Looking for Dog Sledding Excursions

[tweis]

We are considering Alaska for our next cruise and I really want to do some once in a lifetime excursions. I'm thinking dog sledding but not sure if one port is better than the other for this experience. I've found Alaska Heli Mush in Juneau which sounds phenomenal but then DCL has one that sounds just as great in Skagway. Which have you all done? Did you love them?

What were some of your favorite excursions in Alaska and did you book direct or through DCL? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

I would say search providers there we booked six private tours in the three ports of call.

It was cheaper than DCL nearly all the time we were on our own. I used the likes of Chilkoot charters and Coastal copters.

DCL tours were limited and on my cruise sold out quickly and many were early in the day. I recall in Juneau the DCL ones pre 10.30 am all got cancelled re low fog which lifted and is a regular occurrence.

We booked mid morning and flew OK.

 

[tweis]

I would say search providers there we booked six private tours in the three ports of call.

It was cheaper than DCL nearly all the time we were on our own. I used the likes of Chilkoot charters and Coastal copters.

DCL tours were limited and on my cruise sold out quickly and many were early in the day. I recall in Juneau the DCL ones pre 10.30 am all got cancelled re low fog which lifted and is a regular occurrence.

We booked mid morning and flew OK.

Thanks. I just realized that DCL uses the same company that I'm looking at for the Dog sledding tour in Juneau. If I choose that excursion then I'm booking direct because it will save me a couple hundred dollars.

 

[colbybug]

Here's my two cents...we are going to Alaska on the July 25th cruise. After trying to decide between dog sledding excursions, I settled on Skagway with Temsco helicopters because they are less expensive than Disney and they get really great reviews. I picked Skagway because apparently the weather tends to be better there and therefore reportedly have less cancelled flights. (Don't know that to be 100% true but that is what I have gathered from my research). Also because I want to go on a whale watching excursion and see the Mendenhall glacier and the best place to see whales is in Juneau. Most people report that the "must do" in Skagway is the train but that doesn't appeal to my group...so the dog sledding seemed to be the best fit for Skagway. However, there is a really cool dog sledding excursion in Juneau that also offers another stop at a glacier that you can walk around and explore (it is through Coastal Helicopters) and I would prefer to be able to do that tour but Coastal does not do helicopter tours in Skagway. Good luck with your research!

 

[Luvmypetz]

I did Alaska dog sledding w/helicopter NOT thru Carnival. Booked over phone, received instructions, met tour at kiosk in Juneau. The shuttle bus proceeded to cruise ship to pick up overpriced ship excursion passengers. Felt secure I wasn't going to miss the ship then.
After returning, BF had time to visit the barber in town and we had lunch at Red Dog Saloon. A great experience!!

 

[hamilton23]

We did Temsco in Skagway too. We booked ours through Costco's Shore Excursions link and save about $100 per person over what Disney was charging for the same tour. We had our 9am tour cancelled due to weather, but they moved us to 4:30. It was INCREDIBLE. The helicopter trip to and from the Glacier was breathtaking and it was so much fun riding with the dogs and getting photos with the puppies. The time on the glacier went by so fast, I wish it was longer. As a bonus, we got to ride a snowcat transport from the helicopter landing area to the dog camp. So, it was like 3 excursions in one!

 

[l4dk]

We are considering Alaska for our next cruise and I really want to do some once in a lifetime excursions. I'm thinking dog sledding but not sure if one port is better than the other for this experience. I've found Alaska Heli Mush in Juneau which sounds phenomenal but then DCL has one that sounds just as great in Skagway. Which have you all done? Did you love them?

What were some of your favorite excursions in Alaska and did you book direct or through DCL? Any help is greatly appreciated.

We did it last week in Skagway I have to share that it was the best excursion we have ever done. Simply amazing. We booked with DCL at 11:30am and we were the first ones to go since the others before us were cancelled do to weather. It was an experience we will hold for ever. THE BEST

 

[steves100]

Thanks. I just realized that DCL uses the same company that I'm looking at for the Dog sledding tour in Juneau. If I choose that excursion then I'm booking direct because it will save me a couple hundred dollars.

We did the Juneau through Disney, awesome time!!! But I would do it on my own through the same provider if I had to do it again.

 

[MMR]

Our family had to split up because of availability. DD and I did Disney Exclusive Dog Musher for a Day. It was amazing. She actually got to participate in caring for the dogs and we spent more time w the folks working on the glacier. DH and DS did the one that went to Mendenhall. Both were amazing experiences and well worth the money.