Destinations
Icy Strait Point Excursions: ZipRider, Whales and Hoonah
The best Icy Strait Point excursions ranked: the giant ZipRider, the most reliable whale watching in Alaska, bear searches on Chichagof Island and Hoonah village.
Updated
Senior writer, ports and destinations
Dana Okafor
Former Southeast Alaska shore excursion coordinator.
About Dana
Dana spent five seasons working shore side in Southeast Alaska, three of them coordinating excursion logistics for operators in Juneau and Skagway. That job meant knowing exactly how long a whale watching boat takes to load, why a floatplane tour cancels, and what happens to a tour when four ships are in port at once.
They now write the destination and departure port guides on this site. Dana is unusually specific about timing, because timing is what separates a good port day from a wasted one.
Dana revisits Southeast Alaska each summer and updates the port guides after each trip.
Relevant experience
- Five summer seasons working in Southeast Alaska tourism, including three coordinating excursion operations in Juneau and Skagway.
- Has visited every Alaska cruise port covered on this site at least twice, most of them many more times.
- Maintains direct contact with independent operators in Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and Sitka for annual fact checks.
Articles by Dana
Destinations
Is the Misty Fjords Flightseeing Tour Worth It?
An honest assessment of the Misty Fjords flightseeing tour from Ketchikan, what it costs, how often weather cancels it, and the boat alternative.
Updated
Itineraries
Whittier vs Seward as Your Turnaround Port
Comparing Whittier and Seward as northern turnaround ports for one way Alaska cruises, covering transfers, the tunnel, Kenai Fjords and which lines use each.
Updated
Planning
An Alaska Cruise with a Toddler
Whether to take a toddler on an Alaska cruise, which lines accept young children, what the practical challenges are and how to make it work.
Updated
Planning
An Alaska Cruise with Teenagers
How to plan an Alaska cruise with teenagers, covering which lines have real teen programmes, the excursions that work and how to keep the trip engaging.
Updated
Money
How Many Excursions Should You Book?
How many shore excursions to book on an Alaska cruise, why more is usually worse, and how to decide which ports deserve one.
Updated
Destinations
Alaska Cruise Ports, Ranked
A ranking of the Alaska cruise ports by what they actually deliver, with the reasoning behind each position and what to do in each.
Updated
Destinations
Rainy Day Plans for Every Alaska Port
A wet weather plan for each Alaska cruise port, covering indoor options, which excursions still run and how to enjoy a rainy port day.
Updated
Onboard
What to Do on an Alaska Sea Day
How to use a sea day on an Alaska cruise, why they are different from warm weather sea days, and what is actually worth doing.
Updated