I invested $900 in a dog sledding and helicopter adventure during my Alaskan cruise. Was it worth the splurge?

Dog sledding has been a dream of mine for as long as I can remember. In fifth grade, my teacher shared Jack London's "The Call of the Wild" with us, and I was mesmerized by Buck's journey as a sled dog. Though the themes of betrayal and nature's harshness made it challenging at times, Buck's tale of survival, loyalty, and trust left a lasting impression on me.

The dream of experiencing an exhilarating snow ride with a team of huskies never faded. Recently, while sailing on the Celebrity Cruises ship Celebrity Edge, I fulfilled that dream with the Small Group: Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing by Helicopter excursion in Skagway, Alaska.

My tour was complimentary as part of a hosted press trip, so the cost hadn't crossed my mind. When I received my excursion tickets in my room, I did a double take upon seeing the price — $913!

I've never paid that much for a cruise excursion before. I tend to be budget-conscious and don't usually indulge unless I find myself in a great thrift store. In the past, my cruise excursions, like guided snorkeling, kayaking tours, zip-lining, and catamaran rides, have never exceeded $100 per person.

Cruise travelers often face tough choices on Alaskan voyages, where excursions can be expensive yet offer unforgettable experiences. I wondered if this adventure would warrant the price for those contemplating a dog sledding and helicopter tour.

Is it worth shelling out over $900 for one of the most unforgettable cruise excursions in Alaska: a helicopter flightseeing tour combined with a dog sled ride on a glacier? Keep reading to discover the answer.

Information about my tour

The Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing by Helicopter excursion was available during a seven-night cruise to Alaska’s Dawes Glacier. This tour was facilitated by Temsco Helicopters Inc. and took place during our stop in Skagway toward the end of our journey. The entire experience lasted about two hours, which included check-in, a 15-minute helicopter ride each way, and approximately an hour to interact with the dogs and traverse the mile-long sledding course.

What is the price of an Alaska dog sledding and helicopter tour?

The Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing by Helicopter experience with Celebrity in Skagway is priced at $912.99 per person, applicable to guests of all ages, including infants.

That's correct! There’s no age limit for this tour, so even babies can join in on dog sledding. I noticed a family checking in with their infant during our visit. If your child is 2 years old or older, a ticket is required. You can hold your baby on your lap during the helicopter ride without needing a ticket, but if you’d like your 1-year-old to have their own seat, you’ll need to buy a ticket for them.

Other companies, like Alaska Shore Excursions and Skagway Shore Tours, provide similar dog sledding and helicopter tours to Denver Glacier for about $659 per person. Comparable experiences through independent vendors in Anchorage, Juneau, and other Alaskan locations range from roughly $589 to $900.

My experience with dog sledding and helicopter tours

On the day of the tour, I awoke to bright skies and plenty of sunshine in Skagway. Helicopter tours rely on good weather, so I was thankful for the favorable conditions. If your tour gets canceled due to inclement weather, you'll receive a refund, but you may not have the chance to reschedule another dog sledding adventure at a different port. This would have been our situation, as Skagway was the last stop on our Alaskan itinerary.

Our group of five from Celebrity Edge hopped on a shuttle bus for a quick ride from the ship to the meeting point at the Skagway waterfront. A representative from Temsco Helicopters greeted us and guided us to a smaller shuttle that took us to the company’s building and helicopter launch site. During the ride, we watched a required safety briefing.

Upon arrival, we signed waivers and were fitted with glacier boots to wear over our regular shoes. I had my sturdy hiking boots, but I was relieved to receive something seemingly more suited for glacier walking. The boots looked bulky, and I braced myself for an awkward experience like wearing ski boots. Surprisingly, they were comfortable to walk in, although I felt a bit like I was gearing up for a moon landing.

We were also given a fanny pack-style life vest and were shown how to activate it in case of an emergency water landing. It was challenging to concentrate on all the safety instructions because I was so excited for the tour to begin.

Weight distribution is crucial in helicopters, so the pilot assigned us seats according to our weight. We didn’t need to step on a scale; they relied on us to provide our actual weight. I was the first to be assigned a seat, and to preserve my self-esteem, I chose not to ask if that was a good or bad sign. Passengers weighing 250 pounds or more incur an additional "weight surcharge" of $150.

I was taken aback by the numerous restrictions on items we could take on the helicopter. We were prohibited from bringing tablets, GoPro sticks, drones, any extendable items, or bags of any type (backpacks, crossbody bags, or small fanny packs). Fortunately, smartphones and compact cameras were allowed, so I could still capture plenty of adorable sled dog footage and breathtaking aerial shots. What a relief!

Before leaving the ship, I decided to leave my sturdy Nikon camera with the long zoom lens in my cabin, taking only my iPhone and fanny pack. We were told to store our belongings in a locked cabinet during the excursion.

As we soared above Skagway harbor, I was thrilled by our incredible perspective of the cruise ships anchored below. We then glided over the stunning Taiya Inlet, absorbing the breathtaking views of the sparkling water and the majestic snow-capped mountains, some adorned with cascading waterfalls. We even spotted bald eagles and a few seals during our flight. I’ve always thought the term "breathtaking" was a bit cliché in travel writing, but those views genuinely made me gasp more than once.

The flight lasted about 15 to 20 minutes. On the way there, it felt longer—likely because I was so enchanted by the scenery yet eager to meet those adorable dogs. In contrast, the return trip after our sledding adventure felt much shorter to me.

Our helicopter landed on the Denver Glacier right beside the dog sled camp, home to around 240 sled dogs from April until about August or September. At the end of the season, all the dogs and gear are flown out by helicopter. (Is there a way I can volunteer to accompany the dogs on that journey?)

We were encouraged to engage with the sled dogs, and as a devoted dog lover, I eagerly embraced the opportunity. I pet and snuggled every pup on our team multiple times, and I might have shed a few joyful tears in the process. Some members of my group mentioned that guests were often restricted from interacting with sled dogs on similar tours elsewhere, so I was overjoyed to have chosen an excursion that allowed for some puppy love.

Reluctantly, I pulled myself away from my furry friends to focus on Trace Drake, our musher (the sled team guide or driver). He was warm, humorous, and knowledgeable, sharing insights into the lives of the sled dogs. They start training at around six months old and usually work for eight to ten years before retiring. Upon retirement, they are often adopted by a musher or guide, spending their later years as beloved house pets.

Temsco Helicopters runs up to ten dog sledding and flightseeing excursions to Denver Glacier each day. The sled dogs at the Denver Glacier camp typically do two runs, followed by a four-run rest period before they work another two.

It's finally happening!

At last, the moment I had eagerly anticipated arrived — we climbed onto the dog sleds for our glacier ride. The dogs were bursting with excitement, and the chorus of barks and yelps was nearly overwhelming.

Each dog sled featured two seats in the front and one in the back, with space for a person to act as the musher. I didn't have the courage to try mushing while also filming, so I chose to stay seated. This turned out to be a smart move, as I struggled to hold onto my iPhone even while sitting. It flew out of my hand at one point during the ride (a clear reminder to secure your belongings when dog sledding).

Before this adventure, I had never walked on a glacier and imagined it as a vast expanse of sky-blue ice. Although we visited Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau a few days prior, we only saw it from afar. Denver Glacier appeared more like a snowy field surrounded by towering, snow-capped peaks, but it was an extraordinary sight. The seemingly infinite stretch of snow made me feel like I had landed on an ice planet from a "Star Wars" film.

I was overwhelmed with adrenaline and joy as we set off. The sounds enveloped me — the musher's commands, the jingling of the leashes, the sled blades scraping against the packed snow — anchoring me in the moment for the entire journey. I tried to capture as many videos and photos as possible, yet I knew nothing could truly capture the wonder I experienced. I won’t deny that my eyes misted up more than once along the way.

Our ride stretched about a mile, including a couple of stops to pet the dogs, snap photos, and retrieve my wayward iPhone. The whole experience lasted around 40 minutes. The tour company also took a group photo midway through, available for purchase at $35 for one photo or $50 for two. Since I managed to get several photos and videos myself, I chose to pass on that offer.

Is an Alaska dog sledding and helicopter tour worth the price?

Deciding whether to spend hundreds on a cruise excursion is a personal choice influenced by your budget and travel style. For me, the unique chance to experience two helicopter rides over stunning landscapes, interact with real working sled dogs, and capture photos of an expansive snowy field would absolutely justify the investment.

If I had the opportunity to undertake this incredible cruise excursion again at my own expense, I would adjust my budget accordingly, perhaps forgoing other excursions at different ports. For instance, in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Victoria, British Columbia, one can easily explore independently. In Juneau, we took a public bus to the entrance of Tongass National Forest (only tour buses can go further), walked to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, and purchased a day pass ($5 per person) to hike to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls.

To make room in my budget for this bucket-list experience, I would also cut back on extras like specialty dining and drink packages. Celebrity offered many delicious complimentary dining options, so I would prioritize the tour over upscale meals.

If I accumulated enough airline miles before my cruise, I would use them to cover my flights to and from the cruise departure port. Likewise, I could save points for my hotel stay before the cruise.

One advantage of being a member of the Celebrity Cruises Captain's Club loyalty program (for Classic tier members and above) is a 5% discount on Small Group Discovery Tours, like our Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing by Helicopter tour in Skagway. Frequent cruisers can save some money this way.

If a $900 tour exceeds your budget, consider checking prices at other ports or tours offered by independent operators to find a more budget-friendly option. Temsco Helicopters provides a helicopter and dog sledding tour on Mendenhall Glacier, starting at $659 per person (still expensive, but cheaper than $900).

Another more affordable option is a sled dog experience without the flightseeing component. Alaska Shore Tours' Skagway Sled Dog and Musher's Camp excursion takes guests to an authentic summer training camp for dog sledding. The tour includes time in historic downtown Skagway before an 11-mile journey to the Musher's Camp in Dyea, a once-bustling gold rush town. The sleds are equipped with wheels for rides without snow, and tickets begin at around $184 per person.

Temsco Helicopters also offers an excursion to a summer dog sledding camp in Juneau, featuring a dog sled ride on a dirt course for about $159, although it does not include a helicopter ride.

The conclusion

The dog sledding and helicopter tour in Alaska was an unforgettable bucket-list experience. Flying over Taiya Inlet and through the mountains was exhilarating, a feeling that was only rivaled by the exhilarating sled ride across a snowy glacier, guided by some of the strongest and most beautiful dogs I've ever encountered.

I can't wait to share this adventure with my husband and daughters on a future trip to Alaska. I suppose I should start saving up now to afford another amazing experience like this one.