Cruising to Alaska provides an endless amount of incredible shore excursions. With so many fantastic options, how do you decide what to do?
There are a variety of fun tours that can be easily managed and cater to a wide range of interests. Great outdoor adventures, hiking on a glacier, seeing local wildlife, and learning about the famed Gold Rush era are just some of the activities that cruisers love to explore in Alaska cruise ports.
Whether you are an adventurous explorer or a family looking for a fun day in port, there is a whole host of activities, including cruise line excursions or things you can do on your own and at your own pace.
Here are some of our top suggestions for excursions that make the most of a day in port on an Alaska cruise.
Visit a glacier in Juneau
Alaska is known for its glaciers, and for those on cruises, a day in Juneau provides an excellent opportunity to see one up close. Mendenhall Glacier is one of the top attractions when visiting Juneau, and even better, it is one of the most accessible glaciers from an Alaska cruise port.
Located just 13 miles from the cruise terminal, it is an easy, do-it-yourself excursion and a nice break from often expensive cruise line excursions. There are a few transportation options for the short journey from Juneau, such as a bus or taxi.
Once there, the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is the main starting point where guests can enjoy views from the indoor viewing center, which looks out on the thirteen-mile-long river of ice that terminates on the far side of the lake. There are several exhibits about the glacier and local environment, helping guests learn about the surrounding area - which is massive.
The Mendenhall Glacier connects to the vast Juneau Ice Field, a 1,500 square mile remnant of the last ice age, cradled high in the coast mountain’s lofty peaks. Several trails of varying lengths make it easy to explore for visitors of different activity levels. Guests can expect to meet wildlife, including black bears, porcupines, beavers, bald eagles, seasonally returning arctic terns, waterfowl, and sockeye and Coho salmon.
Go whale watching at Icy Strait Point
Another popular port stop on an Alaska cruise is Icy Strait Point, and it happens to be one of the best places to go whale watching in the world.
The coastal waters of Icy Strait Point are legendary for their gigantic humpback whales, and they are most prominent during Alaska cruise season – May through August. The whales travel through the region, taking advantage of the rich waters to feed. This booming marine ecosystem also draws otters, Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoises, and killer whales - an amazing opportunity to see so much wildlife.
Numerous local operators provide tours, and some even guarantee that guests will see whales or they get their money back. When heading out on the water for the day, be sure to book with a well-rated tour operator who guarantees you will be back to the cruise ship on time. For the more adventurous cruisers, a kayak tour is a great option to get up close and personal with whales and other marine animals who call these waters home. These types of water-based tours are very popular, so it is best to book in advance.
Take an epic train ride from Skagway
One of Alaska's most popular cruise excursions is riding a train to explore the region’s incredible wilderness and scenic landscapes. The White Pass Railroad Summer train ride is among the top of the list for this type of activity. It whisks guests along in a vintage car that is both family-friendly and wheelchair accessible. While some train excursions require passports, this one in Skagway does not.
Only a couple of hours long, this tour packs in a lot, making it among one of the best-rated excursions in the area. Covering over 20 miles, from the tide-waded to the pass, the train scales a 2,865 elevation, giving passengers majestic canyon views on a narrated tour. Continuing on past Bridal Veil Falls, Inspiration Point, and Dead Horse Gulch, guests see mountains, glaciers, gorges, waterfalls, tunnels, trestles, and historical sites along the White Pass Railroad. Even remnants of the original Klondike Trail of 1898 can be seen. The historic trail is worn into the rocks, a permanent tribute to the thousands of souls who passed this way in search of fortune.
This excursion is a popular one and should be booked in advance.
Experience the wonder of a national park in Seward
Alaska is famed for its national parks, and cruisers spending the day in Seward can get a chance to visit the expansive Kenai Fjords National Park. A place where the mountains meet the ocean and ice, the park covers 670,000 acres and includes the Harding Icefield, glaciers, and lush forests. It is famed for its incredible peaks, jagged rocks topped with evergreen trees, and mountain goats. The scenery looks like something from another world.
Conveniently located just outside Seward, Kenai has stunning fjords, which are far more accessible than many others in Alaska. Alternatively, the park is about a 2.5-hour drive from Anchorage, which is a major transportation hub in Alaska, especially for those cruisers doing one-way cruises. This park has some of the most stunning scenery; it has sky-high rock formations, waterfalls, and lagoons. Thanks to the fjord's rich ecosystem, the park is home to an abundance of wildlife, including Humpback whales, along with killer and grey whales and a wide variety of birds, sea lions, seals, and sea otters. The best views can be seen by hiking or boat tours, as well as a float plane for those who love sky views. Kayaking is another fantastic way to get up close and personal with the natural life of the park. Given its size and with so many things to see, it is easy to spend a whole day exploring the park and its fjords.
Visit bears in Sitka
As one of Alaska’s big five wildlife, bears are a popular must-see when visiting Alaska. It can be tough to guarantee a bear sighting in a national park, but in Sitka, there is a sure way to see these impressive creatures in a safe environment. The Fortress of the Bear is the perfect family activity for a day in Sitka.
This highly-rated attraction has a unique twist to seeing bears, as these bears are in a rescue facility. This non-profit organization provides guests with the opportunity to see both brown and black bears in a protected and educational environment. The three-quarter acre habitats are located about 5 miles from the town center, set against the Tongass National Forest. This excursion can be done through a ship tour, or cruisers can simply take the bus or a taxi to the facility.
Open every day from May to September, it is perfect for those visiting on a cruise. An ideal family activity, a visit to Fortress of the Bear is extremely affordable, with kids seven and under being free.
