Help Choosing Itinerary; best ports for whale watching

[EngSet]

Hello-

Looking for advice on best route for whale watching. Realize we will probably need to take some excursions.

 

Considering three itineraries-

 

Option 1- Vancouver, Ketchikan, Juneau, Icy Straight Point, Skagway, Sitka, Victoria, Seattle (Inside passage once; depart Vancouver, return to Seattle)

 

Option 2- Seattle, Wrangell, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Straight Point, Sitka, Victoria (Inside passage once; Round trip Seattle)

 

Option 3- Vancouver, Ketchikan, Sitka, Skagway, Juneau, Wrangell, Victoria (Inside passage twice; Round trip Vancouver)

 

Thanks!

[xlxo]

Some thoughts.....

• Just go on a whale watch excursion when in Juneau. Consider a Mendenhall combo to save time.
  
• Vancouver, Victoria and Seattle offer whale watches too. These are Orcas, while Juneau will feature the larger humpbacks.
  

[Keith1010]

We have had great success seeing Whale in Juneau on various tours we have done over the years.

 

Keith

[CanuckonaBoat]

i was curious about the same thing - and compared skagway to juneau.

 

based on my research juneau is better for whale watching options.

[Budget Queen]

Option- 100% humpback sightings out of Hoonah and Juneau, likely out of Sitka and maybe Victoria. Plus- IF you invest the time, you should see some humpback migration the first sea day, (since that itinerary is only done to bring the ship to Alaska) Those are for taking tours in those ports.

 

You don't list the glacier or port times, since there is way more information available.

[EngSet]

Thanks, all, for the advice. Appreciate it!

 

Budget Queen- The port times listed below. (Of course, they could always change.)

 

Option 1- Leaves June 10, 2017

Day 1- Leave Vancouver at 5 p.m.

Day 2- At Sea

Day 3- Ketchikan 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 4- Juneau 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 5- Icy Strait Point 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 6- Skagway 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 7- At Sea

Day 8- Sitka 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 9- At Sea

Day 10- Victoria 1 pm. to 11 p.m.

Day 11- Seattle

 

Option 2- Seattle to Seattle; leaves June 20th, 2017

Day 1- Leave Seattle

Day 2- At Sea

Day 3- Wrangell 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Day 4- Juneau 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 5- Skagway 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Day 6- Icy Strait 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 7- At Sea (? Hubbard?)

Day 8- Sitka 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 9- At Seat

Day 10- Victoria 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 11- Seattle

 

Option 3, Vancouver to Vancouver, Departs May 31

Day 1- Vancouver

Day 2- At Sea

Day 3- Ketchikan 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 4- Sitka 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 5- At Sea

Day 6- Skagway 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 7- Juneau 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 8- Wrangell 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Day 9- At Sea

Day 10- Victoria 10 am to 6 p.m.

Day 11- Vancouver

 

Thanks again!

[EngSet]

Also thinking it might be a good idea to check the port schedules for 2017 (if they are posted somewhere) to see how many ships will be in each port for the different options. Anyone know where one can find that info for the summer of 2017 for Alaska ports?

[NancyIL]

Which cruse line are you considering that goes to Wrangell? I have seen a 14-night itinerary that goes there, but I'm not willing to pay Seabourn's prices.

[EngSet]

Hi, Nancy- We are looking at Oceania for the summer of 2017. They have itineraries which include Wrangell. We are looking at insides to Oceanview and plan to be out on deck for viewing.

[Budget Queen]

Thanks, all, for the advice. Appreciate it!

 

Budget Queen- The port times listed below. (Of course, they could always change.)

 

Option 1- Leaves June 10, 2017

Day 1- Leave Vancouver at 5 p.m.

Day 2- At Sea

Day 3- Ketchikan 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 4- Juneau 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 5- Icy Strait Point 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 6- Skagway 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 7- At Sea

Day 8- Sitka 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 9- At Sea

Day 10- Victoria 1 pm. to 11 p.m.

Day 11- Seattle

 

Option 2- Seattle to Seattle; leaves June 20th, 2017

Day 1- Leave Seattle

Day 2- At Sea

Day 3- Wrangell 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Day 4- Juneau 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 5- Skagway 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Day 6- Icy Strait 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 7- At Sea (? Hubbard?)

Day 8- Sitka 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 9- At Seat

Day 10- Victoria 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 11- Seattle

 

Option 3, Vancouver to Vancouver, Departs May 31

Day 1- Vancouver

Day 2- At Sea

Day 3- Ketchikan 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 4- Sitka 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 5- At Sea

Day 6- Skagway 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 7- Juneau 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 8- Wrangell 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Day 9- At Sea

Day 10- Victoria 10 am to 6 p.m.

Day 11- Vancouver

 

Thanks again!

 

No glaciers listed? for whale excursions- your "most" is option 1 with Hoonah, Juneau and Sitka. Also Sitka is the only port for the option of getting to a puffin rookery with an independent tour- along with likely whale watching and sea otters.

 

Frankly- if going to Wrangell, I'd make sure to have peak viewing time for bear tours, available by boat.

[EngSet]

Budget Queen, thanks for brining up peak season in/at Wrangell. From what I have see online, this year for the Anan Bear Observatory peak season is July 5 to August 25; with some viewing right before those dates and right after (shoulder season). Budget Queen and others assisting, please correct me if I am wrong on that info.

 

FYI- Oceania has other cruises during that time frame with include Wrangell:

 

July 21, 2017- 7 Day Cruise, Round Trip from Seattle, which includes Wrangell, Sitka, and Prince Rupert.

 

August 21 and August 31- Ten day cruises which include Wrangell. (Seattle to Vancouver on the 21st; Vancouver to Vancouver on the 31st).

Edited April 23, 2016 by EngSet
Typos on poster's part :-(

[EngSet]

Hi, Budget Queen-

 

Re: the glaciers- all of the itineraries include cruising Hubbard Glacier. (Adding that info below.)

 

Option 1- Leaves June 10, 2017

Day 1- Leave Vancouver at 5 p.m.

Day 2- At Sea

Day 3- Ketchikan 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 4- Juneau 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 5- Icy Strait Point 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 6- Skagway 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 7- At Sea (Cruising Hubbard Glacier)

Day 8- Sitka 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 9- At Sea

Day 10- Victoria 1 pm. to 11 p.m.

Day 11- Seattle

 

Option 2- Seattle to Seattle; leaves June 20th, 2017

Day 1- Leave Seattle

Day 2- At Sea

Day 3- Wrangell 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Day 4- Juneau 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 5- Skagway 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Day 6- Icy Strait 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 7- At Sea (Cruising Hubbard Glacier)

Day 8- Sitka 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 9- At Seat

Day 10- Victoria 1 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 11- Seattle

 

Option 3, Vancouver to Vancouver, Departs May 31

Day 1- Vancouver

Day 2- At Sea

Day 3- Ketchikan 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 4- Sitka 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Day 5- At Sea (Cruising Hubbard Glacier)

Day 6- Skagway 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Day 7- Juneau 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Day 8- Wrangell 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Day 9- At Sea

Day 10- Victoria 10 am to 6 p.m.

Day 11- Vancouver

Edited April 23, 2016 by EngSet

[NancyIL]

Hi, Nancy- We are looking at Oceania for the summer of 2017. They have itineraries which include Wrangell. We are looking at insides to Oceanview and plan to be out on deck for viewing.

 

Thank you!