+ other tips— 5 Alaska Cruise Shore Excursions Not to Miss!
When we were planning our honeymoon, we knew we wanted to avoid tropical climates. We both get bored laying in the sun and we live in Texas, so we get more than enough heat. With the stress of planning a wedding, I also wanted something with an itinerary in place. I didn’t want to have to worry about cooking or planning activities. An Alaska cruise was the perfect fit.
Everyone told us “you will be the youngest on there for sure”, “Aren’t Alaskan cruises for when you are retired?” “You might be bored”…
They were definitely wrong!!
We booked our Carnival Cruise and there were so many opportunities for adventure! It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure for us.
Below you will find 5 Alaska Cruise shore excursions not to miss! I put them in order from my favorite to least favorite, but honestly, they are all awesome!
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Table of Contents
Best Shore Excursions on an Alaskan Cruise
I’m so excited for you that you are planning this bucket-list-worthy cruise! The scenery itself is worth it, but these Alaska cruise shore excursions make it absolutely unforgettable. Happy cruising!
Helicopter Ride- Skagway, Ak
This was by far the coolest thing we did in Alaska, maybe ever.
We debated whether or not to book it because it was a splurge, but ended up booking it right at the port in Skagway (There are tour businesses everywhere!)
We kept using the excuse, “It’s our honeymoon, so we can spend the money” Usually we are both very frugal. But…it made for a GREAT memory.
Anywaaaays, I had never been on a helicopter ride, so I was a little scared. If you have read any of my other posts, you may know I am a MAJOR scaredy-cat. I stress about EVERYTHING.
We arrived and were fitted with boots and a safety belt and watched a short safety video. Shortly after, we were on our way.
My fears were quickly replaced with the BEAUTIFUL views.
They place you in the helicopter based on weight, but honestly, there is not a bad seat. I was in the middle of the front and was left speechless the entire time.
Within minutes, we were in a whole different world. All you could see were black and white mountains in each and every direction.
We then landed on a glacier (fears briefly returned) and got to explore and even drink glacial water.
After time to explore the glacier, we loaded back in the Helicopter and headed back.
SERIOUSLY, SO COOL AND WORTH ALL MY MONEY. Our Alaska cruise was off to a wonderful start.
p.s. I didn’t own a cool camera or gopro on this vacation, so these are just phone pictures. Buttt, I was busy looking at the view anyways.
Whale Watching- Juneau, AK
We were extremely lucky with our weather for most of our trip. The day we ported in Juneau we saw the rain we were warned about (Alaska gets A LOT of rain).
But…we were going whale watching so I wasn’t going to let it bother me.
We stopped at a gift shop and bought plastic ponchos. Tip::: Bring a rain jacket 🙂
When we boarded the excursion boat, the rest of the passengers went to the covered lower deck, but we wanted to get the full experience. We sat in the drizzle to make sure we would get the best sight of the whales.
For the first bit of the ride, we didn’t see anything. I asked the guide if they ever see Killer Whales. He told me very, very rarely, so I shouldn’t get my hopes up.
I debated going to the lower deck because I was getting cold and wet. Then the guide yelled, “I think it’s your lucky day!” Right next to our boat we saw a family of Killer Whales!
It really was the most amazing thing (I know I already said that, but they both are amazing). As the ride went on, we continued to see several other Humpback whales.
Snorkeling- Ketchikan, Ak
Snorkeling on an Alaska Cruise?!
We booked our tour with Snorkel Alaska and prepared ourselves to jump in the 45-degree water. Sounds like an adventure!
After we had our wet suits on (which is a job within itself), we were led to the water and began swimming.
Initially, it was freezing, but the wet suit soon did its job. Your face is the only exposed part of your body, but I didn’t even feel cold. I’m sure I was distracted by the underwater world.
There were jellyfish everywhere, starfish, and all sorts of other marine life. The guides carefully picked some up to give us a better look!
Storytime: Before we left, the guide offered weights for anyone who felt like they were a “strong swimmer”. This way they could explore deeper in the water.
I like to act super confident (again, I’m a scaredy-cat), so I grabbed a weight and put it around my waist.
As soon as I entered the (scary) ocean, I felt for sure I was going to drown with it on. The poor guide ending up having to wear my (and his own) weight.
Sooo, tip, you don’t need the weight to see all of the beauty. 🙂 🙂
Boat Safari- Skagway, Ak
After our Helicopter ride, we decided to book another last-minute shore excursion in Skagway
We were suited up into orange jumpsuits to keep warm and loaded onto a boat.
You sat in the seats as if you were riding a horse and then the boat took off. We rode around switching between a high-speed ride and a sightseeing tour.
It was advertised as a “wildlife” safari. Although we didn’t see a whole lot of wildlife, we did spot many eagles and waterfalls.
It would have been cool to see a Grizzly from the comfort (and safety) of our boat.
Rent a Bike- Victoria, BC
The last port we stopped at was in Victoria, Canada.
The cruise didn’t arrive until 7 pm at night. We thought this was strange, but figured we would use what time we were given to explore.
We didn’t have any plans, nor expectations of what to expect.
As soon as we got off the ship, we saw a bike rental stand and decided to rent two bikes. We rode around this beautiful city and ended up at a park. We were very surprised to see deer and peacocks walk right up to our bikes.
BONUS:
Explore Your Departure Port- Seattle, WA
We purposely arrived at the port a day early so we would have time to explore Seattle for 24 hours. We started with walking around Pike Place Market, people-watching and snacking.
I have seen pictures of the infamous gum wall before, but gum really grosses me out. I don’t care who’s it is, I really do not want to see it anywhere. Buttttt, we ended up finding it without even trying. It is right outside the market, we took a picture and hurried on our way. We then made our way to the Ferris Wheel.
After our cruise ended, we rented a car for a day to explore Mount Rainier, National Park. The trails were still packed with snow, but there were beautiful waterfalls and overlooks to stop at.
There are a lot more really cool things to do in Seattle so I definitely hope to return someday!
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This day was one of my favorites, and we did absolutely nothing but stare at the scenery (and eat pizza). A dream right?!
The cruise ship entered a narrow inlet with cliffs on each side of us.
The water continued to turn a prettier color of blue as we moved and we spotted whales and sea lions from the comfort of our day bed.
Definitely book a cruise itinerary that includes this!
Helpful Items to Pack on a Alaska Cruise:
- It is best to dress in layers. When the sun was out, we were definitely warm. We found ourselves adding and taking off clothes constantly. This is a perfect lightweight jacket that packs away in its own small bag!
2. Go Pro…for obvious reasons. I now bring my Gopro on EVERY trip with me. I won’t miss out again.
3. Hat and mittens.
4. Nice clothes for fancy cruise dinners
5. Comfy shoes for walking at the ports/exursions
6. Rain Jacket… learn from my mistakes 🙂
Alaskan Cruise Frequently Asked Questions
- Is an Alaskan cruise cold?
Alaskan Cruise season runs from May to September. Most cruises stay in the southwest region of Alaska where temperatures are mild in the summer months. Alaska does get A LOT OF RAIN, so be sure to pack in layers and bring a rain jacket. During our end-of-June trip, we were lucky with only one day of rain (in Juneau).
Juneau is a popular port on Alaskan Cruises, so I have listed the average summer temperatures here. (Other popular ports are Skagway and Ketchikan)
- May : 56/ 42, 15 days of rain
- June: 62/48, 13 days of rain
- July: 63/51, 14 days of rain
- August: 63/50, 17 days of rain
- September: 57/45, 19 days of rain
- When is the best time to take an Alaskan Cruise?
The Alaskan cruise season is short and all summer months lead to similar temperatures and rainfall. If looking for the warmest weather, the best time to go would be in July. If you are looking for better prices, book for May or September.
- Is an Alaskan cruise worth it?
100 percent… YES. Aside from the BEAUTIFUL VIEWS the entire way, the shore excursions are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities.
Alaskan Cruise Shore Excursions Recap:
1st Port: Skagway, AK
- Helicopter Ride
- Boat Safari
- Bus tour (to Welcome to Alaska sign)
2nd Port: Juneau, AK
- Whale Watching
3rd Port: Ketchikan, AK
- Snorkeling
4th Port: Victoria (Canada)
- Rented Bikes to tour the city
Make sure to come follow along on Instagram to ask any questions and see more USA ideas and itineraries!
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