hrs. post-train ride in Skagway should work out for us!

This is the 3-hour photo safari tour in Ketchikan offered by Alaska Shore Excursions. I would be surprised if this is not similar to the one booked through the ship, with variations based on weather or current plant or wildlife conditions.

• 20 minutes - meet & greet your tour guide
• 20 minutes - Rushing Waters site
• 15 minutes - Flowing Waters site
• 15 minutes - Cape Fox Totems site
• 20 minutes - Totem Heritage site
• 15 minutes - Creek Street site
• 15 minutes - Mountain Vista site
• 20 minutes - Bar Barbor site

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

This is the 3-hour photo safari tour in Ketchikan offered by Alaska Shore Excursions. I would be surprised if this is not similar to the one booked through the ship, with variations based on weather or current plant or wildlife conditions.

• 20 minutes - meet & greet your tour guide
• 20 minutes - Rushing Waters site
• 15 minutes - Flowing Waters site
• 15 minutes - Cape Fox Totems site
• 20 minutes - Totem Heritage site
• 15 minutes - Creek Street site
• 15 minutes - Mountain Vista site
• 20 minutes - Bar Barbor site

Thank you! I thought I mastered searches but this one got me. This is very helpful! Seems like it’s quicker stops so we may want to revisit some of the places to explore in greater depth, especially that they are mostly all walking distance from the ship.