was curious if anyone did the 9-day vs 7-day Alaska is it worth it for the 2 days? The big difference is the 2 days in Icy Strait Point, Alaska, and Victoria BC. I found some old threads but was curious.
Icy Strait Point (ISP) can be a good port for those who are interested in the limited variety of activities offered.
ISP was a cannery, turning to tourism for its main industry. The nearby community of Hoonah, about 2 miles away, is where the citizens live. This is a Native Alaskan effort to own and operate the port. NCL has invested with them and have a very nice area for cruise ship guests. There are no Diamonds International or AK Tee Short stores here. It reminds me of being in a National Park.
They have built (since 2020) a system of gondolas (air type, not Venice boats) for transport between two ship pier areas and then to the top of the mountain (for hiking, ATVs, and a very fun, fast, and long ZipRider).
Whale watching from a ship excursion boat or a private vendor from Hoonah is offered. The setting is beautiful.
I visited in Sep 2021. Did a whale watch and the ZipRider. It was a beautiful day and conducive to spotting whales.
Victoria is a somewhat similar scenario as far as excursion options (not a big variety). But most important is when/how long your port visit is. I visited after a cruise and was able to see Butchart Gardens, in early July; the air was scented with the blooms of roses. But many ships are not in port during daylight hours or not long enough to cover the hour each way plus time at the gardens.
This is the capital of British Columbia and is a proper area for shopping, dining, tea at the Fairmont Empress, fish and chips along the Harbour, British pubs, Chinatown. There are whale watch cruises for both humpback and Orca depending on the season. But the excursion start time needs to work with ship arrival and departure. This is another stop that does not have the standard cruise shops in your face.
> It will depend on whether these two stops are more important to you than the ones that are not visited. And how you feel about more Sea Days.