Alaska Cruise and Tours: Reviews and Recommendations
Alaska is both beautiful and diverse. To truly experience Alaska you really need to see it by land and by sea! Of course if you plan to visit Alaska multiple times then you can divide the state up into multiple trips. If that is not in the cards for you, then the perfect compromise is a cruise/tour. Never heard of it? A cruise/tour combines the ease of a cruise with the immersion of a land trip. We have taken some of the best of both to create this recommendation. Check out some of the most popular ports of call for the cruise and some of the highlights of the land tour. This travel agency recommends taking the cruise/tour
If a cruise/tour is not quite what you are looking for, of course you can always just take a cruise! Most cruises are 7 days round trip out of Seattle or Vancouver, B.C. and include the most popular ports of call. There are also other options for the land portion than the one we are reviewing here. If fishing is high on your priority list they do have land tours that include the opportunity to fish. Don't assume that something is not available just because it is not reviewed here. For more information on Alaska vacations, simply contact us and we can help you plan your perfect Alaskan vacation!
Ketchikan has a climate much like Seattle, Washington. That came as a huge surprise to me. They have a "liquid sunshine" gauge close to the cruise port that shows you how much rain they get a year. It was quite staggering. I always thought of Alaska as being a frozen, cold, wind swept iceberg. What a pleasant surprise. Bald eagles are easily found here. Too bad I was so excited I couldn't get a completely clean shot of one of them!
Totem Bight State Park is a wonderful place to get a glimpse of totem poles. There are several opportunities in Ketchikan to see totem poles. Totem Bight State Park is just one of them and includes a replica of a 19th century clan house.
The captain of our boat on this tour had a great sense of humor and allowed passengers to take a turn at being "captain". We had fun with it! Captain Cal takes charge!
We were lucky enough to get a great shot of ourselves in front of the Totem Bight State Park with the totems and Clan House behind us. What a great experience and a wonderful way to start this amazing journey through parts of Alaska!
Juneau: The first view of Mendenhall Glacier was actually our first view of any glaciers on this trip. It is quite impressive and awe inspiring. For the more adventurous, you can take an excursion that will allow you to walk on the glacier. There are also some hikes available that take you to the side of the glacier. The trail is quite rough and you will have to do some scrambling over boulders, but you get a really nice reward at the end. Be warned, the hike is strenuous and you should be in good physical condition to make the round trip hike.
If you are feeling up to a short hike, there is a path that leads to a waterfall to the side of Mendenhall Glacier. From there, not only can you get great views of the lake but also the glacier. This photo was taken from the waterfall. The Visitors Center located at Mendenhall Glacier is nice and has some really great information about the glaciers in Alaska. The rangers that host this center are quick to point out any points of interest. While we were there they were showing people some mountain sheep that had made their way down the mountain just above the waterfall. You could not see them with the naked eye and they had telescope trained on them for any to see. Very fun!
The view from the top of Mount Roberts Tram Ride is quite beautiful. Besides being able to see for miles, you get a bird's eye view of Juneau and the cruise port. It is our recommendation that you wait to purchase your tickets for this tram until you arrive. If the weather is poor, there really isn't much to see from the top. The landing at the top of Mount Roberts does have things to do and trails to walk; however, if the day is cloudy you would be walking in the clouds. The tram takes off from the cruise port and it is an easy walk from any of the docks.
Skagway was really the gate into the Yukon Gold Fields. If you wanted to head into the Yukon, you had to pass through Skagway. Unfortunately, you more than likely would get ripped off, but it was a necessary evil. By far the best thing to do in Skagway is the White Pass and Yukon Train/Bus Tour. There are many variations of this excursions but the one that we recommend is the train ride up and the bus down. The reason for this is you get more views and more opportunities to take pictures. The train goes up, turns around and comes right back down. The bus takes a different route. Also, if you want a passport stamp in your passport, you have to take the bus back down. The train does not go all the way to the depot where you can get a stamp unless you are scheduled to take a bus back.
We were particularly intrigued by this. It is a snow plow that fits on the front of a train. I certainly wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of this thing!
Beautiful waterfalls can be seen all along the way. You just have to look for them!
The sun decided to put on another beautiful show as we left Skagway, Alaska on our Princess Cruise Line Alaska Cruise and Tour. Contact us if you want to understand the benefits and value of the various staterooms available on cruise ships.
I can't remember the last time I enjoyed so many beautiful sunsets! This is when a balcony stateroom really pays off. Of course it is great for the scenic cruising as well. But sunsets are always a nice perk!
Glacier Bay National Park is beyond words. While cruising through the bay you have the guidance of a Park Ranger who boards the ship and cruises with you through the bay. If that was not enough to make you want to go, then the opportunities to see whales, sea otters, and other fantastic sea creatures should! Even before we got to the glaciers, the bay had so many wonderful things to see. It is such a treat to have a park ranger on the ship explaining the history of the bay, the wildlife that can be found there, and the changes that have taken place over the generations.
This glacier once made it all the way to the water. This particular glacier is receding while others in the park are charging forward.
It can be a long road from the glacier fields to the bay.
Some glaciers move more quickly than others. The ones that move more quickly tend to "calve" more frequently. It was a bucket list event for me. I wanted to see a glacier calve and get a photo of it. Check those two things off my list!! Before the glacier calves you can often here a loud crack. The trick is to find the falling pieces before they hit the water. Not as easy as it sounds!
Though the size of the debris falling from the glacier didn't look that impressive, looks can be deceiving. Because the glacier is so large, the pieces breaking off don't seem that large...until they hit the water and you get the enormous splash. This is truly a remarkable event and one we highly recommend! You just have to see this to believe it.
Do you know how College Fjord got its name? Its quite easy actually. Each glacier in this Fjord is named after a college or university. If it was a well known college at the time of its discovery then College Fjord probably has a glacier named after it! Scenic cruising through this fjord is a treat and this Travel Agency highly recommends seeing College Fjord!
Look closely. Can you see where three glaciers join together to make this large one? Hint: Follow the debris field (also known as moraine) and the valleys.
Not all glaciers make it to the water. They are still very interesting and beautiful. The clouds were moving in and out. If you look closely, you can see the top of a mountain poking out from the clouds. College Fjord is quite remarkable.
College Fjord was truly breathtaking. So many glaciers to see! Can you tell we had a wonderful time?
Denali National Park: You can easily spend hundreds of dollars on a dog sled experience, or you can go to the ranger station at Denali National Park! There is no entrance fee and you get to see the dogs up close and personal, the dog sled, and see a demonstration on how the dogs work! This was a highlight of our trip and we highly recommend the Denali National Park Ranger Station's dog sled experience!
Denali National Park Ranger Station has a sled that they use to demonstrate how the dogs work together and follow commands. They reach remarkable speeds. Truly a must see!
These beautiful dogs love people, but they love pulling a sled even more! They are trained to stand on the top of their hut for the selection process. They show their excitement and desire to be chosen to run with the sled. Don't you just love the color of their eyes? Truly beautiful dogs.
Waiting patiently to run with the sled. While they wait they enjoy the love and scratches from the visitors of the park. He might look grumpy but he is loving the attention. Denali National Park Ranger Station puts on an exciting and educational show with these beautiful dogs.
If you have made it all the way to Denali National Park, then you really should continue on and see Fairbanks. There are many beautiful parks to see and they have a bus system that makes getting around quite easy and enjoyable. Take the bus to any number of parks and learn more about the history of Fairbanks. There are many wonderful opportunities to explore here! We had the remarkable opportunity to take a tour of a traditional Athabascan Village. This was a very interesting and educational tour. We learned a great deal and had a delightful time exploring the village. Pictured here is a traditional Athabascan Fur coat created from a variety of different pelts. The fur used spoke to how great of a hunter the male was. Quite important in the village culture.
The back of the fur coat is equally impressive! No doubt about staying warm and cozy in this coat! Such beautiful workmanship! Our Travel Agency highly recommends this tour!
Here are just a few of the pelts used in a traditional Alaskan Fur Coat!
If all of the talk about glaciers and oceans have you feeling the chill, take a dip in the Chena Hot Springs. Renting a car is pretty simple and the drive is well worth the effort. While you are there you should check out the Ice Museum as well. We recommend this short day trip to Chena Hot Springs. If nothing else, a walk around the grounds is a special treat!
Want a chance to feed a reindeer up close and personal? We have the Tour for you! Not far from Fairbanks is North Pole, Alaska. Here they have everything Christmas including the opportunity to feed reindeer by hand. This guy is in the middle of loosing his winter fur. He and all the other reindeer liked to have their antlers rubbed. Pretty fun! but you will want to wash your hands when you are done!
This reindeer was more than happy to have his antlers rubbed and be fed. North Pole, Alaska is a great place to visit if you have an extra day in Fairbanks, Alaska and need something to do. We highly recommend it!
Book a Cruise and Tour to Alaska with Cruise Planners today!
Cruise Planners, an American Express Travel Representative, located in Boise, Idaho, has a tremendous reputation for quality, service, and very competitive pricing for ALL of your Alaska travel needs. We specialize in all types of travel to Alaska and will create an unforgettable vacation just for you. Contact our Alaska Travel Agency today.
