Alaska Shore Excursions — Local services in Juneau

My wife and I were looking forward to a helicopter glacier sightseeing and landing tour during our recent Alaska cruise. This tour was to be the highlight of our trip. On May 21st, we arrived in Juneau and waited for our tour operators. The weather in Juneau that day was horrible. (See pictures). Clouds were barely above our heads and it was raining. As we waited for our 2:15 flight, we began to hear from passengers on other ships who were saying their tours had been cancelled due to weather. My wife and I hoped the weather would pick up. It did not. We asked a representative of the helicopter company for word on the flight status, but the young man new nothing. (a kid holding up a sign with a yellow windbreaker). We called Alaska Shore Excursions, but they assured us that the helicopter company and the pilot were experienced and would do the right thing. The weather got worse. "They will cancel, don't worry", I told my wife. At 2:18, three minutes after our tour was to begin, we were told the pilot had determined it was safe to fly. We were flabbergasted! The helicopter company was Coastal Helicopters. I spoke to Sarah, who told me they would not refund my money because I did not want to fly. But that their pilots had final say on safety and they deemed it safe to fly. Period. Alaska Shore told us we had agreed to fly and the cancellation policy would not cover a refund because they were going ahead with the tour, but it was i who decided to cancel. They said that their pilots had hours of flying experience and they would never put their pilots in danger. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE ALL READ ABOUT A PILOT'S HOURS/YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AFTER A HELICOPTER ACCIDENT? KOBE BRYANT RING A BELL? But sure enough, they quickly brought up the cancellation policy. What would they tell my family if there had been an accident? What would the newspaper articles say? Yet, Alaska Shore Excursions placed their profits above our safety. Look at the pictures. Would you have flown, or allowed your loved ones to fly that day? Thankfully, there were no accidents that day. But what if? I'm so disappointed that we missed landing on a glacier. Our lives and safety are priceless. But it seems that to Alaska Shore Excursions, the $742 I paid is worth a bit more. Shameful! The helicopter company, Coastal Helicopters has several poor reviews, all dealing with bad customer relations. In this case however, my contact point was Alaska Shore Excursions. It's sad, but typical: PROFITS...

We booked the Glacier Point Wilderness Safari in August and had a wonderful experience. Every step of the way we were greeted by a crew of pleasant, energetic, and competent guides who self-evidently loved what they did.

We were met off of our cruise ship by the crew of the Klondike Kate, who showed us on board. Drew our guide narrated our 1 hour ride to Glacier Bay in the Chilkat Mountains. She retold the history of early settlement and the gold rush that happen in the 1800's giving us a human context to the beautiful scenery we were travelling through. She is also somewhat of a geology whiz. She really wowed us with her Indepth knowledge of the local geology and biology. Pointing out cool features and wildlife as they passed. I don't think I've would have ever heard about the Bar-tailed Godwit and its amazing 9 day and 12,000 KM migration if it wasn't for her. Thoroughly enjoyable boat ride.

After we arrived at Glacier bay we were greeted by the second crew of guides. Sadrian our bus guide, told us about camp life by the glacier and the local flora and fauna. The crew ran a smooth and efficient operation, I was very impressed by the maturity and teamwork shown by this group of young people. After we got geared up, we met with Ryan our canoe guide. Ryan made sure we made our way safely and went out of his way to answer all our questions at the glacier. Besides being a safe and competent canoe guide, who communicated clearly every step of the way, Ryan was very friendly and was very good company in the canoe and during our beach meal. Would recommend him as a guide any day.

The return boat ride was equally scenic and beautiful and we made many stops along the way for photos with wildlife and waterfalls. And as a tip if you are lucky enough to get Drew as your boat guide, bring her whatever interesting rocks you find near the glacier and she will ID them and tell you all about it.

Overall excellent excursion, 10/10 probably the best bang for the buck you'll find coming...

We had an incredible experience during our Alaskan cruise excursions, and each tour deserves a glowing 5-star review!

First, the Juneau Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier Tour was absolutely amazing! Our bus driver, Tom, was not only friendly and funny, but also a great tour guide who made the trip to the glacier so enjoyable. The Mendenhall Glacier was breathtaking, and we had plenty of time to appreciate its beauty. The whale watching was fantastic as well—Captain Larry expertly brought us to a prime location where we saw two humpback whales up close. Onboard, naturalists Nate and Sophie were fantastic, answering all our questions and helping make the experience even more memorable.

Next, the Skagway Musher’s Camp and Sled Dog Adventure was an absolute highlight for the whole family. Our driver, Patrick, was incredible and shared so much about the area during the drive, making it a fun and informative journey. The sled dog ride itself was such an exciting and unique experience—the dogs were incredible! And to top it off, cuddling with the puppies at the end was a huge hit, especially with the kids. They couldn’t get enough of the pups, and it was such a perfect ending to an already amazing adventure.

Finally, the Sitka Premium Scenic Private Tour was another unforgettable experience. Our driver, Tamsyn, was fantastic—she made every stop feel special with her deep knowledge of the area. We visited the Raptor Center, Fortress of the Bear, and Totem Park, and each stop was incredible. But what really set this tour apart was Tamsyn’s personal touch. Not only was she friendly and knowledgeable, but she also took beautiful family photos for us. As a mom, I’m rarely in the pictures, but Tamsyn made sure to capture all the moments, which was so appreciated.

Overall, these tours were the highlights of our Alaskan adventure, and each guide made the experience truly special. Highly recommend all three for anyone...