How much did you spend on excursions in Alaska?

[Lisa Lisa]

We're considering an Alaskan cruise next summer and are trying to get a sense for how much we'd need to spend to have the type of experience we're envisioning. Traveling would be me, DH, and DD14. We would like to go whale watching, hike on a glacier, and drive dog sleds, among other things. We're fine with booking independent tours if they offer a superior experience and/or are less expensive than similar excursions offered by DCL. So what are we looking at if we want to "go big" in Alaska?

 

[The Grays]

With the dog sleds are you looking to do the helicopter to the glacier and do it on the glacier or are you ok with doing it on a cart and thru a road?

 

[katellynne]

The most expensive one we have booked for this May is the Disney Exclusive Dog Musher for a Day. It is going to be $4500 for our family of 6. Booking directly didn't save us any money and since it was DE we wouldn't have gotten all the same activites (we don't think). I think any of the helicopter to a glacier/dog sledding excursions are the most expensive options but we have saved and planned and are going for the once in a lifetime adventure!! We have 7, 14 and 16 year old girls and an 18 year old boy-it is his high school graduation trip.

 

[pjacobi]

Helicopter/glacier/dogsled is usually around $500 per person and yields an incredible experience! The dog cart on dirt road is certainly cheaper, but you miss a whole lot of the experience.


-Paul

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

We did six private tours in the three ports, booking early and saving a lot. We booked direct, got discounts, and it was far cheaper then DCL.

http://alaskawaltwhales.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[dcassetta]

We're considering an Alaskan cruise next summer and are trying to get a sense for how much we'd need to spend to have the type of experience we're envisioning. Traveling would be me, DH, and DD14. We would like to go whale watching, hike on a glacier, and drive dog sleds, among other things. We're fine with booking independent tours if they offer a superior experience and/or are less expensive than similar excursions offered by DCL. So what are we looking at if we want to "go big" in Alaska?

Take a look at what DCL is currently offering in Alaska to give you a sense of prices. Alaska is not a cheap place to visit whether booking direct with Disney or on your own.

 

[MUN]

To answer the question in your title: $ 1,765.89

For 2 adults and 3 children in 2014, this covered a floatplane trip in Ketchikan, a private tour to the Yukon from Skagway, a bus ride to the Mendenhal Glacier, Mt. Roberts tramway tickets, and misc. food in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. All booked outside of DCL.

MUN

 

[jetskigrl]

In 2014 we paid:
$433 (plus tip) for Whale Watching in Juneau - 2 adults, 1 child Thought we would be combined with another family but ended up with boat to ourselves.
$720 (plus tip) for Chilkoot train/bus tour (with 2 dog cart rides) in Skagway - 3 adults, 1 child
$296 (plus tip) for 4-hour Ketchikan city tour w/Ketchikan Taxi Tours - 3 adults, 1 child
$30 (plus tip) 3 one-way bus tickets from Mendenhall Glacier (the Whale Watching company dropped us off after the whale watching trip so we just needed the bus back to port).

All were booked outside of DCL and at a much reduced price as my 10-year old was still considered a child to the private tour companies but I would have had to pay for him as an adult on DCL.

 

[RedSox68]

We did the White Yukon Pass rail in Skagway with Chilkoot Tours; and did the whale watching in Juneau also with an outside vendor (exact same one the cruise was offering, but cheaper when booked direct). In Ketchikan we just walked off the ship and booked a vendor tour on the dock -- they have a tent set up with various offers. We got a great deal and were very happy with it. I'd have to go back and look them up to see what the tours costs, but I know we saved a lot by not booking with the ship.

 

[anricat]

We are sailing in August and we've booked everything third party (which surprised me, but that's how it worked out). We are a family of three (my DD will be 8 at time of sailing). This doesn't include the stuff we're doing in Vancouver, which I've also already booked.

Skagway: Yukon Rail & Bus w/ Dogcart Experience $597.00
Juneau: car rental (with intended trip to Mendenhall Glacier) $59.80, whatever the gas costs and the entrance to the visitor's center at the glacier, private whale watching trip that we're sharing the cost with another family (*waves to Heather*) $366.98
Ketchikan: Southeast Sea Kayaks $252.41

That's $1276.19

 

[Lisa Lisa]

With the dog sleds are you looking to do the helicopter to the glacier and do it on the glacier or are you ok with doing it on a cart and thru a road?

Definite preference for dog sledding on a glacier.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

The most expensive one we have booked for this May is the Disney Exclusive Dog Musher for a Day. It is going to be $4500 for our family of 6. Booking directly didn't save us any money and since it was DE we wouldn't have gotten all the same activites (we don't think). I think any of the helicopter to a glacier/dog sledding excursions are the most expensive options but we have saved and planned and are going for the once in a lifetime adventure!! We have 7, 14 and 16 year old girls and an 18 year old boy-it is his high school graduation trip.

Wow -- sounds amazing! Please report back and let us know what you thought!

 

[Lisa Lisa]

Helicopter/glacier/dogsled is usually around $500 per person and yields an incredible experience! The dog cart on dirt road is certainly cheaper, but you miss a whole lot of the experience.


-Paul

Yes -- We're thinking this would be our big splurge. We want that once-in-a-lifetime experience! Who did you book with?

 

[Lisa Lisa]

We did six private tours in the three ports, booking early and saving a lot. We booked direct, got discounts, and it was far cheaper then DCL.

http://alaskawaltwhales.blogspot.co.uk/

Thanks for the link. I'll check it out!

 

[Lisa Lisa]

To answer the question in your title: $ 1,765.89

For 2 adults and 3 children in 2014, this covered a floatplane trip in Ketchikan, a private tour to the Yukon from Skagway, a bus ride to the Mendenhal Glacier, Mt. Roberts tramway tickets, and misc. food in Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan. All booked outside of DCL.

MUN

Thank you for sharing your cost. Very helpful!

 

[Lisa Lisa]

In 2014 we paid:
$433 (plus tip) for Whale Watching in Juneau - 2 adults, 1 child Thought we would be combined with another family but ended up with boat to ourselves.
$720 (plus tip) for Chilkoot train/bus tour (with 2 dog cart rides) in Skagway - 3 adults, 1 child
$296 (plus tip) for 4-hour Ketchikan city tour w/Ketchikan Taxi Tours - 3 adults, 1 child
$30 (plus tip) 3 one-way bus tickets from Mendenhall Glacier (the Whale Watching company dropped us off after the whale watching trip so we just needed the bus back to port).

All were booked outside of DCL and at a much reduced price as my 10-year old was still considered a child to the private tour companies but I would have had to pay for him as an adult on DCL.

Thanks for the info! Who did you book your whale watching tour with? Would you recommend them?

 

[Lisa Lisa]

We did the White Yukon Pass rail in Skagway with Chilkoot Tours; and did the whale watching in Juneau also with an outside vendor (exact same one the cruise was offering, but cheaper when booked direct). In Ketchikan we just walked off the ship and booked a vendor tour on the dock -- they have a tent set up with various offers. We got a great deal and were very happy with it. I'd have to go back and look them up to see what the tours costs, but I know we saved a lot by not booking with the ship.

Thanks for the information! I think we'll need to spend some time looking into independent tours.

 

[Lisa Lisa]

We are sailing in August and we've booked everything third party (which surprised me, but that's how it worked out). We are a family of three (my DD will be 8 at time of sailing). This doesn't include the stuff we're doing in Vancouver, which I've also already booked.

Skagway: Yukon Rail & Bus w/ Dogcart Experience $597.00
Juneau: car rental (with intended trip to Mendenhall Glacier) $59.80, whatever the gas costs and the entrance to the visitor's center at the glacier, private whale watching trip that we're sharing the cost with another family (*waves to Heather*) $366.98
Ketchikan: Southeast Sea Kayaks $252.41

That's $1276.19

Sounds like a great plan! Thank you for sharing your prices. I'll join you in waving to Heather as she is a mutual friend!

 

[Rambler5678]

Who and how much did you Tip on the Chilkoot Train/Bus tour? Also has anyone done a whale watch/fishing combo in Juneau?

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

We are sailing in August and we've booked everything third party (which surprised me, but that's how it worked out). We are a family of three (my DD will be 8 at time of sailing). This doesn't include the stuff we're doing in Vancouver, which I've also already booked.

Skagway: Yukon Rail & Bus w/ Dogcart Experience $597.00
Juneau: car rental (with intended trip to Mendenhall Glacier) $59.80, whatever the gas costs and the entrance to the visitor's center at the glacier, private whale watching trip that we're sharing the cost with another family (*waves to Heather*) $366.98
Ketchikan: Southeast Sea Kayaks $252.41

That's $1276.19

Sounds like a great plan! Thank you for sharing your prices. I'll join you in waving to Heather as she is a mutual friend!

Waving right back at my lovely friends! I'd estimate our private excursions for the 3 of us a little under $1000 which feels like a bargain

Heather