Juneau Tours FAQ: Your Insider Guide to Exploring Alaska

All Juneau Tours excursions begin with check-in at our dock representatives located beneath the overhead tram cables in front of the Goldbelt Tramway (Mount Roberts Tramway), 490 south Franklin Street, right in the heart of downtown Juneau. Our staff members wear bright blue hats, white safety vests and hold clearly marked Juneau Tours signs, making us easy to find. Most cruise ships dock within a short walking distance of our meeting location. If your ship docks at the AJ Dock (approximately one mile away), your cruise line provides a complimentary shuttle that drops passengers directly near our meeting area.

For added convenience, we recommend arriving about 15 minutes before your scheduled departure time.

With Juneau Tours, you never have to worry about missing your excursion because your cruise ship arrives late. Our team monitors every cruise ship’s arrival in real time throughout the day. If your ship is delayed, we automatically adjust our tour schedule whenever possible so you can still enjoy your experience.

If weather or other circumstances prevent your ship from docking altogether, our No Port–No Pay Policy provides a full refund with no administrative fees. Our goal is simple: remove the stress so you can enjoy your vacation.

Absolutely. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about visiting Juneau. Cruise lines often encourage passengers to book only through them, but experienced local operators like Juneau Tours have been coordinating excursions around cruise schedules for over two decades. We’ve never had a guest miss their ship because of one of our tours. In fact, we’re so confident in our scheduling that if a delay caused by our tour ever resulted in a missed departure, we’d fly you by floatplane to your next port and cover your hotel accommodations.

Booking directly with a local company often provides:

• Smaller group sizes
• Local guides with firsthand knowledge
• More personalized experiences
• Better value
• Flexible customer service

There’s no “best” time of day in Juneau. Unlike many destinations, Alaska’s wildlife and weather don’t follow predictable schedules. Humpback whales feed up to 20 hours each day during the summer, and wildlife sightings happen throughout daylight hours. Likewise, weather can change quickly regardless of the time. Whether you choose a morning or afternoon tour, you’ll experience authentic Southeast Alaska.

Technically yes—but we don’t recommend it. The public transit bus stops approximately 1½ miles from the visitor center, requiring a three-mile round-trip walk along a busy roadway before you even reach the glacier. Because Juneau is a rainforest, rain is common, and there are limited services, no public restrooms along the route, and unreliable transportation for your return trip. Our permitted Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Tour provides direct transportation to the visitor center, allowing you to maximize your time exploring instead of walking.

Our White Glacier Shuttle provides transportation directly to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. Once there, you’ll have access to:

• Photo Point
• Nugget Falls Trail
• Visitor Center exhibits
• Glacier overlooks
• Hiking trails
• Wildlife viewing opportunities

Unlike public transportation, you’ll arrive exactly where you want to begin exploring.

No. The well-known ice caves that became popular on social media are no longer safely accessible due to the glacier’s continual movement and retreat. Today’s remaining ice formations require advanced mountaineering skills and specialized equipment. If touching glacial ice is on your bucket list, a helicopter glacier landing is currently the safest and most practical option.

Cell service around Mendenhall Glacier can be unreliable. Many visitors discover they can’t easily call taxis or rideshare services when they’re ready to return downtown. Booking round-trip transportation ensures you won’t have to worry about finding a ride back to your cruise ship.

The easiest way is by walking the Nugget Falls Trail from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. The relatively easy trail takes about 20–25 minutes each way and ends at one of Juneau’s most spectacular waterfalls. Don’t miss the nearby Photo Point Trail, where you can capture both Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls in a single photograph.

Yes. From May 15 through September 15, we offer a 100% whale sighting guarantee on our whale watching tours. Our captains and onboard naturalists spend every day on the water and communicate with one another throughout the day to locate feeding whales. If, during the guarantee period, you don’t see a whale, we’ll explain your available options according to our whale guarantee policy.

Whales are only part of the adventure. Depending on the season, many guests also see:

• Bald eagles
• Harbor seals
• Sea lions
• Porpoises
• Sea otters
• Mountain goats
• Black bears
• Sitka black-tailed deer
• Salmon
• Numerous seabirds

Juneau is one of the best wildlife-viewing destinations in Alaska because much of the surrounding landscape remains untouched wilderness.

Our fleet consists of modern, purpose-built whale watching vessels designed specifically for Southeast Alaska waters. Each boat provides excellent viewing opportunities, large windows, comfortable seating, and outdoor viewing decks so every guest has a great chance to watch wildlife.

Passenger capacity varies depending on the vessel assigned to your tour. Our fleet includes multiple boat sizes that allow us to provide comfortable seating while maintaining excellent viewing opportunities for every guest.

Yes. Every whale watching vessel in our fleet is equipped with onboard restroom facilities for your comfort.

Absolutely. Private charters are available for families, corporate groups, photographers, weddings, and anyone looking for a more personalized experience. Contact our team for availability and customized charter options.

Dress in layers. We recommend:

• Waterproof rain jacket
• Warm fleece or insulated layer
• Comfortable pants
• Closed-toe shoes
• Hat and gloves during cooler months

Juneau weather changes quickly, so layering allows you to stay comfortable throughout the day.

We recommend bringing:

• Camera
• Binoculars (optional)
• Sunglasses
• Reusable water bottle
• Small backpack
• Phone or portable charger
• Rain gear

Most importantly, bring your sense of adventure.

Our tours operate rain or shine. Rain is part of everyday life in Southeast Alaska—and often creates some of the most beautiful scenery, with waterfalls flowing at full strength and dramatic clouds surrounding the mountains. Unless severe weather creates unsafe conditions, your tour will continue as scheduled.

Juneau is the rainiest state capital in the United States, averaging approximately 62 inches of rainfall annually. Locals often call it “liquid sunshine.” Fortunately, rain rarely lasts all day, and changing weather is simply part of the authentic Alaska experience.

Juneau is located in the Alaska Time Zone (AKT). During daylight saving time, Juneau observes Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT).

Summer visitors enjoy incredibly long daylight hours. Around the summer solstice in June, Juneau receives nearly 18 hours of daylight, giving cruise passengers plenty of time to explore.

Most U.S. citizens traveling on domestic Alaska cruises do not need a passport to visit Juneau. However, many Alaska cruise itineraries include Canadian ports, so it’s always best to check your cruise line’s documentation requirements before traveling. International visitors should carry the appropriate travel documents.

Currency exchange services are limited in Juneau. Most visitors find it easiest to exchange currency before arriving or use major credit cards, which are widely accepted throughout town. ATMs are also readily available downtown.

For more than 20 years, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of visitors experience the very best of Juneau. As a locally owned company and multiple-time “Best of Juneau” winner, we combine local expertise, modern equipment, experienced captains, and exceptional customer service to create unforgettable Alaska adventures. From whale watching and glacier tours to transportation and shore excursions, every experience is carefully scheduled around your cruise itinerary so you can explore with confidence.