Inside Passage Shore Excursions

Pulling into port is always exciting. What new places will we see today?

Shore excursions in Alaska offer many choices. You can see native villages, sled dogs, lumberjack shows. You can take a steam train to White Pass for the Yukon experience. You can go sightseeing from a seaplane and helicopter. The outdoors folks can go fly fishing, salmon fishing, and sport fishing. If you want a bit more action, there's Jeep, ATV, and Hummer tours; there's bike tours, ziplines, canoes, and kayaks. And if you want something truly different, there's always breakfast at a bordello or a visit to Liarsville. There's something for everyone in Alaska.

In this picture we're cruising into port at Ketchikan. Our ship, the Star Princess, shared space with other cruise ships at most of the ports we visited.

All is quiet in the early morning streets as we prepare to dock in front of Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Sun.

And in no time at all you're off the ship and exploring. Ketchikan is known as Alaska's 1st city because it's the first place you visit cruising the Inside Passage. We walked along the main streets and explored the shops and business along the way. Our biggest surprise--a Harley-Davidson shop! Not everyone has a Ketchikan Harley-Davidson shirt.

Our shore excursion in Ketchikan was a boat trip along an inlet to get a glimpse of the Alaska wilderness and a chance to learn about crab fishing. As our guide pulled up a crab pot, imagine our surprise as the pot revealed an unusual (at least to us!) starfish. When we arrived back at the boat dock, we were ushered inside for a crab feast. All-you-can-eat crab. This Louisiana girl was in heaven!

Cruising out of port is almost as exciting as cruising in. There's always something to celebrate on a Princess Cruise and getting under way is a good reason for a party. Everyone gathers on deck, the ship's whistle blows, and we wave good-bye to the folks on the dock.

After a while, civilization recedes and you're standing in the quiet watching the wilds of Alaska pass by.

Shore excursions are about personal choice; it's all about what you want to see or do.

For our shore excursion in Skagway I did something I've always wanted to do . . . blow glass! Nestled in Skagway's Jewell Gardens is the Garden City Glassworks' Hot Shop. There, tour participants work with glass artists to fashion their very own glass bulb. You decide the colors, the extras, yes or no to gold leaf. Then you blow into a tube to "inflate" the molten glass as the glass artist rotates and fashions the bulb. After your piece is just right, it's moved into the drying oven. Once cooled and cured, your finished work of art is mailed to you in the lower 48.

The town of Skagway is a short walk from the cruise ship dock. (There are shuttles if you don't want or can't walk into town.) This picture is a small city park along the way.

And just to prove you're never far from Starbucks, here's a picture from downtown Skagway, AK! Many thanks to John for posing under the sign. ;-)

Every tour and activity offered by Princess is researched by Princess staff and conducted by knowledgeable local guides. So no matter which excursion you choose, you'll see and experience the real Alaska.

Escape completely on a Princess cruise. Call today to book your Alaska adventure. Deposits are only $100 per person during our cruise week sale happening right now!