Ketchikan Island Wings Bear Trip or DCL Alaska Bear Adventure

[YayDisney]

Hi all. We are booked for the Wonder in Alaska in August and I started reading all the tips on the excursions because we really have no idea what to do and want to make sure we spend the limited money in the right places. I saw a lot of people here raving about Island Wings and we were able to secure a reservation for the date we will be in Ketchikan. I automatically thought DCL would be more expensive. But I just noticed that it's not. In fact, it's about $100 cheaper than with Island Wings. Does anyone have thoughts on one or the other as being better and why?

I was also going to book the Harv and Marv whale watching in Juneau and the Skagway Float Tours, in case you have thoughts on those as well

Thanks so much for your time. This board is so helpful!

 

[emilyann415]

I can tell you about two of them. First Harv and Marv, hands down, favorite excursion we had and we had a large group ranging from 2-70 years old. It was amazing and the guides were incredible....we saw whales dive so close to us you could literally almost touch them. My then 7 year old STILL talks about that as the most incredible thing EVER!!!! Next I can tell you we did the Island Wings Bear Excursion. The reason it books up so quickly is that the bear reserve only allows so many people in each day so you really have to book WAY in advance to get to do this excursion. It was also an amazing experience. I would highly recommend it but it sounds like it isn't a possibility. I wonder if the Disney excursion goes to a different place because it would REALLY surprise me that they were cheaper. Wish I could give you more insight into the Disney one....just can't. Sorry....we went in August as well and I will say it's a great time to go. We were there to see the salmon swimming upstream (first week in August). My DH caught one with his bare hands! We had amazing weather. It was warmer in most of Alaska then it was back home!!!!!!

 

[emilyann415]

duplicate post

 

[YayDisney]

I can tell you about two of them. First Harv and Marv, hands down, favorite excursion we had and we had a large group ranging from 2-70 years old. It was amazing and the guides were incredible....we saw whales dive so close to us you could literally almost touch them. My then 7 year old STILL talks about that as the most incredible thing EVER!!!! Next I can tell you we did the Island Wings Bear Excursion. The reason it books up so quickly is that the bear reserve only allows so many people in each day so you really have to book WAY in advance to get to do this excursion. It was also an amazing experience. I would highly recommend it but it sounds like it isn't a possibility. I wonder if the Disney excursion goes to a different place because it would REALLY surprise me that they were cheaper. Wish I could give you more insight into the Disney one....just can't. Sorry....we went in August as well and I will say it's a great time to go. We were there to see the salmon swimming upstream (first week in August). My DH caught one with his bare hands! We had amazing weather. It was warmer in most of Alaska then it was back home!!!!!!

Thanks so much for the info. It sounds great. Our kids will be 9 so I think they will love the whales and bears. We DO have the reservation with Island wings. We are set to go with them And I was happy about that but then saw the DCl excursion and I too was surprised they were cheaper. Reading the description it looks like the same set up as island wings. Interesting right?

As for Harv and Marv, did you do anything else in Juneau? Or does that take up the day? And if you don't mind, what did you do in Skagway. Seems like a lonnnng day there

 

[Donald & Daisy Duck]

Would love more I for on your bear excursion...which one did you book and which one did you look at thru Dcl...we are also on the wonder in Alaska and want to book a bear/plane excursion

 

[YayDisney]

Would love more I for on your bear excursion...which one did you book and which one did you look at thru Dcl...we are also on the wonder in Alaska and want to book a bear/plane excursion

It's called the alaska bear adventure in Ketchikan. It's right on the website. I have not booked the Disney one, though. I booked the Island Wings one and I am trying to see what the difference between the two is.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

Also check out;-

Seawing aviation they are very good.

 

[pillow]

It's called the alaska bear adventure in Ketchikan. It's right on the website. I have not booked the Disney one, though. I booked the Island Wings one and I am trying to see what the difference between the two is.

My guess is that the Disney trip is to Traitors Cove (based on price and also they only mention black bears in their explanation), and that Island Wings is taking you to Anan Creek, which should have grizzlies as well as blacks. The reason to book one over the other would be timing. I believe the bears are in Anan only until early August. But Traitors Cove has bears later into the season. I would just double check with Island Wings and find out exactly where they are taking you.

Jodie

 

[YayDisney]

My guess is that the Disney trip is to Traitors Cove (based on price and also they only mention black bears in their explanation), and that Island Wings is taking you to Anan Creek, which should have grizzlies as well as blacks. The reason to book one over the other would be timing. I believe the bears are in Anan only until early August. But Traitors Cove has bears later into the season. I would just double check with Island Wings and find out exactly where they are taking you.

Jodie

Thanks, I'll check with them, but I think the Island wings trip is to Traitor's Cove as well.

 

[pillow]

Island Wings advertises their Traitor's Cove trip to cost $365 (which I think is close to the Disney price, right?). But Island Wings charges $485 for Anan. Thats why I was thinking they might be taking you to Anan. I'll be curious to know what you find out. I've heard good things about Island Wings.

http://www.islandwings.com/bear-viewing-tours

Jodie

 

[sdjen]

We are sailing in August too but I can tell you what we have booked (I'm traveling with my 9 year old too) in Skagway. I booked directly with Alaska excursions and we are doing zip lining at grizzly falls followed by dogsledding (on a dirt track). They were able to book us back to back on the same day so we don't have to ride back to town twice. They both look really fun! We are getting picked up at 11 am and will be back to ship by 515.

We are also booked on a small boat whale watching in Juneau and a helicopter tour in Ketchikan. So Excited to see Alaska. The company we are using in Juneau, Rum Runners, will drop us at Mendenhall glacier so we are going to explore there and then head back to Juneau. I'm planning on lunch at Tracy's crab shack and shopping for awhile for the rest of our day in Juneau.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[RKKUNK]

Ohhhh, I hope you like Rum Runners as much as we did! We went on DCL to Alaska in 2013 and were lucky enough to book with them. At the time Captain Chris only had the one boat and Josh was the crew (along with Adm. Moon,the yellow lab, who is no longer with them but now they have Brandi). It was just my DH, DS, and myself. They had snacks and drinks. Josh told us all about the whales, and we got to see them bubble feeding. We even got to see one breach! Moon was funny because he/she (can't remember) would bark at the whales. We also saw Dahl's porpoise which look like small orcas but they are really fast. They swam next to and in front of the boat. It was awesome! We also saw eagles! Have a great time!!

 

[YayDisney]

We are sailing in August too but I can tell you what we have booked (I'm traveling with my 9 year old too) in Skagway. I booked directly with Alaska excursions and we are doing zip lining at grizzly falls followed by dogsledding (on a dirt track). They were able to book us back to back on the same day so we don't have to ride back to town twice. They both look really fun! We are getting picked up at 11 am and will be back to ship by 515.

We are also booked on a small boat whale watching in Juneau and a helicopter tour in Ketchikan. So Excited to see Alaska. The company we are using in Juneau, Rum Runners, will drop us at Mendenhall glacier so we are going to explore there and then head back to Juneau. I'm planning on lunch at Tracy's crab shack and shopping for awhile for the rest of our day in Juneau.

Hope you have a great trip!

Thank you!!! We are going in August too. Maybe we'll be on the same ship We have done dog sledding in the past, so that isn't something we will do this time, but I like the rest of your ideas. Thanks again!

 

[sdjen]

If you are on the 8/3 sailing let me know. Our whale watching excursion is already booked but there's only 2 of us so we would have room for 4 more if you would like to join us!

 

[sdjen]

Ohhhh, I hope you like Rum Runners as much as we did! We went on DCL to Alaska in 2013 and were lucky enough to book with them. At the time Captain Chris only had the one boat and Josh was the crew (along with Adm. Moon,the yellow lab, who is no longer with them but now they have Brandi). It was just my DH, DS, and myself. They had snacks and drinks. Josh told us all about the whales, and we got to see them bubble feeding. We even got to see one breach! Moon was funny because he/she (can't remember) would bark at the whales. We also saw Dahl's porpoise which look like small orcas but they are really fast. They swam next to and in front of the boat. It was awesome! We also saw eagles! Have a great time!!

I'm so excited! Hope the weather cooperates with us. My daughter and I are huge animal lovers so having a dog on board should be extra fun! I've seen whales in Mexico and was absolutely amazed by them so looking forward to Alaska.

 

[RKKUNK]

Actually, one of the reasons we picked Rum Runners was because of the Lab. We have a yellow lab and knew we would be missing her. It was fun having the dog on board and my son spent quite a bit of time petting her/him. Besides, it was really nice being on the smaller boat with just the 3 of us and it wasn't much more expensive than the big charters. Hope you have great weather, we were lucky, it was a beautiful sunny day. How exciting!!

 

[YayDisney]

If you are on the 8/3 sailing let me know. Our whale watching excursion is already booked but there's only 2 of us so we would have room for 4 more if you would like to join us!

thanks for the offer! we are going later in august though. hope you have a great time!

 

[disdel]

On our DCL Alaskan cruise, there was no bear watching excursion options, but we did fly the fjords with Michelle of Island Wings. Can not say enough good things about her or her entire operation. I imagine the bear excursion would be of the same high standard.

 

[pillow]

I stumbled across this thread over on Cruise Critic about Anan Creek and Island Wings. Good reading - http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=2099545

Jodie