We are cruising with HAL. Are there recommendations for shore excursions in Juneau (did anyone <BR> do the helicopter/dogsled) trip? <BR> Ketchikan (did anyone do the seaplane/bear watch?) <BR> Sitka (suggestions?) <BR> Valdez (suggestions?) <BR> Seward (suggestions?) <BR> <BR> We have two days at Denali--any suggestions? <BR>

We cruised to Alaska in June and we did a helicopter trip, the one that goes over 4 glaciers and land on one. It was very nice except that our guide only gave us a few minutes to walk around the glacier. However, I have heard that other guides have spent more time on the glaciers. Our friends went on the dogsled trip and they said it was worth the $325/person!

Hi Deb--I'm only going to be a little helpful. Just returned from Alaska with Princess so shore excursions will be somewhat different. In Denali we took an included 6-8 hour bus ride into the park, I wasn't really looking forward to it but it was alot of fun-saw moose, reindeer,and mama and baby bear quite close-saw beautiful scenery and learned alot from our driver. We did a whitewater rafting trip-it was ok,not that much of a rush and the water, of course, was very cold. Our friends took the dog sled tour and really enjoyed it. We did just a glacier walk in Juneau. Enjoyed that. Took a jetboat in Juneau also. Enjoyed that. Don't miss Mendenhall glacier. Seward has boat charters available just as you get onto the dock. You could book fishing and sightseeing tours right there. We went to exit glacier which was ok but I think we could have spent our time better. Watch out for shopping in Ketchikan, jewelry shores by the dozens. We took a floatplane to Misty Fiords park there-very nice. The salmon weren't running yet so no bear excurion, but I think I would have loved that. Have fun,it's a really BIG place!

Hi Deb, <BR>We did the inside passage in June'00 and enjoyed every minute. Weather could not have been better. We did the Mendenhall Glazier tour with the helicopter and it was worth every penny. we got to spend a long time on the glacier. As a matter of fact, I started to freeze because we were up there so long. My husband and son did the fishing tour but didn't catch any salmon. However, son did enjoy the experience. Whichever tour you choose, you will definitely enjoy it all. Have fun.

Deb, <BR>My wife and I cruised the inside passage as well. We did the helicopter thing to the Mendenhal glacier. They outfitted you in boots and gear, and after flying around it landed. They walked us around for about half an hour and explained the different formations etc. It was one of the highlights especially for my wife who had never been ina helicopter before. We also visited a lady who raced dogsleds. She explained how they were raised, her lifestyle, construction of the sleds etc then my wife was taken as a volunteer to ride the sled. This dogsled side trip also included a trip to a museum and an old fort area. we canoed the fiord in Ketchican that took us across a fior and under the town to the "secret" entrances to houses. Fun - but you must be in shape for that one- Try to get HALs detail list of shore excusions. They can tell you how much, your options for the stop, how long what it includes etc. We went on RCCL and they had it all on the web.

We just returned from a Princess cruise and can recommend Mendenhall glacier hike in Juneau; Saxman village in Ketchikan, bus/rail trip to Yukon territory in Skagway and most of all the jet boat trip at Denali to a trappers/gold panning camp; also domed rail car from Anchorage to Fairbanks.