I didn't read through all of the posts, so forgive me if I am repeating anything. I am 90 days out from my Disney Alaskan Cruise. This will be my fourth cruise to Alaskan, 2nd
Disney cruise to Alaska, and 5th time to the state in General. I have been on HAL 2x and once on Disney. We tend to go every 2-3 years, have had little to no rain (sprinkles on day doesn't count) and have been almost every month in the summer.Just some background to give some weight to these opinions I am about to throw at you all. yes, yes, yes... I joined today just to comment on this forum. Can you tell I am excited about my trip?
Honestly, I am going to throw this out there...you don't have to book any excursions through the ship to have a great time in Alaska. We rarely do, typically you can find things cheaper on shore or booking locally ahead of time. Bear in mind also that all of these towns are super walkable.
Juneau-
I haven't walked this town in awhile, but it is really cute. There is a $15 bus that will take you to Mendenhall and back, it isn't fancy, but if you just want to get out to explore the Glacier this is the way to go. I think it is called the blue bus. They typically have stands where you can walk right up and book the bus. Our first time in Juneau we did a tour with the Glacier, but found that it was not enough time at the Glacier. (There is a path to the left of the parking lot near Mendenhall, if you are there when the salmon on running we have seen a bear there each time.) This upcoming trip my sister has booked us locally with a private boat for whale watching and they will drop us off at the Glacier after the tour. So much cheaper than booking with the ship. At Mendenhall, there is a nice little visitors center (costs to go in/look around) and a short easy hike to get a closer view of the glacier/falls. Warning, last time we were in Juneau is was hot outside... so check the weather or layer up just in case.
Another favorite for Juneau is the Taku Cannery. The smoked salmon is amazing and so is the smoked salmon dip. I haven't tried the restaurant attached to it, but I am assuming it is of the same caliber.
Skagway-
I have only been once and chose to just walk the town and shop with my mom. Seriously well priced amazing huge jewelry, but that is in most ports. My dad did the train with my uncle and enjoyed it. He said it was beautiful, but the end destination was not. My sister and brother in law did the same train with the bike back and also enjoyed it. As much as they enjoyed it, it isn't something they were eager to repeat. There is a brewery in town which several friends raved about, that I have yet to go to. This trip we are just hiking around town on some of the trails. There was an option to hike and then raft, but we are forgoing it due to having a toddler present and my sister being pregnant.
Ketchikan-
Typically, my least favorite stop on the cruise unless I am out on the water. Honestly, in this town out on the water is where you want to be. First time, we did salmon fishing and a whale swam right by the boat. It was privately contracted, not through the ship. 2nd time, we did a tour through the rainforest (yes, there is a rainforest in Alaska, don't worry I was confused too) and then strolled through town. Town isn't much to see. Creek street is fun, and my favorite artist is there. My sister found a cultural center in town that she said is worth checking out and we will be going this next trip, as well as the lumber jack show (for the 2 year old). Dad, brother in law and friends dad are all going halibut fishing- contracted off the ship due to price as well. There is some great art to be found in town, although I did learn that some of the shops carry carvings that were created in Indonesia (thanks to a sticker left on a piece). On our third time, we took a tour around town and out to ceremonial house for the Tlingit tribe. It took three attempts at this city, but I think this fourth trip there and the first will be my favorites.
Tracy Arm-
This may sound like blasphemy to some, but I like this place so much better than Glacier Bay. Then again, I cried the last time we went to Glacier Bay, because the Glacier had receded so much. It is so small now.
Our trip through Tracy Arm was misting and really cold. Make sure you have lots of layers. Disney did a fantastic job of getting as far as they could into the fjord and the sights were breath taking. They were selling hot drinks on deck, but I found that near the pools (I think) there was free coffee and tea. But that was five years ago, things could be different now. The glacier is at the far end of the fjord, so I definitely recommend binoculars. We also saw an eagle on the island in the middle of the fjord, another cruise ship and a brown bear swimming.
Heck, I recommend binoculars in general for this cruise. We saw so many whales while we were at sea last time it was astounding. We usually just perch on deck reading and scanning the horizon, most ships will make an announcement when they spot whales. Pluses of Disney over HAL: the shows, the food, attention to detail for everything (seriously, my parents did HAL to Alaska when we were four, went back when we were 20 and everything was the same), the phones that come with the room. Although they don't go into Sitka or Victoria, which are definite favorites.
Aloha!
