Skagway Helicopter in May- morning or afternoon?

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Understanding that the helicopter excursions are the most canceled excursion, would you recommend a morning reservation or an afternoon reservation? I'm trying to book 2 excursions for our day in Skagway and I have a couple options on the helicopter. Anyone know whether it is more likely to be canceled in the morning or in the afternoon? We're going in May, if that makes a difference. I'm having a hard time finding any real data on this. Thanks!

 

[Princess and Queen]

I went to Alaska last summer and tried to get that question answered, too. Everyone kept telling me that there is no way to predict whether the morning or afternoon would have better weather. I booked dogsledding through Temsco in Skagway, in the morning. Cancelled. We did manage a glacier helicopter tour(lower altitude). Then I managed to snag a few spots dogsledding in Juneau in the afternoon. The tour after ours was cancelled. BTW, the tour was absolutely awesome. I hope you get to go!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Everyone kept telling me that there is no way to predict whether the morning or afternoon would have better weather.

Quite true. The best info on Alaska weather is "if you don't like the weather now, wait 10 minutes". And it's true pretty much whatever time of year you are there.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Thanks. We went with an afternoon departure and will keep our fingers crossed!

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

We’re on your cruise and did the same for Skagway, afternoon. What tour did you book for the morning if you don’t mind my asking? I want to have another tour booked so that we will have done something if the heli can’t go, but the train seems boring for the kids and Liarsville would drive my DH crazy.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

We’re on your cruise and did the same for Skagway, afternoon. What tour did you book for the morning if you don’t mind my asking? I want to have another tour booked so that we will have done something if the heli can’t go, but the train seems boring for the kids and Liarsville would drive my DH crazy.

We’re booked on the glacier tour without the dogs because my mother is terrified of dogs. My son really wants to see the dogs, so he and I are booked on the dog camp and sled excursion in the morning. He’s so excited to snuggle with a puppy .

Good luck with your choice. FWIW, our group had the same thoughts on the train and Liarsville...

See you onboard!

 

[Princess and Queen]

Since my Skagway dogsled on a glacier trip got cancelled, we opted to do a dog cart ride that afternoon. It could be an option if your dogsled is cancelled, and you’d still like to see the pups. It was pretty cool. We rode the unimog up the mountain and the dogs pull you on a cart. You also get to cuddle some puppies. We booked it that same day, right in Skagway.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

We’re booked on the glacier tour without the dogs because my mother is terrified of dogs. My son really wants to see the dogs, so he and I are booked on the dog camp and sled excursion in the morning. He’s so excited to snuggle with a puppy .

Good luck with your choice. FWIW, our group had the same thoughts on the train and Liarsville...

See you onboard!

For the morning, I'm thinking of either doing one of those rent a Jeep self-guided tours or else maybe the gentle river float raft trip. My DH is going to be itching to get off the boat and away from crowds for awhile by that point! And yes, see you there! It feels like it's forever away but I also feel like the time might fly by and before we know it we'll be sailing away!

Since my Skagway dogsled on a glacier trip got cancelled, we opted to do a dog cart ride that afternoon. It could be an option if your dogsled is cancelled, and you’d still like to see the pups. It was pretty cool. We rode the unimog up the mountain and the dogs pull you on a cart. You also get to cuddle some puppies. We booked it that same day, right in Skagway.

That's great to know that you were able to sign up for the dogcart alternative on the same day. I would love for that to be our fallback as well, since I don't think I'll try to rebook the glacier for Juneau as we have whale-watching in Juneau and I would like to go to Nugget Falls too. The only reason I wanted to do the glacier dogsled instead of the dogcart is that we did already did a dogcart ride on dirt paths when we took a trip to Colorado some years ago, so I wanted something a little different. Also my older son missed the helicopter ride we took in Hawaii a few years ago so this would be his first ever helicopter ride if it goes. Fingers crossed!

 

[shoes99]

We booked the 2:30PM helicopter ride to the dog sled camp. Heavy fog in the morning, so we were the
only tour that was able to go up. It was the highlight of our trip. This was 5 years ago.

 

[Jennx36]

I am also sailing on a DCL Alaskan cruise in May, and I am also wondering how easy it would be to rebook a port adventure for the same day if ours is suddenly cancelled. Also, this will be my first time visiting Alaska, and I have no idea what to pack. Any suggestions? We are hoping to do one of the helicopter excursions where you land and walk on a glacier.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I am also sailing on a DCL Alaskan cruise in May, and I am also wondering how easy it would be to rebook a port adventure for the same day if ours is suddenly cancelled. Also, this will be my first time visiting Alaska, and I have no idea what to pack. Any suggestions? We are hoping to do one of the helicopter excursions where you land and walk on a glacier.

Alaska ports have all types of excursions you can sign up for day-of, right on the dock as you get off the ship. They aren't sponsored by DCL so they're usually quite a bit cheaper for the same experience.

As for packing, the key is layering. It's nice to have a waterproof/windproof jacket you can throw on over a sweater. You might want water-proof shoes for walking on the glacier. Often the port towns are quite warm and the tourists wish they'd brought more t-shirts and fewer sweaters. Or vice versa. Some days will be wet; others will be unseasonably warm, all in the same week.