We used Holland America’s website to pre-book our excursions. While onboard, a pink envelope containing our tickets was delivered to our stateroom.
Our family took a 7-day summer cruise to Alaska aboard Holland America's MS Eurodam.
Holland America offers a combined 127 excursion options for the three Alaskan ports of call on our itinerary (Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan). It's impossible to do and see everything, so we looked for kid-friendly excursions that gave us the most bang for our buck.
We excluded food-related excursions because meals and snacks were included in our fare (plus, the Eurodam served Alaskan salmon and king crab while we were in port). We also excluded activities that our daughter couldn't participate in, like zip-lining and kayaking.
Finally, we narrowed our list to the best-priced excursions that wouldn't force us to rush back to the ship for "ALL ABOARD" time. Here is what we booked:
The last stop on our “Grand Tour” was a visit to the spectacular Mendenhall Glacier (and Nugget Falls).
Adult Ticket: $99.95
Child Ticket: $79.95
Direct Booking Available: No
Departure Time: 2:00 p.m.
Duration: 5 hours
We spotted several humpback whales on our sightseeing tour boat (operated by Allen Marine Tours).
Adult Ticket: $159.95
Child Ticket: $129.95
Direct Booking Available: No
Departure Time: 8:30 a.m.
Duration: 4 hours and 15 minutes
Tour Operator: Allen Marine Tours
Ketchikan
The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show
The “Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show” was a blend of silly comedy and serious timbersports.
Adult Ticket: $39.95
Child Ticket: $19.95
Direct Booking Available: Yes
Showtime: Varies
Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Note: The prices above are quoted from Holland America's website, however, tickets are available for a slight discount on The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show's website. The show is performed rain-or-shine; there is an indoor waiting area and the grandstand is covered.
Is It Best to Book Excursions Through the Cruise Line?
There are benefits to booking excursions through Holland America:
Departure times coincide with the ship’s schedule;
Tickets are printed in advance and delivered to passengers' staterooms;
If the excursion runs late, the ship will stay in port; and
If the ship must depart before the excursion returns, Holland America will arrange transportation to the next port of call at their own expense.
We booked our Alaskan excursions through Holland America for convenience, not price.
Best Price Guarantee
Holland America offers a 110% price guarantee on excursions, but there is fine print:
If a guest pre-books a Holland America Line EXC Tour (shore excursion) and then finds an equivalent tour that offers the same amenities and experiences, including date, time, duration, transportation and meals, then a request easily can be submitted through an online form up to seven days before cruise departure. Guests will be notified within two days of submission if the tour meets the requirements for Best Price Guarantee.
The terms of this guarantee make it hard to get reimbursed because few tours are identical in every way. In theory, we could have filed a $8.09 reimbursement claim for "The Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show," but we missed the deadline.
Excursion Tips
Introduce yourself to your bus driver;
Carry water, but leave snacks on the bus;
Bring a watch, small bills and your room key; and
Remember your bus number (all the buses look the same).
Holland America Contact Information
Shore Excursions
Phone Number: 1-888-425-9376
Monday-Friday: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Saturday-Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Reservations
Phone Number: 1-877-932-4259
Monday-Friday: 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time
Saturday-Sunday: 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
