My wife and I have booked a seven-day cruise on the Holland America Line Amsterdam this September. We have taken several previous cruises on Regent, but have never been to Alaska. We are both in our early 40's and physically fit (we also love the outdoors).

Based on our profile, what are your top recommendations for shore excursions in the following ports (we have a fairly generous budget):

1) Juneau
2) Sitka
3) Ketchikan (we only have six hours here)

Also, should we book our excursions through the ship or try to do it on our own? Thanks in advance for your feedback!

Juneau - Definitely Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching (a combined tour we booked through the cruise line). If you book on your own, and the excursion is late, the ship may leave you and its then your responsibility to get back to your ship at the next port. Also be sure to check out the Red Dog Saloon, you will love it.

Sitka - We did a hike through the rain forest (also booked through the ship). We also did a boat trip to a salmon hatchery.

Ketchikan - We did a trolley tour around town but you can also do a walking tour on your own with a guided map. Check out Creek Street (the old red light district) or the lumberjack show.

Have a great time, you will be ready to go back again. We have done 2 different cruises through HAL to Alaska (different itineraries). Want to go again.

We didthe tour bus o the Mendenhall, then you can hike up to the water falls.
You can take the tram up from the pier and wal down, I have not done it ut have been told it is fun.
Creek Street is a must in Ketchikan, you can do a lot of hiking from there.
Look at my Alaskan photos in the link below
Have fun

Thanks for the feedback. What are your thoughts regarding the floatplane tours of Misty Fjord?

I'm interested in knowing about the Misty Fjord Floatplane also as we have booked this excursion for our cruise in May. We booked the excursion from the Princess website. It's pricey but looks neat. Thanks for any comments!

Nadine

Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau of course....you can take a helicopter ride if your budget allows it....You should get a booklet with all the tours listed and cost. Ketchikan has a great totem and cultural tour....you will visit a totem pole village and then back to their musuem were you will see 100 year old totems. And of course a walk about town.

I called the White Pass RR. We talked to the girl there and ordered a DVD of the ride.
I asked about prices and was told we were better to book on board the ship.
She said all they sale is a train ride. The Cruise lines add stuff on to it.