Ketchikan, photo safari tour

[gottagoacruzn]

Hi guys, has anybody taken this tour before & is it worth it? Will be there in Sept. Thanks.

[SightCRR]

I have not taken this tour but wanted to alert you to read up about the black bears at Herring Cove. Sept will be a good time to be there and you don't have to fly. Try to find out if the photo tour will take you there.  Also read up on Ward Cove if your ship docks there. (8 miles out of town and 30 min bus ride). sightcrr. 

[gottagoacruzn]

Well, the Crown princess docks at pier 3, or so I'm told, but then again, could be wrong.

[SightCRR]

Very likely not at Ward Cove. claa confirms the piers 2 or 3 in Sept . Lots better for you. sightcrr.

[wolfie11]

As far as I know, only Norwegian ships, including Regent and Oceania, use the Ward Cove dock.

[goldenfarm]

It has very good reviews if you book this company: https://ketchikanphotosafari.com

[Janedoe2012]

I did this excursion last August and really enjoyed it. We spent some time at Creek Street, the Totem Pole Museum, a beautiful creek area where the salmon were spawning and a few other places outside of town. 

Our tour group was small so he had lots of time with each of us to give us great photo tips. 

 

[goldenfarm]

4 hours ago, Janedoe2012 said:

I did this excursion last August and really enjoyed it. We spent some time at Creek Street, the Totem Pole Museum, a beautiful creek area where the salmon were spawning and a few other places outside of town. 

Our tour group was small so he had lots of time with each of us to give us great photo tips. 

 

Which company did you book with?

[Janedoe2012]

It was the company you provided the link for earlier in the thread. Cruise ship used the same tour operator. We booked direct with the company. Rob was our guide.

Edited April 19, 2023 by Janedoe2012

[gottagoacruzn]

Ok, which is more expensive, the ship or the tour operator?

[wolfie11]

2 hours ago, gottagoacruzn said:

Ok, which is more expensive, the ship or the tour operator?

Cruise lines generally get a 20% commission (although some operators may pay up to 30%), so you can expect to get a privately booked tour for around that much cheaper.  I don't know for sure, but I expect the cruise lines do some "dynamic" pricing on their excursions, jacking up the price on popular excursions with limited availability or that are exclusive to the ships, and lowering prices on tours that are offered by private vendors who can charge less because they're not paying commission.