Taking a cruise is a great way to experience Alaska for the first time. Travelling with my family, this was the first time any of us stepped foot on the 49th State. We came, we saw, we conquered. Ok, maybe we didn’t actually conquer anything, but our experience was one for the ages. While most Alaskan cruises offer similar amenities, the way to customize your experience is through the shore excursions you choose to do. Shore excursions are offered at every port of call, so take advantage of the opportunity to see more of Alaska! Though not included in the all-inclusive pricing, in our opinion, shore excursions are a must. In this post, I will go through the top shore excursions we chose on our 7- Day Voyage of the Glaciers with Princess Cruises and our thoughts on each of them.
Setting Up Your Shore Excursions
For starters, I recommend booking your shore excursions through your cruise line. This way, the cruise ship will never leave without you if you are on a cruise sponsored excursion. The tours guarantee that you will make it back to your ship on time. By booking through a third party, you run the risk of not making it back and getting left behind. We suggest reading the excursion description in full to make sure you know what you are getting into.
Second, I recommend booking your shore excursions ahead of time, before you even make the trip to Alaska. Booking in advance gives you something to look forward to. When you make it to your first port, you know exactly what you are doing and where you are going. There are several excursion companies lined up trying to get your business as soon as you step off the ship. This can be overwhelming and very stressful, if you don’t know what you want to do. It’s almost like going to a new restaurant and the waiter wants to take your order as soon as you sit down. You don’t want to make a panicked decision!
Here is what we decided to explore to make the most of our Alaskan cruise shore excursions!
Skagway
Our very first port was in the tiny town of Skagway. The area is only home to roughly 1,000 permanent residents, but they see well over 1 million tourists every year, mostly from cruise ships like ours. We travelled to Alaska with a group of 9 and Angela and I decided to split up and go on separate excursions. Angela took my mom on a sea kayaking adventure while my brother, my dad, and I settled on the Takshanuk Mountain Trail with UTVs for the day.
Takshanuk Mountain Trail by 4X4 & Lodge Meal
It is always hard for me to sleep knowing we will be on a big adventure in the morning. I woke up, had breakfast on the ship, and made sure to grab an extra coffee to go. We arrived at our dock in Skagway and it was time for our boys’ day adventure. Since we booked our excursion in advance, we took our tickets and hopped on a catamaran to the even smaller town of Haines. A quick, scenic shuttle ride to the trailhead and a brief safety talk had us geared up and ready to go.
The three of us fit very comfortably into our own UTV. We had one guide in a lead UTV and one guide bringing up the rear. With my dad in the driver’s seat, the ride up the trail was very easy and relaxing. About 15 minutes in, we stopped at the lodge and scenic overlook for some cookies, coffee, and hot chocolate. The guides recommended we use the restroom there unless we wanted to use “nature’s toilet” along the trail. As much fun as that sounds, I recommend the first choice with less spectators!
Time to Hop Back on the Trail
The trail ride was about 3 hours in total. We made a few pit stops along the way for everyone to get out, stretch, and enjoy the fantastic views. I never knew that many shades of green in one place was possible. We made it to the halfway point and my dad and brother let me take the wheel. I’m almost positive they heard Carrie Underwood crying out Jesus Take the Wheel as I drove us back to the lodge along the winding, mountain trail.
Upon our arrival at the lodge, a full lunch spread awaited us. Offerings included salad, roasted chicken, fresh Alaskan halibut, roasted potatoes, hot and cold beverages, and plenty of freshly baked cookies for dessert. Being from the midwest, the fresh caught halibut was the highlight of the trip for me. We ate as much as our heart’s desired, and then headed back to the ship. Since I had such a great experience on this shore excursion, I couldn’t wait to hear about Angela’s day!
Chilkoot Lake Kayak Experience
Meanwhile, Angela and my mom embarked on a high-speed ferry to Haines, where they took a bus ride to the beautiful Chilkoot Lake. The guides fitted them with all the necessary gear before sending them off to explore the wilderness on their double kayaks.
This is a good time to mention that Angela is not just a leisurely kayaker, but certified by the American Canoe Association as a kayak, canoe, and stand up paddle board instructor. Sometimes this means kayak tours like this can be a little more stressful than necessary as she observes the guides failing to manage the group to her standards, but this was not the case here. The guides were attentive, qualified, and friendly. So, Angela had no complaints!
No words or photos could truly do justice to the beauty they saw. The scenery was absolutely stunning as they paddled on this calm, clear lake surrounded by towering mountains.
bear!
After landing back on shore, they enjoyed a picnic lunch with sandwiches and snacks – nothing fancy but they both said it hit the spot and was fitting for the setting. One of the coolest things to happen, according to both Angela and my mom, was what they saw on the riverside bus ride back to the ferry. Since it was salmon spawning season, they spotted two massive brown bear swiping salmon right out of the water! Interestingly enough, this turned out to be the only time any of us saw brown bear in the wild on this trip – aren’t they lucky? Following a wonderful day of adventure, they headed back to the cruise ship to meet up with the rest of us as we all shared our stories of the day.
Juneau
Bike & Brew Glacier View
Stop #2 for us was Juneau, the capital of Alaska. Having split up at the previous port, Angela and I decided to take this day on together. What better way to enjoy the scenic atmosphere than a leisurely bike ride followed by a few, unique beer samples. At least that’s what we thought we were getting into!
Bike
Together, we exited the cruise ship and boarded our shuttle van with ominous clouds in the distance. The tour starts at a local community college where you are fitted for rain gear, helmets, and a bike.
TIP: They advertise they provide rain gear for everyone. What they don’t advertise is that the rain gear does not fit everyone. Especially, if you shop in the big and tall section! I highly recommend bringing your own rain gear on this excursion.
As soon as our 8-mile ride started off, the skies opened up and I was drenched within minutes. I knew I would be uncomfortable for the rest of the day in my soaking wet clothes, but I decided to embrace the experience. When would I be back to Alaska next? No use in letting it ruin the day.
One thing about our time in Alaska that I really enjoyed was the fact that the views never get old – stunning landscapes everywhere! We pulled into a small, secluded park just off the road. It was time to see a glacier. We learned the sad reality that the glacier had once been close to where we were standing, but receded in recent years due to global warming. Still, we both agree, seeing this incredible feat of nature was incredible, and something we will always be thankful for. We hope others are able to see the glaciers before they are gone.
Brew
If I told you the real reason I joined this tour was for the bike ride, I would be lying to you. The bike ride was more invigorating and educational than relaxing, but still an enjoyable experience. It was time to break out the beer! Our bikes were picked up and we jumped in another van to a local bar in town.
We sat down and our bartender poured everyone their first sample of a local beer. I’m not sure if everyone was just tired from the bike ride or they were all anti-social, but we had a fairly quiet room to start. Everyone enjoyed a few samples before the room started to liven up. Before we knew it, everyone started loosening up and the party started! Before we knew it, our group was exchanging stories and laughter all around the bar. Our bartender was very generous with the samples and even left our group a few pitchers of beer to split. By the end of the excursion, I forgot that I was still soaking wet.
Ketchikan
Misty Fjords & Wilderness Explorer Cruise
Our final port, before disembarking from our cruise, was Ketchikan. This small, fishing village takes your right back to the days of the gold rush. The town now survives off of all the tourists that stop in to buy souvenirs and sweets. Ketchikan has a lot to offer for all types of excursions and adventures. Angela and I decided to team up again for the day and visit the Misty Fjords.
Fjord?
I never heard this word before we booked our Alaskan adventure. A fjord is a narrow waterway between cliffs formed over time when glaciers melt. There are only two ways to see the Misty Fjords: plane or boat. We chose the boat because if there is inclement weather, you run the risk of not being able to take off at all with the sea planes. Believe it or not, the best time to see the Fjords is actually when it’s raining. The rain helps to form dozens of waterfalls off the side of the cliffs.
Our boat ride there was easy and relaxing. Our captain steered us through calm waters as a naturalist pointed out bald eagles and guided us through the local history and culture. Before we knew it, we were at the Misty Fjords and it was a beautiful sight. The skies opened up again and the rain helped create a masterpiece.
We spent about 2 hours sitting still in the water before turning the boat around and heading back to town. Our trip back was far from relaxing and not for the faint of hearted. Now, our boat battled enormous waves as it fought against an angry current, tossing us all around – up and down like a roller coaster.
Tip: If you get sea sick or motion sick at all, I highly recommend taking something for it before this excursion. Unfortunately, we did see people around us getting sick. However, the crew was great and came around with ginger sweets to help calm everyone’s stomach.
Needless to say, everyone made it back safe and sound. The crew was very accommodating the whole trip, but I was glad to have my feet back on solid ground. Angela and I walked around town, had a coffee, and bought a souvenir magnet before returning back to the cruise ship.
Only a slice of the Last Frontier…
In three short days, we got to explore so much, but it is only a tiny portion of all Alaska has to offer. If your next trip to Alaska will be on a cruise ship, definitely check out some of these shore excursions – even if you are on a different cruise line, there should be similar offerings. Or, if you have been on one of the cruises and gone on different shore excursions you really enjoyed, we want to hear from you!