Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Cruises (https://www.fodors.com/community/cruises/)
-   -   Need help on excursions at Juneau, please! (https://www.fodors.com/community/cruises/need-help-on-excursions-at-juneau-please-617588/)

ice_leopard May 22nd, 2006 02:26 PM

Need help on excursions at Juneau, please!
 
We are 3 weeks away from our north-bound cruise on Island Princess to Alaska, and we are looking for a helicopter tour. Please help!!!

We have booked some excursions with Pricess, but were wait-listed on the "Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tour" out of Juneau on 6/15. We have an afternoon Whale Watching tour (1:30 -5:30PM) on the same day, so we would like to do an early morning helicopter tour. I called TemscoAir directly, but the 9:15 AM tour is also sold out. Here are my questions:

1. Is it an over-kill to do helicopter in the morning and whale watching in the afternoon?

2. Can you recommend another company that offer the same or similar tours for 5 adults and 1 child?

3. Does it matter which Glacier the helicopter lands? Is Mendenhall the most beautiful? How abut Taku, Herbert or Norris?

4. We would also consider Dog Sledding-Glacier Flightseeing if we can get back in time for our whale-watching tour.

Thanks for your help.


jacketwatch May 22nd, 2006 03:21 PM

If you are 3 weeks away I think you will have a hard time getting a heli tour now. We also took Princess to Alaska and I tried to book with Temsco months B4 our cruise and even then they were all booked up. I thionk the cruise lines buy up most of the heli seats and sell them to their passengers. Good luck. :-) PS, be sure to stop at the Red Dog saloon in Juneau. :S-

Dreps May 23rd, 2006 03:37 AM

Have you tried Coastal Helicopters. They coordinate with Captain Larry of Orca. We did the helicopter/dog sledding followed by a whale watching with Captain Larry. They do this all the time.

--------------

Eugene

BudgetQueen May 23rd, 2006 03:52 AM

I also strongly suggest you consider cobooking with Orca Enterprises and Coastal Helicopter. A significant factor is saving an hour in shuttle time, if you book these separately via your ship excursions.

Call them TODAY and see what they can set up for you. Both are independent and may have some space left.

For clairfication TEMSCO is a ship contractor as is ERA.

ice_leopard May 24th, 2006 07:33 AM

Thanks so much for recommending Coastal. I made a reservation with them for the helicopter tour to visit Herbert Glacier. It seems that most people mention Mendenhall. Is it the prettiest or just more accesible? Am I missing anything by going to Herbert instead of Mendenhall???

We can't do combo tour because we have to get back to port to join the rest of our group for the whalewatching in the afternoon, but thanks for the suggestion.

BudgetQueen May 25th, 2006 05:52 AM

There is nothing better about a Mendenhall glacier landing compared to any other in the Juneau ice field. Mendenhall is just more known.


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 01:25 PM.