Stay Away from this Tour in Alaska | NCL Spirit

Not all tours can be great but when you are paying big Alaska rates, you really want the tour to be amazing. Unfortunately our tour in Juneau was less than impressive. I understand that you cannot predict live animal sightings but when the time is very short during the tour, you are almost guaranteed to not see that much.
I would personally not recommend the Alaska Tales tour if you are visiting Juneau. I would recommend doing a full day at Mendenhall OR doing a full day of whale watching. Find a whale watching tour that spends at least 4 hours in the water. That will give you plenty of time to see the humpbacks in action.
Our time in Ketchikan was AMAZING and such a difference from Juneau. We saw so much wildlife and the narration throughout the journey was fantastic.
Ketchikan Tour that I recommend:
Misty Fjords through the cruise line (I went through Norwegian)
Juneau Tour that I do not recommend:
alaska-whalewatching.com/
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A Little About Sean & Stef:
I'm Stef and together with my husband Sean, we started this channel to document our travels around the world. Sadly, Sean passed away from cancer in 2021 but the one thing he made me promise him was that I would continue to travel. So that is what I am doing. And I am learning through every painful new, solo adventure, there is joy and hope. Here's to all the new experiences that are out there awaiting US (cause Sean will always be by my side)!

[@WoodlandsClothing]

Hi Sean & Stef! My name is Spring and I am born and raised in Ketchikan. I am looking forward to getting to know your channel as I am a life long Alaskan and I also own and operate an apparel & gift store in Ketchikan called Woodlands. My store was located right across from where the Sapphire Princess was docked if you are ever looking to refer a year-round *local* company with apparel I design and print myself along with my husband, but we have other goodies too! :) I am so happy my home treated you well on your trip up here and I hope it's one you never forget :)

[@scottmcneal3752]

I think next time you go on a cruise with Ben and David you need to get in the background and make funny faces😂🤣

[@johnwelch5132]

Another gorgeous vlog. Ben and David looked so mischievous walking behind you at the end. You’ve a lovely personality and create wonderful footage. The scenery looked stunning 😊👍

[@donnap8889]

Alaska looks beautiful and so great to see you so happy and with Ben and David with ya what fun xx ❤

[@Diatom27]

Alaska is truly beautiful. It was so great to see your vlog Stef. Whatever your next adventure is, I already cannot wait to go along with you as you vlog it. Safe travels lovely lady ❤❤❤

[@TikiGuyJay]

Such a pretty place, with such a beautiful host. I love seeing how you & Ben & David make such different videos on the same trip. I love all 3 of you!

[@user-nw1fj5fv2m]

Just WOW to your footage of the fjords. Loved the music that you played. Steph you are providing us with documentary quality footage and I am loving it. Keep up the great work! Looking forward to your next adventure. ❤

[@firecat-dy9go]

Nice video and LOVED the cameo from Ben and David 😄

[@rick4wade]

Thank you for showing the beautiful scenery! It looks like you really had a great cruise. Alaska is on my cruise bucket list.

[@heatherlforrester]

Wow, a world of difference between the two tours!!! I’m so glad you ended on a high. Makes me even more excited for our Alaska cruise tour next year!

[@seanandstef]

Right?! It was crazy to see the differences when they are back to back. The first tour felt like they were literally just collecting money. Hoping it was an off day for the operators but the timing really wasn’t good. 2 hours is not long enough to see anything on the water. I’m so happy we had the Misty fjords to make up for it. Can’t wait to hear all about your Alaska experience!

[@lawjones2177]

Your just glowing dear , you look so happy and bright . Juneau I think Ben and David's pun humor is rubbing off on you ,and that's a good thing 😄

[@seanandstef]

Awww, thanks for the kind words. I was definitely in my happy place. Alaska was amazing and I loved the cold weather. Haha, Ben’s puns are the best. He has to teach me his ways and I have to try not to laugh at my own jokes 😂

[@jayhandson]

Awesome video Stef! Thanks for sharing your adventures!

[@seanandstef]

Thanks so much and thanks for following along 😊

[@MultiCorker]

you got some great shots and footage Stef, well done and thanks for sharing!!

[@jennib11]

Great video ,Steph!!!! Alaska is so beautiful

[@karenjordan5731]

That looks so fun!

[@karencordoni-denny1537]

Another great video!!!

[@sandradee7871]

My favorite excursion was the helicopter glacier tour. The glacier is massive and you land and walk on it. It is very pricey but we’ll worth it.

[@KnowShipSherlock]

Steff, another fabulous video! You passed a great opportunity, as Glacier mud is extremely costly as a facial compound in the most exclusive spas. lol. You should have done the snorkel whale watching, haha, I crack myself up. Thanks, eager to see the next one, Luv ya

[@seanandstef]

Oh, I had no idea about the mud. Here I was just trying not to fall on my butt, lol. Should have grabbed a handful. Haha, there’s an idea. Thanks so much for watching

[@Sportkite1111]

Ben, you are hilarious! Nice vlog Stef. Really enjoyed your commentary.

[@SitStaySail]

LOL Ben & David😂 Stef, love your videos. Just booked Alaska via Walter. Thanks for the inspiration 🛳️

[@LoriKrazy61]

I absolutely ❤it! I love your friends such funny and awesome

[@andrewbrown574]

Your ISP whale watch was extraordinary! I wouldn’t expect subsequent whale watching tours to measure up. I’ve done a number of whale watching tours in Alaska, Los Angeles, Mexico & Hawaii, and none of them came close to what you saw in ISP!

[@LenSelby-et5xl]

Thanks!

[@RicardoLopez-mc5op]

Thanks for your honesty about the excursion and I don’t find nothing pretty or nice about Alaska just cold foggy rainy weather . Glad you enjoy Alaska !

[@seanandstef]

We got extremely lucky with our weather. Pretty much sunny days the entire time. I know that’s unusual. Sorry you didn’t have a good experience

[@marybethdermody9483]

Ben and David are too funny! Thank you for sharing!

[@seanandstef]

They are the best travel buddies!

[@kimberlybarron2552]

We did the Tracy Arm Fjord tour when we were in Juneau. It was amazing. Lots of seals, no whales. We did get BEARS walking around the streets of Juneau. We had some great Orcas on the Kenai tour out of Seward and humpbacks in Sitka.

[@seanandstef]

We hear the Tracy Arm was a great tour. I will look into that one next time for sure. Awesome about your Sitka and Seward whale adventures. Can’t wait to visit one day

[@bethstoskopf9746]

So sad to know this is the last video from this trip. Your fjords excursion looked great! Silly Ben and David!!!

[@seanandstef]

Well don’t worry. There is going to be one more bonus vid in Vancouver 😉

[@liesbeth1012]

Thanks for sharing. And I understand your feeling about those excursions. We did about the same last year, in May 2022, booked with Disney. Our whale watching was a little bit better and longer then yours, but we didn’t see many whales. We got an hour at Mendenhall and did walked the shortest path, to the lookout point. And in Ketchikan we also did the misty fjords. That was amazing. I see lots of similar sights in your video. It’s so good to feel a little bit back. We were lucky to see a bear. And I was so much laughing to see Ben and David behind you. I did see their video of the trip already. You’re so funny together. And at the end you’re so lucky to see so many whales. A perfect goodbye to Alaska.

[@seanandstef]

Sorry to hear that you had a disappointing time in Juneau as well. But so awesome that you had a great time in Ketchikan. Alaska is so beautiful and I can’t wait to go back

[@dearmepa1]

Stef, thank you for frequently mentioning accessibility.

[@liesbeth1012]

@@seanandstef it wasn’t bad, but not as amazing as our other experiences. And what you said about the whales are not all arrived in May, was true. We did see them and the excursion boat did wait and gave us lots of information, but if they aren’t there, they can’t help it. But the time at Mendenhall glacier was definitely to short.

[@seanandstef]

@@dearmepa1 very welcome 😊

[@stephanie-jaynegrindley692]

Totally agree about rather be cold than hot. I always say, you can layer up but nobody wants to see me in the buff 😂 PS: love you lipstick - the shade is gorgeous on you xXx

[@seanandstef]

Haha, no one wants to see me in the buff either 🙈 loves being cold! And thanks about the lipstick. Unfortunately it wasn’t a lipstick but rather just very chapped lips. The dry weather really got me. But I do use Revlon Kiss lip balm. Love that stuff

[@dawnrusso3278]

Nooo Artax lost in the swamp of sadness😢. Beautiful vlogs as always

Nearly 80% of video is a selfie face shot. Precious.

[@jillthomas1842]

We had a tour in Juneau when we did Disney a couple of years ago. We also booked it off the ship and it was May. Fortunately for us it was a much better tour. We saw many whales and they took us to two different places. We had about an hour at Mendenhall. I'm sure it always different. I am sure your short time in port contributed to it.

[@brigidconroy2111]

So sorry you didn’t get a great whale 🐳 adventure That is something I enjoy on vlogs

[@barbarashuster9029]

We saw so many whales when we were on our cruise to Mexican Riviera in February! Amazing! No orca just humpback but amazing!

[@seanandstef]

That’s amazing!!! Sounds like a great cruise

[@barbarashuster9029]

@@seanandstef bucket list for you.

[@heideleskun1163]

The Red Dog Saloon was so crowded when I was there, but I did pop into the gift shop and picked up a magnet. The Duck Fart is 1/3 Crown Royal; 1/3 Bailey's; 1/3 Kahlua. Layered in that order. You can pour each layer slowly over the back over the back of a spoon, so they stay separate if you are afraid of them getting mixed. And now you know what's in a Duck Fart. lol.

[@SilverDraco]

Stef, I don't blame you for not liking that tour! Maybe they did shorten it because you were having such a short stay. 😂😂 I say the same thing about being cold because at lest you can put on layers and if you're hot you can only take off so many before people start getting offended. 😅

[@seanandstef]

Yeah there wasn’t enough time to explore things properly. The price should be adjusted to reflect a short day. Hahahahaha. Right there with ya!

[@JennyCruiseCommander]

I was on the same Juneau tour this past May, and same feelings you had afterwards. No whale except a few puffs. Not nearly enough time at Mendenhall. Overall a sad disappointment and totally agree with you.

[@seanandstef]

So sorry that you had a bad experience as well. Just not enough time. They need to lower the price if the time is going to be short

[@davidcarroll8855]

Another great video Stef! Wife wants to know where did you get your glasses from?

[@seanandstef]

Thanks so much 😊 I found the glasses on the ship. They are from a company called Bijoux Terner

[@maryanncapece2623]

Hi Stef... Having lunch with you is the best 😊. Mendenhall glacier is so small compared to when I was there. It has been many year's. Have to get back before it's gone. You really do need a good amount of time there. It's also a shame about the whale watching tour. So glad your last port was better. The weather looked perfect! The Eagels are amazing and thier nest can be up to 7 ft, I believe. Great tour, I lauughed with Ben and David walking behind you at the end of the video. 😅. As always thank you for taking us along. What a great trip!! ❤❤

[@seanandstef]

Yayyy, happy lunch break! The glacier is definitely an all day visit. Wish we had more time on both tours. The last port was great. Loved our time on the water. And yeah, the eagle nest was absolutely giant. I was surprised. Haha, B&D are the best travel buddies. Love all my time with them!

[@debhoward8439]

Need to know the brand of your sunglasses! Super cute.

[@auntjosie756]

WOW When you first get off the ship and wharf area I'm shocked how quiet it is when thousands of people are on your ship.

[@seanandstef]

It's so true. We never had any crowds. It was really nice

[@gildakarp2341]

Just came back from Alaska, wish I was still there

[@seanandstef]

Me toooooo! Hope you had a great visit

[@markgoins5561]

Did I miss the date of your sailing? We sail 09/30 and I don’t expect to see white capped mountains.

[@christinav3619]

I really want to see and visit Alaska. Which cruise line would be the best?

[@mmc9828]

We've taken 2 Alaskan cruises with whale watching tours. It is hit or miss as to how many (if any) whales you might see. I wouldn't let that one experience deter you from going again. We were very lucky and saw many on our tour.

[@seanandstef]

Definitely won’t deter me at all. I think the tour was shortened because we had a short day in Juneau. I wish the price was adjusted to account for that. We had the best whale watching in Icy Strait Point. Such a great experience. Glad you had a nice time in Alaska. I can’t wait to go back!

[@mmc9828]

@@seanandstef Agree. It truly is one of the last peaceful places on earth.

[@Tyche-Love]

You sound like delores umbridge in your opening with that little whisper thing.... the hair stood up on the back of my neck and I had a sudden urge to do something mischievous.

[@lesleyputnam8261]

Did you complain to the excursion desk-alot of times they will give you something back

[@seanandstef]

We didn’t because this was through a private tour company. But you are correct, if you are not satisfied with a excursion, definitely say something to guest services, especially if the tour doesn’t give you what was listed/advertised

[@lesleyputnam8261]

@@seanandstef Thanks for the prompt response Love watching your videos along with Jay and Dee and Ben and David-so fun.

[@Michael-gi9wl]

Stay away from Norwegian cruises, especially the ones to Alaska. We are Platinum Level customers with three prior cruises to Alaska with Norwegian in our 6 cruises with the Cruise Line. We are now facing extraordinary charges for everything on board including mandatory 20% gratuities on all speciality restaurant meals, $4.00 cans of Coca Cola, etc. Seems that they are gouging every way they can. We feel ‘ripped-off.’