Ask Our Team: Top Alaska Excursions for First-Time Cruisers

The time has come, you've booked your cruise to Alaska, and now you're faced with the fun part: choosing your Alaska excursions.  Our team is here to help!  What sets Alaska Shore Excursions apart is our first-hand knowledge of Alaska, the tours, and the local teams we partner with.  Our team chats with customers year-round to provide advice and share their experience to help you plan a trip of a lifetime.

Check out some staff picks for first time cruisers to Alaska!

To any first-time Alaska cruiser, I recommend our combo tour, Juneau Whale Watching & Mendehall Glacier Tour.  This tour gives you the opportunity to view the Mendenhall Glacier while also giving you the chance to see humpback whales in the Juneau waters.  Take the time to walk to Nugget Falls while at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, it's worth the view! - Iris

For the first-time visit, I'd send you on the Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour in Ketchikan, Alaska.  Hearing the first-hand experience of the crew as you're on board an actual crab boat is beyond cool!  Rain or shine, you get a really great introduction into commercial fishing and don't skip the King Crab for purchase, delicious! - Michelle

I'd recommend the Skagway’s White Pass scenic railway to every first-time Alaska cruiser.  It offers one of the best ways to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Alaska for all age groups, and it's ADA accessible.  Narration along the entire train ride provides lots of information surrounding the train and the gold rush history of Skagway/Yukon.  The views explain why this tour is the single most popular Alaska shore excursion - Minji

If your first trip to Alaska finds you in Icy Strait, I'd definitely recommend the Icy Strait Fresh Water Stream Fishing experience.  The remoteness of this tour really lets you bask in the quiet of Alaska.  The guide was so patient with me, as I'd never fished before, and it was such a thrill when I finally hooked a pink salmon! - Lexy

We know there are a lot of activities to choose from.  Our team loves talking all things Alaska, whether you're on a cruise or traveling independently.  Our team of Alaska Excursions Experts is available to help from 7 AM to 7 PM (PST), 7 days a week. Contact our team with all of your questions, especially if you're a first-time cruiser!