| Taking a cruise to Alaska? No doubt you've read | | | | running every 30 minutes. If you don't mind the extra |
| about all the wonderful helicopter tours or float plane | | | | walk, you can also take a city bus which will drop you |
| adventures you can have on one of the many shore | | | | off a mile and a half from the Mendenhall Glacier |
| excursions during your cruise. You may also have | | | | Visitor Center. City bus fares are $1.50 for each |
| noted the price of some of these excursions. And, | | | | direction of travel. |
| while a helicopter tour is great fun, tacking on several | | | | Skagway: |
| high-priced adventures onto your moderately-priced | | | | One inexpensive shore excursion in Skagway is a |
| cruise can quickly add up to one very expensive | | | | float tour, which combines sightseeing and rafting. |
| vacation. | | | | Skagway Float Tours offers a tour lasting |
| Can you have fun shore excursions without | | | | approximately 2 ½ to 3 hours which includes a |
| over-taxing your travel budget? Absolutely, especially if | | | | 10-mile drive along the coast to the Dyea Valley, with a |
| you plan in advance. Also, be aware that you don't | | | | 45-minute gentle float down the Taiya River. This |
| have to go on the shore excursions through your | | | | excursion costs $75 and is suitable for all skill levels. |
| cruise ship. You can always venture out on your own | | | | Call 907-983-3688 for more information. |
| and explore Alaska, sometimes getting to destinations | | | | If floating's not your thing, but riding a bike is, consider a |
| on the city bus for much less than what you'd pay for | | | | bicycle tour of the Rainforest. This bike tour is suitable |
| transportation through your cruise ship. Remember to | | | | for all skill levels, and follows a flat path through |
| always compare the cruise ship's shore excursion | | | | rainforest, historic ruins and coastal tidal flats. Your |
| prices with similar tours offered by independent tour | | | | cruise ship may offer this as a shore excursion, or you |
| companies. | | | | may go independently through Alaska Bicycle Tours, |
| What cheap Alaska shore excursions are waiting for | | | | for a price of $78 for a 3-hr. tour. You can also rent |
| you? Here are several inexpensive shore excursions | | | | bikes by the hour if you wish to ride around town. |
| at some of the most popular Alaska ports of call: | | | | Rentals are $14 for 2 hours, $25 for 4 hours, or $35 |
| Juneau: | | | | for 8 hours. Call 877-292-4154 for more information. |
| Want a great adventure for under $25? Take the | | | | Just want to get out and explore the town of |
| Mount Roberts Tramway, a 6-minute ride to the 1,800 | | | | Skagway by foot? Go to to download a walking tour |
| foot level of Mount Roberts. The great thing about this | | | | map and have a great shore excursion in Skagway |
| excursion is that the tramway is located where the | | | | for free. |
| cruise ships dock, so you can just walk to the | | | | Ketchikan: |
| tramway at your leisure. | | | | Ketchikan is a wonderful place to see totem poles, |
| If you want to get out and see Alaska's beauty as | | | | and many cruise lines offer shore excursions where |
| well as take a hike, then the tramway is perfect for | | | | you can tour the city of Ketchikan and then go view |
| you, as there are trails on Mount Roberts for all levels | | | | totem poles at the Saxman Native Village and Totem |
| of ability, from nature walks to strenuous climbs, | | | | Bight State Historical Park. While these tours usually |
| including a trail that is handicap-accessible. Depending | | | | are inexpensive, you may be able to see the totem |
| on the time you have, some people like to take the | | | | poles for even cheaper if you take the city bus on |
| tram to the 1,800 foot level and hike down. There is | | | | your own to Totem Bight State Historical Park - $1 |
| also a restaurant on the mountain, as well as a nature | | | | each way. |
| center. | | | | Researching and planning ahead is a sure way to find |
| Another inexpensive, yet must-see Juneau shore | | | | fun, cheap shore excursions. Not only will you keep |
| excursion is a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier. No doubt | | | | your cruise within your budget, but you may also find |
| your cruise ship offers some type of package tour to | | | | you save enough on one shore excursion to help pay |
| the Glacier, ranging from the inexpensive bus/walking | | | | for those more expensive, once-in-a-lifetime |
| tour to the more expensive adventure tours where | | | | experiences such as a seaplane exploration of the |
| you can kayak, canoe or ride a float plane. If you want | | | | Misty Fjords. When booking independent excursions, |
| just a no-frills bus ride to the Glacier so you can | | | | do keep in mind the time you have in each port of call, |
| explore on your own, there are many tour bus | | | | and book trips with plenty of time to arrive at the |
| companies offering such rides. offers a roundtrip | | | | departure point and get back to your ship on time. |
| service to the Glacier for $12, with transportation | | | | |