Shore Excursions in Alaska

A half-day tour through Juneau City with round-trip transportation from the cruise port is a popular choice for visitors traveling via cruise ship. In addition to navigating for you, your guide points out landmarks and tells stories about Juneau's history often unheard by visitors. After free time to explore the natural landscape of Mendenhall Glacier, sit down for a meal of fresh crab and crab cakes.

Join a small-group tour for a 3.5-hour cruise around the pristine waters of Resurrection Bay from Seward. Travel for 55 miles (88km) round-trip into the wildlife-rich waters for up-close encounters with Alaska's massive bird rookeries and sea lion colonies, passing whales, and otters. Choose from two departure times from Seward for this small-group tour.

Make the most of your shore time and explore the beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park on this full-day tour. Hop aboard the catamaran and sail around the national park keeping an eye out for orcas, humpback whales, sea otters, sea lions, and more. Listen to informative commentary onboard as you observe these massive glacial formations and watch for calving.

Step off your cruise ship and into a floatplane to admire the glassy blue lakes, waterfalls and snowcapped peaks of Misty Fjords National Monument on this 2-hour shore excursion from Ketchikan. Capture bird's-eye views of varied landscapes and spot eagles, bears and plenty of other wildlife. But that's not all - your aerial adventure, limited to just six people per plane, includes landing on a lake or fjord.

While your ship is docked in Ketchikan, kayak around Eagle Island, part of Tongass National Forest, on this 3.5-hour guided shore excursion. Enter the protected waters of Clover Pass and as you paddle around the island, spot wildlife including bald eagles, seals, salmon, and perhaps even humpbacks and orcas. The tranquil waters provide a perfect opportunity for beginning kayakers and the more experienced alike to enjoy the Alaskan wilderness.

Discover Kenai Fjords National Park, Resurrection Bay, and Aialik Bay on a 6-hour small-group cruise from Seward. Hear live commentary from the informative National Park Ranger guide as you look for Alaskan wildlife such as whales, sea lions, sea otters, and puffins, and stop at Holgate Glacier to float among the icebergs. Upgrade your cruise with an onboard buffet that features Alaska salmon and prime rib.

Mendenhall Glacier and Lake is the Juneau area's premiere wilderness destination for its beauty, scale, and ease of access. This 6.5-hour tour takes you right up to the glacier, past Nugget Falls, and over Mendenhall Lake, combining paddling, ice trekking, and hiking for a full-day's worth of wilderness adventure suitable for the whole family. This tour is available as a shore-excursion for cruise passengers.

Make the most of your time in Juneau with this shore excursion featuring an all-you-can-eat Alaskan salmon bake and an array of post-meal activities. Grilled wild salmon and blueberry cake are just some of the succulent dishes that you can enjoy as lunch or dinner. Afterward, visit Salmon Creek waterfall and Wagner Mine - perhaps even sift for gold on your own. Learn about Tlingit craftsmanship from a Master Carver and pick up unique works of art. Shuttles depart regularly, allowing you to enjoy this experience as long as you like.

Imagine yourself suspended above the ground, gliding from one uniquely-themed platform to the next on a series of seven ziplines and 10 platforms through the scenic Alaskan rain forest. This once-in-a-lifetime experience includes an ascending drive through the scenic Tongass National Forest. Following the zipline tour, you will have the opportunity to try your hand at Axe Throwing and embrace your inner lumberjack! Safety gear and instructions will be provided by the guides for a fun and exciting outdoor challenge!

On this shore excursion from Juneau port, you get to pan for gold and dig into a hearty Alaskan salmon-bake buffet. At Gold Creek and Last Chance Basin, learn how to cull the waters for the precious metal and then make your own small fortune exploring the gold fields on your own. Watch a Tlingit Master Carver at work on totem poles and silver, visit Salmon Creek waterfall and enjoy a city tour of Juneau. And yes, keep all the gold you find! Port transport included.

Ketchikan is one of Alaska's most visited cruise ports, renowned for its salmon fishing, wildlife, and indigenous heritage. On this tour, take in all the highlights with a local guide. See the famous salmon ladder, admire the traditional totem poles at the Saxman Native Village, enjoy whale-watching from Rotary Beach, and look out for seals, eagles, and bears at Herring Cove.

Make the most of limited port time in Skagway during this kid-friendly shore excursion. With pickup from the port, enjoy easy transportation in a comfortable coach and a guided sightseeing tour of downtown. Visit a musher's camp to learn about Alaskan dog sledding, cuddle with adorable husky puppies, and roast s'mores. Opt for a self-guided nature hike or relax at basecamp before heading back to the port.

Explore Southeast Alaska's Inside Passage while steering your own 14-foot zodiac boat on this shore excursion. After a safety briefing, follow an expert guide into inlets and estuaries and watch for wildlife including whales, seals and sea lions. While out on open water, you might even pass one of the crabbing vessels featured on the Discovery Channel's 'Deadliest Catch!' Port transport is included on this 2.5-hour outing.

Discover one of Alaska's most beautiful creatures, the gray whale, during this 4-hour whale watching cruise. Head to Resurrection Bay with your group and watch the annual migration of gray whales from Baja California to the Bering Sea, generally from late February to May. Keep an eye out for other animals such as orcas, sea lions, humpback whales, bald eagles, and porpoises as you take in the beautiful Alaskan landscape.

While docked in Juneau port, take advantage of this unique shore excursion - a private fishing trip with a licensed guide. You and three to five of your fellow cruise passengers decide which adventure sounds more appealing: a 4-hour wild-salmon fishing or 6-hour halibut fishing trip. No matter which outing your private group chooses, enjoy the comfort of a heated cabin and snacks on board. Remember to snap a frame-worthy shot of you reeling in the big one!

Get off your cruise ship and your adrenaline going on this half-day shore excursion to a Ketchikan zipline adventure park. Soar through the Alaskan rain forest on seven ziplines and eight canopy ropes. This natural jungle gym includes suspended logs, rope bridges, a climbing tower and staircase, meaning thrill seekers of all experience levels will share in the excitement. Round-trip port transport included.

While your ship is docked in Juneau, visit the Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area, a protected wildlife site with the highest concentration of brown bears in the world. This must-do day trip includes a floatplane flight over Tongass National Forest and a kayaking journey through Windfall Harbor. A certified guide takes your small group of no more than 10 people into the Alaskan wilderness to watch brown bears frolicking in the meadows and catching salmon in rivers. The Pack Creek Brown Bear Viewing Area issues a limited number of visitation permits, exclusively to tour operators. Avoid disappointment by booking this tour well in advance.

Sample the rich culture and history of Big Island life on this 4.5-hour shore excursion. Led by a local guide, you'll make a stop at Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, a historic sanctuary for Hawaiian lawbreakers. Then, admire the three-dimensional paintings inside St. Benedict's Church, and taste a flavorful cup of island caffeine as you learn how Kona coffee is processed. Complimentary port pickup and drop-off are included with your adventure.

Alaska's remote Kenai Fjords National Park is home to rugged wilderness, numerous glaciers, quiet coves, and scores of wildlife. This tour takes you to some of the most untouched regions of the park to spot wildlife like Steller sea lions, whales, and sea otters. You may also see glaciers calving, a dramatic and exhilarating sight. The tour includes a complimentary breakfast and deli lunch, plus free coffee, tea, and water. Beer, wine, and snacks are available for purchase.

Embark on an adventure off the beaten path - a trek on Mendenhall Glacier - while your ship is docked in Juneau. Take on challenging terrain during an 8-mile hike that immerses you in Alaskan wilderness. Come across plunging crevasses and ice caves on this thrilling journey, pictures of which are sure to impress your fellow cruise passengers back at port and family at home.