Radiance Of The Seas September 4th...

[soccergirl1]

PLEASE help! I promise I'm not lazy and am happy to always do research, but I am SUPER confused and would love someone who has experience to please guide me.

We are going to ICY STRAIT POINT, JUNEAU & KETCHIKAN. I don't have a clue what to do!! I want to see whales, maybe go dog sledding (if you guys think it's worth it) and maybe a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier (again if you think it's worth it). I am going on my honeymoon and want to make amazing memories. I only want to go through the cruise ship for excursions because I'm more comfortable that way...I think:)

PLEASE help!!

Thanks, thanks, thanks!!

[Budget Queen]

What are you confused about? There are whale watch tours in Juneau and Hoonah. Look over your shore excursion list. Depending where you have the most time- book the whale watch.

 

IF you are looking at a glacier dog sledding- that probably is not going to be available. IF looking for a ground dog sled cart ride, it is available in Juneau , same with the glacier helicopter landing. You aren't going to Skagway?

 

All your choices are "worth it" if YOU want to do them. ONLY one who can decide is you. ;) Doesn't matter what anyone else would do.

[Cheryl H]

Congrats on your upcoming honeymoon! We're on that same sailing. There's a few of us on the rollcall.

 

I agree with Budget Queen. Only you will know what you want to do....but is there some specific questions you have?

 

We've only done Alaska once before. It helped me to look at pictures in other peoples' reviews to narrow down my choices. Did you look over the ship's excursion list?

 

Note to Budget Queen, we don't get to do Skagway or Hubbard....instead we are doing a sea day for Tracey Arm. It's a round trip Vancouver instead of a one way.

[Ashland]

PLEASE help! I promise I'm not lazy and am happy to always do research, but I am SUPER confused and would love someone who has experience to please guide me.

We are going to ICY STRAIT POINT, JUNEAU & KETCHIKAN. I don't have a clue what to do!! I want to see whales, maybe go dog sledding (if you guys think it's worth it) and maybe a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier (again if you think it's worth it). I am going on my honeymoon and want to make amazing memories. I only want to go through the cruise ship for excursions because I'm more comfortable that way...I think:)

PLEASE help!!

Thanks, thanks, thanks!!

We're also on that cruise.

 

At this point in time you probably only have the ship excursions available as most if not all private companies may be booked up.

 

Nothing wrong if your comfort level for this trip is going to be with the ship. Look over what's available and book them...after all it's the "memories" that are worth it to you.

 

Congrats and enjoy !!

[missygirl_88]

We are on the same sailing as well.

 

We are doing the Whale Watching Tour in Icy Strait through the cruise ship.

 

In Juneau we are doing the float trip to the mendenhall glacier

 

and in Ketchikan we are doing the ATV

 

All of ouyr excursions are booked through the ship. All we did was read through the information on each of the excursions we were interested in and then we picked the ones that fit us best.

[Budget Queen]

 

In Juneau we are doing the float trip to the mendenhall glacier

 

.

 

As only general information- out of all my touring in Alaska, this is one tour, I never recommend. The reference above- tells me there are wrong assumptions. This does NOT go to Mendenhall Glacier, you only have a brief distant view- coming off the lake, all the rest of the glacier views are BEHIND you. Main- views are backyards, on a very lacking river. This isn't a "cheap" tour. sure, you can find "good" reviews, I question, their experience. Money, in my opinion, is better spent elsewhere.

 

Far superior for a float trip is out out Haines and Skagway on the inside passage, plus just about any of the float trips mainland Alaska. This is way down the rankings in my opinion.

[Inukshuk Gal]

IF you are looking at a glacier dog sledding- that probably is not going to be available.

 

As for glacier dog sledding, I wouldn't count on it either. They appear to be closing camps early this year. I had a dog sled trip booked in Juneau for 9/6, but the company (Coastal) called a few days ago and said they will be shutting down their dog camp early this year due to weather. They are now closing up on 9/2. Likewise, another company (Era) looks to be closing their camp early too on 9/4. This leaves one possible dog camp being open when I am there, the one through Temsco. As of a few days ago they are still planning to be open through 9/10. However, they were sold out on the day I plan to be there.

 

Soccergirl, I changed my excursion to the float plane tour with a salmon bake at Taku lodge. It looks amazing! Check out Tripadvisor.com for some ideas on what to do/see.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g31020-d1157465-Reviews-Wings_Airways_Float_Plane_Tours_Taku_Glacier_Lodge_Flight_Feast-Juneau_Alaska.html

Edited August 19, 2015 by Inukshuk Gal

[missygirl_88]

As only general information- out of all my touring in Alaska, this is one tour, I never recommend. The reference above- tells me there are wrong assumptions. This does NOT go to Mendenhall Glacier, you only have a brief distant view- coming off the lake, all the rest of the glacier views are BEHIND you. Main- views are backyards, on a very lacking river. This isn't a "cheap" tour. sure, you can find "good" reviews, I question, their experience. Money, in my opinion, is better spent elsewhere.

 

Far superior for a float trip is out out Haines and Skagway on the inside passage, plus just about any of the float trips mainland Alaska. This is way down the rankings in my opinion.

 

Thanks for your opinion, but unless you have actually done it, I will take the opinions of the people who have, since they have done it and given it good reviews.

 

But I have also done the research and watched the videos of other doing it, and I like rafting, so this is what I wanted to do. It may not be what you would book, but it is what I wanted.

 

I did a lot of research on excursions before I booked anything, so I know what I am getting into. and I am not going to either of the other places, so that recommendation does not help me or this poster at all

 

and it is called a Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip, it may not get as closer as if you did a tour of the Glacier, but the float trip down class 1/2 rapids and the scenery will be amazing, plus I do not need to be super close to the Glacier to get a good look at it and get some good pictures. If I decide I still have lots of time to take a bus to the Glacier Park as well.

Edited August 19, 2015 by missygirl_88

[Budget Queen]

Thanks for your opinion, but unless you have actually done it, I will take the opinions of the people who have, since they have done it and given it good reviews.

 

But I have also done the research and watched the videos of other doing it, and I like rafting, so this is what I wanted to do. It may not be what you would book, but it is what I wanted.

 

I did a lot of research on excursions before I booked anything, so I know what I am getting into. and I am not going to either of the other places, so that recommendation does not help me or this poster at all

 

and it is called a Mendenhall Glacier Float Trip, it may not get as closer as if you did a tour of the Glacier, but the float trip down class 1/2 rapids and the scenery will be amazing, plus I do not need to be super close to the Glacier to get a good look at it and get some good pictures. If I decide I still have lots of time to take a bus to the Glacier Park as well.

 

I ONLY report on tours I have DONE, so YES, I certainly have done this. I don't just randomly make claims, like some poster, who haven't been there. I write from first hand experiences. I've been touring Alaska over 20 years. Facts are, you don't get anywhere near the glacier, and ALL views after the turn down the river- which is maybe 10 minutes, are behind you. As I have already written. I noted these comments as general anyway.

 

You have your ideas and research done, it doesn't matter to me what you choose, so no need for any "explanations".

[ronandannette]

PLEASE help! I promise I'm not lazy and am happy to always do research, but I am SUPER confused and would love someone who has experience to please guide me.

We are going to ICY STRAIT POINT, JUNEAU & KETCHIKAN. I don't have a clue what to do!! I want to see whales, maybe go dog sledding (if you guys think it's worth it) and maybe a helicopter ride to the top of a glacier (again if you think it's worth it). I am going on my honeymoon and want to make amazing memories. I only want to go through the cruise ship for excursions because I'm more comfortable that way...I think:)

PLEASE help!!

Thanks, thanks, thanks!!

 

Hi Soccergirl, first off, congratulations on your upcoming wedding. We just sailed the Radiance Southbound (Aug. 14-21) in celebration of our 20th, and wish you as many happy years and happy travels as we have had.

 

I'm going to answer your question a little differently, based on our inexpert, buy very recent experience and the fact that we had not "nailed down" any firm plans before we sailed. I had done a little research but did not pre-purchase any tours. I also respect the fact that you want to book RCCL tours because I agree that for someone that's a little overwhelmed, it is the easiest, most comfortable option. One perk is that you will be assembled and escorted off the ship separately from everyone else at port (for most morning tours), if that matters to you.

 

#1 - Whale Watching

This is pretty much just the "luck of the draw"; what you will see and where. We chose to do it at Icy Strait, aboard a 100+ person vessel. http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do?sourcePage=shorexByPort&ProductCode=IC01&DestinationCode=

The exact same tour RCCL sells onboard can also be purchased the day-of at the Visitor Center on the pier (which we did and received a small discount). We certainly did see whales, but humpbacks only and they were not super-active (no full breaches and only a few tails). Given the opportunity for a do-over, we would have gone Whale Watching in Juneau where at least one of the RCCL tours reported both humpbacks, a pod of orcas and porpoises.

(Not that you asked this, but we wish now we would have done the Bear Tracking tour in Icy Strait. It goes by bus and apparently there were lots of bears to be seen, and eagles which apparently, are not abundant further south at this time of year.)

 

#2 - Glacier Walk/Dog Sledding

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/shoreExcursions/product/detail/view.do?sourcePage=shorexByPort&ProductCode=JU69&DestinationCode=

This is RCCL's tour and it gives a good description of the activity. It seems to "check all your boxes"; a helicopter ride up onto the glacier and dog sledding. We weren't interested in any of these activities, nor did we talk to anyone on-board who had done it, but in keeping with the theme of "easy", I'd consider it if I were you.

 

The first two would cover your days in Juneau and Icy Strait. In Ketchikan, if we were to visit again, we definitely would take a float plane ride out to the Bear Viewing areas. There are lots of other neat options there too, like a go-cart tour and the Lumberjack show, which was a hoot.

 

Whatever you do, be sure to eat in port - the halibut in Juneau and the crab in Icy Strait is crazy-good. It absolutely embarrasses similar offerings on board during "Alaska" night. :D Also, a wacky idea we had (but didn't follow through on - maybe another time!) was to take a "zip trip" through Alaska. There are zipline excursions offered in every port and I think it would have been really cool to do them all. Best wishes, and have a great trip!

(PS - let me know if you have any specific questions about the ship. I'm working on a review focussing on the on-board experience - who needs to see another picture of Alaska?!?;))

Edited August 23, 2015 by ronandannette