11. Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching tour in Juneau
4.8· 57 reviews· 5.5 hoursFour to five hours on a jet boat — 1 hour at Mendenhall Glacier plus whale watching, with a family-owned local operator.
“We selected this tour for both Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching, and while we found it pricey, we anticipated the added benefits of hot chocolate and snacks. The crew was friendly, and Nia was particularly entertaining. The bus and boat were clean, but I likely would not choose this option again. First, other companies start right at the ship, but this one required a walk to the tram. During check-in, we received the wrong green card, nearly boarding the incorrect tour. When we got on the bus, one individual ended up without a seat. Fortunately, a young crew member called out names and discovered we had been sent to the wrong bus. Despite arriving early, we were the last to board the correct bus. We were informed that whale watching would be first, but we were taken 20 minutes away to an area where whales had previously been spotted. Ironically, we saw more whales coming into port where our ship docked than from this boat. On the return trip, hot chocolate and snack packs were served. Despite knowing the number of passengers, they only provided each of us with half a cup of hot chocolate and ran out of cup lids, which became essential later. Having been whale watching before, this experience did not meet expectations. Captain Jay frequently made poor navigational choices, staying far from the whales compared to other boats. We observed some whale blows and tails, but felt too distant to enjoy the sight properly. On the return journey, Jay seemed more concerned about reaching the dock than the sea conditions. We noticed wake waves from oncoming ships, but he appeared distracted, leading to a hard impact that spilled hot chocolate everywhere. A man's coat ended up completely soaked, while my seat and pants absorbed what remained of my half cup. After cleaning up, we received snack bags, but I expected local Alaska snacks and instead got children's items like applesauce, goldfish, and granola bars. Finally, we headed to Mendenhall Glacier. Lisa was a pleasant bus driver, but I would have preferred more commentary about Alaska rather than yard art. The visitor center was closed since it was after 5 PM, and it was dark by the time we finished the trail. There was no guidance for the trails; we only got transportation. While I appreciated Nia's contributions, overall, I left this tour feeling disappointed.”— family4MI
22. Guided city tour of Juneau
4.5· 147 reviews· 1.5 hoursTwo hours by bus — explore historic downtown Juneau, cross to Douglas Island, and visit scenic spots including a whale sculpture and views of Mendenhall Glacier.
“We had a wonderful ride in a spotless bus. Our tour guide, Aiden, was fantastic, providing us with lots of information while also being quite funny. I highly recommend both him and this tour.”— Companion30847416209
33. Mendenhall Glacier Express from downtown Juneau
4.5· 320 reviews· 3 hoursThree hours total — direct bus from cruise terminal to Mendenhall Glacier with two hours of free time to explore trails and the Visitor Center.
“Kristal was knowledgeable and welcoming. We had the opportunity to observe many eagles resting on lampposts. The overall experience was enjoyable.”— Sherwin_E
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