Alaska - Bears - Cruise Ship vs. Homer
 

My partner and I will be traveling to Alaska in late August and be doing a cruise from Whittier to Vancouver. We would like to see bears on this trip and are wondering from other travelers experiences if you have had luck seeing bears through shore excursions while in ports along the cruise ship route - Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan? Is it possible, and more importantly, is it likely to see bears on one of these excursions in these areas? The shore excursion trips listed on the cruise ship's website says there is no guarantee of seeing bears. I understand nature is unpredictable, but I am wondering if this line is to relieve liability or if it is indeed very rare to see bears while on tours departing at these ports?

Our alternative is to spend a couple of days pre-cruise in Homer, but am not sure if we can swing it. If we do manage a stay in Homer does anyone have recomendations for a hotel/ B & B and/or wildlife tours to experience the bears?

Thanks much for any information. We appreciate and value your input!

You may or may not see any. Because of the short amount of time at any given location excursions allow, I'd guess the liklihood is 80% against.

Mendenhall Glacier at Juneau is a possible location but it often needs patience that the cruise ship excursion schedules do not allow for. On my last trip there, I saw 2 black bears foraging but I had waited for over two hours. In that time, several tours came and went with none of them seeing even a hint of a bear.

On another day, I did see a small black bear just ambling along the road just before you get to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center.

On the other hand, I have often seen bears along the shore from the tour boats of Kenai Fjords Nat'l Park out of Seward. If you have the time, I'd recommend one of the full-day tour boats.

If you can make it to Homer, have the time and money, a bear watching excursion with Emerald Air will guarantee seeing bears! There are other companies in the area that have great success also. Cruise ship -- very doubtful. Spend the money and do it from Homer!

<b>"If we do manage a stay in Homer does anyone have recomendations for a hotel/ B & B...."</b>

Victorian Heights Bed and Breakfast
http://www.victorianheightsbedandbreakfast.com/

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Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

You could also check the Alaska forum on http://www.tripadvisor.com/ for bear viewing recommendations: Bald Air (which we will take later in the summer) guarantees bears sighting or your money back. Emerald Air was getting great reviews, but recently had a change in ownership (which may or may not affect the quality of the bear viewing trip)...

We have stayed at the Kiana Bed and Breakfast both visits to Homer. Very clean and great host/hostess. The breakfast is always wonderful. Give them a call.

Just got back. The Crane's Rest B and B was great... would stay there again.

Thank you all for your suggestions and good advice!

We saw many bears on July 4th inthe rivers and were told they went back up into the
mountains in August. We flew from Homer to Kaymai NP to see the nears, amazing day.

If you fly to the Katmai coast from Homer you are certain to see some bears.

You also have the opportunity for bear tours out of Ketchikan to Neet's Bay and Traitor's Cove, or Pack Creek out of Juneau.

For bear trips out of Homer, you are best to have at least one "spare" day for weather variables.