Company FAQs
Is Alaska Shore Tours affiliated with Juneau Shore Tours, etc?
Skagway Shore Tours, Juneau Shore Tours, and Ketchikan Shore Tours are all sister companies of Alaska Shore Tours. Please note that we are not affiliated with other companies that have similar names, i.e. Alaska Shore Excursions. You can read more about our company history here.
What are your hours of operation?
During the season we are in the office Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM Alaska time and Saturday/Sunday 7:00 AM-2:00 PM. Alaska is 1-hour behind Pacific time. Outside of the season our normal hours are 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Friday.
Why aren’t you on TripAdvisor? Where can I find reviews on your company?
TripAdvisor owns a competitor of ours, so it is a conflict of interest which is why we are not listed on their site. We have many public reviews listed on Google which you can view here.
Can you recommend local places to eat or things to do in town?
Absolutely! We created blog posts of our favorite places to eat and recommendations for what to do in each port when you’re not on tour.
What is the best way to contact you?
The best way to reach us is by calling 844-626-9600 or emailing [email protected]. We try to respond to all messages within 48 hours. Please note that we do not receive text messages.
Pricing FAQs
Do you offer group discounts?
We are sometimes able to offer group rates for groups of at least 20 people. To learn more, please call us or email [email protected] to speak with our group reservations specialist.
Is your pricing in USD?
Do you offer a locals discount?
Should I tip my guide?
Why are taxes and fees added?
We are required to pay sales tax in various cities in Alaska. It is a municipal tax rather than a state tax. The rate differs between each town.
What credit cards do you accept?
Can I pay in cash?
Do you offer senior, AAA, or military discounts?
Tour Details
Am I guaranteed to see wildlife?
While wildlife is abundant in Alaska and you are very likely to see a variety during your excursions, there are only a few tours that we can guarantee wildlife sightings on. These include humpback whales on Juneau and Icy Strait Point's whale watching tours and many different rehabilitated animals at Anchorage's wildlife sanctuary. Our other tours that focus on viewing wildlife but can't provide guarantees only operate during the time of year that provides the best chances.
Are the helicopter and floatplane tours safe? How many people do they hold?
Can I request a single kayak on my kayaking tour?
Do you provide food?
What should I wear?
In general, we recommend closed toe shoes as well as long pants and layered clothing. See our "What to Pack For Your Alaska Cruise" Guide for more details.
Which glacier does the helicopter land on?
I’m not on a cruise ship, can I drive myself to the tour?
Will I see ice caves on my glacier tour?
At this time, no tours guarantee access to ice caves. If ice caves do become present on any glacier tour, entrance to the ice caves depends on conditions on the day of the tour, which are impossible to predict.
Cruise Ship FAQs
What if my ship is late or doesn't make it into port?
Do you guarantee that I won't miss my cruise ship?
Yes! We guarantee that you will not miss your ship. We book tours for thousands of cruise ship passengers every year and we’ve never left anyone behind! If you were to miss your ship’s departure through no fault of your own on a tour that has been booked with us, we will get you to your next port of call. *This guarantee is not provided for guests docking in Haines that elect to go to Skagway for a tour via ferry. *Transportation and any necessary lodging will be provided.
How much time is required from when my ship arrives to the tour start time?
Are you affiliated with the cruise ships?
What time do I need to be back at my ship?
Are your excursions the same as the ships?
Booking Your Tour
My friends booked their tour already, can we be on the same tour as them?
Do you offer private tours?
Can’t I just purchase a tour once I get off the ship?
Do you only offer tours to cruise ship passengers?
The tour I want isn’t showing availability.
I’m traveling with a large group. Can you accommodate all of us?
We have many tours that can accommodate large groups. To learn more, please call us or email [email protected] to speak with our group reservations specialist.
What are things to do in Denali?
My ship is docking in Skagway, can I take a tour in Haines? (And vice versa)
Which tours are wheelchair accessible/low mobility?
We are able to accommodate guests with collapsible wheelchairs, but our vehicles do not have lifts for scooters. Chat with an agent so we can find the best fit for you and make a note for our guides.
My child is just below the required weight/age restriction. Can they still attend?
I submitted an inquiry but haven’t heard back.
Can I do two tours in one day?
What is your cancellation policy?
You may cancel up to 14-days before the tour for a refund. No refund is available if canceled within 14-days of the tour. If for any reason the tour is canceled (due to weather, for example), or if your cruise ship’s schedule changes, you will receive a refund minus any non-refundable charges. Alternatively, you may reschedule your tour to another date. To request a cancellation, please contact us by phone or email and provide us with your reservation number (beginning with the letter “R” followed by numbers), as well as your reason for cancellation. We send an email out once the refund has been issued, it can then take 5-10 days to show up on your credit card statement.
Do you offer tours in other ports?
Currently, we offer tours in Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Haines, Sitka, Seward, Anchorage, and Denali.
If I book with you, does it support the state of Alaska?
Yes! By booking with us rather than the cruise lines, you are supporting the locals and the state of Alaska. We donate at least 5% of profits to the Alaska Conservation Foundation. Additionally, we founded the Alaska Poster Project that promotes responsible traveling and all donations go to the ACF. Learn more about our commitment to sustainability.
Preparing For Your Tour
What clothing should I wear?
Many of our tours provide the required gear and rain jackets, but it is a good idea to pack your own raingear and include warm layers. Check out our blog post on What to Pack for Your Alaska Cruise!
What if my tour is canceled due to weather?
Is transportation included?
What's the weather like in Alaska?
Alaska weather is a bit unpredictable and changes rapidly. However, summertime in Alaska is quite enjoyable with the average high in the low 60’s° F. Check out our blog post for a guide on weather along the Inside Passage.