Alaska is a bucket-list destination for many cruisers looking to experience the history, culture and wildlife of The Last Frontier. To really experience its fullness, however, requires taking some shore excursions — more than a few of which carry some hefty price tags.
How hefty? For most of these excursions, expect to shell out at least $300 or more. Shore excursions in Alaska, as a rule of thumb, aren't cheap. But as pricey as they may be, these once-in-a-lifetime excursions are exactly that: Unique journeys that showcase Alaska's natural beauty like nothing else, creating lifelong memories along the way.
Here are six picks for the ultimate Alaska shore excursions worth the splurge.
Dog sledding and glacier adventure by helicopter — Juneau
Coming in at a cool $750 per person, this is one of those unique experiences where the memories will far outweigh the hit to your credit card.
Starting in Juneau, passengers fly via helicopter to a dog-mushing camp situated atop Norris Glacier, part of the vast Juneau Icefield that also includes Taku Glacier. Accessible only by air, the flight alone is worth the price of admission – until you land on the glacier and set foot on the pristine snow and ice.
Then, it's all up to the dogs. Along with a veteran dog sled musher, you'll be pulled across the ice by your team of dogs who know how to run. Alone in the wilderness of ice and snow, you may as well be at the edge of the Arctic Circle. It's exhilarating, fun and absolutely bucket-list in every way. Grab the cameras and make those at home jealous with your Instagram posts: this is one for the books.
Related: These 3 amazing Princess tours of Alaska will get you deep into the wilderness
Tracy Arm Fjord and Glacier Explorer — Tracy Arm
You might notice Tracy Arm Fjord listed as a scenic cruising destination on your cruise itinerary. Home to the North and South Sawyer glaciers, the awe-inspiring fjord is filled with narrow channels, towering cliffs and pristine waters.
What the cruise line doesn't tell you is that your ship is unlikely to make it to the Sawyer glaciers, particularly at the start of the season when ice still chokes much of the fjord's narrowest passage.
But most cruise lines offer the Tracy Arm Ford & Glacier Explorer tour, and it's well worth the splurge. Running about $300 per person, you disembark your ship right in the fjord and hop aboard one of Allen Marine's small expedition ships for a cruise right up to the North Sawyer Glacier. You'll be treated to wildlife, waterfalls and incredible sights of the calving glaciers before rejoining your ship in the Fjord.
We've done this tour numerous times, and it's never disappointed. The expedition ship also happens to sell some of the best seafood chowder we've tasted (but let's keep that secret between us, shall we?).
Denali peak flightseeing — Denali National Park
This excursion is only available for those taking part in pre- or postcruise overland tours that visit Denali National Park, but it represents one of the most spectacular flightseeing experiences we've ever had in Alaska. You'll have to cough up more than $400 per person, but the experience is priceless.
Setting out from Denali, passengers are bundled into a small airplane and taken for an amazing flightseeing adventure over Denali National Park, which somehow manages to look even more majestic from the sky.
Here's the real win: If conditions allow, your pilot will set the plane down on the mountain, on the snow, and give you time to walk around outside. Then, your plane – equipped with special skis or floats – races back along the snow and takes off over the majesty of Denali National Park. It's a stunning journey unlike anything else available in Alaska.
Related: 6 amazing excursions you'll only find on an Alaska cruisetour
Luxury White Pass and Yukon Route Railway experience — Skagway
A journey up the formidable White Pass and Yukon Route Railway is one of Alaska's signature experiences. Departing from the gold rush frontier town of Skagway, the railway whisks you up stunning heights into the mountains beyond Skagway, following the original Trail of '98 up into the Canadian Yukon Territory to Carcross.
Recently, the railway has offered an upgraded experience: a luxury rail car coupled to the end of the train for a select few passengers. Complete with plush leather seating, complimentary beverages and canapes, it's all elevated to match the scenery alongside the train.
No kids are allowed, and the car comes with a private guide who will share the scenic viewpoints and gold rush history with you as you wine and dine your way up the White Pass to the summit. The nearly three-hour tour costs about $450 per person, but with the luxury service, you'll feel like a million bucks — and definitely not like a rugged prospector.
Related: Best Alaska cruise tips to help you make the most of your time aboard and ashore
All you can eat crab feast — Ketchikan
If you love crab, you'll love this gloriously indulgent excursion available in Ketchikan. The experience costs around $130 per person, and offers outsize value.
Guides will show how crab pots are pulled from the water, and will even pass around a crab and explain their entomology and relevance to the region. Then, it's off to the George Inlet Lodge where you can eat as much crab as you please – literally. Served up with butter and crisp Alaskan beer (non-alcoholic alternatives are available), the crab legs will mount as you enjoy your fresh Alaskan feast.
How much is too much crab? That's hard to say! Test your limits with this informative, scenic and scrumptious tour. Just be warned: you won't be hungry afterwards for quite some time.
Related: 15 Alaska cruise mistakes you never want to make
Whale watching — Various ports
From Juneau to Icy Strait Point to Wrangell and beyond, whale watching excursions are a must. They're expensive, though reasonably priced when compared to some of the flightseeing excursions on this list. But if you want to be guaranteed a whale sighting, it's best to book passage on one of these smaller boats.
Tours run between $200 and $400 a person, depending on the excursion you choose. These small ships include both indoor and outdoor seating areas. But, even if it's raining, brave the upper decks and the elements. The thrill of seeing a whale breech close by is like nothing else when viewed from the upper deck.
While you may see whales from your cruise ship, they will likely be far off and in the distance. Officers on ships are trained to avoid whales like the plague and will typically steer away from any pods they see. Small ships, on the other hand, can get far closer than a big ship ever could.
We've done whale watching tours in nearly every port of call in Alaska, and while we've had good sightings in various ports, two stand out: Icy Strait Point has offered some of the most consistently excellent whale watching experiences, while excursions from Juneau's nearby Auke Bay have been well worth the price of admission, too.
Either way, if you're set on seeing whales, a whale watching excursion is a no-brainer. Bring a poncho (leave the umbrellas on the ship), some waterproof clothing and your camera, and get ready: you never know what Mother Nature is ready to surprise you with!
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Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.