Alaska Cruises: Excursions

Journey to the spectacular Chilkat Eagle Preserve home to the world's largest concentration of Bald Eagles. Explore North America's deepest fjord on your voyage to the beautiful port of Haines. Your journey continues along the National Scenic Byway through the awe-inspiring Chilkat Valley to the preserve. After a riverside picnic, you’ll board 18-foot inflatable rafts to enjoy a peaceful float (no whitewater) down the river through the very heart of the preserve. Watch for eagles, bears, moose, and even wolves, drawn here by the spawning salmon. 7,000 foot tall peaks tower above as you float past the ancient native village of Klukwan. This is an unforgettable adventure into the grandeur of Alaska!

Note: Participants must be at least 7 years of age and weigh no more than 350 lbs. Ponchos and boots are provided at the site. Guests must be in good health and able to walk over loose gravel and dry river delta to board the rafts.

Travel the route of the “Trail of ’98” in a four-wheel drive Jeep Wrangler®. Your small group of explorers will set out into the Yukon Territory via the same routes taken by the hardy gold prospectors in the late 1800’s. Your tour guide in the lead Jeep will entertain you with the lore of the gold rush era by interactive radio. Amazing vistas accessible only by off-road vehicle await you on this adventure. You’ll want to bring a camera to capture them.

There are several points along your route that drivers can rotate including Pitchfork Falls, Moore Bridge, Dead Horse Gulch, Bracket Wagon Trail, and Tormented Valley en route to the historic village of Carcross. Drive up Montana Mountain for a panorama view of the Carcross Desert, the smallest desert in the world!

Note: This excursion enters Canada and all participants are required to carry a valid passport. Drivers must be at least 25 years of age, provide a current driver’s license and must sign a liability/insurance waiver. Participants must be at least 5 years of age. We provide a booster seat for children 5 through 8 years upon request and subject to availability. Canadian citizens may not drive the vehicles into Canada due to current regulations. Both parents must accompany minors across border or a signed letter granting permission from non-participating parent may need to be presented to Customs and Border Protection. The tour is approximately three hours with approximately one hour of off-roading.

This excursion guarantees excellent eagle viewing. Majestic totems and a waterfront clan house demonstrate the historical native culture at Totem Bight State Park. Get a close-up view of Guard Island Lighthouse. Enjoy a short narrated drive through Ketchikan en route to meet your Captain and Alaskan crew. Board your vessel, where you’ll hear professional narration, while you munch on salmon spread, cheese, crackers, fresh fruit, and cookies. Hot chocolate, coffee, tea, water, or soft drinks are all free. Relax in the heated main cabin or experience the open-air observation deck. Observe the areas of harvest and ancient old growth, and learn of the historical and modern uses of this very special temperate rainforest and its complex ecosystem. Cruise by historic Ward Cove Cannery and Loggerville, Alaska’s only 'floating town.' One half of this tour features the Revillagigedo Island waterfront; with its homes of the local 'rich and famous,' while the remainder explores the remote Guard Island and primitive Gravina Island. Binoculars are provided for your use. Eagles, of course, are guaranteed and we usually see harbor seals and abundant moon jellyfish. Whales, deer, blue heron and a variety of gulls and sea birds are also common. Note: We recommend you bring a warm, rainproof jacket to wear on the observation deck. For more details about this tour please visit: http://www.eaglesncl.com
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Catch “gold fever” and experience what it was like to seek your fortune during Gold Rush days! Learn to pan for gold (and keep all you find!) and discover Juneau’s colorful mining heritage for yourself. Head out with a prospector/guide in authentic 19th century dress for a historical tour of Juneau, including the state capitol, en route to “Last Chance Basin”, where Joe Juneau and Richard Harris struck gold in 1880. In a beautiful, secluded setting alongside Gold Creek — only accessible under our tour’s special permit — your prospector shows you how gold panning is done. Then, it’s your turn, as you learn how to expertly work the pan with helpful tips and advice. You can choose to pan in the creek, or in the waist-high demonstration trough. Every one of all ages and those with limited mobility can learn how to pan and capture the full gold rush experience. You’re guaranteed to find gold! And, all that glitters is yours to keep. Around you are remnants of the original buildings of the Alaska-Juneau Mining Company, which at the height of production was the largest operation of its type in the world. You’ll learn about the mining techniques that were used, and more about the quest for gold that is so much a part of Alaska’s history. Take home a souvenir Orelove Brothers Gold Claim Certificate, all the gold you find, and an appreciation of what is was like to seek your fortune in the wilds of Alaska more than a century ago. less

Your adventure begins as you board your motorcoach for a ride through the historic streets of downtown Skagway to the Klondike Gold Fields. Once there, meet your guide and watch a video presentation introducing you to the dogs of the Klondike Gold Rush and highlights of what winter dog sledding is like today. Meet and interact with the Iditarod sled dogs and their puppies, stopping first by the checkpoint tent with your musher. Here you’ll be introduced to all the gear a musher and dog team takes with them on a long distance race. Your musher introduces you to the team and then hooks the dogs to a sled to demonstrate a run for you. After layering up step into the cold chamber and experience the cold of an Iditarod race in a 40° degree below zero room!

Afterwards, get ready to warm up with a little gold fever! Learn the art of panning for gold and practice your technique in warm water troughs. Gold is guaranteed! After you've hit pay dirt, weigh your fortune in The Gold Parlor. Use your free time to visit The Gold Shack and The Unexpected for Alaskan gifts and souvenirs. Take in a brief film of the northern lights, our dredge or Charlie Chaplin in The Gold Rush. Stroll the grounds and enjoy the interactive displays and surrounding scenery.

Note: Stay past your departure time, and Klondike Gold Fields will provide you a ticket for a shuttle ride back to your ship or town. The shuttle runs every 30 minutes from the Klondike Gold Fields.