So many LCTers have been to Alaska that I thought some of you might be able to help me with a couple of excursion questions for our June 3-10 cruise on the Mariner.

First, in Juneau we would like to do a flight trip over the glaciers. One availability is on a helicopter (Four Glacier Adventure by Helicopter), another on a floatplane (Glacier Flightseeing via Floatplane). Any opinions on which is better? The helicopter flight includes a glacier walk, which because of mobility issues I probably could not do, although my husband could.

My second question relates to Misty Fjords excursions in Ketchican. The options are a seaplane flight (Misty Fjords Seaplane Adventure) or a 4-hour boat excursion (Misty Fjords and Wilderness Explorer). I originally thought the seaplane was the thing to do, but the boat excursion sounds very up close and interesting, so I may be leaning that way. Any advice?

An excursion I already have reserved for Juneau is the Evening Whale Watching Quest. I always have wanted to experience really good whale-watching trip and hope this one qualifies. Has anyone done that excursion?

Thanks!

Priscilla - when we were on MUSH, about 40 of us did a private Whale Watching excursion in Juneau, I think it was Captain Larry, and we had the whole boat to ourselves. It was in the afternoon and it was absolutely wonderful, although it sounds like you have already selected RSSC excursion - my point is you will love it and its a great excursion.

Can't comment on the others as we have not done either of those, I'm sure someone will chime in with lots of good info and advice.

Hi Priscilla

How timely you should ask. We have done two Alaska cruises and I am in the process of editing together the video from both of them at this very moment. We did the glacier helicopter excursion out of Skagway. It was magnificent. One of the highlights of our first cruise. The ride up to the glacier and back was sensational. Walking on the ice was fun and I got some interesting video, but you wouldn't miss a lot by not doing it. I strongly recommend the helicopter trip. Can't comment first hand on the float plane version but would imagine it would be great too. You probably go farther but also faster and you can't get up close and personal like a helicopter can. I'd opt to do the helicopter again before I'd book a float plane. We had a float plane booked to watch bears on our last Alaska cruise on Mariner but the weather didn't cooperate and we didn't get to do it. On that trip, the float plane landed on an inland lake and we were to get out and take photos. We were all reminded that if a bear starts chasing us, it matters not who is fastest but only who is slowest. Warmest regards from both of us.

Pat

Priscilla, we're on the same cruise!

I've spent a lot of time over the past several months hanging out in the CC Alaska forum. Not many Regent folks there, but there is a wealth of information about ports and excursions.

In Juneau, I was torn between the helicopter flight or the whale watch. People rave about both. It's incredibly frustrating to me that Regent has this great new advance booking system, but prevents us from doing two things we want in a port. After flip-flopping several times, we decided the whale watch seemed more different an unique and booked the evening whale watch. I'll hope that when I get onboard, I'll be able to book a helicopter flight in Juneau or Skagway, but I know that because they have such limited capacity, the odds are strongly against me. I could book a helicopter trip independently, but we've got four pretty pricey trips booked for our week driving around after the cruise, and I'm not sure I'm willing to add another.

(Hmmm, what we need is to find someone on the cruise who isn't planning to pre-book any excursion in Juneau, and then pay them to book the second excursion we want. Wow, I can see a whole little black market for excursions popping up! ;) Kidding, just kidding...)

Regarding Misty Fjords, we've opted for the flight-seeing over the boat trip. The comments I read from a number of people is that the boat is nice when you're at Misty Fjords, but you spend about 90 minutes getting there and 90 minutes getting back, and that it's a long trip for the hour or so you spend at the destination. I didn't see any negative comments about the flight; it's definitely one of the most popular trips people talk about.

I'm sure some others who have actually been on these excursions in the past will chime in. I'm just sharing what I've picked up from my research.

--Eric

JoAnn, glad to know you loved the whale-watching in Juneau so much. I hope our evening excursion is as successful as your afternoon one.

Pat, hi and thanks for your recommendation about the helicopter excursion! Great point about a helicopter being able to hover and get closer and go slower than a float plane. Assuming we can snag that excursion, we'll opt for the helicopter trip.

Eric, your desired excursions in Juneau are the same as we hope for, and like you I already reserved the whale watching excursion with an online booking. I hope you and we will be able to do both! Thanks for your information. I'll check over on CC's Alaska forum too.

One question leads to another ... As a general rule, if an excursion runs morning and afternoon, is the afternoon excursion a little safer bet weather-wise? I know it's all a gamble with the weather, of course.

Priscilla, our Regent cruise to Alaska was way back in 2001, before LCT began. As Eric mentioned, I also found a wealth of information re excursions on the cc Alaska forum.

Our two favorite excursions were booked independently and were a floatplane out of Ketchikan and an extended helicopter tour over and onto the glaciers out of Juneau. Despite my arthritic right knee I was able to walk on the glacier with the others. I kind of freaked out when our pilot jumped over a small crevice and instructed us to follow him, but I was able to do it. As Pat said, the close-up views you get from the helicopter make the trip worthwhile even if you can't participate in the walk.

Thanks, Kathy. I am looking at exactly those two excursions -- a helicopter flight out of Juneau and a floatplane out of Ketchikan. Sounds like a great combination of ways, plus a couple of boat excursions, to see the sights.

I appreciate your information about the glacier walk. Thanks!

I'm on the 09/09 Mariner to Alaska and any suggestions for 'must do' excursions not involving anything that flies would be appreciated. Can anyone confirm that the Tracy Arm excursion will not be offered on this particular cruise? Ta. Lee

Priscilla,

I love boat excursions, but will be on the sea plane for Misty Fjords instead of going on the boat. I did a little research on CC and found that generally people feel the plane is the better of the two options.

Lee,

Looks like a few excursions are not offered on our cruise. I wanted to do a dogsledding one, but it seems the last time it's offered is in August. Not sure what to think about the Tracy Arm excursion. As of now, the website lists it but says, "The Shore Excursions below have been offered in this port in the past, and are generally confirmed for future sailings 120 days before the cruise begins."

The White Pass railroad is probably the thing to do in Skagway. I've read that siting on the left side is best for the views.
Kim

Lee, I can't confirm one way or the other, but my research points toward it not being available that late. Last year's final Tracy Arm excursion was apparently on the August 27 cruise. I don't know how flexible they are based on local conditions as of early September, or if they have a set schedule they don't vary from. (Aside from the weather, they may lose a lot of their seasonal help after the end of August.)

You could try calling Regent, although I'm not sure the reservation agents there will know whether there's any chance this will be offered. From what I've read, the company Regent uses for this tour is Allen Marine; you might call them (1-888-289-0081)or email them (Juneauinfo@allenmarine.com) just to ask if there's any possibility they'll still be doing a Tracy Arm trip on September 12. If they tell you there's zero chance of that happening, then at least you'll know for certain.

-- Eric

Eric: Thanks so much for your help. Emailed Jeneauinfo@allenmarine.com as you suggested and received the following:

"I’m sorry to be the one who has to give you bad news, but we will not be operating an excursion to Tracy Arm on that date. At that time of year the arm is so filled with ice that it becomes dangerous to operate marine vessels in the area. If you would like, you can try the other tour operator in town that does excursions to the arm, www.adventureboundalaska.com , but my guess is that, like us, they are not able to make it up the arm at that time of year."

Have emailed the operator as they suggested and am awaiting a reply. In view of the above, I doubt very much that I'll have any luck. As you said, at least now I know for certain!

Lee

Darn! Thanks for doing the reasearch, Lee. I was looking forward to going into Tracy Arm again. We will just have to enjoy the ship and all it has to offer that morning. Meet you in the O Lounge for a Blood Mary, Lee and watch the beauty of Alaska go by?

Just heard from Adventure Bound - not good news. They leave Juneau early in the morning and don't get back until late in the afternoon which counts us out. If there's that much ice about, surely the scenery we'll see will be fantastic.

Beth: I'll pass on the Bloody Mary but (only because it's morning) will settle for a hot chocolate!! Don't want to sound too boring!!

Lee

You all have been so helpful! Kim, I've booked the Misty Fjords seaplane also, which sounds very nice. And Lee and Beth, based on your posts I looked into the Tracy Arm excursion, which we have the good luck of having available on our June 3 cruise. I went ahead and booked that excursion also. It's early - 7:15 a.m. -- but we'll drag ourselves out for what sounds like a spectacular journey. I've also booked the train in Skagway and the Sea Otter boat trip in Sitka, so we are all set now except for the four-glacier helicopter excursion we hope to add in Juneau. Yay!

Well, even if the September cat excursion is unavailable, Tracy Arm is still on your itinerary, and you won't be disappointed. On my second trip there, my son woke me by phone that morning and said "MOM, you've GOT to get up on deck! This is AWESOME!" It is truly a spectacular sight to cruise into the fjord whether or not you are on the excursion that goes further when conditions permit.

Priscilla, glad you were able to book a seat for this for the June 3 cruise. The other excursions you have booked are all great, too!

The one thing I remember about Tracy Arm is being in the Observatin Lounge at 6:30 (ok, call me crazy)before getting to TA, with about ten others and seeing a large pod of whales perform in front of the ship. It was spectacular. So much wildlife and beautiful scenery to see.

Oh Beth, seeing the whales playing near the ship must have been breathtaking! We really will have to make an effort to be up and around early on the Tracy Arm day. And Olivia, well, what can I say but that your and your son's reactions confirm that it was a good move to have booked the Tracy Arm excursion. I long have wanted to get "up close and personal" on a good whale-watching trip. Between Tracy Arm and the evening whale-watching excursion we have booked in Juneau, maybe this will be the time!

Olivia, I'm glad to hear you think I picked good excursions otherwise as well. On a first visit anywhere, I never know for sure which excursions are the best ones for our personal interests, so it really helps to have your stamp of approval, especially since you've done an Alaska cruise more than once. Thanks!