Juneau Shore Excursions
USA · 12 independent tours
What can catch you out in Juneau
Relayed from official sources — not our verdict. We pass on what the authorities say, word for word, and leave the judgement to you.
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Bear country
This is bear country. Never approach or crowd a bear — make noise as you go so you don’t surprise one. If a bear notices you, face it, stand your ground, talk calmly and back away slowly. Never run: you can’t outrun a bear.
as reported by Alaska Department of Fish and Game — traveling in bear country · 23 Jun 2026
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Whale watching is a 100-yard law
By federal law it’s an offence to approach within 100 yards (about 90 m) of a humpback whale in Alaska, whether by boat or from shore — which is why whale-watching boats keep their distance and limit time near the animals.
as reported by NOAA Fisheries — Alaska humpback whale approach regulations · 23 Jun 2026
On a cruise? Your ship’s port talk is the authority on the day — check that too.
Across USA — laws, safety & health
National rules and risks that apply anywhere in USA — relayed from official sources, not our verdict. We pass on what the authority says and leave the judgement to you.
Laws that catch visitors out
- The national legal age for buying and drinking alcohol is 21.
- Illegal drugs, including cannabis, carry severe penalties — a long jail sentence and heavy fines, including when transiting through airports. (US federal law applies even where a state has legalised cannabis.)
- Always carry a passport showing you have permission to enter or remain in the US.
- US law prohibits importing, exporting, making, selling or transporting drug paraphernalia.
Drones
Visitors flying a drone recreationally in the US must take the FAA’s free online TRUST safety test and carry proof. A drone of 250 g or more must have Remote ID and be registered — on the FAA DroneZone, or by filing a Notice of Identification if it is already registered in your home country. Fly at or below 400 ft in uncontrolled (Class G) airspace, keep it within sight, and do not fly over people.
via US FAA — Recreational Flyers & Community-Based Organizations · 25 Jun 2026
Scams to watch
Do not leave passports in rental cars (especially the boot) — vehicles driven by people who look like tourists may be targeted.
Health hazards
The FCDO health page lists Zika virus, West Nile virus and altitude sickness (in parts of the country) among the health risks in the US. There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement — treatment is expensive, so comprehensive travel insurance is essential. Check current detail and vaccine recommendations on TravelHealthPro before you travel.
via UK FCDO travel advice — USA (health) · 18 Jul 2026
Relayed from UK FCDO travel advice — USA · checked 18 Jul 2026
Traffic drives on the right. Look left first when you cross the road.
Docking & terminals in Juneau
Ships normally berth alongside the town-centre waterfront; occasionally a ship may anchor offshore and tender when all berths are full.
- Cruise Ship Terminal (CT) — Town centre, central (Short walk into the heart of the town centre within minutes)
- Alaska Steamship Dock (AS) — Town centre, central (Short walk into the heart of the town centre within minutes)
- Franklin Dock (FKL) — A few minutes further from the town centre than CT/AS (Walk along the Juneau Sea Walk boardwalk)
- AJ Dock — About 1 mile south of the town centre (25-minute walk or shuttle (approx. US$5 all-day pass, runs every 15 minutes))
Mobility & step-free access
Getting around between the pier and town:
- Walk — Town-centre sights are within walking distance of the docks.
- Cable car — Mount Roberts Tramway boards directly on the pier and climbs to approximately 2,000 ft in about six minutes.
- Shuttle — Round-trip shuttles to Mendenhall Glacier depart from kiosks at the docks, approximately 20 minutes each way; a dock shuttle also serves the tramway.
- Taxi — Available from the docks but noted as expensive.
Step-free options vary by pier and by the day — confirm the specifics with your operator and the ship’s guest-services desk before booking.
Heading back at the end of the day: Juneau's docks are spread along the waterfront, with AJ Dock about 1 mile south of the central CT/AS docks. Passengers should confirm which dock their ship is using before going ashore to ensure they return to the correct one.
Cruise lines don’t always tell you which pier you’re on, and it’s easy to forget once you’re ashore. As you leave the ship, note or photograph your pier’s name — then give your taxi that exact pier (or your ship’s name) for the trip back.
Your exact pier is assigned per sailing — confirm it on the ship’s daily programme or gangway signage before heading ashore.
Getting around & must-sees in Juneau
Getting around
Ships dock in the town centre at Marine Park, Ferry Terminal, or S. Franklin dock; when more than three ships are in port some anchor and tender. Town-centre attractions are within easy walking distance of the docks.
- Walk — Town-centre sights are within walking distance of the docks.
- Cable car — Mount Roberts Tramway boards directly on the pier and climbs to approximately 2,000 ft in about six minutes.
- Shuttle — Round-trip shuttles to Mendenhall Glacier depart from kiosks at the docks, approximately 20 minutes each way; a dock shuttle also serves the tramway.
- Taxi — Available from the docks but noted as expensive.
Must-see sights
- Mendenhall Glacier — Drive-up glacier with a visitor centre and trails, about 12 miles from the town centre.
- Mount Roberts Tramway — Alpine area above town with trails, a nature centre and views, accessible from the pier.
- Tracy Arm Fjord — Glacier-and-waterfall fjord south of Juneau, visited by boat.
- Whale Watching — Humpback whales, orcas, sea lions and bald eagles viewable in nearby waters.
- Juneau Icefield — Vast icefield behind the city, accessed by helicopter or floatplane.
Taxis & ride-hailing — Rideshare options stated as available but no specific app named by the source.
Getting back to the pier
The cruise docks are right in the town centre; a sea walk connects the cruise-ship docks directly to the town centre, making the return trip straightforward on foot.
- Walk — Sea walk runs along the cruise-ship docks directly into the town centre.
- Taxi — Available in the town centre for trips further afield.
- Bus — City bus has a ride-free zone serving the town centre and up to the Alaska State Capitol.
Key facts only — confirm times, fares and seasonal openings locally.
Operator policies we’ve checked in Juneau
Before a tour earns its trust pills, we read the operator’s own site — their terms, cancellation and accessibility pages — and relay what they state. These are the operators’ own terms, not our verdicts; confirm when booking.
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Above & Beyond Alaska
- Group size — Groups of 2–12
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American Ghost Walks
- Cancellation policy — Their FAQ: all sales are final — no customer cancellation refunds.
- Accessibility — Operator's own statement: the tour route is wheelchair-friendly.
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Dolphin Jet Boat Tours
- Accessibility — Operator's own statement: manual wheelchair users may book with 5 days' notice; motorised scooters cannot be accommodated; boarding requires 3–4 steps onto the bus and 10–20 steps from the dock to the boat seat.
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M&M Tours of Juneau
- Free cancellation — verified on the operator’s own site
- Accessibility — Operator's own statement: requires a moderate level of fitness, walking on uneven surfaces and possible stairs; wheelchairs/motorised scooters not recommended.
Eating & shopping in Juneau
Central Juneau is the primary dining concentration, with all eateries within walking distance of the cruise ship berths; the waterfront wharf also has dining options.
Where to eat
- Central Juneau — Primary dining district; all within walking distance of the cruise ship berths.
- Waterfront wharf — Eateries along the waterfront near the town centre.
- Mendenhall Valley (the Valley) — Dining area near the Mendenhall Valley and airport.
- Auke Bay — Named as a separate dining area outside the town centre.
- Douglas Island — Named as a separate dining area.
- Lemon Creek & Twin Lakes — Named as a further dining area.
Local specialities
- Salmon — Part of the locally described Alaskan seafood trifecta.
- Halibut — Part of the locally described Alaskan seafood trifecta.
- Crab — Part of the locally described Alaskan seafood trifecta; Dungeness crab specifically named.
- Scallops and spot prawns — Regionally caught.
- Smoked salmon — Noted as a local product also commonly taken home as a gift.
- Local craft beer and spirits — Produced by local craft breweries and distilleries.
Areas and specialities as described by the source — not our recommendations; confirm openings and prices locally.
Local know-hows in Juneau
Money
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Cards
- Credit cards are widely accepted throughout the U.S., including for hotels, dining, entertainment, and public transportation.
- ATMs
- ATMs are found across the country.
- Tipping
- Tipping is a common practice, especially at restaurants; many service employees rely on tips. Some restaurants automatically add a gratuity for parties of six or more, usually noted on the menu or check.
Local etiquette
Alaska has specific laws around marijuana use and a strong expectation that visitors respect the distinct identities of its Indigenous peoples.
- Recreational marijuana is legal for adults 21+ from approved stores, but it is illegal to travel with it on a cruise, ferry, or airplane.
- Consuming marijuana on public lands, cruise ships, or in hotel lobbies is illegal; each community may have additional rules.
- Alaska has over 200 distinct Indigenous tribes — avoid generalisations such as 'Eskimo' and recognise specific peoples (e.g. Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian in Southeast Alaska).
- Learning a few basic phrases in the Indigenous language of the region you are visiting is encouraged.
Practicalities
- Language
- English. Tlingit — one of Alaska’s 20 official Native languages alongside English — is the local Alaska Native language.
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink. Juneau's public water system is regulated under the US Safe Drinking Water Act, whose National Primary Drinking Water Regulations set legally enforceable national limits on contaminants to protect public health (US EPA).
- Plugs
- 110/120 volts (standardised across the United States); international visitors may need a voltage converter for 220/240V appliances. Laptops, razors and cameras usually have built-in converters.
Key facts to know before you step off — confirm anything time-sensitive locally.
Port busyness in Juneau
Often very busy
A compact Alaskan capital that regularly hosts multiple large ships per day and imposed hard caps on daily arrivals after pre-limit peak days were described as 'suffocating.'
Peak pattern: Busiest mid-morning through afternoon on multi-ship days during June and July; the town centre, Mendenhall Glacier road, and whale-watching departures all bear concentrated crowd pressure simultaneously.
Quieter: Single-ship days and the edges of the season (early May, late September) are notably calmer.
- City-imposed daily ship and passenger caps after severe overcrowding
- Compact town centre funnels all arrivals into small area
- Mendenhall Glacier road is a documented transport bottleneck
- Peak June–July season sees ships booked beyond double occupancy
This shows a typical day for the time of year — actual crowds vary on your date, and it isn’t a guarantee.
What we’ve checked in Juneau — and when
We last checked the facts on this page between 10 Jun 2026 and 23 Jun 2026. Live travel advisories refresh automatically from the official sources.
- Docking & getting ashore
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 23 Jun 2026
- Getting around
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 10 Jun 2026
- How busy it gets
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 10 Jun 2026
- What can catch you out
- Verified by The Excursion Edit against official sources · 23 Jun 2026
- Operator policies
- From each operator’s own site and terms
- Travel advisories
- FCDO (GOV.UK) & US State Department · refreshed automatically