Alaska Shore Things represent a categorically different kind of excursion than Caribbean or Mediterranean port activities. The scale of the natural environment, the wildlife density, and the adventure activities available in Southeast Alaska are unlike anything else in the VV network. VV has curated 250+ Shore Things for the 2026 Alaska season — 75 of them exclusive experiences not available through other operators. This guide covers the best across all activity types.
Juneau: The Flagship Alaska Port
VV’s Juneau port call is scheduled noon to 8pm — a late departure that gives Sailors more time than most cruise lines offer in Alaska’s capital and most accessible wilderness gateway. Check out San Juan, Puerto Rico: Home Port Guide for Brilliant Lady on Virgin Voyages.
- Glacier helicopter tour and dog sledding: VV’s signature Alaska Shore Thing. A helicopter flight over the Juneau Icefield — the largest nonpolar ice field in North America, covering 1,500 square miles — followed by a dog-sled ride across a glacier in summer. The perspective from a helicopter over a glacier is incomprehensible until you’re in it. Book immediately after voyage confirmation; this sells out first.
- Floatplane to Taku Lodge and salmon feast: A floatplane over five glaciers of the Juneau Icefield, landing at the historic Taku Lodge — a remote wilderness outpost accessible only by air or water. Fresh-caught wild Alaska salmon grilled over an open flame. Black bears occasionally wander by. One of the most distinctive dining experiences available from any VV port.
- Mendenhall Glacier: The most accessible glacier in Southeast Alaska — a 12-mile-long river of ice terminating in a lake 12 miles from downtown Juneau. The visitor center area is accessible independently by taxi ($15-20 each way). Walk to the glacier face, the waterfall, and the ice caves visible during low-ice periods. More adventurous Sailors can book guided ice trekking on the glacier surface through VV Shore Things.
- Whale watching: Juneau waters are among the best humpback whale watching areas in Alaska. June through September, humpbacks feed actively in Lynn Canal and Gastineau Channel. Three-hour naturalist-guided boat tours virtually guarantee sightings. Book through VV Shore Things.
Ketchikan: Totem Poles and Misty Fjords
Ketchikan is the first Alaska port on most VV itineraries — a compact fishing town in the Tongass National Forest with one of the world’s finest collections of original and restored totem poles. Check out Up With a Twist: Brilliant Lady’s Signature Supper Club Show.
- Misty Fjords flightseeing: A floatplane or helicopter tour over Misty Fjords National Monument — a landscape of 3,000-foot granite walls, waterfalls, and deepwater fjords carved by glaciers. The scale is overwhelming. VV Shore Things includes this exclusive aerial experience.
- Totem Heritage Center and City Tour: The Totem Heritage Center houses 33 original, unrestored totem poles retrieved from abandoned Tlingit and Haida village sites in the 1970s — the largest collection of original 19th-century totems in existence. A guided tour with a Tlingit cultural interpreter is extraordinary.
- Rainforest hike: The Tongass National Forest is the largest national forest in the United States and one of the last temperate rainforests on earth. Guided rainforest walks from Ketchikan range from easy boardwalk paths to more demanding backcountry routes through old-growth Sitka spruce and western hemlock forest.
Sitka: Russian Heritage and Wildlife
Sitka is VV’s most culturally distinctive Alaska port — a small city on the outer coast of Baranof Island with a unique blend of Tlingit indigenous heritage and Russian-American colonial history. Check out West Coast Sailings: LA, Seattle, and Vancouver on Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady.
- Sitka National Historical Park: The site of the 1804 Battle of Sitka — the last major battle between Russian colonizers and the Tlingit people. Today the park contains a forest trail lined with totem poles, a visitor center with Tlingit and Russian-American artifacts, and a working demonstration area for traditional Tlingit crafts.
- Sea otter and bird wildlife cruise: Sitka Sound has the highest density of sea otters in Alaska. Three-hour naturalist boat tours in the protected waters around Sitka offer close-range views of sea otters (which float on their backs and crack shellfish on their chests), puffins, and sea lions. One of the most charming wildlife experiences in the Alaska network.
- Salmon fishing charter: Sitka’s waters are among the premier sport fishing areas in Southeast Alaska. Half-day or full-day guided salmon fishing charters are available through VV Shore Things.
Skagway: Gold Rush History and White Pass Railway
Skagway was the entry point to the Klondike Gold Rush of 1898 — tens of thousands of prospectors scrambled through this narrow fjord town on their way to the Yukon goldfields. Today it is one of the most historically intact 19th-century American frontier towns in existence.
- White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad: A narrow-gauge railway completed in 1900 that clings to the cliff faces above Skagway, crosses trestle bridges over vertiginous gorges, and climbs to the White Pass summit at 2,865 feet. The railway runs on the same tracks used by the gold rush prospectors. One of the most spectacular train journeys in North America.
- Chilkoot Trail cultural hike: A section of the historic Chilkoot Trail — the primary prospector route from Skagway to the Yukon — is accessible as a guided day hike. Artifacts from the gold rush era (abandoned equipment, camp remnants) are visible along the trail.
Icy Strait Point: Indigenous-Owned Adventure
Icy Strait Point is owned and operated entirely by the Hoonah Tlingit community — a port that is both authentically Alaskan and genuinely adventure-forward.
- ZipRider: The world’s largest ZipRider — a five-person gondola zip line dropping 1,300 feet over the rainforest canopy to the beach. The views over Icy Strait and the surrounding Tongass are extraordinary.
- Brown bear and whale watching: Icy Strait Point sits at one of the highest brown bear concentration areas in Southeast Alaska. Combined bear-and-whale boat tours offer extraordinary wildlife encounter probability.
Tracy Arm Fjord and Hubbard Glacier: Scenic Cruising
These are not port calls — they are scenic cruising experiences built into VV itineraries as the ship navigates through them.
- Tracy Arm Fjord: A 30-mile fjord with sheer granite walls rising 2,000+ feet from the water, waterfalls cascading from every surface, and the twin Sawyer Glaciers at the end. VV ships navigate slowly through the fjord while the Happenings Cast provides narration. Ice chunks from calving glaciers float alongside the ship.
- Hubbard Glacier: The largest tidewater glacier in North America — a 76-mile-long river of ice terminating in the sea at Disenchantment Bay. VV ships approach within a mile of the glacier face and hold position for extended viewing. Calving events — chunks of ice the size of buildings breaking from the face and crashing into the sea — happen with regularity.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- The helicopter glacier excursions at Juneau book out before any other Alaska Shore Thing. These are capacity-limited (small helicopters, strict weight limits) and in enormous demand. Book within 24 hours of booking your voyage.
- Binoculars are essential for Alaska. Pack them. Wildlife watching from the ship deck during Tracy Arm and Hubbard Glacier cruising is one of the defining activities of Alaska sailing.
- Dress in layers for every Alaska port day. Southeast Alaska in summer: mid-50s to low 70s°F, often cloudy, rain possible at any time. Waterproof outer layer, mid-layer fleece, base layer — the three-layer system handles everything.
Ready to Experience Alaska?
Joel and Erin are certified First Mates tracking Alaska Shore Things inventory closely. Let them help you book the right excursions before they sell out.
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