EngSet Posted April 21, 2016 #1 Share Posted April 21, 2016 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xlxo Posted April 21, 2016 #2 Share Posted April 21, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted April 21, 2016 #3 Share Posted April 21, 2016 We have had great success seeing Whale in Juneau on various tours we have done over the years. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CanuckonaBoat Posted April 21, 2016 #4 Share Posted April 21, 2016 i was curious about the same thing - and compared skagway to juneau. based on my research juneau is better for whale watching options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted April 21, 2016 #5 Share Posted April 21, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngSet Posted April 23, 2016 Author #6 Share Posted April 23, 2016 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngSet Posted April 23, 2016 Author #7 Share Posted April 23, 2016 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyIL Posted April 23, 2016 #8 Share Posted April 23, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngSet Posted April 23, 2016 Author #9 Share Posted April 23, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted April 23, 2016 #10 Share Posted April 23, 2016 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngSet Posted April 23, 2016 Author #11 Share Posted April 23, 2016 (edited) 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 :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EngSet Posted April 23, 2016 Author #12 Share Posted April 23, 2016 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyIL Posted April 23, 2016 #13 Share Posted April 23, 2016 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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