At the port of Ketchikan, take a floatplane--that's a plane that flies and floats on water--over 1,000-foot waterfalls and over the canopy of Alaskan rainforests, fjords and dramatic sea cliffs that extend more than 3,000 feet above the ocean. All of this is available during a shore excursion air tour of Misty Fjords. And you'll get to make a water landing, too, which is a thrill on its own.
This rainy section of the Alaskan coast used to lie beneath glacial ice, but the retreating ice has left what amounts to one of the most scenic areas in all of Alaska. Carnival, Holland America and Princess all offer air tours of this area.
For most people who live in America, seeing a bald eagle is a rare thing. These impressive creatures live in significant numbers in Alaska, however. A shore trip from your cruise to see the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve will be a rare opportunity to see this animal up close and in its natural habitat.
At the port of Skagway, some cruise lines offer trips to Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. In the winter months this preserve hosts the world's largest gathering of bald eagles, according to the Cruise Critic website. They come here by the thousands to feast on the late run of salmon. Even a summer cruise to the area will allow you to see some of the more than 400 bald eagles that reside here during the warmer months. You'll also get a chance to see other wildlife wandering freely in the preserve, including moose, otters and swans.
One of the most exciting animals residing in Alaska is the bear. The black bear and grizzly bear are both native to the wilderness in this northern state. But you aren't likely to see many bears from the cruise ship. If you want to see these fantastic creatures, you'll want to schedule a shore excursion to view them.
At Ketchikan there are bear tours that will take passengers aboard a seaplane to nearby areas such as Prince of Whales Island to see black bears, or to the Anan Creek area to see black bears as well as grizzlies. Some tours take flights, followed by guided hikes to Margaret Creek Falls, where the bears gorge on salmon and play in the waters.
