SightCRR

Check youtube to see what the tours look like. Have not done #1 but did coatal to glacier land and it was very good. #4 is a long flight but may get to see Denali. If time is available do Matanuska north of ANC or Byron near Portage Visitor center. Not flights but good. #3 youtube here: BEST WAY TO SEE ALASKA: Seward helicopter tour! (Episode 12) (youtube.com). Seward with a car?

On a 3-4 hour tour about 1 hr is getting to and from boat. I don't ever remember seeing walk up tours at Auke bay and unless to book the whole boat you would have to know when boat leaves. If you arrange ahead and know what time boat leaves you likely can set something up. But not likely to get much of a price drop and you have to factor time to get back to ship when turning in car.

On the way to Treadwell mine there is a waterfront park that gives great views of the downtown area with the ships docked and mountains behind. There is a possibility of seeing black bears in Juneau but it is mostly luck, time of visit and salmon running or not. When they come out from winter they head to beach or grass fields to get their digestive systems started. (April May) then later Aug-Sept in the streams for the salmon. Only place where I have seen them was on the way into Mendenhall in the grass fields. fyi my fav Juneau & ISP web cam. TheSnowCloud Juneau area Webcams.

Likely Robert W. Service.

In Juneau add P&R – Jensen-Olson Arboretum – City and Borough of Juneau near St T shrine, Whale Project near Ak museum, I think Last Chance Museum is closed but Gold Creek(near closed museum) is nice and used to have public mining on the creek. Gold creek road is steep and narrow but the houses on the way are nice to see. At Douglas Island time for Ship photos and Treadwell-Mine-Historic-Site-Trail-Plan-2018.pdf (juneau.org)

Thanks for the info. Looks like Sitka has one but I just told you everything I know about it.

More info please. Are maps with highlights on line? Some I saw last 6 months with no individual dates. TIA.

I would guess at $400. (16x2x7) +175.

I am not saying that every expensive tour is worth the high price and you can just luck out for cheap good ones but every tour that lets you stand on blue glacier ice in my experience was unforgettable.

$55 p/p in 2024. Make sure you can see the top from the bottom or the views won't be great unless the fog clears.

I would keep trying to figure it out as soon as possible as some of the excursions are likely filling up. Check Cruise Critic Ports for your cruise. Then Check the roll call. Then youtube to see excursions.

That is why we go as cheap as we can on cruise so inside cabin (don't need blackout curtains), minimum drinks w/ cheap dining. Nice thing about cruise is to each their own. Everyone on same ship with the same ports.

If you spend $20-$50 you will have a hard time remembering it by the time you get home and likely no idea of it in 5 years. Take a helo ride to glacier for $500 and you will remember it when the glacier has receded out of view and like it was yesterday for the next 30 years. I say the later is more cost effective after adding the costs to get to AK.

Also check the 1.5 mile family hike to Byon glacier from near portage glacier visitor center.

Whale watching from cruise ship vs whale watch from smaller boat is like watching football from the top row of the stadium vs 3 row on 50 yd line. Cruise ships almost never slow down and stay far away but you can see the blows. On deck for several hours. For balcony room can't see both sides and only have 1/2 the chance. Check youtube for what you see from each.

My thinking is that Skagway has less chance for weather canceling than Juneau. Surprised at helo after 3:30. We took helo in Skagway and it was great and long time ago. Seems like it will work if they let you schedule it.

Likely to have good internet/wifi in ports only. Be ready for cold weather and snow in excursion areas. check youtube for more and ship specific tips.

Make sure you read up and understand how to get in and out of Whitter via the train/vehicle tunnel. Not that easy and takes extra time. Check youtube.

Some questions to answer first. Round trip (more sea time less ports easier flights) or one way (more cities harder flights and transportation). Seattle or Vancouver. Glaciers or no glaciers (for Glacier bay limited cruise lines). Go on youtube and search Alaska cruise you will get a feel for several lines.

Don't forget about walking to them. Byon near portage glacier visitor center and Matanuska near town called Glacier View. Both are a little out of the way.

If it has been listed for a little while likely full by now and maybe waitlisted so it won't matter. All adults? Kids might be cheaper. Some adults stay and some go? Great photos of both. Sometime lots closer sometime further which depends on the ice conditions and captain. Check youtube for personal videos.

If going into town for sure take ship bus. If going away from town to Totem Bight or another trail take Silver Bus Line.

In Juneau look into a visit to the Whale Project, Alaska Museum, Saint Vinny thrift store all in the same area not to far from port unless you are at AJ. Almost no cruise folks will be on the bus since it has so many stops to get there plus 1.5 mile hike after the bus to get to the visitor center. Look in youtube for other things to do. "Port Monkeys" is a good starting point.

Check the silver bus (north and return south) schedule and go to Totem Bight park. You can do google street view and see what the walk to the hike is like and even walk a little of the trail. $2.00 bus p/p (seniors might be less). 7234 Revilla Rd - Google Maps For a great but a little pricy tour try for the NCL crab boat tour. Watch on youtube to see if you would like it.

Some tours are the same but make sure you are comparing tours vs tours. 100+ people on whale watch vs 6 person boat. Start this video at 23:00 and watch the whales and the boats in Juneau last year. 2023 ALASKA CRUISE REPORT - JAYLEEN'S ALASKA WHALE WATCHING WITH TONS OF BUBBLE NET FEEDING FOOTAGE! (youtube.com)