ALASKA SHORE INFORMATIONAL BLOG

This is one of the most common questions we hear from guests cruising to Alaska. As a general rule, shore excursions for the summer cruise season become available for booking during the fall and winter prior to the season. We recommend starting your ... READ MORE...

Packing for Alaska is part of the adventure—because this is not your average vacation. One day you’ll be gazing at snow-covered glaciers and towering icefields, and the next you’ll be walking through lush, emerald-green temperate ra... READ MORE...

For some, the best part of a cruise is the excursions. Excursions and tours are fantastic ways to broaden your perspective, experience something new, and connect with the people and places that make Alaska so special. Based in Juneau, Alaska, Alaska ... READ MORE...

Alaska’s weather is famously variable, and that’s largely due to its unique geographical location. Where cool Arctic air meets moist Pacific air and rugged coastal mountains rise straight from the seas, weather can change quickly, even wi... READ MORE...

We here at Alaska Shore Excursions receive a lot of the same questions from our guests and we wanted to make sure that these answers have an easy place to live. Below are some of the most common questions we are asked: What currency are the prices... READ MORE...

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center is a hub for exploring Juneau’s wildlife and nature via scenic walking trails, endless information from knowledgeable U.S. Forest Service Rangers, and stunning views of the Mendenhall Glacier itself. Locate... READ MORE...

Alaska’s seafood-rich waters are the summer home of many different kinds of whales. Though endangered worldwide, the most commonly seen whale in Alaska is the humpback. These gentle giants are around 49 feet in length and can wei... READ MORE...

The most well-known of Alaskan fish is the salmon. There are actually 5 different types of salmon that are abundant in Alaska, all of whom share an exciting (for fish, anyway) anadromous life cycle that takes them from their birthplace in a freshwate... READ MORE...

Both brown (grizzly) and black bears live in Alaska, but, despite their names - color isn’t a good indicator of which is which. Black bears in southeast Alaska are indeed usually black, or black-ish, but in other parts of the state they can be ... READ MORE...

In the late 1890’s and early 1900’s the Gold Rush brought many settlers to Alaska. They traveled by boat to the coastal towns of Seward and Knik, and from there travelled by land to the gold fields. The trail that they used was named The ... READ MORE...

The best time to take an Alaskan cruise is in June, July, and August to experience the best weather and the best excursions. The best time to take a cruise and save money is in May and September, though the weather will be cooler and not every excurs... READ MORE...

A typical Alaska Cruise can cost between $600 and $5,000 per person, depending on the length of your cruise, the type of cruise you choose, and your room choice. We recommend budgeting an additional $1,000 to $1,500 per person for shore excursion... READ MORE...

The most visited grave in Skagway, Alaska is not that of a well-loved philanthropist or entertainer, but that of Alaska’s most infamous criminal -- “Soapy” Smith. Born Jefferson Randolph Smith, Soapy was to Alaska what Al Capone was... READ MORE...

Alaska boasts many treasures, but one of the most beloved are our breathtaking glaciers. These massive sheets of ice are large enough that their pasts are carved into the towering mountains that often surround them; these glacier-made features are ca... READ MORE...