Feedback on Cruise excursions - Not sure about Skagway & ICP

I will be on Celebrity Millie departing Vancouver on June 12th. I will be traveling with my DH, friend and her hsbd, my sister and another friend. I am doing all the research and am trying to have a good variety of activities planned. We are all late 40%26#39;s or early 50%26#39;s and in good health. Ports and excursions picked are as follows:

Ketchikan: Booked Island Wings from 12-2 for float plane to Misty Fiords.

Will visit Creek Street in the am.

Juneau: Booked with Harv %26amp; Marv 9-12:30 Whale watch

Eat lunch at Tracy Crab Shack

Take shuttle to Mendenhall Glacier. Hike on our own.

Skagway: Not really sure I want to do the RR so I%26#39;ve reserved a car to go to Emerald Lake. I plan on getting the Murray Guide. From what I%26#39;ve read this will have great scenary. But not 100% sure this is the best use of time. Other options: Ferry to Haines, or the Chilkot Trail Hike %26amp; Float(will be in Denali so that might be a better place to raft)?

Icy Straight Point: My DH and friends H want to Salmon Fish and this seems to be a great port to do that. I have contacted both Dreamfish Alaska and Glacierwind Charters. Cost is comparable, Opinions of one over the other. I have tried to search for reviews without success.

Other option is Brown Bear viewing with Forget me Not, but we will be in Denali, so this might be repetitive.

Seward: Disembark and have a Limo reserved to take us to Anchorage. My sister and friend have a flight that pm, so the train was not an option.

Anchorage: Rent a car and drive to Denali.

We have rooms reserved at Denali LakeView Inn for Fri, Sat %26amp; Sun.

Denali: We have reservations for the Shuttle on Sat am to Wonder Lake.

Sunday: Will either do a rafting trip - recommendations? Or is there a place to fish on shore?

Mon - Drive back to Anchorage flight @ 8:30pm.

Need help firming up Skagway and ICP. Are their any MUST DO%26#39;s that I have overlooked? I have used this site for items already booked. Also, have been reading on cruise critic as well. Any suggestions are welcome. Thank you in advance in helping me plan!

Feedback on Cruise excursions - Not sure about Skagway %26amp; ICP

I am not sure where the Tracy Crab Shack in Juneau is but if it is not near Auke Bay, you will probably be doing some severe backtracking. Mendenhall Glacier is on the way back from whale watching. If you are planning much hiking there, I would suggest you grab something at Hot Bite at Auke Bay and have Harv %26amp; Marv drop you off at Mendenhall. It will save you about 1 hour time if not more.

I enjoyed the drive to Emerald Lake a couple of years ago. If you like hiking, there are quite a few hikes available here on your own if you want. You could actually take the train just a short distance to Denver Glacier or Laughton Glacier (flagstop), do some hiking then flag the train down on the way back. Or Upper Reid Falls hike or either Lower Dewey or Upper Dewey Lake hikes are considered excellent (I have only done Upper Reid Falls hike but plan on the Upper Dewey Hike and Laughton Glacier hike summer of 2010).

I have heard good things about both of the companies in ISP but have not had personal experience with either.

I am not sure I would ever consider bear watching ';repetitive'; but personally I think there are great things in ISP like whale watching and the fishing you mentioned. Last summer I actually did whale watching in both Gustavus (the point of entry for whale watching in the area when you are not on a cruise ship) and Juneau. Both were excellent. I would like to go whale watching in ISP with FISHES sometime.

Too bad that you are going to miss Seward. It is a really nice town.

Note that it will be a VERY long day if you get off the cruise ship on Friday morning and try to get to Denali that same day. Figure 10 hours or more from the time you get off the ship until you are in Healy. Drive to Anchorage airport +-3 hours without stops, get rental car 1/2 hour, get out of Anchorage 1/2 hour or more. Stop for groceries in Anchorage or Wasilla 1/2 hour. 5-6 hour drive to Denali. So that right there is 9 hours and doesn%26#39;t include any photo stops, potty stops or meal stops.

Looks like you will be in Denali the same time I will. I will be taking the shuttle on June 20th from Wonder Lake toward the entrance in the morning then back to Wonder Lake in the late afternoon whereas you will be going in the opposite direction!

I have heard great things about Denali Outdoor Center for rafting. I have only rented a bicycle from them but they were extremely friendly and helpful.

I would encourage you to get off the shuttle bus on your day in Denali - at Wonder Lake or on the way back is best. That way you will have seen the options for hiking.

John

Feedback on Cruise excursions - Not sure about Skagway %26amp; ICP

John -

Thank you for your suggestions. That was the kind of info I was looking for. I will take your recommendation for lunch before Mendenhall Glacier.

Also, I am looking at Skagway a little more. I might want to do the train if you can do a shorter distance, I just didn%26#39;t want the whole day as a captive. I like the option of doing my own thing with the car. Also, did want to do some hiking. What do you mean when you say to flag down the train?

Thanks for your suggestions.

Dena

I have just posted my thoughts on Skagway WPYR and road trip on this thread if you would like to take a look at it. It does address many of your questions.

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g60877-i1735-k2597鈥?/a>