Juneau - dog sled /Mendenhall?

[auntlynne]

So the blue bus is no longer an option?

The post gives a good explanation why I couldn’t find info for the Blue Bus.

The source cited was from Cruise Critic. You can put a term and Cruise Critic in a search engine and you can see posts - without having an account.

I would also keep an eye out to see if MM Tours has offerings this season. They could be in some type of contract negotiations.

https://www.mmtoursofjuneau.com/land-tours?fh-u=b6877056-8c66-467f-8dc7-98258f2c039f

 

[robinb]

So the blue bus is no longer an option?

Not sure. But I think they are out of business.

 

[Disneymadhouse]

Ok so I just priced up the two different cruises, with the port adventures we'd likely do. I used to Disney prices for ease of comparison and included both things in Juneau with Disney if we did ISP sailing ( although I'm not sure if that is possible, but it gives an idea)
I converted the port adventures in to £ as I'm in the UK and will pay for the cruise in £

4th August (the cruise that goes to Skagway)

Inside room, SW65 and JU11 - £5780
Oceanview, SW65 and JU11 - £7056

11th August (ISP cruise)

Inside room, JU04, JU11, IS01 - £5475
Oceanview, JU04, JU11, IS01 - £6580

I think overall, I would rather pay the extra £300 or so and do the sailing that goes to Skagway if we do an inside room (hopefully a secret porthole room) The port adventures for the ISP cruise are a lot more as I was hunting for something to do at ISP, so went for the whale watching as nothing else really appealed. If I did the tram tour it would be a lot less but it doesn't sound that appealing to us. Either way, I think we'd be doing something in ISP for the sake of doing it if that makes sense? We plan to do whale watching in Vancouver so would be repeating the same sort of thing.


I have looked at flying in to Seattle and using the train upto Vancouver, based on this years prices. Unfortunately they aren't any cheaper than flying into YVR. But I will definitely keep it as an option in mind if there's a flight sale on!

Thankyou everyone for your help, I really appreciate it. Hopefully this post has given others some ideas too.

I am certainly going to look into booking with outside vendors too for our excursions, I just used the Disney ones for ease.

 

[Stormypetrel]

Thanks for sharing the numbers! That was exactly my feeling on the ISP itinerary as well.

 

[Geomom]

Ok so I just priced up the two different cruises, with the port adventures we'd likely do. I used to Disney prices for ease of comparison and included both things in Juneau with Disney if we did ISP sailing ( although I'm not sure if that is possible, but it gives an idea)
I converted the port adventures in to £ as I'm in the UK and will pay for the cruise in £

4th August (the cruise that goes to Skagway)

Inside room, SW65 and JU11 - £5780
Oceanview, SW65 and JU11 - £7056

11th August (ISP cruise)

Inside room, JU04, JU11, IS01 - £5475
Oceanview, JU04, JU11, IS01 - £6580

I think overall, I would rather pay the extra £300 or so and do the sailing that goes to Skagway if we do an inside room (hopefully a secret porthole room)

I definitely think Skagway is great for a first Alaska cruise as there are tons of things to do there. We're doing the ISP one so that we get to try a different port for our second Alaska cruise.

The secret porthole room will likely cost the same as the listed Oceanview price The 'starting at' prices listed are the lowest ones in each category, so they list the standard inside vs the deluxe inside,.and the Oceanview price is for deck 1 with the 2 small portholes. You would save over the cost of a deck 5 Oceanview though as prices are higher for the upper decks.

 

[Disneymadhouse]

Thankyou, yes I realise those prices are for the cheapest rooms in each category, and will likely rise after Monday and Tuesday (I can book on Wednesday).

 

[robinb]

When I went to ISP it was because our ship couldn’t get into Skagway due to a landslide at the dock. I shared you opinion of the tram and the people on our cruise got up on top and then really couldn’t explore because of bear on the trails. People were not allowed to wander off on their own. That area has the densest population of bear per square mile in the US. There are a lot of them and they can be agressive. Our bear/whale tour was protected by two guides with rifles. I’m not a “gun person” but I still very safe! I am still jealous that the other tour saw a bear fishing in the stream .

I was planning to do a combination train and bus ride to see sled dogs in Skagway. The train was also modified at the time and was not doing the entire route. I’m not sure if they are back to their regular schedule or not.

Talking about this really makes me want to go back to Alaska! I would personally cruise another line that goes to Glacier Bay which is breathtakingly beautiful. DCL doesn’t go to Glacier Bay. Full disclosure, I’ve never sailed DCL because it’s double the price of other cruises and my daughter is an adult.

 

[auntlynne]

Nice research!

I got to ISP on a fifth cruise - to see a different new port. I loved the ZipRider (did it as a combo with whale watching), but now doing just the ZipRider is pushing $300 for a 90 second ride. Ouch. Glad I got it in when it wasn’t so expensive (and I don’t even see the combo tour even offered this year).

If flights are in the same ballpark, definitely fly to YVR. So nice to land and be at your destination. While the train ride from Seattle to Vancouver is lovely, it’s just more steps and transfers in the journey. And you have a long journey!

I’d back you on doing the Skagway option. It is a classic Alaskan cruise itinerary. Skagway is a cute replica of a town with the history of the Yukon Good Rush. Puppies sounds good, too. I guess this excursion has the train ride both ways (up and down). That’s how ours was. But some go one way via bus (they would list that in the description. SW65 doesn’t mention a bus).

 

[Stormypetrel]

now that some 3rd party tours have started booking for 2025 I’ve started looking into this closer and now have the same question as OP as how to squeeze in the puppies + Mendenhall glacier in Juneau! My kids’ 2 priorities are zip lining and the puppies. Based on the weight/age restrictions the only zip line they’ll be able to do is in Skagway. Looking at different websites though the time slots for most excursions start around 10am, noon or 2pm which would make it hard to squeeze in more than one on a day and make it back to the shop for 5:45 dining. I’m looking into the DIY Mendenhall bus you all explained above but ideally I would get on a excursion that is more than just the visitor center and walking to the glacier and includes some hiking/whale watching/kayaking etc.
just out of curiosity, do more time slots start to open up as we get closer to the cruise? Are there more time slots available when booking through Disney? I watched a you tube where they had a sled dog excursion in Juneau at 7am which would allow time to fit in a second one but so far I’m not seeing any that early on the independent operator sites!

 

[auntlynne]

now that some 3rd party tours have started booking for 2025 I’ve started looking into this closer and now have the same question as OP as how to squeeze in the puppies + Mendenhall glacier in Juneau! My kids’ 2 priorities are zip lining and the puppies. Based on the weight/age restrictions the only zip line they’ll be able to do is in Skagway. Looking at different websites though the time slots for most excursions start around 10am, noon or 2pm which would make it hard to squeeze in more than one on a day and make it back to the shop for 5:45 dining. I’m looking into the DIY Mendenhall bus you all explained above but ideally I would get on a excursion that is more than just the visitor center and walking to the glacier and includes some hiking/whale watching/kayaking etc.
just out of curiosity, do more time slots start to open up as we get closer to the cruise? Are there more time slots available when booking through Disney? I watched a you tube where they had a sled dog excursion in Juneau at 7am which would allow time to fit in a second one but so far I’m not seeing any that early on the independent operator sites!

First thing I would consider is punting dinner on the ship! You only get 3? days on land in Alaska with limited time to do activities. That’s me. I have had enough cruise food in my life. No dinner show is better than the show of Alaska’s beauty.

Not everyone would say that. You don’t have to. I was being emphatic to let that sink in. Sometimes I have to remind myself to think outside the box.

Next thing I’d question is if you really want to visit Mendenhall. We repeat there because it is an easy visit and relatively cheap and an easy enough walk (not hike). Our first two times were in combination with a whale watch. As it recedes, it is still beautiful, but I would suggest you look at photos and decide if it’s a high priority.

How young and light weight are your kids?

 

[auntlynne]

This excursion in Skagway looks fun for ziplining:

GRIZZLY FALLS ZIPLINING ADVENTURE​

We did a five line course in Hawaii and had a great time. I imagine this one could provide that but also leave everyone tired.

 

[auntlynne]

I have a hard time finding something to do in Ketchikan. I have done float plane, Lumberjack Show, walked around town, taking in the salmon creek beside brothel buildings, and a boat tour from Ward’s Cove.

There is a zipline option in Ketchikan. I’d look at the videos to see if one is more difficult to reach platforms than the other (Skagway v Ketchikan).

 

[Stormypetrel]

Ziplining in Ketchikan would be ideal, but unless my kids have a huge growth spurt in the next 10 months I don’t think they’ll be 70lbs! the grizzly falls zip line in Skagway has a 50lb minimum haha.