There are so many different things to do on an Alaska cruise. And an Alaska wildlife cruise excursion will take you through some of the most beautiful, remote wilderness in the world. It provides the chance for up-close encounters with a variety of wildlife like moose, black bears, bald eagles, puffins, and whales.

With Norwegian, Alaska Shore Excursions provide plenty of chances to encounter wildlife. You can take a wilderness hike in the Tongass National Forest where you might experience moose, Sitka black-tailed deer, and bald eagles. Or, hop aboard the Aleutian Ballad, which is the fishing vessel seen on the Discovery Channel's documentary TV show The Deadliest Catch. You'll head out into the calm waters of the Inside Passage where you can have the chance to catch eels, octopus, and prawns.

Ready for something truly wild? Here are some of our top Alaska Wildlife Excursions.

#1. Historical Cannery, Seafood Sampling & Wildlife Cruise

This sightseeing cruise lets you view Alaska wildlife and taste some of the best Alaskan seafood. You'll cruise on a specialty vessel that was designed for the rugged coastline of the Tongass Narrows. The cruise includes a stop at Walden Rocks, which is one of the best places to spot seals, porpoises, and whales. You'll also visit Libby Cannery, which is located in a remote rainforest in Alaska. At the Cannery, you'll get to taste some of the best locally-caught seafood.

#2. Gold Panning, Sled Dogs & Scenic Railway

Meet some of the world's most powerful, dedicated canines on this excursion. This tour provides an inside look at what it takes to race a sled dog competitively. You'll get to meet the team of huskies. They are friendly and love showing off their skills with a demonstration run. Then, you can meet and cuddle with puppies. After this, you can test your skills at gold panning. Who knows? You might get lucky and strike gold! This tour also includes a scenic ride on the famous White Pass Railway.

#3. Nature Sanctuary, Eagle Center & Totems

This is a must-do tour for any wildlife lover. You’ll spend more than two hours at an exclusive, private nature sanctuary. This sanctuary is home to a large variety of birds, seals, black bears, and more, thanks to the salmon-rich waters of the nearby Eagle Creek.

An experienced naturalist guide will help you navigate through the dense forest of Alaska cedar and spruce to view the abundant wildlife.  The tour also includes stops at the Herring Bay Lumber Company sawmill and Alaska Raptor Center’s Ketchikan exhibit. Plus, you’ll get to watch a master totem pole maker at work.

#4. Wildlife Safari & Beach Bonfire

Go on a real Alaskan Wildlife Safari. You'll be going on an expedition with other cruisers on the Safari to see harbor seals, orca, and humpback whales. The experienced naturalist will tell you all about the animals’ behaviors and life cycles. After the expedition, you’ll cruise to a remote Alaska island, where you’ll be greeted by native Alaskan hosts. Enjoy a beach bonfire set in a stunning location. The excursion also includes a feast of salmonberry jam, reindeer sausage, kettle chips, and other Alaskan delights.

This is just a sample of some of the exciting wildlife excursions that you can experience on a cruise to Alaska. To explore all available Alaska shore excursions click here.