Do I pre-purchase my shore excursions for my Alaska cruise ?

Next Alaska blog post ...April 20

Do I pre-purchase my shore excursions for my Alaska cruise ?

For the most part, my answer is yes.
When might the answer be no, just wait ?

A few typical questions to ask yourself:

·         Do you have select tours or activities you truly don’t want to miss ?

·         Do you know which tours may sell out quickly ?

·         Do you normally purchase your tours ashore with the cruise line ?

·         Do you know the latest time, you must be off the ship in port, to partake in a tour, you’re wanting to wait and purchase ashore ?

·         Do you know which tours will be offered, after you are in port ?

·         Are you traveling with a group ?  Can you count on all, to be on time, to depart the ship ?

 

Like on any cruise or port, select tours sell out quickly with the cruise lines.  Ex.  Deadliest Catch in Juneau.  Sometimes, you never see the tour offered, because it is already sold out by the time you decide to look at tours.

Some tours have early departure. Ex.  Train in Skagway.  Not to mention, you have to walk to town, to purchase, once on shore.  Yes,  you can possibly purchase the afternoon train, if your ship is in port that long.

Tours are available, once on shore, for most ports.  But again, must you depart the ship early ?  Will you be docked near locations to make purchase ?  Will there be a line, for transportation, to get to town ?  Unless you do lots of research, many of these answers, you won’t know till you arrive.  Cruise Lines do not necessarily have such answers.  Even if they do, this can change.  Calling the port, you may get more specific answers of where the ship may dock.

When you may want to wait till port, to decide ?  When deciding based on weather, may not plan to do anything, or want to take pot-luck over what may be available.

Ex.  Tram in Juneau.  Could be a raining foggy day.
Ex.  Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau.  If you only want to travel out there, there are buses that go (city transportation and available tours).

If you wait to purchase select tours ashore, based on a rain/weather, you could miss out.  Weather changes in Alaska.  Tours that aren’t available in the morning, may be fine by afternoon.  Select tours, if you purchase with the cruise line and the weather it too bad, the cruise line will cancel and refund your money.  But if you just decide you don’t want to go, due to weather, after pre-purchase, then it is non-refundable, day of tour.

Over first 10 times to Alaska, I pre-purchased my tours.  There were so many things I wanted to see and do and not miss.

Today, I’ve done most everything I want to do.

In Ketchikan, I just enjoy walking the town.  And taking pictures.  And partaking in a little halibut, usually available at the Creek.

In Juneau, I love to go to Mendenhall Glacier.  I’ve taken the city transportation and purchased a $25 bus ride, to get closer, in walking.  I like to go up on the tram and purchase Dungeons Crab.  And I love to walk the town and visit the Red Dog Saloon.

In Skagway,  I love to go into the Yukon. Round trip by bus (I’ve done the train 10 times ?). So I usually still purchase this in advance.  However, I purchase from our Shore Excursion Group Team (instead of the cruise line) and there is another company I often use.  And my reason ? To know what time to get off the ship, since they usually leave as soon as the ship docks.

In Sitka, I still choose the same tour, over and over … Eagle Rapture Center.  So I usually buy this thru the cruise line.

Icy Straight.  I probably would pre-purchase their tours here.  They could sell out, with many folks opting to do something here.  I’ve done the bear watching and I love the cooking class and dancers here.  Last time, I just walk around.

In Haines.  If I wanted to go to Skagway,  I would pre-purchase this tour.  FYI – I don’t usually choose a cruise with this itinerary, unless I’ve saved a lot of $$, for the extra cost to go to Skagway.  I’ve basically done all I want here, so don’t know what I would opt to do, never time my cruise included this port.

In Victoria, I now just go into the town.  I’ve done the Butchard Gardens several times.  However, if by chance, my cruise was there all day, I would preplan a tour.

More and more shore excursions are offered in each port each year.  So if you’ve been several times to Alaska, you may want to take a look at the new options available for your next cruise there.

If it’s your first time to Alaska, take the time to look over all your options, far in advance.  Why miss out.  So though I’ve been many times, and know which may be available for purchase in port, for you, again, I suggest pre-purchase.

I also hope you have purchased your Alaska Cruise from someone who has been to Alaska. to help you will excursions ashore.  Look to a travel agent for a cruise such as this. 

I would love to help you with your Alaska cruise.  Not just for the tours, but before you decide your cruise and land package to Alaska !  Call me.  2016 and 2017 !  Mention $$'s to charity upon your call !
(434/800) 237-3832