Alaskan Shore excursion times

[mardonna]

I am on the June 21st Alaskan cruise sailing and have been getting feedback on excursion times for the first 2 May cruises.....it seems because of the weather conditions and daylight that the excursion times will be different on each cruise.....does anyone have any addtionial information on the times for any of the other sailings?

 

[smb6]

I'm on the 5/31 sailing, but my booking window has not opened yet.... I believe several excursions are seasonal and are not offered on the first few sailings... I have actually already booked my excursions- independently.

 

[mardonna]

Would you mind telling me what private companies you used.....we are a family of 6.....4 kids under 9......My husband and older daughter were going to a dog sledding thing....one thing I noticed as opposed to our Baltic Cruise was the excursions Disney is offering seem more in line with private companies....

 

[smb6]

Skagway: http://www.chilkootcharters.com/summitrail.htm
*we are doing the train up, the bus down, and it includes a dog sled ride (dry land, not on a glacier)

Juneau: http://www.harvandmarvs.com/FAQ.html
* we have a private boat for whale watching.... They only allow kids under 13 if you get a private boat- but since there are 6 of you, you will automatically get a private boat.

Ketchikan: http://www.islandwings.com/
* we are doing the misty fjord flightseein coupled with the glacier flightseeing.

If you are considering dog sledding on a glacier- http://www.temscoair.com/

 

[disney_guest]

If you don't mind me asking - can you share the cost per person. I could not find it on some of the sites. Thanks.

 

[smb6]

I'm pretty sure Harv and Marv is listed on their site....... let me know if it's not and I'll list it.....


Island Wings: We have the two hour glacier and fjords tour for $385 per person. This is the adult and child price; but they do offer for a child 5 and under to fly free w/two paying adults. The Misty Fjords by itself is $239. Please note- we booked early and got the 2010 price, the prices may have been slightly increased for 2011.

Chilkoot: I'll copy and paste from my email-

BUS & RAIL EXCURSIONS



White Pass Summit Bus & Rail Excursion (3.5 Hours)

Duration: 3.5 Hours

Departure: 7:30AM & 12:00PM (Train first)

Departure: 8:30AM & 1:00PM (Bus first)

Cost: $122.00 Adult $71.00 Child (12 & Under)

Itinerary: Skagway/White Pass Summit/Fraser & return to Skagway by bus



Yukon Bus & Rail Excursion (7.5 Hours-lunch included)

Duration: 7.5 Hours

Departure: 7:30AM

Cost: $175.00 Adult $115.00 Child (12 & Under)

Lunch: Caribou Crossing Trading Post/Yukon Wildlife Museum/Husky Puppy Camp/Lunch Included

Itinerary: Skagway/White Pass Summit /Fraser by train - 1 3/4 hours on train to Fraser, Fraser to Carcross & Emerald Lake and return to Skagway by bus



Yukon Bus & Rail Excursion With 15 Minute Dogsled Ride (7.5 Hours-lunch included)

Duration: 7.5 Hours

Departure: 7:30AM

Cost: $206.00 Adult $147.00 Child (12 & Under)

Same as above plus dogsled ride included in this package

Lunch: Caribou Crossing Trading Post/Yukon Wildlife Museum/Husky Puppy Camp/15-Minute Dogcart Ride/Lunch Included

Itinerary: Skagway/White Pass Summit /Fraser by train - 1 3/4 hours on train to Fraser, Fraser to Carcross & Emerald Lake and return to Skagway by bus



Carcross Bus & Rail Excursion (May 22 – September 2, 2011)

Duration: 9 Hours

Departure: 7:30AM

Cost: $239 Adult $119 Child (12 & Under)

Lunch: Lake Bennett Train Depot dining hall/Parks Canada Interpretive Displays/Lunch Included

Itinerary: 2 1/2 hours on train to White Pass Summit, Fraser & Lake Bennett – 1 1/2 hours for lunch and layover at Lake Bennett – 1 hour by train to Carcross – Carcross to Emerald Lake and return to Skagway by bus



BUS ONLY EXCURSIONS



The prices and travel itinerary of our bus only excursions are listed below:



1) White Pass Summit Excursion (By bus only)

Duration: 2.5 Hours

Departure: 9:00AM

Cost: 49.00 Adult $39.00 Child (12 & Under)

Itinerary: Skagway to White Pass Summit with photo stops all along the way, fully narrated and entertaining, gold rush history with amusing Alaska stories



2) Discover The Yukon Adventure (By bus only)

Duration: 6.5 Hours

Departure: 8:30AM

Cost: $98.00 Adult $66.00 Child (12 & Under)

Lunch: Caribou Crossing Trading Post/Yukon Wildlife Museum/Husky Puppy Camp

Itinerary: Skagway/White Pass Summit /Carcross/Emerald Lake and return to

Skagway by bus



3) Discover The Yukon Adventure With 15-Minute Dogsled Ride

Duration: 6.5 Hours

Departure: 8:30AM

Same as #2 above only dogsled ride is included in this package

Cost: $128 Adults $95 Child (12 & Under)



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, 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!



Please feel free to contact us should you have any further questions. Reservations may be made by visiting our web site at www.chilkootcharters.com and completing our online reservation form. Once we receive a reservation request, we will respond with an email confirmation that includes meeting and pickup instructions. Tour payment will be processed at the time the reservation is confirmed.



TEMPSCO: I'll copy and paste from email for this one too-

SKAGWAY

Glacier Discovery by Helicopter (Skagway):
Lift off from the historic Skagway waterfront and experience the infinite beauty of Alaska’s remote glaciers. After your Flightseeing tour, you will get to enjoy a walking-tour-of-a-lifetime, as experienced glacier guides answer all of your questions and explain the awesome forces of nature at work.
Duration: Approximately 40 minutes of helicopter time and 40 minutes on the glacier. All times are approximate and may vary due to weather and glacier conditions. (From the dock or your hotel, set aside 2 hours for your tour)
Cost: $299.00 per person

Dog Sledding & Glacier Flight-seeing (Skagway):
Combine helicopter Glacier-Flightseeing with Alaska’s favorite sport – Dog Sledding. Upon your arrival atop the Denver Icefield, professional mushers will introduce you to the world of “mushing” and the art of Dog Sledding. Drive the team or relax in the sled while observing the breathtaking environment around you.
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes of helicopter time and 1 hour at Dog Camp. Times may vary due to weather and glacier conditions. (From the dock or your hotel, set aside 2 hours for your tour)
Cost: $489.00 per person





**Due to weight and balance limitations, as well as guest safety and comfort, passengers weighing 250 pounds (113kg or 18 Stone) or more will be charged an additional half-fare to reserve adequate space onboard the helicopter. Total weight includes shoes and clothing. Surcharge must be paid at time of booking.


JUNEAU

Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter & Guided Walk (Juneau):
You’ll venture from wetland habitat at sea level to alpine ridges and thriving rain forest regions once covered by glacial ice. As you proceed, you’ll soar over deep crevasses, past hanging icefalls and around jagged spires. Finally, you’ll land on the well-renowned Mendenhall Glacier and explore its surface with our expert glacier guides.
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes of helicopter time and 20-25 minutes on the glacier. Times may vary due to weather and glacier conditions. (From the dock or your hotel, set aside 2 ¼ hours for your tour to include transportation)
Cost: $259.00 per person

“PILOT’S CHOICE” Glacier Explorer (Juneau):
Let the pilot be your guide on the ultimate helicopter tour! Go on a private journey to places of rare beauty few have seen. If our pilots could take their family and friends to their favorite spots, this would be the tour.
Duration: Approximately 50 minutes of helicopter time and 2 separate landings of 15 minutes apiece on the glacier. Times may vary due to weather and glacier conditions. (From the dock or your hotel, set aside 2 ¾ hours for your tour to include transportation)
Cost: $399.00 per person

Dog Sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier by Helicopter (Juneau):
Combine the excitement of helicopter flight-seeing with dog sledding on the Mendenhall Glacier. Once on the glacier, you will spend approximately 1 hour at the dog camp, which includes 25-30 minutes of dog mushing.
Duration: Approximately 30 minutes of helicopter time and 1 hour at Dog Camp. Times may vary due to weather and glacier conditions. (From the dock or your hotel, set aside 2 ¾ hours for your tour to include transportation)
Cost: $489.00 per person

Sled Dog Summer Camp (Juneau):
Climb on board the specially designed 6-8 passenger wheeled dog sled and be whisked back in time by your team of energetic Alaskan huskies. Enjoy views of scenic Sheep Creek Valley, at the site of the historic AJ Gold Mine, where you will embark on an educational tour of Sheep Creek Dog camp. You will be entertained with real stories from the trail and legends from the days of the Gold Rush. Meet a real Iditarod musher, visit an exact replica of an Iditarod Race checkpoint, and tour a dog musher’s summer training camp.
Duration: Approximately 1 hour is spent at camp, and the wheeled cart ride is over a mile long on dirt trails. (From the dock or your hotel, set aside 2¼ hours for your tour to allow for transportation to and from the camp.)
Cost: $ 124.00 per person (PLEASE NOTE: This tour is land-based and does not include helicopter Flightseeing or glaciers.

 

[gduvall]

Skagway: http://www.chilkootcharters.com/summitrail.htm
*we are doing the train up, the bus down, and it includes a dog sled ride (dry land, not on a glacier)

Juneau: http://www.harvandmarvs.com/FAQ.html
* we have a private boat for whale watching.... They only allow kids under 13 if you get a private boat- but since there are 6 of you, you will automatically get a private boat.

Ketchikan: http://www.islandwings.com/
* we are doing the misty fjord flightseein coupled with the glacier flightseeing.

If you are considering dog sledding on a glacier- http://www.temscoair.com/

Too funny, I'm on the same week of cruise you are and have the almost same excursions booked, at lease same companies. We aren't do the dog sled portion, and we're only doing Misty Fjord portion of flight seeing. I've been booked now for over 2 months ago, couldn't wait on Disney's list.

 

[disney_guest]

Thanks for sharing the info. May I ask how did you find these operators? Google or some super secret site

 

[gduvall]

I found mine by researching cruisecritic from past Alaska cruisers and also google searchs.

 

[smb6]

Too funny, I'm on the same week of cruise you are and have the almost same excursions booked, at lease same companies. We aren't do the dog sled portion, and we're only doing Misty Fjord portion of flight seeing. I've been booked now for over 2 months ago, couldn't wait on Disney's list.

That is funny.... Maybe I will see you on the Chilkoot tour! Are you doing the train up also? (They have an option for bus up, train down) Even though we are doing the add-on dog cart ride; it is the same tour, with the same people that are not doing the dog cart. My understanding is the whole bus stops at the mushers camp and museum and those that are signed up for dog sled, will ride at that time..... My kids were dying to go dog sledding and at the end of the day- paying extra for this "dry" dog sled rather than the cost for glacier sledding seemed like a better fit for our money and time....

I found mine by researching cruisecritic from past Alaska cruisers and also google searchs.

I got a lot of good reviews and information off of cruise critic also....

 

[gduvall]

we are doing the train up and bus down, they do have two different times of the day that they run this route. We are doing the one that doesn't leave until 12:00 noon I believe. Didn't want to feel like we had to rush off of the ship as soon as it docked.

 

[mmmears]

I agree -- CC has some good tour ideas. You can also get some good information from Trip Advisor. One of the companies I booked with came with great recommendations from 2 of my friends (so I know it's good) but they also have great reviews up on TA.

Above & Beyond Alaska -- Mendenhall Glacier treks and some other choices.

 

[smb6]

we are doing the train up and bus down, they do have two different times of the day that they run this route. We are doing the one that doesn't leave until 12:00 noon I believe. Didn't want to feel like we had to rush off of the ship as soon as it docked.

Unfortunately, we will be rushing off the ship.... But the one we are doing only has the morning time option.... Otherwise, I would have preferred a slightly later time slot also.... Have fun!

 

[gduvall]

I debated a long time trying to decide if we should do the first one, finally decide to just look around town first thing in morning then do excursion at noon. I think either time would work.

 

[mellers]

Would you mind telling me what private companies you used.....we are a family of 6.....4 kids under 9......My husband and older daughter were going to a dog sledding thing....one thing I noticed as opposed to our Baltic Cruise was the excursions Disney is offering seem more in line with private companies....

If you go to the August 16th Cruise Meet thread, I posted some alternatives to Disney for most of the excursions.