Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway (AUGUST)

[DLepard]

First time cruising on NCL Jewel on Aug. 3 - Seattle to Alaska.

 

I have everything booked and paid for except the shore excursions. My boys will be 19 and almost 14 and they are not the most athletic, more nerdy nature types. Anyway, I am turning to those who have been to AK previously with kids. My shore excursion budget is not extravagant (no more that $750-1000), so flyovers are probably out.

 

What is worth seeing, what isn't? There are so many excursions offered by NCL it is daunting to pick. My travel agent has a deal which includes:

Juneau City and Mendenhall Glacier Tour

Saxman Native Village and Ketchikan City Tour

Skagway City and White Pass Summit

 

I would love to do whale watching, but we have whale watching here in San Diego... so is it that much different?

 

Cost $141 per person. Is that a good mix? Will the kids see unforgettable sights?

 

Any input would be appreciated! :-)

 

(signature not showing so copying and pasting)

 

Denise

 

12/01 - RCL Monarch

03/03 - RCL Empress of the Seas

06/05 - HAL Zuiderdam

02/12 - Carnival Inspiration

08/13 - NCL Jewel

[dolittle]

There is gold panning in one of those towns (sorry I forget which) it is nice for kids and not to much money. The gold is in the dirt they give you and then you pan it old school style and the guide puts in water so you have real Alaska gold.The White Pass railroad is really a once in a lifetime trip it does cost more buy it is worth it . I would skip the Mount Roberts tram with a few kids the cost adds up and not as good as the others.

[DLepard]

There is gold panning in one of those towns (sorry I forget which) it is nice for kids and not to much money. The gold is in the dirt they give you and then you pan it old school style and the guide puts in water so you have real Alaska gold.The White Pass railroad is really a once in a lifetime trip it does cost more buy it is worth it . I would skip the Mount Roberts tram with a few kids the cost adds up and not as good as the others.

 

Thanks! I will look at the White Pass railroad. We have gold panned before at Sutter's Mill, CA, so I don't think we will look at that one... Thanks for your input!

[Budget Queen]

No I don't recommend any "packaged shore excursions". UNLESS, this is what YOU want to do?

 

If you haven't look over your shore excursion lists, easy to eliminate and get a more workable list.

 

INVOLVE the kids.

 

There are alternatives to what you have packaged, that perhaps could allow for a flight? http://southeastaviation.com/sections/Tours/flightseeing.html

there is no better way to see the beauty and vastness of Alaska.

 

Suggestions- a car rental in Juneau- less than $100 with gas, could offer you Mendenhall, plus several other stops, Hatchery, Chapel on the Lake etc.

 

Skagway- there are several White Pass RR tours. There is also the Park Service visitor center which offers free walking tours.

 

A consideration, that is also costly is the add on Tracy Arm ship tour. Grossly superior compared to the cruiseship transit. BUT, may be worth giving up, if you wish to fly?

 

Tough decisions.

[sherryf]

What is worth seeing, what isn't? There are so many excursions offered by NCL it is daunting to pick. My travel agent has a deal which includes:

Juneau City and Mendenhall Glacier Tour

Saxman Native Village and Ketchikan City Tour

Skagway City and White Pass Summit

 

My initial reaction is that anything labelled "city tour" is going to be boooooring to teenagers!

 

We did Mendenhall on our own by blue bus.

 

In Skagway we went on a combo tour to the Klondike gold dredge which included gold panning, 40 degree below zero chamber, a sled dog presentation and PUPPIES! This was my teens' favorite.

 

In Ketchikan we split up. Husband and one son did the Lumberjack show and the rest of us did Saxman village. Good choices all around.

[TheCruisingBrewers]

Hi there fellow San Diegan,

 

Whale watching in Juneau is NOTHING like in San Diego. First there are WAY more whales, the water, wildlife, and even the water feels different. I have whale watched in SD probably 10 times, in large boars and smaller ones and nothing compares to what you see in the water up there.

 

I would recommend Harv and Marv in Juneau, they offer excellent tours and are well worth the price, there will also stop off at Mendenhall Glacier for a nice hike. Close enough to hear the whales come up for air...breaching, tail flips... so many great sights there...

 

We did not see Orca, which I would have loved, far better place that seeing poor Shamu at Seaworld...

 

Really if the boys are nerdy nature types this is a great tour for them.

 

Nancy

[DLepard]

"My initial reaction is that anything labelled "city tour" is going to be boooooring to teenagers!"

 

That's what I figured!!

 

"We did Mendenhall on our own by blue bus."

 

How much did this cost? Is it easily accessible from the cruise ship? We will only be in Juneau from 7 am to 1:30 pm... Will it allow enough time to make it back on time??

 

"In Skagway we went on a combo tour to the Klondike gold dredge which included gold panning, 40 degree below zero chamber, a sled dog presentation and PUPPIES! This was my teens' favorite."

 

I will check this one out, but the kids have been panning before and my father used to have retired sled dogs, now he always owns Samoyeds :-)

 

"In Ketchikan we split up. Husband and one son did the Lumberjack show and the rest of us did Saxman village. Good choices all around."

 

How was Saxman Village? I am leaning toward that one. The kids loved when we went to Crazy Horse in 2005.

 

Thanks Sherry!!

[DLepard]

My initial reaction is that anything labelled "city tour" is going to be boooooring to teenagers!

 

We did Mendenhall on our own by blue bus.

 

In Skagway we went on a combo tour to the Klondike gold dredge which included gold panning, 40 degree below zero chamber, a sled dog presentation and PUPPIES! This was my teens' favorite.

 

In Ketchikan we split up. Husband and one son did the Lumberjack show and the rest of us did Saxman village. Good choices all around.

 

Hi there fellow San Diegan,

 

Whale watching in Juneau is NOTHING like in San Diego. First there are WAY more whales, the water, wildlife, and even the water feels different. I have whale watched in SD probably 10 times, in large boars and smaller ones and nothing compares to what you see in the water up there.

 

I would recommend Harv and Marv in Juneau, they offer excellent tours and are well worth the price, there will also stop off at Mendenhall Glacier for a nice hike. Close enough to hear the whales come up for air...breaching, tail flips... so many great sights there...

 

We did not see Orca, which I would have loved, far better place that seeing poor Shamu at Seaworld...

 

Really if the boys are nerdy nature types this is a great tour for them.

 

Nancy

 

Thank you for the input! I thought it might be a lot different! I am concerned with the time we are in Juneau since the tours you recommended are 4 hours.

 

I am wondering if one "big" excursion may be the way to go, then just do walking around.

 

My one son will be 19, so when we go to Victoria, BC we will be walking around and hitting a pub (he wants to order a beer... and I will let him, under my supervision... yes, I am a TERRIBLE MOM! ;-) ).

 

~Denise

[dustyroad]

Thank you for the input! I thought it might be a lot different! I am concerned with the time we are in Juneau since the tours you recommended are 4 hours.

 

I am wondering if one "big" excursion may be the way to go, then just do walking around.

 

My one son will be 19, so when we go to Victoria, BC we will be walking around and hitting a pub (he wants to order a beer... and I will let him, under my supervision... yes, I am a TERRIBLE MOM! ;-) ).

 

~Denise

 

i dont think you will be a terrible mom. i did the same thing for my son when he graduated from boot camp in the army. i would opt for the lumberjack show over saxman for boys. it will be more fun for them too watch.

[sherryf]

"My initial reaction is that anything labelled "city tour" is going to be boooooring to teenagers!"

 

That's what I figured!!

 

"We did Mendenhall on our own by blue bus."

 

How much did this cost? Is it easily accessible from the cruise ship? We will only be in Juneau from 7 am to 1:30 pm... Will it allow enough time to make it back on time??

 

The Blue Bus only starts running at 9 AM. You could do it, but you'd be rushed to be back by 1:00, assuming you have to be back on board 30 minutes before sailing. With such a short port time, it might not be your best option.

 

"In Skagway we went on a combo tour to the Klondike gold dredge which included gold panning, 40 degree below zero chamber, a sled dog presentation and PUPPIES! This was my teens' favorite."

 

I will check this one out, but the kids have been panning before and my father used to have retired sled dogs, now he always owns Samoyeds :-)

 

True, if your kids have experienced these things, they may not be as interested. Show them the tour options and see what interests them more.

 

"In Ketchikan we split up. Husband and one son did the Lumberjack show and the rest of us did Saxman village. Good choices all around."

 

How was Saxman Village? I am leaning toward that one. The kids loved when we went to Crazy Horse in 2005.

 

Thanks Sherry!!

 

Like I said, we made good choices all around on this one. My younger son, who was 15 at the time, really did enjoy the corny Lumberjack show, and so did my husband. The other kids (daughter 12 and son 18) enjoyed the Saxman village. You get to see a native dance show and watch totem carvers working. My son did feel that it was a bit too "commercialized" but that's how they make their living with such a short tourist season. I'm sure if we'd gone to the Lumberjack show, he'd have really thought it was corny and commercialized, so the Saxman village was still a better option. Another thing you might consider is the Bering Fisherman (Deadliest Catch) tour, if the kids are interested in sea life. We didn't bother since my kids have grown up in Seattle and have been on field trips with similar focus.

[Budget Queen]

If you want to see Mendenhall, take a cab there, right after the ship clears, be ready to go 1/2 hour prior. Then you can just take the shuttle bus back. cab about $30, shuttle $8pp (I would expect this to go up, hasn't in a few years)

 

No problem getting back and plenty of time.

[Budget Queen]

The Saxman Village tour listed above is via a costly ship excursion. Unless, they have changed and allow independent visitors to see the dancers?

 

The bargain of Native culture is Totem Bight and Potlatch Park. Both free and gotten to via city bus. Allow 3 hours, but, if you got going at 7am and off the ship, You should be able to get the 7:45a bus, unless there on the weekend, then 8:45am. Be early at the return bus stop- where you get dropped off. There is only one bus per hour.

 

http://www.potlatchpark.com/

 

Print out and take a copy of the totem guide sheet with you http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/totembgh.htm

[DLepard]

Thanks Budget Queen! I will keep what you have said in mind. :-) I have a feeling we may do whale watching in Juneau... but with the time constraints, we may be limited to ship tours. I am glad I have a few months to figure this out.

 

Everyone's ideas and advice are much appreciated! Please keep them coming! :-)

[Budget Queen]

Thanks Budget Queen! I will keep what you have said in mind. :-) I have a feeling we may do whale watching in Juneau... but with the time constraints, we may be limited to ship tours. I am glad I have a few months to figure this out.

 

Everyone's ideas and advice are much appreciated! Please keep them coming! :-)

 

There is absolutely no issue with using an independent whale watch vendor in Juneau. All you have to do, is tell them your ship and port times. You WILL get back in time.

These vendors, know how to schedule and have years of experience. You NEVER hear of anyone, missing their ship sailing, due to a tour.

[firstalaskatrip]

If you are thinking of whale watching, I would definitely encourage you to look at the independent tours as well. Much smaller boats with less people, and in my opinion, a much better experience. We really liked Adventures in Alaska (Scania). Had a great experience with them last summer (saw humpbacks bubble feeding, orcas, sea lions, and porpoises) and would highly recommend. Others on here consistently recommend Harv and Marv and Orca enterprises. Most of the independent companies will also do a short stop at Mendenhall Glacier - some included in the price, some for an additional fee - which definitely could be worthwhile with your short timeframe. And I definitely agree that whale watching in Alaska is something not to be missed! If your boys like nature, I'd also recommend going to any naturalist presentations onboard your ship - ours was great about telling us specific times with high probability of wildlife spotting from the ship - not a replacement for whale watching on a small boat, but it did lead to a lot of great sightings along the way.

[Budget Queen]

If your boys like nature, I'd also recommend going to any naturalist presentations onboard your ship - ours was great about telling us specific times with high probability of wildlife spotting from the ship - not a replacement for whale watching on a small boat, but it did lead to a lot of great sightings along the way.

 

 

 

Great advice, except NCL does not have naturalists. :(

[DLepard]

Great advice, except NCL does not have naturalists. :(

 

THAT STINKS!! POO!! I have never cruised on NCL before... My friend's husband who is now a travel agent (mine now too ;-) ) Used to captain RCCL ships... So for the longest time that was my fav. line... But she recommended NCL and got me a great deal, plus turning all her commission into prepaid tips and cabin credit. (not that that is on topic to my OP!)

 

I will definitely look into the private whale watching tours... this seems to be an opportunity not to be missed.

[Novastar]

NCL did have naturalists on our Alaska cruise in 2009 while we were in Glacier Bay.

 

If your teens are into nature, I would recommend just doing your own walking tour in Ketchikan. August is salmon spawning time and we were absolutely fascinated watching the salmon trying to climb up to the spawning area. It is a remarkable feat for those who make it and it was absolutely free and one of the highlights of our trip.

[DLepard]

Thanks! I will keep that in mind. I got a quote from a private tour in Skagway where we take the train up Whitepass summit.

 

I have a question for the bargain hunters... My youngest son is 13, he is the size of a 9-10 year old. Can I fib his age for private tours (12 and under is a significant savings)? I know I cannot for the ship. I don't normally like to do this.

[dustyroad]

Thanks! I will keep that in mind. I got a quote from a private tour in Skagway where we take the train up Whitepass summit.

 

I have a question for the bargain hunters... My youngest son is 13, he is the size of a 9-10 year old. Can I fib his age for private tours (12 and under is a significant savings)? I know I cannot for the ship. I don't normally like to do this.

 

not too be rude but --seriously:rolleyes:. this is the bread and butter for these tour co's. you are already saving money from not taking the ship tour so why cheat this company. i would never consider doing this.

[Budget Queen]

NCL did have naturalists on our Alaska cruise in 2009 while we were in Glacier Bay.

 

If your teens are into nature, I would recommend just doing your own walking tour in Ketchikan. August is salmon spawning time and we were absolutely fascinated watching the salmon trying to climb up to the spawning area. It is a remarkable feat for those who make it and it was absolutely free and one of the highlights of our trip.

 

No NCL did not have naturalists.

 

For ANY entry into Glacier Bay, Park Service Rangers board the ship and escort it in for the day THEY do all the commentary and set up a talk and table on board. This is an entrance requirement for ALL ships entering, not just NCL. The rest of the cruise NCL was on it's own, where HAL and Princess have employed naturalists the entire cruise.

 

RCI Celebrity can have naturalists, my RCI sailings have not, Celebrity lost a gem a few years ago. NCL has occasional "lecturers" which I have found to be poor, and never knowing much of anything first hand about Alaska. They recited book "facts" about it. My knowledge far exceeded theirs.

[DLepard]

not too be rude but --seriously:rolleyes:. this is the bread and butter for these tour co's. you are already saving money from not taking the ship tour so why cheat this company. i would never consider doing this.

 

I totally agree... just some of the tours include a meal... and he eats like a bird. Usually still of the kids menu. I hate paying for a full meal when he wont even eat a 10th of his plate. I do not typically say he is younger except at restaurants. I appreciate your insight!

[DDMau]

Helpful advice here, we are sailing August 17th.

Thanks

[dustyroad]

I totally agree... just some of the tours include a meal... and he eats like a bird. Usually still of the kids menu. I hate paying for a full meal when he wont even eat a 10th of his plate. I do not typically say he is younger except at restaurants. I appreciate your insight!

 

I really did not mean too sound nasty. I always told my son '' if you don't eat whats on your plate I WILL''. hey , more for me :D. you will have a wonderful time with your tours there. these vendors give 100 % for a awesome tour with their knowledge and kindness.

 

I know you are going too have a great time. :)

[DLepard]

I really did not mean too sound nasty. I always told my son '' if you don't eat whats on your plate I WILL''. hey , more for me :D. you will have a wonderful time with your tours there. these vendors give 100 % for a awesome tour with their knowledge and kindness.

 

I know you are going too have a great time. :)

 

No, you didn't sound nasty at al! :-) Unfortunately, I refuse to eat after my kids... Not to mention I don't need the extra food that my youngest typically chooses... (not always the healthiest of choices... and very few veggies).

 

I think I am going with Dyea Dave in Skagway. Although, I may opt out for something that doesn't cross into Canada. My youngest is 13 and does NOT require a passport on the cruise, just his birth certificate... The tour Dave recommends crosses into Canada where a passport is required. If he were 16, I would absolutely get him a passport... because it is good for 10 years. (YES! I am cheap... but I have to be... I am a single mom and a school teacher.)