Subject: Re: Alaska Cruise Excursions
Hello Eileen and Al,

I've been away for a few days and just saw this question. DH and I took your Princess Alaska cruise a few years ago. The hands-down highlight of the entire trip was the helicopter ride to the glacier and the dogsled ride there. I don't know if they still offer the 'copter ride/dogsledding combo. The view of the glaciers from the air is spectacular, much different than from the ship.

Our dogsled instructor was none other than Libby Riddles, the first woman to win the Ididarod race! She was amazing -- she carried our video camera in one hand while leading a pack of dogs with the other while looking backwards so she could get footage of us leading our sled. I'm not particularly athletic, but I was able to get the hang of it. The dogs were adorable. I'm sure you'd have a great time with any instructor even if Libby's not doing it anymore.

This was a very expensive option but we'll remember it always. Priceless and probably your only opportunity to experience this.

We took the scenic train out of Skagway and loved the views! I wouldn't recommend spending much time in Skagway -- it's a town created just for the tourists (no one really lives there in the winter) and all we saw was one tacky store after another.

Someone else mentioned the raptor rehabilitation center in Sitka -- I agree, it was wonderful! (We did this on our own, not as a cruise option, and saved some money.)

Enjoy your cruise, Debbie in Boca Raton, FL USA