Cruise Excursions...Any Suggestions?

We are booked on a Holland Alaska Cruise in July 2007. We will be in the following ports; Juneau, Sitka and Katchikan. We have 2 adults and triplet 14 year olds!

Can anyone PLEASE suggest some ';must do'; excursions? Are there tours or things to do WITHOUT booking through the ship? (i.e. save some $$$)

Thanks so much!

Cruise Excursions...Any Suggestions?

I booked a whale watch tour while in Juneau with Capn%26#39; Larry at Orca Enterprises. It was a wonderul expereince, as we saw Humpbacks and Orcas, a stellar sea lion, an eagle and porpoises. The booking office is directly across the street from the ship dock. The website is www.Orcaenterprises.com if you want to check rates and itinerary. Unfortunately, there is little at the Alaskan ports that is inexpensive.

One thing I had planned on doing while in Juneau, but didn%26#39;t because of the heavy rain, was to catch a bus from the cruise ship terminal to the Mendenhall Glacier. i believe the bus cost $5.00. There, you may be able to observe bears feeding on salmon at the base of the glacier.

While in Sitka, we visited the Raptor Center. It is about a mile walk from the dock...a welcome exercise after being cooped up on the cruise ship. The cost was $12.00 (I think), and you can observe and learn about different types of raptors. There are also museums to learn about the Russian influence.

I did not visit Ketchikan, so can%26#39;t help there. I%26#39;ve learned that responses to cruise ship questions aren%26#39;t readily provided on this forum, as are other questions. You may wish to visit a forum specic to cruise ships, such as www.cruisecritic.com. Have fun.

Cruise Excursions...Any Suggestions?

DO NOT miss the Raptor Center in Sitka, however you do it. The triplets will LOVE it, and so will you. They have a center where they rescue birds which have been hurt and try to heal them and get them back into their habitat. We were on a small ship Cruise West trip, rather than a large ship cruise, and I don%26#39;t remember whether this was an ';included '; shore excursion. But either way it is a must.

My opinion on Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, is do it by yourself. For very little money you can get a shuttle out there and then take your time to visit the very excellent visitor%26#39;s center exhibits and not be herded around.

We were only in Ketchican for a couple of hours on our last day, so there were not any ';excursions'; to go on, but do not miss the heritage center, or whatever they call it.

Have a great trip. Say ';hello'; to the resident bald eagle in Sitka, who cannot return to the wild because of his injuries, but who sits on the ranger%26#39;s lap and stares at you, and who is taken out to schools for informative lectures.