Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway - recommend ONE excursion for each
 

I know there is a wealth of information within these Fodor pages but therein lies the problem. I need a bit of help please in narrowing things down - sensory overload here.

My dad and his companion (both in their 70's but very fit and sprightly!) are travelling from the UK in mid-September and are booked on an NCL Alaska cruise.

Dad is completely bemused by the enormous list of shore excursions he has been sent and I would appeal to all you cruising Fodorties to help us out.

If you could recommend just ONE excursion in each of the stops - Juneau, Ketchikan and Skagway, what would it be?

It has been approx. 4 yrs. since we did this trip and I can't remember exactly WHICH PLACE we did what, but certain you can figure it out from the shore excursions list. We did a railway excursion [Skagway, I think]that was really neat. Also did a whale watch that we thoroughly enjoyed {Juneau or Ketchikan}. Great shopping in Ketchikan! Probably the best cruise I have ever been on.

Just went there last month. My favorites were Juneau - Mendenhall Lake Canoe Adventure, Skagway - Glacier Point Wilderness Safari and Ketchikan - All Day Guided Wilderness Fishing.

We did an Alaskan cruise this past May with the same stops, but on HAL, so I'm not sure how the excursions compare. I know it will depend on how much time you have in ports also. In Juneau we did a Mendenhall Glacier/Whale-watch combination, that I think offered the best of what you can see there. Skagway has the White Pass Railway, which I thought was the highlight of our trip. The excursion we were on also offered a goldrush town with salmon bake, not to mention a tour of the Red Onion Saloon (a former bordello). Overall great excursion. In Ketichikan, we just did a trip out to a park to see the totem poles, then spent the afternoon shopping. It was the best shopping town of the three. Although we didn't try it, a women where I work, went to the lumberjack show and really enjoyed that, if that is something that might interest them. As far as you saying one excursion, a lot of the excursions in all three places are combinations where you can enjoy a variety in one excursion.

There certainly are a great number of excellent tours in Alaska. I have been on over 100 and have my favorites. Juneau- glacier helicopter landing- consider using Coastal $180pp, Skagway- White Pass RR but consider a pm trip if available and get to the Park Service Visitor center first- will really enhance your later rail trip http://www.nps.gov/klgo/schedule.htm

Ketchikan- Misty Fjords float plane, again independently booked for superior tours. Consider Southeast Aviation, Carlin Air , Island wings.