Strike it Rich in Alaska - History, Culture & Adventure that is!

Well vacation is almost over so time to start thinking about work, well a little bit. Funny thing, all my friends and family are starting to book up their cruises and have been emailing, chat and FB messages about what's the best some of these cruises have to offer. A couple weeks ago I offered some insight on Hawaii and some great adventures that I would recommend, so why not continue to my favorite destination cruise (not because I have lived the last 11 years there) in Alaska! By looking at the cruise line websites you will find many different home port destinations for these cruises. They run exclusively from May to September from cities such as Seattle and Vancouver. You can also find some of them sail out of Los Angeles or San Francisco but are normally longer than 7 day cruises. No matter if you have been on this itinerary before or a rookie (in Alaska you would be called a "cheechako" or "green horn"), everyone comes back happy (well most)! Imagine yourself in the place of the 1000s of people that rushed to Alaska and the Yukon Territory in 1898 when gold was discovered. "By the wheelbarrows full, with nuggets the size of mules!, by God!". Even in a modern cruise ship, you will feel the same excitement as those over 200 years ago. So without further delay lets find out my Top 3 shore excursions in each port (plus a few more) that I would recommend on a Alaska Cruise.


Ketchikan (Alaska's First City) because this was the first stop for the gold rushers of 1898 as the steamships headed north. Its is primarily known as a logging and fishing community. Logging has slowed down a bit, but the fishing is still a integral part of the community. Ketchikan is also known as the "Salmon Capitol of the World". Thousands of sportsfisherman flood to Alaska in the summer to fish for salmon, halibut and of course don't forget crab and shrimp are added bonuses.
1. Salmon Fishing Excursions - Ketchikan has the best fishing in all of Southeast Alaska. You can catch 4 out of 5 species of salmon at anyone time. May and June are best for King Salmon (biggest) but chances are less than July and August for Silver Salmon and throughout the summer catching Pink and Chum salmon as well. The excursions are mostly half day charters (as most ships do not stay long enough in port to run a full day charter). The tours do not include an Alaska Fishing License and during King Salmon season, the King Salmon Stamp ($25-$40) and if you want to take your fish home it depends on the cruise line. Some with store it, some will cook it but most will do neither, however they do offer fish processing (extra $$$) and prepared anyway and shipped anywhere in the US. Should you want to eat your Alaskan catch, then I would suggest the Exclusive Alaska Fishing & Wilderness Dining. Fish in skiffs like locals and what you catch is introduced to a seafood stew that is good enough to offer in any gourmet restaurant plus the blueberry cobbler is the bomb!
2. Bering Sea Crab Fishing Tour - Join the Captain and crew of the Alleutian Ballard (known from Season 3 of Discovery Channels "Deadliest Catch") on a half day tour to see how a Bering Sea crab fishing boat operates and hear the stories from the crew. See how a power block works, touch some of the catch (touch tanks onboard) and all under heated and covered seats. The waters around Ketchikan are much more calm than the Bering Sea. Great for kids and fans of the show!
3. Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show - Learn and experience how loggers in Southeast Alaska worked and played. This is a 1 hour 15 min show with events with chopping, sawing, log rolling and the 60 ft. speed climb. From the cruise ship pier is a short walk so no transportation needed and gives you plenty of time to check out the Lumberjack Retail store and other shops along the downtown area. Get your tickets onbooard because even though the price at the door is the same, shows sell out!
Honorable mention: Ketchikan Zipline, Misty Fjords Flightseeing by floatplane, Ketchikan Snorkel Tour and Saxman Native Village


Juneau is the capital of Alaska and home of the mighty Mendenhall Glacier. This is the largest city in Southeast Alaska. Again, you will find on your cruise so many things to do but so little time. You find so many different choices it will be hard to make a decision right away. Here are my top three for Juneau:
1. Helicopter Glacier Trekking - This tour may not be the easiest or most adventurous of the helicopter glacier tours, I feel this is the best one for most all ages and experience levels. After donning all your gear (including jacket and boots) you fly up by helicopter to Mendenhall Glacier, land on it and get to hike around with your guide. Excellent fun and one of the once in a lifetime alaskan adventures!
2. Mendenhall Glacier and Whale Watching Tour - This is a combination bus and boat tour so you will get an up close view of Mendenhall Glacier, city tour and time out on a boat to view one of the largest mammals in the ocean, the humpback whale. During your cruise, look out for sea lions, seals, eagles, otters and sometimes bears during August /September. The boats are heated and covered but I would suggest to still dress warm.
3. Taku Glacier Flightseeing and Salmon Bake - This is another one of my once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Board a Otter (12 seat floatplane) and fly up to Taku Lake, checking out other glaciers along the way, land in the lake and head to Taku Lodge for a mouthwatering salmon bake. What trip to Alaska wouldn't be complete without one!
Honorable Mention: Guides Choice Hiking Tour, Juneau Rainforest Zipline, Mendenhall Glacier Canoe Adventure


Skagway, Alaska is the Gateway to the Klondike. Most all the steamships final stop was Skagway as the gold rushers went about the rest of the trip by foot, horse or later by train. This is the home of the famous, Red Onion Saloon, Chilkoot Trail and White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad. For most cruiselines, Skagway is also your base for adventure tours in Haines (though some ships do make stops there). Haines is a small community where your chances of seeing land based wildlife is the best and home to the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. I may suggest the Eagle River Jetboat Adventure, Bald Eagle Preserve Float or Sunshine Mt. ATV tour. As for Skagway, here is my Top 3:
1. Dogsledding & Glacier Flightseeing Tour - the name of the tour speaks for itself. Helicopter ride to the top of a glacier to the dog camp and then get to experience riding with (maybe even driving) a dog team yourself. Make sure to bring a camera! I also recommend booking onboard the ship as space sells out quickly both onboard and in port!
2. Yukon Adventure - this tour may have different names depending on the cruise line, but in the end this is a bus/train combination. One way by train through the White Pass, Carcross and Lake Bennett station (this is where the gold rushers had to wait until spring to enter the lake to access the Yukon River into the gold fields). Then one way by bus back down (totally different view) with scenic stops and narration along the way. This includes lunch and you must have your passport (if you need a visa, get it before the cruise as you go into Canada).
3. Glacier Point Wilderness Safari - combine a high speed catamaran ride down Behm Canal to Glacier Point, then short hike to your canoes and then paddle up to the Davidson glacier and you get another ultimate Alaskan adventure. Again, this tour sells out fast so book early before the cruise.
Honorable Mention: White Pass Train & Laughton Glacier Hike, Klondike Gold Dredge and White Pass Train & Suspension Bridge.


Don't forget any cruise ships out of the US will have to stop in Victoria or Prince Rupert prior to arrival back into US to satisfy the Jones Act. Plus many of these ports offer similar tours to Alaska so you can really plan your excursions based on experiences you want and can include these tours in Canada. So lets mentions some great Canadian tours:
Prince Rupert - Khutzymateen Grizzly Bear Watch,Northwest Halibut Fishing, & Whales, Lighthouse & Eagles Discovery
Victoria - Butchart Gardens , Wine and Chocolate, Craigdarroch Castle and Grand Victoria and Empress Tea.

Finally, a few pointers for your Alaskan cruise. Temperatures range from mid 40s to mid 70s depending on time of season. May and September are normally the cooler and wetter months, while July & August are the most mild, but Southeast Alaska is known as a temperate rainforest with a coastal marine climate. So no matter what expect rain (even if it does not)...dress in layers not just a big heavy warm coat (make sure the coat is waterproof and large enough to put a couple layers underneath as you can always take off layers, bring and tennis shoes, hiking boots or even rain boots. Bring camera, waterproof bag (or ziplocks) with your small backpack, binoculars and extra socks. Flip flops will only work for onboard, though some crazy locals where them on the most odd days of weather. Most all places take US dollars and credit card, use small denominations of US in Canada so you dont bring home extra, copies of passport and visas (if applicable). Have a great cruise and hope to see you out and about!