Quick answer: Juneau is the port to spend your Alaska excursion budget on. Downtown is small and easy to wander in a couple of hours, but the reasons people come, whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier, are outside town. You can reach Mendenhall yourself on a glacier shuttle from the docks, and book whales with Virgin, through a desk on the dockside or online before you go. Juneau can be a tender port, so allow time to get ashore.
Juneau is Alaska’s capital, and you can’t drive there. No roads connect it to the rest of the state, so everyone arrives by sea or air, and in summer that means a lot of cruise ships.
We’ve been twice. On our first Alaska cruise, on Holland America’s Koningsdam in May 2023, we didn’t book anything: we wandered downtown, did a bit of shopping and didn’t feel we missed out. On Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady in May 2026, we booked whales and Mendenhall Glacier. Between the two visits, here’s our honest take on how to spend a day in Juneau.
Our verdict: if you book one excursion in Alaska, make it here
Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway are lovely to explore on your own. Juneau is different. The downtown area by the docks is pleasant but small: gift shops, cafés, a few galleries and Tracy’s King Crab Shack. Its real draws, the humpback whales out in the channel and Mendenhall Glacier in the valley, are 20 to 30 minutes away.
Step off the ship and you’ll see why we call it Alaska’s excursion capital. There’s a row of tour desks right outside the cruise terminal selling everything from whale watching to helicopter flights onto the ice. So if you’re only budgeting for one paid excursion on your whole cruise, our advice is to make it a Juneau one, and make it whales.
Getting ashore: tendering in Juneau
On our Brilliant Lady sailing, Juneau was a tender port. There were seven ships in that day and only six berths, and Virgin, as the new line in town, was given slot number seven: anchored off, with Virgin’s bright red tenders running sailors to the waterfront.
If you are tendering, give yourself plenty of time. Even with an early excursion slot, it took us the best part of an hour to get ashore. Excursions booked through Virgin get priority, so if you’re going it alone, head down early or wait for the morning rush to pass.
Why it matters which cruise line you choose for Alaska
Our day in Juneau is a good example of something many first-timers don’t realise: in Alaska, there’s a pecking order for berths. Holland America and Princess have been sailing here for decades, and they hold the prime slots in most ports, right in the heart of town. It’s one of the main reasons you’ll hear so many people say to book Holland America or Princess for Alaska.
Newer lines like Virgin tend to get the berths further out. Does that cause the odd problem? Absolutely. Is it a dealbreaker? Absolutely not. In most ports it just means a few extra minutes’ walk into town; in Ketchikan, for example, it was an extra 10 minutes or so. Juneau, with more ships than berths on busy days, is where it shows most.
We wouldn’t let it put you off. One slower morning on a cruise of seven nights or more won’t spoil your Alaska experience, but it’s worth knowing when you choose your ship. If you’re not sure which line suits you best, ask us: we’ve sailed Alaska with both Holland America and Virgin Voyages.
Whale watching in Juneau
This is the one. The waters around Juneau are one of the best places in Alaska to see humpback whales, and most trips head out into the channels for two or three hours. We saw whales: a long grey back rolling through the water, then the tail as they dived deep. It’s a proper Alaska moment.
Our tip from the water: choose a smaller boat if you can. We were on a bigger one and spent a fair bit of time looking enviously at the little boats nipping about. Fewer people means more room at the rail and a more personal trip.
Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls
Mendenhall Glacier is about 12 miles from downtown, at the end of a lake in the Mendenhall Valley. From the visitor centre, easy paths lead to viewpoints over the lake and the glacier face, and a longer trail heads out to Nugget Falls, a big waterfall that tumbles down right beside the glacier.
We went in the rain, which is very Juneau, and it was still worth it. We even spotted a porcupine up a tree. Wear a waterproof and comfortable shoes, as the Nugget Falls trail is the best bit and you’ll want time to walk it.
How to get to Mendenhall Glacier from the cruise port
- A Virgin Voyages Shore Thing. We booked whales and Mendenhall together through the Sailor App. It’s the simplest option, and the ship won’t leave without you. Prices vary by sailing; we paid about £190 each in May 2026.
- A glacier shuttle. Private shuttles, including the well-known Glacier “Blue Bus” Express, run from the cruise ship docks straight to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center and give you around two hours there. Buy at the dockside desks or online.
- A taxi or Uber. Handy if there are a few of you. Agree how you’ll get back before you set off.
- The public bus. The cheapest option, but Juneau’s Capital Transit doesn’t stop at the visitor centre. Allow up to an hour and a half each way, including a walk of about half an hour from the nearest stop.
Booking whales and Mendenhall independently
If you’d rather book direct, these are well-reviewed combinations we’d look at. Always leave plenty of time between the tour finishing and your all-aboard time.
- Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls and whale watching (5 hours)
- Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching (4 hours)
- Whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier day trip (4.5 hours)
- Small-group Mendenhall Glacier e-bike tour
- Small-group kayak with Mendenhall Glacier views
- Mendenhall Glacier ice adventure (the splurge)
Some of the tour links on this page are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
Juneau without an excursion
On our 2023 visit we didn’t book a thing and had a perfectly happy day. If you’d rather keep it simple, here’s how we’d do it:
- Wander downtown. It’s compact and right by the docks, with local galleries, cafés and plenty of shops. Look past the generic souvenirs for Alaska Native art and work by local artists.
- Eat at Tracy’s King Crab Shack. It’s on the waterfront near the docks and it’s Juneau’s most famous lunch. Expect a queue at peak times.
- Ride the Mount Roberts Tramway. It starts by the cruise docks and climbs the mountain above town for big views over the channel, weather permitting.
- Then add Mendenhall yourself on a glacier shuttle or by Uber, and you’ve seen Juneau’s two biggest sights without a tour.
What to pack for Juneau
- A waterproof jacket. Juneau is one of the wettest places on an Alaska cruise.
- Warm layers and a hat for the whale boat, where it’s windy out on deck.
- Comfortable, grippy shoes for the Nugget Falls trail.
- Binoculars, if you have them, for the whales.
- Your Sailor Band or cruise card, plus photo ID, for getting back on board.
So, is Juneau worth it?
Yes, as long as you plan it. Turn up without a plan and Juneau can feel like a small town full of tour desks. Book the whales, get yourself to Mendenhall, and it becomes one of the best days of the whole cruise.
This was one stop on our Virgin Voyages Alaska trip, which started with two nights in Vancouver. The day before, we were in Skagway: here’s our Skagway port guide. Next up was Icy Strait Point. See also our guides to Ketchikan and Sitka, our first-time guide to cruising Alaska and our full Virgin Voyages Alaska review.
FAQs
Is Juneau a tender port?
It can be. On our May 2026 sailing there were more ships than berths, so Brilliant Lady, as the newest line in town, anchored off and we went ashore by tender. Holland America and Princess usually hold the central berths. Allow extra time if you’re tendering.
Do you need an excursion in Juneau?
Not strictly, but of all the main Alaska ports this is the one where we’d spend the excursion budget. Downtown is small, and the big highlights, whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier, sit outside town.
Can you get to Mendenhall Glacier without a tour?
Yes. Private glacier shuttles run from the cruise ship docks straight to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center, or you can take a taxi or Uber. The public bus doesn’t stop at the visitor centre, so it’s slow, with a walk at the end.
Is whale watching in Juneau worth it?
Yes. It’s the classic Juneau experience and one of the best places in Alaska to see humpbacks. If you can, choose a smaller boat.
Which Virgin Voyages sailings call at Juneau?
Juneau is on Virgin’s longer Alaska itineraries rather than every sailing. In 2028 it’s only on the 1 May and 13 July departures, so if Juneau is a must, choose one of those.
Plan it with us
Phil and I are award-winning travel specialists and Virgin Voyages First Mates, and we’d love to help you plan your Alaska cruise. Book Virgin Voyages with us and you’ll get our bonus Sailor Loot as a thank you. Call 07307 602030, email hello@magical-traveller.com or get in touch.