Cruise Talk: Alaska Excursions

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»	Cruise Talk » Ports of Call and Destinations » Alaska Excursions

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Topic: Alaska Excursions

tk
Just Boarded
Member # 1882

posted 03-25-2001 09:15 PM

Does anyone have any advice about Alaska sightseeing optionals. I am taking the Infinity in June and will be visiting Juneau, Skagway, Haines and Ketchikan. In particular, has anyone had any bad experiences with seaplanes/float planes. I am a little hesitant to take excursions involving planes and was wondering if they any more dangerous than regular planes. How about excursions involving glaciers? Thanks for your responses in advance

Posts: 3 | Registered: Mar 2001 | IP: Logged

bubbles
First Class Passenger
Member # 1415

posted 03-26-2001 01:22 PM

We toured Alaska last summer and took all the tours we could in Juneau and Skagway. We did helicopter; small aircraft and glacier float trips it was wonderful. The excursions are quite expensive but they are worth the money for the unique experience. We felt perfectly safe on the two helicopter journeys we took and the small plane. The safety record is very good, I think there was an incident in 1999 but the safety checks and standards all seemed very thorough every time we boarded any vehicle at all. In Juneau we did the Mendenhall float trip which was great and a helicopter journey to Norris Glacier where we saw the most wonderous scenery including an ice cave, sights you could not see without flying in to see them. People who did a road trip to the glacier were not very impressed. In Skagway we did the Wilderness Safari which was a small plane then canoe trip to Henderson Glacier, again we would have missed this experience if we had not flown in. We did not visit Haines or Ketchikan but did fly over Haines from Skagway to Wilderness Point, it looked a remote little settlement and if you do not fly you will not be able to get away from town.

Posts: 133 | From: England | Registered: Jul 2000 | IP: Logged

Malcolm @ cruisepage
Cruise Director
Member # 301

posted 03-26-2001 01:57 PM

quote:
Originally posted by tk:
I am a little hesitant to take excursions involving planes and was wondering if they any more dangerous than regular planes.

Hi TK, Float Planes are far safer than your car! I enjoyed a float plane ride, but it was very expensive, as all of Alaska's excursions are! However, most seem to be good quality.

Don't miss the White Pass Mountain Railway trip in Skagway, this is a must see.

Posts: 19210 | From: Essex (Just Outside London) | Registered: A Long Time Ago! | IP: Logged

Skyhawk
First Class Passenger
Member # 427

posted 03-27-2001 08:48 AM

All of those airplanes are airworthy and under go periodic inspections for safety. The pilots are required to maintain certain proficiencies and are completely familiar with the area and I know they are concerned for your safety as well.

Rest assured they are generally safe and you will certainly enjoy each flight.

It has been stated before it is more dangerous to drive to and from than it is to fly in a general aviation aircraft.

Posts: 54 | From: San Angelo, TX USA | Registered: Jul 99 | IP: Logged

Frank X. Prudent
First Class Passenger
Member # 1723

posted 03-27-2001 11:33 PM

When I was in Ketchikan on the CUNARD PRINCESS during June 1986 I took a float plane into Misty Fjords. It was truly one of the highlights of that cruise. Back then the price was a whopping $105.00. I don't have the list of excursions for my next cruise to Alaska in May, but I'm betting that a similar trip will be considerably more costly. Nevertheless I am pondering doing it again; the '86 flight into the fjords was so spectacular.

My advice ,tk, is to go for it!

I got my Princess pre-document packet from the cruise line with all the shore tours listed. It came on 3/31. The 2001 price for a Misty Fjord flightseeing trip is $189.00. For $219.00 they offer a one way flight into the fjords and a boat excursion back to Ketchikan harbor from the float plane drop off. I confes that this sounds pretty neat and I've signed up for it. It does bother me some that I'll be shelling out more for this one excursion than I payed for all of my shore tours combined (The Captain's Choice package) while aboard the S.S. INDEPENDENCE last February.

[This message has been edited by Frank X. Prudent (edited 04-02-2001).]

Posts: 577 | From: Covington, Kentucky, U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 2000 | IP: Logged

Blizzard54
First Class Passenger
Member # 1824

posted 03-30-2001 07:54 PM

quote:
Originally posted by tk:
Does anyone have any advice about Alaska sightseeing optionals. I am taking the Infinity in June and will be visiting Juneau, Skagway, Haines and Ketchikan. In particular, has anyone had any bad experiences with seaplanes/float planes. I am a little hesitant to take excursions involving planes and was wondering if they any more dangerous than regular planes. How about excursions involving glaciers? Thanks for your responses in advance

As Malcolm mentioned the RR is a must see in Skagway. I have also done the float plane in Ketchikan (about $165 back in 96) It was GREAT! It was my first trip in a small plane and I sat in the co-pilot's seat. I was a little shaky until we took off, then I was fine the rest of the trip. We landed on a lake that was as smooth as glass. On the return we had a great view of the ship as we approched and landed right next to it. I have not taken any of the helicoptor trips but have heard good things from those that have.

Posts: 118 | From: Seattle,WA | Registered: Feb 2001 | IP: Logged

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