Shore Excursions

Sights and Sites That You Can See
When You’re Ashore and Not at Sea
(with sincere apologies to lovers of real poetry)

“Getting there,” they say, “is half the fun.” And that’s true – especially if you’re getting there by cruiseship. But being there, especially in a destination like Alaska, offers equally huge helpings of excitement, pleasure, fun, and history.

Children watch sea lions at Seward's Sea Life Center.

Children watch sea lions at Seward's Sea Life Center.

Up close and very, very personal... Visiting youngsters enjoy a huge aquarium view of sea life at the SeaLife Center in Seward. (Photo by Robin Hood, courtesy of Alaska Travel Industry Association)

Excitement like a helicopter ride to mountaintop glaciers and icefields where you can actually land and enjoy a romp and stomp on the ice and snow – or perhaps even experience the thrill of a wind-on-your-face dog sled ride behind a team of charging huskies;

Pleasure such as the quiet joy of an escorted walk through ancient forests, or along rocky shores containing centuries-old petroglyph inscriptions;

Fun like anglers will find in lakes, streams, and bays while they fish for abundant lunker king salmon or fighting steelhead trout;

History of the kind you’ll see right outside your vintage railcar window while you ascend the historic path of the White Pass & Yukon Route, blasted out of mountainsides during the Klondike goldrush.

Of course there are other never-to-be-forgotten experiences as well, like viewing the world’s largest concentration of American bald eagles, or watching huge brown/grizzly bears literally catching fish from a remote island stream, or witnessing great humpback whales breaching, leaping, splashing and diving.

Native Dancer

Too, you will find ethnic performances such as authentic Alaska Native or Russian dances, in addition to dance-hall entertainment (of the raucous “cancan” variety) and lumberjack shows where skilled timbermen ascend to great heights (the tops of towering timbers) to demonstrate their woodsmen’s skills and prowess.

And certainly not to be overlooked, consider the tried-and-true merits of escorted motorcoach tours in and around almost any cruiseship port. In Alaska these tours take in varied local attractions: “walk-up” glaciers, totem poles and totem parks, museums, 19th century Russian churches and cathedrals, Native heritage sites, raptor rehab facilities, bygone military forts, World War II defense installations, even some untouched site remains from North America’s most powerful earthquake.

Native Dancer/drummer in colorful regalia. ->

Choosing Excursions

So...how does it all work? How do you learn specifically what choices are available in the ports you will visit? And what are their prices?

Petroglyphs north of Juneau

Since you’re a savvy surfer (internet style) it couldn’t be simpler.

Of course, the easiest thing to do is simply wait until you board ship and your voyage begins. During the course of your sailing, cruise staff will offer presentations covering tours and shore trips they especially recommend. If you like what you hear you can reserve a place on the tours of your choice and charge the cost to your cruise account.

Equally simple, you can wait until your ship arrives in port where you can shop around and book direct from venders on or very near your cruiseship dock.

<- Centuries old native petroglyphs north of Juneau. (Photo by Kevin Miller)

Be aware that many of the same or similar excursion choices are available both aboard ship or ashore from local vendors. Note, too, that prices on many of these vendor-sold trips ashore cost less –sometimes much less – than the tours sold on the ship.

On the other hand, if you book tours from your vessel’s tour desk you will know that your space is confirmed and that ship’s staff will get you to the right place at the right time.

To View Cruiseline Options

If you believe you’d like to consider booking excursions from the cruiseline, click the 2009 Alaska Cruises link at upper left. Then select the cruiseline you’re interested in and visit the company’s home page. On most home pages you’ll find an additional link that will lead you to a ports-and-excursions site. There, details and prices for excursions are listed. On some lines passengers with confirmed sailing reservations can even book their shore adventures online before they even leave home.

To See All the Excursions a Port Offers

Maybe you want to look over the full range of options that each city on your voyage offers. If so, and if you know your ship and sailing itinerary, jot down the port cities listed for your sailing. Then click here or on the Ports of Call link at left. At each of the sites designated “PoC” (for ports of call) you will find community websites that contain descriptions, history, attractions, and further links to specific tour and excursion companies. Many of these companies, too, will accept reservations and payment online before you leave home.

Other Sources of Shore Excursion Info

Before you sail, your cruiseline will send you trip documents. These usually include shore excursion options and costs. This information is frequently also listed in a line’s basic sales brochure. Likewise, local visitor bureaus are happy to mail you their community brochures, detailing local tours.

And, of course, if you book your voyage with a travel agent he or she can provide you with a great deal of this information.