Wednesday, July 10, 2019

The World of Shore Excursions

Despite having traveled to 20 countries, our cruise to Alaska (50th state) is my first cruise. Mostly, I find the idea of a cruise very contrived and therefore not as in touch with my purpose of traveling, which is to educate myself about the world. Nonetheless, it seemed the most feasible way to visit Alaska was to take a cruise. We paid for the cruise months ago, and last week my husband, Jeremy, let me know that we needed to plan our excursions. And, it turns out that we are expected to pay hundreds of dollars per person for said excursions. I was not too happy. First world problems. Our schedules is as follows:

DatePort of CallArrivalDeparture
08/11/2019Seattle--04:00 PM
08/12/2019Cruising----
08/13/2019Ketchikan06:30 AM03:00 PM
08/14/2019Tracy Arm05:00 AM09:00 AM
08/14/2019Juneau12:30 PM10:00 PM
08/15/2019Skagway06:00 AM05:00 PM
08/16/2019Cruising----
08/17/2019Victoria/Canada07:00 PM11:59 PM
08/18/2019Seattle07:00 AM

Ketchikanr:
Tracey Arm (4 hours):
Skagway (11 hours):
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skagway,_Alaska
  • The visitor center in Skagway is located in railroad depot building at Second and Broadway and is a good place to begin tours either led by a ranger or self-guided. It opens at 8:30 a.m. We arrive at 6:00 a.m. If we feel safe, we could hike in the morning before things open.
  • White Pass and Yukon Route Railway
    • 1-800-343-7373
    • For the 2017 season, tickets for this excursion start at $160.00 per adult and $80.00 for kids agest 12 and under.
    • $129.00 per person. Summit Excursion is the most popular. 2.5 hours. They have a 9:00 a.m. or 1 p.m. Passports are not required. Fully narrated. Learn about history. Book in advance. Can book online. They do sell out.
  • (907) 983-3175 - Tours 360, dog sled tours, etc. $89.00 for dog sled adventure and panning for gold.
    • Alaska 360's Dredgetown in Skagway. Can immerse in the history and beauty of the Klondike Gold Rush. Visitors are transported back to the 1890's as the costumed staff meets visitors and entertains them. This site includes everything from gold panning, Iditarod sled dogs, to authentic dredge and a chamber where you can experience 40-below temperatures. There is a dress up photo shack, movies, and educational exhibits. There is also a restaurant and soda factory to allow guests to make a day of it at Dredgetown.
      • You can reach this destination by the SMART bus. They are open when tours are running. You can all to check if you are going on your own.
  • Notes from prior research: 
    • Dog sled
    • Great view of glaciers
    • 2 mile hike - Chilkoot Trail
    • 15 mile bicycle tour
    • Jeep rental - go off trail
    • Small town
    • Davidson Glacier
    • Train - White Pass and Yukon Route Railway
      • 7:15 a.m. - 
      • 1-800-343-7373
      • For the 2017 season, tickets for this excursion start at $160.00 per adult and $80.00 for kids agest 12 and under.
      • $129.00 per person. Summit Excursion. 2.5 hours. They have a 9:00 a.m. or 1 p.m. Passports are not required. Fully narrated. Learn about history. Book in advance. Can book online. They do sell out.
    • Mostly a tourist spot.
    • Was a gold rush place.
  • Books and films with Skagway as a setting:  
Juneau (9.5 hours):

  • Mendenhall Glacier - 
    • Address and phone number of the visitor's center for Mendenhall Glacier: 
    • When Ginette and Curtis went to Juno, they rented a car and drove to the glacier. This is likely more cost effective. 
    • The Mendenhall Glacier is 12 miles from downtown, it takes less than a half hour to get there.
    • From downtown Juneau, take Egan Drive and turn right at Mendenhall Loop Road. Mendenhall Loop Road turns into Glacier Spur Road and ends at the visitor center.
    • There is a public bus that goes there for $30.00 per person; however, the city bus does not start at the dock or go all the way to the glacier. You would need to talk 1.5 miles from teh bus stop down to the sidewalk along Glacier Spur Road to the end.
    • You have six trails' worth of options for getting really close to the glacier: The almost-7-mile West Glacier Trail will take you right to the glacier's face, while you can also hike to a good viewing platform a quarter mile away. Or, take the more challenging Nugget Falls trail that ends at a five-story-high waterfall neighboring the glacier.
  • Bear Viewing: 
  • Whale Watching: We decided against this.
  • Mount Roberts Tramway
  • Dog Sledding
Victoria/Canada: Cost ($50.00 per person)

  • We already know we want to go to Bouchart Gardens. Cost is $33.80 per adult and $3.00 for children. They are open until 10 p.m. 
  • The question is: How do we get from the cruise ships to Bouchart Gardens. This is what I found online.  
    • There is a visitor information center right outside of where the cruise ships dock. They suggest the following:
      • 1. Take a taxi and go to the Empress hotel at the downtown and sign up with one of the buses that leave from there. I called Empress Hotel - it is CVS Tours who picks up there. I called CVS Tours - on the day we will be there, they will have a tour at 7:00 p.m. They charge $75.00 per adult which includes round trip transportation and admission to Bouchart Gardens.
      • 2. Directly go from the cruise ship terminal in a taxi to the gardens, it will cost about $50 - $55 (Canadian Dollar) one way charge. You can ask the taxi driver to stay.
        • This is the more affordable option if we split the cost amoung everyone.
        • It takes about 40 minutes in the taxi cab to get to the gardens. Tickets are sold at the entrance for the gardens. On saturday nights they have the fire works so they don't allow the taxi cabs to be inside the parking lot. You should fix up a pre-determined time with the driver and he will come to pick you up after the fire works. It is a mad rush to get out though since thousands of people will be leaving at the same time.
        • I called ESQ Taxi & Tours - they charge $55.00 each way. They would like us to call two or three days in advance for a 7 passenger van to make the reservation. Their rnumber is: 1-250-472-1111.
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