Tuesday, April 2, 2024

A Complete Guide to the Juneau Cruise Port

juneau alaska cruise port

This memorial is dedicated to the 53 Japanese Americans of Juneau who were unjustly taken from their homes at the start of World War II. In 1941 people of Japanese ancestry living on the west coast of the USA were removed and incarcerates in isolated government internment camps. The seniors at Juneau High School left an empty chair during their graduation ceremony for their absent, fellow student who should have been there. It is an important historical event of which the citizens of Juneau feel like it needs to be remembered.

Port Guide: Juneau

If you prefer a more unique and eco-friendly mode of transportation, consider hopping on a pedicab. These pedal-powered vehicles offer a fun and scenic way to navigate the city while enjoying the fresh Alaska air. To fully immerse yourself in the beauty of Juneau, make sure to plan your activities accordingly.

Mendenhall Glacier Kayaking

The Mayor's initiative was welcomed by the cruise industry, which customers pay nearly USD 8 million in sales tax while ships are docked in Juneau. However, it has historically not paid sales tax for any merchandise or services sold onboard the cruise ships while in port. A similar exemption exists in Port Ketchikan AK created as an incentive for cruise vessels to dock there longer.

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The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024 - AFAR Media

The 8 Best Alaska Cruises to Take in 2024.

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This massive park is home to stunning scenery, rugged mountains, massive glaciers, temperate rainforests, and remote fjords. Although she was deaf from birth, Patsy had the ability to “hear” steamship whistles long before the boats were in sight and always ran to the docks to greet the incoming ships. Juneau’s Mayor dubbed her the “Official Greeter of Juneau, Alaska” in 1934. The Eaglecrest Ski Area on Douglas Island is the best place to hit the slopes in Juneau. There are 36 runs that cater to beginner, intermediate, and experienced skiers alike. Eaglecrest also boasts 10 miles of Nordic trails for cross-country skiers.

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In addition to traditional motorized taxis and buses is a unique option – pedicabs. These are basically three-person tricycles that are pedaled by a local guide. They are priced by the hour (available at the port) and your guide will tell interesting stories about the town and its people along the way.

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Juneau offers a range of dining options that cater to all tastes and preferences. From cozy seafood shacks serving freshly caught crab to upscale restaurants offering modern cuisine, there is something for everyone. If you’re interested in venturing beyond downtown Juneau, the port offers convenient transportation options to help you explore further. Taxis are readily available and offer a quick and easy way to reach nearby attractions or destinations.

Book Your Mendenhall Glacier and City Tour

Short briefing and preparations could take about minutes depending on the group. Keep in mind that the flights are organized in groups of 3 to 4 passengers at a time depending on the weight, including one person in the front and a maximum of 3 in the back. This adventure normally starts with a breathtaking 20-minute scenic flight over impressive Juneau Icefield, Alaskan fjords, snow-capped mountains, and awe-inspiring glacier formations. Both new berths don't provide (for now) shore-to-ship power as Alaska Electric Light and Power (Juneau's power utility) currently can't supply visiting vessels. The amount of money needed for such future project is around USD 12 million per berth. Cars and trucks access the city either via cargo barges or via the ferryboats serving the Alaska Marine Highway.

juneau alaska cruise port

Alaska's capital Juneau is located in the state's southeastern part, sheltered from the Pacific Ocean by a belt of islands 120 km (75 mi) wide. Canoe across a lake to Menden­hall Glac­i­er glac­i­er, Keep­ing an eye out for arc­tic terns, moun­tain goats, and ice­bergs float­ing in the water. Then, land on the glac­i­er beach and walk about a mile along­side the glac­i­er, explor­ing as you go — there may even be ice caves to check out. Take a scenic cruise and kayak through gor­geous sur­round­ings as mag­nif­i­cent whales pierce the sur­face of the water on this six-hour expe­di­tion from Juneau. Your des­ti­na­tion is the Chan­nel Islands, the whales’ annu­al feed­ing ground — and your guides will assess where the most whale activ­i­ty has been happening. Enjoy a thrilling trio of icon­ic Alaskan activ­i­ties — heli-flight­see­ing, air­boat­ing, and a glac­i­er land­ing — all in a com­pact 3 hours.

Juneau, Alaska – Cruise Port Guide

Cruise to Juneau, Alaska and visit the most remote, most beautiful and strangest state capital in the United States. Juneau, the capital of Alaska since 1906, was our first port of call. It is the only American State Capital not accessible by road – everything and everyone arrives by boat or air! Unfortunately it was a short lived title and by the 1940s labour shortages due to WW2 meant that the mines closed.

The Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s Center is a great place to begin your adventure. Capture stunning 180-degree views of the glacier and explore the nearby walking trail for even better angles. During this type of tour, you’ll also have the opportunity to take a very easy walking trail to numerous viewpoints of the glacier and as far as Nugget Falls, which sits right next to the glacier. Another option to see Mendenhall Glacier is to book a tour that takes you to the visitor center. In the visitor center, you can learn about the history of Mendenhall Glacier, how much it’s being affected by climate change, and more. The Mendenhall Glacier is the #1 recommended thing to see in this Juneau cruise port guide, and for good reason.

With that said, let’s visit some of the best and most popular shore excursion destinations that conveniently leave from the Juneau cruise port area. Then, discover one-of-a-kind jewelry and wood carvings made by local artists at many shops along the street. For example, Franklin Street is lined with shops and leads further into the downtown area where there are more eateries, galleries and shops to explore. There are historic buildings, museums and churches all within a half-mile of the ship. After a quick ride up in a tram car, you have several activities to choose from.

Both berths are connected via catwalk (accessible to stevedores only / waterfront manual laborers). Unlike the port's other 2 (smaller / old) berths, the new cruise ship berths offer both water and sewage services. Go with Wings Air­ways and you’ll take off from Juneau in a 10-pas­sen­ger DeHav­il­land Otter float­plane and get a lush view of the city as well as the sur­round­ing moun­tains and ice fields. Opt for a 40-minute flight see­ing tour, or book the ​“Flight and Feast Tour,” which takes you to dine at a 1920’s lodge. There are multiple berths to accommodate large and small cruise vessels, like the Cruise Ship Terminal, South Franklin Street Dock, Marine Park, and AJ Dock.

The pier opens onto Franklin Street, a bustling area packed with shops and eateries that cater to tourists. Franklin Street connects to downtown Juneau propper, which is about a mile and a half from the cruise docks. Book a whale watching tour to enjoy these majestic animals in their natural habitats. Whale sightings on these tours are guaranteed, so you don’t have to worry about missing out.

Although it is less than 100 miles from the Canadian border, Juneau is located in Alaska (USA). 50 years after she met her last ship this Bronze statue was created on the docks at Juneau so she could once again regain her status and Official Greeter of Juneau. To reach the town of Juneau your ship will need to sail through the Gastineau Channel. Make sure to be on the outside deck to enjoy the scenery about an hour before arrival and an hour after departure.

Other than that you will get lots in between saloons and souvenir shops. Keep in mind that the Visitor Center offers only a viewpoint of the Glacier; you are not stepping on the glacier itself. This visit involves a minimum amount of walking, however, you could experience extended periods of standing at the site because it may get crowded. The Visitor Center is partially flat, which makes it suitable for tourists using devices or full-time wheelchair users.

There are no direct road connections to Juneau, so the access is either by sea (Alaska Marine Highway's ferries and cruise ships) or by air (Juneau International Airport). If you don’t pay a visit to the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Walter Soboleff Building, located just a few short blocks from the cruise docks, you’re really missing out. Heritage Coffee is a low-key, locally-owned chain of coffee shops. Their downtown location is enormous and offers some of the best WiFi you’ll find near the cruise docks, although they usually limit access by providing a short-term passcode with each purchase. Speaking of local love, if you enjoy ice cream don’t miss a chance to visit the much-loved Coppa Cafe. They used to have an amazing ice cream cart off Franklin Street, but since ownership changed hands, they no longer offer that delicacy.

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