Alaska Cruise Tours & Prices (Ketchikan, Skagway: environment, luxury, income)

[Barkingowl]

Here is a sampling of the cruise tours & prices that are available to us in Ketchikan.

"Duck" A Historic City & Harbor Tour - Get your Ketchikan visit off to a "Splash" with a ride through the rustic streets and scenic harbor on a state-of-the-art amphibian. Duration: 1.50 hours $44.00/pp.

Adventure Kart & Jet Boat Expedition - This journey to Mahoney Lake and its cascading waterfall is twice the fun with both Kart and Jet Boat rides. Duration: 4.00 hours $205.00/pp

Alaska Bear Adventure - Take part in this unique wildlife experience available only to a small number of visitors.
On this excursion you will:

• Take off by floatplane and enjoy a unique wildlife experience available only to a small number of visitors.
• Be given a narrative from your bush pilot as he takes you on an approximate 20 minute flight to a remote location in the Tongass National Forest noted for its salmon rich streams.
• See where few forest locations in North America offer the wildlife viewing opportunities found here.
• Landing and be met by an Alaskan naturalist, and be driven one mile by van along a forest road to the head, a quarter-mile guided hike along the improved trail leads to a viewing platform overlooking a beautiful salmon spawning stream.
• Watch for wildlife along the way as your guide identifies the rich variety of vegetation that flourishes in this rich rain-forest environment. In addition to black bears, Sitka black-tailed deer, bald eagles, minks, and martens frequent the area. Wildlife sightings are frequent; however, they cannot be guaranteed.
• Have a viewing platform where you look down on to fast moving rapids, an area where black bears gather to feed on runs of pink, coho and chum salmon, as they head upstream to spawn.
• See bald eagles perched in the surrounding trees waiting for the fish scraps left by the bears.
• Have interpretation by your naturalist/guide that will enhance this intimate natural experience.

Note: Comfortable hiking footwear and waterproof outerwear recommended; bottled water will be provided.
Access to this prime bear viewing area is restricted by U.S. Forest Service to minimize the impact and to protect the resources.
This tour operates approximately mid July - September.



Duration: 3.00 hours $330/pp

Custom Hummer Adventure - Enjoy private car service with a twist - customize your adventure with a Hummer and a knowledgeable driver/guide at your service. Duration: 4.00 hours $549.00/pp

Exclusive Touring By Luxury Suv -
An authentic Alaskan adventure awaits you on this exclusive private tour.
On this exclusive excursion you will:

• Discover this completely customizable excursion includes an expert local guide and the use of a comfortable and luxurious SUV limousine.
• Learn your SUV is rugged enough for the Alaskan terrain and comes equipped with everything you need to enjoy your private tour: club seating, tinted windows, state of the art sound system; CD/DVD, IPOD, rain gear, beverages and personal narration through an interactive hands-free intercom system.
• During your stay, enjoy a special sampling of wild Alaska salmon in a secluded picnic-style setting.

• Your customized excursion can include the following three experiences:

Native culture at Saxman Village, where you'll meet the carvers of giant totems and learn first-hand the legends behind these stories carved in wood.
Natural abundance at historic Libby Cannery, where Alaska’s maritime fishing industry comes alive. Your private tour takes you behind the scenes of an industry that fed the world’s appetite for wild salmon.
Revisit Alaska’s bawdy past as you stroll the boardwalks of Creek Street, once the town’s red light district, from the Married Man’s Trail to Miss Dolly’s House to discover the sights and sounds of this popular historic port. Duration: 4.00 hours $899.00/pp

[Barkingowl]

Let's see what tours are offered in Xa'at's home town.

Dog Sledding ON Mendenhall Via Helicopter - This excursion combines the exhilarating experience of a glacier helicopter flight with the operating of a dog sled to make your visit a true Alaskan adventure. Duration: 2.75 hours $560.00/pp

Here's the infamous one in Sitka: Alaska, Up-Close and Personal - A beautiful vessel and knowledgeable captain are at your command for a wide choice of activities featuring a stunning variety of wildlife and soul-stirring coastal scenery.
On this specialized excursion you will:

• Choose the activity and the pace of your unique marine adventure as you indulge your senses and imagination on Sitka Sound’s pristine, island-studded waters.
• See that wildlife is plentiful here, and learn your captain has a profound knowledge of the preferred habitats and movement of whales, sea otters, sea lions, porpoise, seals, brown bears and bald eagles.
• Discover your captain also knows the best places to explore and photograph awe-inspiring volcanic formations, glacier-carved peaks, secluded passages and other natural wonders.
• Weather permitting, you may wish to circumnavigate the rugged coast of St. Lazaria National Wildlife Refuge, breeding grounds for thousands of seabirds, including puffins, auklets and murres.
• Be provided an expert naturalist who will accompany you if you opt to go ashore on remote islands to beach comb, explore tide pools, or just savor the peacefulness of an untouched place.
• Your vessel is a new, 30-foot, expedition-style catamaran, designed specially for cruising off the beaten path.
• Experience the spacious, heated cabin which is equipped with deluxe seating, a restroom and galley.
• Viewing opportunities are facilitated by large wrap-around windows, an expansive open-air deck, along with a special bow-landing door to allow easy beach access.

Note: This excursion is sold by the boat and can accommodate up to 6 guests. Dress warmly in layers and wear sturdy foot gear if planning to go ashore.
Duration: 3.50 hours $1,800.00/pp

[cobolt]

Barkley,

When I was hiking the Perserverance trail in JNU last summer, I ran into a guy who works the summers doing that dog mushing thing on the glacier. It was his day off, so we hiked a bit together and chatted. He offered to take me on the mushing experience at no cost, but I turned him down b/c I thought it was cheesy touristy stuff, although I will say...he was kinda hot, and it occurred to me later, of course, that he might have been hitting on me.....or not.

How much of this touristy stuff have you signed on for already?

[sanspeur]

Holy Moly...I think I chose the wrong thing to do with my boat!...Lets see now $1,800 per person for 3 1/2 hours, accommodates 6 people = $10,800. I should be able to do two tours per day.....Uh that's $ 21,600....Too much! The $1,800 must be for the boat, but still good money for skipper and crew.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by sanspeur

Holy Moly...I think I chose the wrong thing to do with my boat!...Lets see now $1,800 per person for 3 1/2 hours, accommodates 6 people = $10,800. I should be able to do two tours per day.....Uh that's $ 21,600....Too much! The $1,800 must be for the boat, but still good money for skipper and crew.

I know a guy who works on one of the tugs homeported out of JNU and he was thinking about starting up his own tour business with a boat...and he ran the numbers, using a few of the whale tours as a guideline. Pretty impressive cash. It comes with its own problems and challenges but man....no kidding.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by cobolt

How much of this touristy stuff have you signed on for already?

None. Truth be told most of what looks fun is very spendy.

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by cobolt

I know a guy who works on one of the tugs homeported out of JNU and he was thinking about starting up his own tour business with a boat...and he ran the numbers, using a few of the whale tours as a guideline. Pretty impressive cash. It comes with its own problems and challenges but man....no kidding.

If the tour operator is getting the lion's share of the money I'd agree with you. But I think the cruise lines nickel & dime them down to make what they believe is enough profit before adding their hideous overages on top.

[warptman]

If I was to take a cruise, it would be to someplace warmer than coming up to Alaska. Caribbean would be up my alley.

[akck]

Originally Posted by warptman

If I was to take a cruise, it would be to someplace warmer than coming up to Alaska. Caribbean would be up my alley.

I agree. Either there or down the westcoast of Mexico.

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

If the tour operator is getting the lion's share of the money I'd agree with you. But I think the cruise lines nickel & dime them down to make what they believe is enough profit before adding their hideous overages on top.

Agreed...When me and ex-SO were looking into advertising our business with the cruise ships, they wanted BIG dinero for that. Even if you have, say a flightseeing business and you have the tour operators like in Skagway sell your tours, they are taking a nice little chunk for themselves, but nowhere near what the cruise ships want....$$ for advertising or "carrying" your tours and then $$$ portion of the actual income made on the tours book by their passengers. Blah blah.

Barkley....just go off on your own and have fun. I'll meet you and we'll get Warpt and Rance to join us and Xa'at and Met and we'll harass tourists and stuff like that...but you'll be in Alaska doing it....so it's like...cool