Ranking all 4 Alaska excursions we did, from best to worth doing anyway
People ask me all the time which Alaska excursion is worth booking if they can't do everything. Here's my honest answer, ranked, based on the 4 we actually did as a family.
1. The Juneau helicopter and glacier tour
This one isn't close. We booked with TEMSCO Helicopters, and you get views you genuinely cannot get any other way, short of a seaplane. Landing on the glacier itself, then hiking up to the top of Mount Roberts afterward, gave us a perspective on Alaska that no ship deck or bus window comes close to. If a family can only add one excursion to their itinerary, this is it.
2. The Ketchikan fishing charter
REEL Alaska Fishing Charters picked us up right at the front of the ship for a small extra charge, which meant we skipped the bus into town and got more actual time on the water. Our guide kept the kids fully involved the whole time, throwing crab pots, pulling them up, even when we didn't land a keeper. My son didn't love getting pinched by a crab, but he still had a blast. We didn't land the big halibut we wanted, but we still caught fish, watched whales, and spotted eagles, all while actually being on the water instead of watching it go by from the ship. That's a different experience entirely.
3. The Icy Strait Point zip line
This isn't a quick zip line. You take a gondola to the top of the mountain, walk some trails once you're up there (groups of 8 to 10 minimum, and bring noisemakers, there are bears), then ride a side-by-side further down before you even reach the actual zip line. The drop itself is higher than the Empire State Building, and coming off the platform genuinely takes your breath away. One detail worth knowing: the gondola ride up and down is unlimited once you're there, but the zip line itself is a single ride.
4. The Skagway zip line
Ranked last here, but it stands entirely on its own. You ride a Unimog up a slope steep enough that nothing else could handle it, which is its own experience before you even reach the zip lines. The guides bring real energy and keep it fun, and it's a genuinely good entry point if your group hasn't zip lined before.
Frequently Asked Questions
If a family can only book one Alaska excursion, which one should it be?
The Juneau helicopter and glacier tour with TEMSCO Helicopters. The views and the glacier landing aren't something you can replicate with any other excursion.
Is the Ketchikan fishing charter worth it if you don't catch anything big?
Yes. Between the crab pots, the whale sightings, the eagles, and simply being out on the water instead of on the ship, the experience holds up even without landing a trophy fish.
What's the real difference between the Icy Strait Point and Skagway zip lines?
Icy Strait Point is a longer, multi-part experience: a gondola ride, a trail walk, a side-by-side ride, then a drop higher than the Empire State Building. Skagway is a more straightforward zip line experience, reached by Unimog up a steep slope, and it's a great entry point for first-time zip liners.
Do these excursions sell out?
Yes. Alaska is a heavily booked destination with a lot of ships in port at once, so these excursions should be planned and booked ahead of time, not decided once you're on the ship.
Should anyone skip one of these entirely to save money?
Not necessarily. It comes down to budget and what kind of experience someone wants. The 2 zip lines especially are genuinely different experiences from each other, not a redundant choice.
How I help clients prioritize
When clients tell me they can't fit every excursion into their Alaska trip, this is exactly the ranking I walk them through, based on what our own family actually experienced on each one, not a brochure description.
If you're planning an Alaska cruise and trying to figure out which excursions are worth prioritizing, reach out and we'll build the right lineup for your family.