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What vendors can you book directly with for Alaska excursions?

What vendors can you book directly with for Alaska excursions?

Old Apr 24th, 2006, 04:14 PM
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What vendors can you book directly with for Alaska excursions?

What vendors can you book directly with for Alaska excursions? I know many recommended
www.orcaenterprises.com- but they did not have all of the trips we wanted. Any other vendors?
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Old Apr 25th, 2006, 03:53 AM
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There are 100's of venders in Alaska, you need to choose the TOUR first. I never use booking agents, nor cobook anything except Orca Enterprises and Coastal Helicopters.

I only book direct with each vender. You get immediate confirmation, direct answers.

So IF you look over your shore excursion list and narrow down your interests, list a few tours, I can give you the venders for most selections.
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Old Apr 25th, 2006, 04:07 AM
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www.chilkootcharters.com

We used them for Skagway Rail and Yukon Bus tour. Small group and excellent tour guide!
 
Old Apr 25th, 2006, 01:26 PM
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We will be in Juneau (Taku Glacier Trip or Glacier View Kayak Trip)
Skagway (we liked the best of Skagway package that included white pass railway, gold panning, salmon bake)
And
Keichkan (not sure what to do….our NCL listed Wilderness Adventure Cruise and Rainforest Discover-or the Bike trip sounded interesting)
Any other specific guide recommendations would be great!!!
Thank you!!!
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Old Apr 25th, 2006, 01:41 PM
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Sometimes you can save $ booking on your own but often the price difference is not great. If the price difference is not great, book with the cruise line, sometimes time is $ and the cruise excursions are always efficient and well organized. the White Pass Railroad prices out almost the same and Whale watching in Juneau with Captain Larry doesnt vary much in price from the cruise line
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Old Apr 25th, 2006, 05:15 PM
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With no disrespect, I disagree with Hilda.

The money is not the only issue with Alaska tours, always the independents are superior for more personal tours, usually are out longer and local guides. The ship tours use a great many nonlocals reading from a script.

I wonder what independent tours the above HAS taken???
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Old Apr 25th, 2006, 05:19 PM
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For the above listed tours, Taku Lodge wins hands down in my opinion.

Be aware that the bike tours run in the rain in Ketchikan- which is likely. It runs on the road south of Ketchikan, I've passed them plenty of times, never looks like a happy group.

IF the cruise is to Misty Fjords via jet boat, this is a very good tour, if it is the "waterfront" area with you getting out for some "hiking", less desirable since the boat goes the same place as your ship and the "hike" is a short maybe 1/2 mile looking at plants.
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Old Apr 27th, 2006, 12:53 PM
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Budget queen is knowledgeable and experienced in Alaska. I would trust her advice as she knows the area in depth. She has been helpful to me in the past
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