Which exursion would be best. DO you think the float plane would be worth more money?

Taku Glacier Float Plane and Feast- $250
For more details about this tour please visit: www.wingsairways.com
For the ultimate Alaskan experience, combine glacier flightseeing with a remote log cabin, wilderness trails, wildlife and a scrumptious King Salmon feast. This narrated flightseeing tour departs by floatplane from the Juneau harbor, and everyone enjoys a window seat. View five breathtaking glaciers and deep blue crevasses of the Juneau Icefield. Snow-capped mountains, cascading waterfalls and lush forests await you on your way to a remote wilderness lodge. Historic Taku Lodge was built in 1923, directly across from the picturesque Hole-In-The-Wall Glacier, one of the few advancing glaciers in Alaska. After a warm welcome, the aroma of fresh wild Alaska King Salmon tells you the feast is about to begin, including actual glacier ice to cool your drinks. Your host will entertain you with stories of Taku Lodge' s colorful past, including characters such as Mary Joyce and her famous 1,000-mile dogsled trip, which put Taku Lodge on the Alaska map. This unique lodge is decorated with old dog sleds, hunting and trapping gear, furs and other Alaskan memorabilia. After your meal, take a relaxing stroll along the well-maintained trails of the old growth forest independently, enjoy a guided interpretative nature walk, or warm yourself by a crackling fireplace. All the while keep an eye out for the black bears that can’t resist the aroma of fresh grilled Alaskan King Salmon. This trip will be an experience to remember, and is an example of Mother Nature at her finest.

MENDENHALL GLACIER RIVER FLOAT-
$115
Take a scenic drive to Mendenhall Lake, for an excellent view of the glacier – one and a half miles wide and 150 feet high. Floating past the Mendenhall Glacier on its iceberg-studded lake, you will enjoy spectacular views of hanging glaciers, towering peaks and glacial topography. As you float down the river you’ll encounter stretches of moderate rapids as your guide explains the natural phenomena at work in this scenic valley. Once ashore, you will enjoy an Alaskan-style snack featuring smoked salmon spread, reindeer sausage, cheese, crackers and apple cider.

Of the 2 definately Taku Lodge. I never recommend the Mendenhall float trip, very distant brief view of Mendenhall, rest of trip is trees and backyards. Money is better spent elsewhere. I have done both.

I can't tell you which of these two to take if you've narrowed it down to just them, but I can highly recommend the helicopter trip to the top of Mendenhall Glacier. It's a whole different world up there. I would think it would be preferable to just going to the bottom of the glacier. The cost is somewhere in between the two you described.

With our cruise line (NCL) I couldn't find a helicopter price cheaper than $300. Plus, I am a little weary of helicopters and normally get ill...so unless it is a great price I don't take chaces

A glacier helicopter landing is the top Alaska tour in my opinion and Coastal is the cheapest in the $200 range.

www.coastalhelicopters.com

We are off on NCL Wind in September and have started thinking about excursions. We were going to book NCL tours but wondered what you thought of other companies and whether we we =ould still be guaranteed the ship will wait for us?
Thanks

The ship will not wait for you if you book an outside excursion. But having said that, I still prefer to book my own when possible.

One one excursion in Alaska, we went on a giant canoe (there were like sixteen people on this canoe). Our ride back to the ship (included in the ship-sponsored excursion price) was late. The operator phoned the ship and they waited for us. That time I sure was glad we took the ship's excursion. (But I wouldn't have booked it independently because the scheduled return was only about a half hour before the ship departed).

If you do book on your own, allow at least an hour to an hour and a half wiggle room.

And Budget Queen gives great info, you are being well advised! She is the best, and she knows from experience what she's talking about!

Thank you for the kind words.

As already mentioned, my take- if you miss your ship in Alaska it is YOUR OWN FAULT, for poor planning and not disclosing your ship departure schedule. ALWAYS go with the venders recommendations for tour timing. I have NEVER heard of any independent vender causing a visitor to miss their ship.

I never book ship tours. My independent experiences have always been superior to large ship tours that sometimes are run by scriped nonlocals.

Go with what your comfort level is, some people just need the "security" of ship booked tours, you definately don't need them in Alaska, however.

I'll be on the Wind Sunday!

Have a great holiday and can you let me know how it went and which tours you go on once you are back and the washing has been done?