Since somebody was worried about the costs associated with the shore excursions, I thought I would try to put together a comparison of some self-book and Disney options. Some of these are exactly the same excursion, some are "along the same lines". Please, please, PLEASE! Look carefully at all of the websites, make sure you know the fine print, cancellation policies, and whether or not transportation to the activity is included in the self-book options. Also, if you've had a bad experience with a provider, or a good one with one I haven't mentioned, by all means, let us know! I've done this for Ketchikan, and if people like it, I'll probably do Skagway next:
Cruise Excursions not offered by Disney:
Please also see post #230--thanks llkoolj40!
Ketchikan:
Alaska Duck Tour:
http://www.akduck.com/
Ketchikan Walking Tour Map (free!) Downtown:
http://www.experienceketchikan.com/support-files/ketchikan_maps_downtown.pdf
Ketchikan Walking Tour Map (free!) West End:
http://www.experienceketchikan.com/support-files/ketchikan_maps_west.pdf
Cruise Excursion offered by Disney/Similar, self-book options (please note that this on cursory glance, late at night so check the websites carefully!):
Ketchikan:
Bering Sea Crab Fishermans Tour:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...a/bering-sea-crab-fishermens-tour-and-dinner/
http://56degreesnorth.com/
Major differences: The self-book tour does not include dinner with the crew, and is shorterDisneys includes a dinner with the crew. The self-book option is wheelchair accessible; Disneys is not. Self-book allows you to purchase child tickets for 5-12 year olds for a lower price. On Disneys, everybodys ticket is the same price. Self-book is $159 for adults, and $99 for kids 5-12 (minimum age is 5). Disneys has a minimum age of 8, and everybody is $265.
Totem Traditions and Potlatch Park with Exclusive Youth Activity:
http://northerntoursofalaska.com/tours.html
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...an-alaska/totem-traditions-and-potlatch-park/
Northern Tours of Alaska offers a tour of Totem Bight State Park, the Russian Museum, and various city highlights, for $35 for adults, and $25 for children 5-12 (under 5 is free) if you book online. Disney offers tours of Totem Bight State Park, Potlatch Park, and a special youth activity for $89 for those over 10, and $69 for those 5 and up (minimum age for Disneys is 5). Northern Tours is 2.25-2.5 hours long, Disneys is 2.5-3 hours long. These are definitely not the same tour, and may not have the same provider, but they both covered the areas totem poles, so I added them both.
Alaska Bear Adventures:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...sions/ketchikan-alaska/alaska-bear-adventure/
https://secure51.inmotionhosting.com/~alaska26/bearpage.htm
Differences:
Alaska Seaplane Tours, Bears of the Misty Fjords: Minimum of two people: $289/adult, $239/child 12 and under, after the first two people. Tour time is two hours, and the cost includes pick-up and drop-off by the visitors center near the cruise ship. Im not sure how the time would work out with the time we have in port. May not be the same company used by Disney; About says they have a perfect safety rating, however.
Disneys tour is 3-3.5 hours (but this may include the transfer time, so bear that in mind). It seems to include a visit to the Tongass National Forest, whereas the Alaska Seaplane Tours visits the Misty Fjords. The charge for ages 9 and up is $372, under 9 is $299.
Alaska Hummer Adventures:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...ons/ketchikan-alaska/alaska-hummer-adventure/
http://gdyn.akhummer.com/
Differences: Disneys costs $605, self-book is $559
Back Country Jeep and Canoe Safari:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...alaska/back-country-jeep-and-canoe-adventure/
http://www.bestofalaskatravel.com/alaska_day_tours/pages/k_jeep_canoe_safari.htm
Differences: Disneys says that it is 4-4.5 hours, self-book says it is approximately 4 hours. Self-book is Adult $149/Child $99, not including taxes, child is 12 and under, Disneys is $178, ages 10 and up, and $100 ages 8 to 9, taxes unckear. Minimum age for Disneys is 8; Minimum age for self-book is 5.
Bear Country Wildlife Expedition:
http://www.alaskarainforest.com/Tours/Wildlife-Expedition.html
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...-alaska/bear-country-and-wildlife-expedition/
Differences: Minimum age for Disney tour is 5; for self-book, its 12. Disneys is $192 for those 12 and over, and $129 for ages 5-9. Self-book tour is $199 per person. Self-book tour is 3.25 hours, Disneys is 3-3.5 hours. Self-Book tour is supposed to have a limited group size (not specific).
Please also see message #198 with many thanks to SanDiegoSteph
Bear Creek Zipline Adventure:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...tchikan-alaska/bear-creek-zipline-adventures/
http://www.alaskarainforest.com/Tours/Zipline-Rainforest-Ketchikan.html
Differences: Self-book: $179/person, Disney, $178/person
Bering Sea Crab Fishermans Tour:
http://56degreesnorth.com/
Differences: Self-book is $159 for 13+, $99 for 5-12. Disneys is $179 for 10+, $99 for for 5-9.
Best of Ketchikan by Land and Sea:
No self-book option, but a note:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...kan-alaska/best-of-ketchikan-by-land-and-sea/
Duck tours are available for $38 for 13+, and $24 for 3-12, under 3 are free, and they are 90 minutes long:
http://www.akduck.com
Northern tours offer a city tour that is 2.25-2.5 hours long, for $35 for 13+ and $25 for 5-12, under 5 are free:
http://northerntoursofalaska.com/tours.html
If you can coordinate the time (it looks like they leave from about the same locationthe visitors center), that would give you a 3.75-4 hour long land and sea tour for about $73 for adults and $58 for kids up to 12.
The Best of Ketchikan by Land and Sea tour is $118 for 10+ and $70 for 9 and under. Its 3.5-4 hours long. It goes to different parts of Ketchikan than the two tours aboveI would recommend looking at all three tours to see what would suit your familyand budgetthe best.
City Highlights, Totems, and Creek Street by Trolley
http://aksourdoughtours.com/saxman_tour.php
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...ighlights-totems-and-creek-street-by-trolley/
Self-book: $40/person, any age. Disney: $42/10+, $19 for under 10.
Misty Fjords Flightseeing:
http://www.alaskaseaplanetours.com/mistyfjords.htm
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...kan-alaska/classic-misty-fjords-flightseeing/
Self-Book: $229/13+, $189/12 and under. Disney: $263/10+, $202/9 and under.
Please also see #207 with many thanks to SanDiegoSteph
First City Deluxe Tour:
http://northerntoursofalaska.com/wildlife.html
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...luxe-totems-salmon-hatchery-and-eagle-center/
Differences: Disney goes to Potlatch Park, while Northern Tours goes to the Saxman Native Village. Northern Tours goes to the Black Bear Area, while Disneys goes to the Salmon Hatchery. Northern Tours goes to Creek Street, and Disney goes to the Southeast Alaska Discovery Center. Since the two have different itinteraries, I would look at both closely to see which best fit your familys interests and budget. Northern Tours is $42 for 13+, $22 5-12, free under 5. Disneys is $82 for 10+, $45 for 9 and under. Disneys is also much longer; 4-4.5 hours, whereas Northern Tours of Alaskas is only 2.25-2.5 hours.
Hunting for Halibut:
http://wefishalaska.com/
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...ursions/ketchikan-alaska/hunting-for-halibut/
Self-Book: According to their website, 4 hour fishing trips can be booked for about $175/person, but you should call and check to make sure thats true. Disneys are $394 for 10+, and $319 for 8 and 9 year olds. Disneys are 5.5-6.5 hours long. For a more accurate comparison, you might specifically ask about Halibut fishing for that time period. I am quite sure that self-book option is not the same company Disney uses.
Knudson Cove Salmon Fishing:
http://wefishalaska.com/
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...ketchikan-alaska/knudson-cove-salmon-fishing/
Again, I dont think the Self-Book option is the same company Disney uses, but again, according to their website, 4 hour fishing trips can be booked for about $175/personagain, I would call and check. Disneys is $202 for 10+, and $190 for ages 8 and 9. Disneys is about 4.5-5.5 hours long.
Lighthouse, Totems and Eagles:
http://lighthouseexcursion.com/
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...etchikan-alaska/lighthouse-totems-and-eagles/
These two appear to be the exact same excursion; Disney lists prices as $102 for 10+, and $49 for 9 and under. I could not see a price listing for a direct book, but there was a link to click where you could email for booking information. Probably worth an email for a price check, since the two excursions appear to be done by the same company.
Please also see message #209 by SanDiegoSteph
Misty Fjords Boat and Floatplane Adventure:
http://www.promechair.com/Alaskan-Package/
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...a/misty-fjords-boat-and-floatplane-adventure/
I think these are both the same package. Disney lists it as $359/10+, $310 under 9. Promech Air does not list pricesyou might want to call and check, also, make sure Promech Air includes transporation to/from the docks.
Neets Bay Bear Watch by Floatplane:
http://www.promechair.com/Beartour/
http://www.alaskaseaplanetours.com/bearpage.htm
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...an-alaska/neets-bay-bear-watch-by-floatplane/
Differences: Promech Air is $339 per person, and I do not know if that includes transportation to the airportI suspect they run Disneys tour. Disney lists prices as $360 for 10+, and $302 for 9 and under. Disneys excursion is 3-3.5 hours long. Alaska Seaplane Tours goes bear watching on Prince of Wales Island, and does include transportation to the departure area. They list prices as $339/adult (at least 2), and $289/child 12 and under (after the first 2 people)they do not specify times, but they do specify that they include transportation to/from the cruise dock.
Rainforest Canoe Adventure and Nature Trail:
http://www.bestofalaskatravel.com/alaska_day_tours/pages/k_rain_forest_canoe.htm
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...rain-forest-canoe-adventure-and-nature-trail/
Differences: Best of Alaska Tour: $89/12+, $59/12 and under, Disney Tour: $112/9+, $69/5-9. I suspect this to be the same tour as Disneys.
Rainforest Island Adventure:
http://www.alaskaadventures.com/alaska_day_tours/pages/k_rainforest_island_adv.htm
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...etchikan-alaska/rain-forest-island-adventure/
Differences: I suspect this is the same tour. Alaska Adventures is $119/12+, and $79 for 12 and under. Disneys is $130/10+, and $72 for ages 5-9.
Saxman Native Village:
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...sions/ketchikan-alaska/saxman-native-village/
http://www.northerntoursofalaska.com/wildlife.html
Disneys cruise tends to focus more on Saxman Native Village alone, whereas Northern Tours of Alaska seems to sprinkle in some more wildlife viewing. Northern Tours is $42/adults (12+), and $22 for kids (12 and under). Disneys is $72/adult (10+), and $29/kid (9 and under)
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After disembarking Tuesday, we will drive back to Seattle and overnight there before flying out at o' dark thirty.
