Ketchikan Alaska Misty Fiords flightseeing or boat?

[donutday]

Any opinions on the Misty Fiords flightseeing vs. boat or both (fly in, boat back)?

I have a little tendency toward motion sickness, has anyone experienced that on the flight?

Is the scenery from the boats just similar to what we will see from the ship or is it a different landscape?
Is the boat worth the amount of time it requires, since it won't allow much time for any other sightseeing in Ketchikan?

 

[MelSpees]

I don't know if the scenery will be different but the perspective sure will be. There's huge difference between a cruise ship and a tour boat. I think you'd get a much better sense of size from the tour.

 

[sharksfinatic17]

I have no idea, but depending on when you are going, I might be able to help. We are going to be visiting the Misty Fjords by float plane the week of June 22. If you are traveling after that, I can at least tell you about the motion sickness part of the trip.

 

[havoc315]

We are doing flight seeing in August..... So can't speak from experience yet. But I chose to do flight seeing over boat-seeing, after reading extensive glowing reviews of flight seeing. On the other hand, the flight seeing is much more expensive, for much less actual time.

 

[donutday]

Thanks to all of you for the input. We will be sailing on the August 31 "farewell" cruise, so sharksfinatic17 I would appreciate your report on motion sickness. And havoc315, a general trip report would be nice depending on which August date you are cruising. Did you book through DCL or independently, and if so, what company? I am leaning towards just the flight at this point, based on what I have read., probably booking with Seawind Aviation if they have an opening. The DCL combination boat/flight would solve my problem, but is considerably more expensive, and several people have posted that after Tracy Arm the MIsty Fjords cruise is a little boring. Plus it takes 4 - 5 hours which will not allow us to see anything else of Ketchikan. But a few say that the close encounter is beautiful and peaceful, and as MelSpees points out, a much better perspective. Oh, decisions, decisions! Cruises are supposed to be relaxing, but choosing from all these excursions is raising my blood pressure!

 

[sharksfinatic17]

We booked with Island Wings. We are a group of 10, so she has contracted with another plane and both planes will take off and land next to each other.

 

[MelSpees]

We booked with Island Wings. We are a group of 10, so she has contracted with another plane and both planes will take off and land next to each other.

That's cool!

 

[havoc315]

Thanks to all of you for the input. We will be sailing on the August 31 "farewell" cruise, so sharksfinatic17 I would appreciate your report on motion sickness. And havoc315, a general trip report would be nice depending on which August date you are cruising. Did you book through DCL or independently, and if so, what company? I am leaning towards just the flight at this point, based on what I have read., probably booking with Seawind Aviation if they have an opening. The DCL combination boat/flight would solve my problem, but is considerably more expensive, and several people have posted that after Tracy Arm the MIsty Fjords cruise is a little boring. Plus it takes 4 - 5 hours which will not allow us to see anything else of Ketchikan. But a few say that the close encounter is beautiful and peaceful, and as MelSpees points out, a much better perspective. Oh, decisions, decisions! Cruises are supposed to be relaxing, but choosing from all these excursions is raising my blood pressure!

Booked through Island Wings... But coming back on 8/31, will pass you on our way out.

 

[jdb in AZ]

We loved flight seeing over Misty Fjords. The pilot zoomed in close (but not too close) so we could see some mountain sheep, and we eventually landed on a glacier lake. The scenery was amazing. On our most recent Alaskan cruise we were headed back to the ship and one of the kiosks at the dock still had flights available -- they were actively "recruiting" passengers, so if one company sells out before your cruise, there's always the same-day option. Which also helps if the weather is "iffy."

 

[SnowWhite2]

We did the boat tour and I honestly can't recommend it. It was the worst port excursion we did on the entire Alaska trip. Long trip looking at the same stuff over and over - out and back. I think I fell asleep for part of it.

 

[Yokelridesagain]

I would definitely recommend the flight tour over the boat. And don't do it through DCL; you can get the same experience through several local operators for a significantly lower price.

Misty Fjords itself is a pretty place but not spectacularly different from the scenery you have already seen from the ship. The vantage point from the sky is something entirely different.

As far as motion sickness, I have no problems. My wife and one of my sons occasionally have mild issues, and neither was bothered at all. Be aware that if you have not spent much time in small planes, the sensation of turning is quite different than a commercial airliner (i.e., "OMG, the side of that mountain looks really close...right turn).

The only thing about the boat that would not dissuade me is "missing" anything in Ketchikan. There is nothing there to miss unless you like the typical cruise port shopping opportunities.

 

[Yokelridesagain]

DP.

 

[Debbie]

You will love Michelle and Island Wings. It was a fantastic experience that both DH and I enjoyed very much. And landing, and stepping onto land where there is no sound around....wow!

 

[CraigerK]

We'll be doing flight also... Will have enough time floating.