Shore excursions usually don't show up unless it's a sponsored excursion (for example, the new dock NCL built has some interesting activities featuring Alaskan business owners. Look on youtube and search for "NCL Alaska" and you'll get a lot of info. Really worth your time to watch if you're serious about going to Alaska. About 9 to 12 months out from the cruise more excursions usually appear - so check back often. I do recommend the White Pass train (now owned by Princess Cruise lines but I think it's still offered by NCL as an excursion). All the major cruise lines are investing heavily in Alaska infrastructure and shore excursions - it's in their best interest to do so. There are LOTS of excursion offerings if you watch the NCL videos and there are plenty of sources on the internet if you search for "Alaska tourism". Type in the name of each city and you'll find lots of info about tours. The upside-down gardens, fish hatchery, sea plane tours, glacier tours (Mendenhall for one), White Pass train, liberty bell at the capitol steps, the list is almost endless. However I DO recommend booking through NCL if possible since you get a guarantee that if something goes wrong, the ship will wait for you or arrange to get you to the next port. Don't forget, Seattle has a lot to offer as well. If you get off in Victoria, go to high tea at the Empress or walk Government Street and go to the indoor mall. The "Sticky Wicket" can be fun (northeast of the Empress hotel). James Bay is where Captain Cook fixed up his ship and is the heart and soul of Victoria. The island of Vancouver is named after his Leftenant who captained one of the other ships on the expedition. The British Museum (south of the Empress) is good too!
I don't know if they still allow it, but you can stand on the platform between cars on the train. I stood out there both up and back and loved every minute of it. HOWEVER, weather in Skagway can get ugly and there are no guarantees you'll have good weather, so keep in mind the higher you go, the colder it gets and you might not see the other side of a valley. Best time for good weather, last week of July first week of August. Ketchikan has a pole at the dock that indicates how much rain they have in a year. It's over 50 feet tall the last time I looked. They don't measure it in inches, they measure it in feet. When we were there it was over 32 feet of rain for the prior year (and it was raining as we stepped off the ship). SO, bring rain wear and something warm to put on underneath. BUT don't let that slow you down. Each town offers something interesting and fun. If you like Totem poles, take the "bite" tour (a spit of land that looks like someone took a bite out of it). I think it's in Ketchikan. Long houses, totems, tour guide, interesting gift shop (very eclectic).
Respuesta de: SeattleOrBust
Fecha de publicación: 2024-02-12