Touring in Ports

It would appear that a passenger is a captive to the cruise line for the tours offered in the various Alaskan ports. The ship line or tour concessionaire on board do not make a realistic attempt to secure reasonable land or air tours for passengers. The cost in some instances is prohibitive.

In most of the Alaskan ports, such as Homer, Valdez, Sitka and Ketchikan, almost all of the tours can be done alone or on foot. The towns are so small that a bus tour seems ridiculous. The good informational guide published by Cunard/NAC and a good pair of shoes are more than sufficient. . . . When the cruise passenger stops succumbing to the high cost of tours, perhaps then they will be presented in a more realistically priced fashion.

PHYLLIS KAIZER-VERNON

Marina del Rey