alaska shore excursions - confused?

B

baesue

Guest
Have booked on the Summit for June, 2005 from Seward to Anchorage. I consider myself an experienced cruiser as I have cruised several times before however never to Alaska. Our travel agent made an unusual recommendation regarding shore excursions. I am curious if anyone has had similar experience. My wife and I want to do a helicopter tour in either Juneau or Skagway. Our travel agent suggested booking just these tours through Celebrity for both ports. If Juneau was clear, we would use the tour there and cancel the Skagway tour. However if weather prevented us from doing Juneau, we had Skagway as a backup. She also suggested having a whale watching and rafting excursions alternated in each port, again in case the weather is bad. I have never heard of this before, and I was wondering if anyone could offer some suggestions. Thanks
 
P

PEB

Guest
Sometimes due to fog the early helicopter tours do get canceled so a later helicopter tour is better. Hellicopter tours are popular so they do book up even if you book them on your own instead of through the cruise line. I am not sure if this is your TA's reasoning. As far as a whale watch they go on regardless of whether it is raining or not. If you were to do a whale watch I would do it in Juneau and not in Skagway. If I was to do a whale watch I would also go with Capt Larry on my own and not with the cruise line. The naturalist from your ship will be with Capt Larry more than likely. Your TA may be thinking it is easier to cancel a tour through the cruise line also.

JMHO and I have cruised Alaska many times and hope to go many more times.
 
B

baesue

Guest
Thank you for you info. I am sure our TA had in mind how easy it would be to cancel a tour through the cruise line rather than a tour we've booked on our own. I have heard from others and they too have suggested the whale watch out of Juneau. Captain Larry, is that the same as Orca tours? Anyway, have a lot of time before the trip but not much time to plan the tours. Thanks for your help. Have a happy holiday.
 
Top