My experience with Ketchikan Photo Safaris was terrible. I took this shore excursion along with another party of three individuals on Saturday September 10, 2022. I originally booked this port adventure through Disney Cruise Lines (DCL). The listing on DCL’s website states:
On this adventure you will…
• Meet your guides and board your awaiting van. On your drive, you will receive tips and techniques to improve your shots’ composition, concepts, angles etc.
• During your adventure, you will spend 3 hours with a local Alaskan photographer who knows all the great sites and history off the beaten paths.
• At each site, your Photographer guide will help you frame each shot, from flowers, totems, rainforest, beach, and amazing mountaintops.
• After taking breathtaking images you will be taken back to your awaiting ship.
Being Disney, I expected this third-party contractor to be well vetted by Disney and provide an amazing adventure. Sadly, this was not the case.
Our troubles began when Teresa, the tour guide arrived. She took one look at the DSLRs held by myself and another person and stated, “You’re on your own, I don’t know anything about those cameras.” Now being a retired professional photographer, I didn’t expect any great revelations. However, I did expect a basic level of photography knowledge be available for the other members of the tour.
The guidance Teresa provided was simply, “I want you to take a picture of….” In one instance, she took us into a store and directed the group to take photos of shirts for sale in case you get home and decide you want to order a shirt over the internet. I didn’t purchase this tour to be given a sales pitch.
In another incident, Teresa took us to a park, told us to take photos and disappeared. Later I learned she went to the rest room. A little communication would have been appreciated. In some other instances, our guide would give the group walking directions and then meet the group at a prearranged spot. Of course, there was no guidance while we were walking from one location to another.
Even when Teresa was present, she was not providing any photography guidance about framing the shot or other hints/tips which would have helped the less experienced members of the tour group.
When driving from one location to another, rather than discussing the history, we heard about miscellaneous details from her life, include the time she ran over a black dog. Or how she lost the keys to the van during a previous tour. Or how a friend delayed having orthopedic surgery. You get the idea. The most history our group received was being directed to take a photo of the historical markers or signs explaining the history of the location.
When our tour made a stop within walking distance to the ship, I seriously considered getting “lost” and walking back to the ship. It was at this time, the other party of three told me they were planning to ask to be driven back to the ship. I agreed with them and we all ended this excursion about half way through all the planned stops.
I fully understand a tour is not only a reflection upon the business but can only be as good as the tour guide. It is quite possible, there are better tour guides employed by this company but unfortunately, I didn’t interact with them and I’m only able to review the one tour guide I did interact with. However, I do believe a company should properly hire and train employees to provide the advertised experience.
As soon as our tour group of four returned on board our cruise ship, we filed a complaint with Guest Services. Later that evening, I did speak with the Port Adventures department to reiterate our experiences. The next day, I was informed a full refund was being provided and Teresa is no longer allowed to be a tour guide for any DCL Port Adventures.
I am pleased, Ketchikan Photo Safari provided everyone in the group a full refund, but there should never have been the need for this to occur.
This could have been an amazing adventure providing opportunities for great photos. It wasn't