Excursion guidance needed

[star7228]

Hi all, I'm a planner when it comes to cruises, and I am looking ahead at excursions for our trip next June to Alaska. My husband and I like to be very active, and we always look for the most strenuous excursions. We also prefer booking through the cruise line (we're on the NCL Pearl) because I like the organization and being able to meet on the ship and not worry about timelines or anything.

 

That being said, I'm really struggling with what to do where! :eek: :) We absolutely love kayaking, and I keep going back and forth between doing the Glacier View Sea Kayak (Mendenhall) in Juneau or the Glacier Lake Kayak & Scenic Railway Experience in Skagway. Some of the posts on this board indicate that you really don't get close to Mendenhall glacier anyhow, so wondering if we should instead do a hiking excursion ("guide's choice adventure hike") to Mendenhall, and do kayaking in Skagway.

 

We are also visiting Ketchikan and Victoria, I thought we'd do the Clover Pass Biking in Ketchikan.

 

Just wondering if there are suggestions as to the best place to do a kayaking excursion. Thanks in advance! :)

[Budget Queen]

Even though you prefer ship tours, Southeast Kayaks out of Ketchikan is WAY superior with nice small groups with a well run company. Just beautiful kayaking area. Your Juneau kayaking is way away from the glacier, you get a similar look from the shuttle via the road.

 

Since you are so active, I would suggest a glacier trek with Northstar- unequaled experience. :) There is plenty of hiking you can consider for free with well marked trails. There is an inside passage guidebook, if of interest.

 

For clairfication, not all ship tours meet on the ship, in fact plenty meet on the dock. For a few more steps you can go with a superior run independent. Not trying to sway you, but you may have some inaccurate factors about Alaska independent venders.

[Budget Queen]

dupl

[Yukon]

Ketchikan is where you want to go kayaking. The one at Skagway has a great backdrop ( http://www.explorenorth.com/library/rivers-lakes/images/kayaks-bernard_lake-8292-1000.jpg ) but you're on a sterile high-alpine lake, rather than being surrounded by abundant sealife at Ketchikan.

 

Murray

[star7228]

See - this is why I post here. :D You guys have great advice, and I really am beginning to consider looking independent. I think I'm a bit intimindated by it, only because there are so many. But I'll look into that! :)

 

I will certainly look into these suggestions, thanks Budget Queen & Yukon.

 

Are there any "must see" things in any of these ports that I should focus our excursions on? We are hitting Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and Victoria (probably won't really do an excursion in Victoria).

[Budget Queen]

Enough "must sees" for 10 trips. :) You are off to a great start by doing your homework. Also look at visitor guides and get familiar with the differences of the ports and what is available. Head to your library and take out Frommer's Alaska and Fodor's Alaska, good concise reading.

 

http://www.traveljuneau.com

http://www.visit-ketchikan.com

http://www.skagway.com

http://www.tourismvictoria.com/