Do I really need to do land excursions in Alaska?
I’m going on a cruise in Alaska. (First time on a cruise.) The land excursions seem very expensive to me. Do I really need to book any of them? Can I wait until I get to Alaska and “do my own thing” without having to pay these high prices? ($99 for a 3 hour walking tour)
The biggest disadvantage to taking a land excursion offered by a cruise line is that it is expensive.
That being said, there are some advantages as well. The main one is that if anything should happen during your excursion causing you to be delayed on returning to the ship, either they will wait for you or figure out a way to get you caught up to the ship at the next port of call. If you go exploring on your own and missed the boat, it is your responsiblilty to catch up to the ship.
Taking a walk on your own or by cab is certainly doable. But to get the full experience and benefit of where you are visiting, you need to do some advance homework to learn about the area and its offerings. Otherwise, it would be like taking a bus to someplace you’ve never been before, getting off and wandering until it’s time to leave. What will you have seen? Oh, and be aware that where the ship docks and where you might want to visit are not necessarily in the same place. You may have to travel a bit further to reach your destination.
By the way, you’re right. the land excusions are not cheap. The least expensive part of your cruise is probably your cabin. Cruise lines make make their mony on the extras such as excursions, bingo, casino, alcohol and soft drinks. And then there are the “extras”! Photos by ships staff, computer access, gratuities, etc. Yet, we still enjoy our cruises and dollar for dollar, it’s a pretty good bargain.
Alaska Land & Sea Cruise, Part 1 (Land)
|
|
TOPO! National Geographic USGS Topographic Maps (Alaska) $44.99 Over 250 routes on 15 of the best cliffs in the Red. Complete and up-to-date descriptions and grades. All new thumbs-upgrading system and birds eye topo views for each cliff…. |
|
|
Native Peoples of Alaska: A Traveler’s Guide to Land, Art, and Culture $17.95 Introducing visitors to the diverse lands and rich cultural traditions of Native Alaskans, this guide leads travelers to villages, festivals, museums, tours, historic sites, art collections, and dance performances of Native Alaskans, and profiles artists-at-work…. |
|
|
The Great Land: Reflections on Alaska $1.49 … |
|
|
San Diego SEAL Tours $30.6 Make a Splash aboard San Diego’s only amphibious sightseeing vehicles!View ”America’s Finest City” on a ”Boat with Wheels!” Experience San Diego the way it was intended – from Land and Sea. 90 minute fully narrated journey. |
|
|
San Diego SEAL Tours and Old Town Trolley Package $54 View ”America’s Finest City” on a ”Boat with Wheels with the San Diego Seals Tour. Then, climb onboard the Old Town Trolley and enjoy a two-hour, fun-filled tour! See the best of San Diego on land and sea! |
|
|
Land and River Tour of Chicago $50 See Chicago from the land and water on this great combo tour. Cruise along the skyline in a streamliner yacht! The Land and Lake Tour gives you most of the sights as in the South Shore Tour – the business district, the Loop, Grant Park, Soldier Field and more. |
|
|
Canoes at Dock for Tours, Harriet Hunt Lake, Ketchikan, Alaska, USA $29.99 Savanah Stewart Canoes at Dock for Tours, Harriet Hunt Lake, Ketchikan, Alaska, USA – Photographic Print |
|
|
Go San Francisco Card- 1 Day Attractions Pass $54.99 This Go Card gives you access to over 50 of San Francisco’s best museums, tours and attractions. Save up to 35% off regular admission prices. Plus, get savings on dining and shopping too. On land or sea, the Go San Francisco Card has you covered! |
|
|
Bald Eagle, Coming in to Land, Alaska, USA $24.99 David Tipling Bald Eagle, Coming in to Land, Alaska, USA – Photographic Print |
|
|
DC Ducks $31.5 See Washington DC on land and water with the DC Ducks tour. This 90-minute Washington DC tour will take you through the city of Washington before splashing down into the Potomac River for the most unique ride of your life! |
|
|
Ride the Ducks of San Francisco $30.5 Travel on land and water in an amphibious vehicle crafted from the WW II DUKW. RIDE through San Francisco’s historic streets and neighborhoods. SPLASH down into the bay and CRUISE McCovey Cove. Even DRIVE the duck if you want to! Can you say FUN! |
|
|
Sunset Watersports Snorkel Tours $37.63 Sunset Watersports Snorkel Tours in Key West offers snorkeling for the whole family. See tropical fish and the only living coral reef in the US. Experience natural beauty and breathtaking sights unlike anywhere else in the world. |
|
|
Alaska - $14.99 Alaska - |
|
|
Bald Eagle Preparing to Land Silhouetted by Sun and Clouds, Homer, Alaska, USA $19.99 Arthur Morris Bald Eagle Preparing to Land Silhouetted by Sun and Clouds, Homer, Alaska, USA – Photographic Print |
|
|
Alaska: Land for Tomorrow $45.31 Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hardtofind books with something of interest for everyone Author: Herron, Edward A. Binding Type: Hardcover Number of Pages: 254 Publication Date: 2010/09/10 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.69 inches |
|
|
Alaska Land of Tomorrow $47.39 Author: Herron, Edward A. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 244 Publication Date: 2007/03/01 Language: English Dimensions: 8.50 x 5.50 x 0.55 inches |
|
|
Desert ATV Tours $178.69 Experience the thrill of navigating through creeks, sandy washes, rocky riverbeds, and rugged desert trails on a fully automatic ATV! Visit the most serene mountains and lakes the Sonoran Desert has to offer. You control your adventure! |
|
|
St. Augustine Carriage Tours $18 Step onto an Avalon Carriage for a two and one half mile ride along narrow, tree-lined streets. As you slowly pass by centuries old structures, your driver will narrate the story of old Saint Augustine. |
|
|
Chinatown Walking Tours $27 Tour San Francisco’s Chinatown and see an authentic Buddhist Temple, Herbal Pharmacy and even visit a fortune cookie factory. For an educational, fun walking tour while visiting San Francisco, take a cultural tour of Chinatown. |
|
|
Naples Trolley Tours $25 See the best of Naples on board the signature vintage Trolley and enjoy the fully narrated Naples tour covering over 100 points of interest. Guides combine humorous stories with celebrated facts for a fun-filled journey. |
|
|
San Francisco Giants Ballpark Tours $11.75 Baseball Fan? This tour takes you behind-the-scenes at the sensational AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. You will get to go places only the players and staff go. See the Dugouts, Indoor Batting Cages, Visitor’s Clubhouse, Press Box, Luxury Suite and more. |