Author: scubagoil

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The first time I went to Alaska was 10 years ago.  Since it was the first week in May, it was not very crowded yet.   Today, you will find that there are more ships than ever before, so it is can be fairly busy in the cruise ports.  Don’t let that deter you!  There are lots of great excursions to take you away from the crowds! 

Below are the ports we’ve been to, excursions we enjoyed as well as information about how accessible the various places were for those in wheelchairs and scooters.

Juneau – We rented a car and went to a local park that a friend had recommended called National Shrine of St. Therese.  We didn’t actually go there to see the church; it was to enjoy the park.  The park was beautiful with walking trails that overlooked the Lynn Canal.  Seeing the outside of the chapel was a nice bonus as it was gorgeous. Unfortunately it was closed so we could not see the inside.  Oh, and just an FYI… Since they don’t allow buses, it will likely never be very crowded!

Location – It is in the Tongass National Forest, approximately 22 miles north of downtown Juneau. Address is 21425 Glacier Highway, Juneau, Alaska 99801.

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After spending some time at the park, we headed back to Juneau to visit the Mendenhall Glacier.  Most of the tours had finished by this time and we had the place to ourselves.  It was great!  We were very lucky with our timing – as we were leaving, there were some other tours coming in.  

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Details and logistics for us in Juneau – there were 4 adults on this trip and the car rental company (Avis) is located right at the port.  We walked off the ship and across the parking lot – so easy!  I don’t remember what the total cost was for the car rental, gas and Mendenhall daily fee ($5 each is current price), but it was much less than buying four excursion tickets.  Plus, we had the added bonus of spending a beautiful morning in a park that didn’t have any other visitors that morning!

Wheelchair and Scooter information – There are actually some trails that are accessible for wheelchairs and scooters at National Shrine of St. Therese.  As far as the Mendenhall Glacier is concerned, there are 2 accessible entrances to the visitor’s center with lots to see in there.  Also, the Photo Point Trail and salmon viewing area can be accessed by wheelchair and scooter.

Skagway – We took the White Pass Scenic Railway excursion offered by the cruiseline.  The train platform was right off the ship, so it was really nice that we didn’t need to board a bus like so many other excursions we have been on.  This happened to be a really cold day and that turned out to work in our favor.  The rail cars all had wood burning stoves and we were toasty warm the entire trip!  They gave us complimentary bottled water which was a nice touch.  In case you are wondering – yes, there are restrooms on each car of the train.

It is 40 miles roundtrip (about 2.5 – 3 hours) and the seats are fairly comfortable.  The windows are large so you will be able to see out both sides of the train easily and take pictures. You can also open the windows to get better pictures.

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Wheelchair and Scooter information from the White Pass website – All Excursion trains are wheelchair accessible. However, space is limited in lift-equipped cars.  Please let us know when reserving your seats if you or anyone in your party will require the lift to get onto the train.

This is a shot we took from the train – just to give you an idea of how close it was to the ship.  Everyone lined up by the yellow poles and then we were loaded into multiple cars at the same time. It was quick and easy.   In case you are wondering, the ship is the Norwegian Star.

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Ketchikan – We decided not to do an excursion here.  We wanted to check out the town and just enjoy a slow-paced day.  We skipped the cruise ship owned shops like Diamonds International and tried to stick to locally owned businesses.  I can’t say for sure if the places we went to were locally owned at the time, but we believed they were. 

One of the stores we went to was the Dockside Trading Company (now known as Tongass Trading Company) and bought some of the usual tourist type of stuff – t-shirts, magnets, shot glasses, etc.  We then found a bar/restaurant where the locals were hanging out.  We had a great lunch talking to people who lived there and listening to their stories.

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Wheelchair and Scooter information – Ketchikan is a short distance from the cruise dock.  It is fairly easy to get around with a wheelchair or scooter and you will be able to easily access most shops and restaurants.  You can also walk/roll to the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show and it’s probably less than 10 minutes from the dock.  There is accessible seating at the show in the front row.

I know a lot has changed over the years, but I have researched to make sure my information in this article is current. I hope this helps paint a picture for your trip to Alaska!