The Best Juneau Whale Watching Tours from a Cruise Ship
Whale watching in Juneau is one of those Alaska experiences you will never forget. It ended up being one of the most unforgettable parts of my Alaska cruise.
There is something about seeing a humpback whale surface in the wild that makes you catch your breath. The idea of something that large living in the ocean is mindblowing.
Juneau is one of the best places in Alaska to go whale watching, especially for cruise passengers. The tours are easy to fit into a port day, the waters around Juneau are known for humpback sightings during summer, and there are several great tours, depending on your budget and travel style.
In this post, you’ll find everything you need to know about whale watching in Juneau, including everything you need to book the best whale-watching tours.
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Is Whale Watching in Juneau Worth It?
Yes. Absolutely!
Out of all the possible Juneau excursions, whale watching is one of the easiest to recommend to first-time Alaska cruise visitors.
The waters around Juneau are one of the best places in Southeast Alaska to look for humpback whales. Fortunately, many tours are designed specifically around cruise ship schedules.
Short on Time? Book These Whale Watching Tours
Seeing Whales from the Cruise Ship is Not the Same Thing
Can you spot whales from your ship at some point during an Alaska cruise? Sure. In fact, I spent much of my time on my balcony trying to spot them.
But a dedicated whale watching tour gives you much better views, a smaller setting, more time in rich whale waters, and a guide who actually knows what you are looking at.
Watching whales from your ship can be nice, but it doesn’t compare to being on a boat dedicated to finding these majestic creatures.
Juneau Whale Watching Tour Types
The best Juneau whale watching tour depends on how you like to travel.
In Juneau, you can take a standard group tour, a combo tour, and a private whale watching charter.
Small group tours typically take 12-20 people, offering good rail access and a more personal experience than the larger ships’ excursions.
Private whale-watching tours are more intimate, usually for 4-6 people. While they are not cheap, they are totally worth the money.
Combo tours combine a shorter whale watching experience with a visit to Mendenhall Glacier, which can be efficient if you are trying to see everything in one day.
When you choose your Juneau whale-watching tour, consider how many people will be on board.
The smaller the tour, the more money you will pay; however, you will have a more personal experience that makes it worth the money.
You will definitely have a front-row seat to an amazing experience.
Booking your Juneau Whale Watching Tour
My Holland America Alaska cruise offered many excursion opportunities; however, you can book through locally operated tour companies, which oftentimes offer better deals, and they are the exact tours the cruise ships use.
I researched so many Juneau whale watching tour operators in search of my Juneau whale watching tour, and I’ve listed my favorite ones for you below.
I can say, the whale watching excursions are popular, so I recommend you book in advance, especially since many cruise ships are not in the Juneau port for very long.
You don’t want to spend your limited time in port making arrangements.
If your cruise ship docks in Juneau mid-morning, pre-arrange a whale-watching tour for an early afternoon departure.
This will give you plenty of time to walk around downtown Juneau, see some sights, and pick up some Alaska souvenirs.
My Juneau port guide will help you discover some of the city’s other great attractions.
What to Expect on a Whale Watching Tour
The whale watching tour guides make it very clear where they will meet you.
Most tour guides will wait at the end of the dock with signs for their tours once you disembark. You can’t miss them. Some will have you meet them at the Juneau Tram, which is easy to see from your cruise ship dock.
Juneau even has a dedicated parking lot for the tour vans to meet the cruise passengers. Just make sure you know the name of the tour you booked and have their phone number in case you need to contact them when you arrive.
Whale watching tours in Juneau, Alaska, typically range from 3 to 5 hours during the summer months. This duration is optimal because it allows enough time for the boat to reach areas where whales are likely to be seen while allowing you to enjoy the scenery and spot various wildlife.
Trust me when I tell you that you will want as much time on the water as possible to maximize your chance of seeing whales.
Once you meet your whale-watching tour group, you will most likely board a bus or shuttle van to take you to a separate harbor, where you will board your whale-watching boat.
The view as you leave the harbor is breathtaking. The majestic mountains are the backdrop to the floating boats, and it’s amazing.
You will definitely see some of the most spectacular views as you head out on your whale-watching excursion.
Be on the lookout for wildlife sightings, too.
We saw a harbor seal sunbathing on the dock while another swam in the marina’s water. We were also lucky enough to see two bald eagles perched on the sails of two ships.
Being a Texan, I rarely see these animals, so this trip was extra special from the beginning.
As for which whales you will see, that is unknown.
The Alaskan naturalist onboard our cruise ship said to think of a whale watching tour more as a whale waiting tour. The gist of his humor was to keep your expectations in check on the excursions. You are dealing with animals in the wild who are unpredictable.
You may envision whales breaching the water before your boat, but that is a rare occasion. I was lucky enough to witness hours of that on a Monterey Bay whale-watching tour, so you really never know what might happen, though.
You most likely will see sprays of water, fins, and tail flips.
You undoubtedly will have fun whale spotting with the members of your boat. The hours will fly by as you hopefully see many humpback whales. The whole boat will surely shout excitedly whenever someone sees a water spout.
As long as you have realistic expectations, your whale watching tour will be one of the highlights of your trip.
It’s important to note that whale watching tours must comply with whale watching regulations, which means there are rules they must follow about approaching whales.
The respect for these giants’ natural habitat is incredible.
Juneau Whale Watching Tours
Now let’s get to the good stuff. Here are some of the best whale-watching and combination tours in Juneau.
Juneau’s Premier Whale Watching
My sister and brother-in-law chose this tour with Harv & Marv for two reasons: one, the private tour I recommended was booked, and two, this is who our private guide recommended.
The tour’s marina is located about twenty minutes away from downtown Juneau. Along the way, your guide tells you about the area and points out the Mendenhall Glacier and other notable parts of town.
This tour has an onboard naturalist and takes out small groups for more time on the water.
With this tour, your time on the water is maximized.
The knowledgeable crew share insights about the whales and their behavior, making this an educational and exciting experience.
Compared to other whale watching tours in Juneau, this one offers excellent value for your money.
Juneau Whale Watching and Mendenhall Glacier
We’ve been on two Alaska cruises. On our first one, we went whale watching, and on our second, we went to Mendenhall Glacier. This tour combines both!
Mendenhall Glacier is a giant wall of ice, and it’s just as cool as it sounds.
When paired with a whale tour, it is the perfect combo.
This tour combines two of Juneau’s most popular attractions: Juneau whale watching and Mendenhall Glacier. The tours are available multiple times daily to accommodate all cruise schedules.
This combination tour means you’ll get to see both whales and a glacier view in one day instead of picking one or the other.
Expect a larger group size on this tour because it takes up to 50 people.
Juneau Private Charter for Whale Watching
For a true luxury experience in Alaska, book a private whale watching charter with Jayleen’s Alaska like we did.
With a private charter, you can share the cost with others, making this a great tour for a group traveling together.
This is not an inexpensive tour but is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, so it is worth the splurge!
There are so many benefits to booking a private whale watching tour.
First, you will have the sole attention of the crew. This means not having to spend your precious time waiting for other people on the tour and more time on the water.
It also means they can point out wildlife and whales more easily.
The Alaskan guides can tell you the whales’ names based on the whale’s tail markings.
Can you imagine being on a first-name basis with a humpback?
Secondly, the boat is yours to roam. When you see a whale in the water, you won’t have to haggle for space on the rail hoping to get a picture or see a breach.
Finally, your trip is customized to maximize your time with whales.
We saw so many whales on our private charter I lost count.
A private whale watching tour in Juneau is the ultimate Alaskan adventure.
You will be in awe the first time you see and hear a whale spout or a tail flip. If you are lucky enough, you will have a whale breach in front of your boat.
It will be an experience you will talk about for years to come.
A Surprise Moment
You never know what might happen on a whale-watching trip. One exciting moment during the trip surprised us all.
As our guide took us to one of the many sites to spot more whales, hundreds of giant salmon suddenly began jumping around the boat. It was astonishing!
My video doesn’t do the experience justice. You can hear the excitement of everyone on board, though. Our guide said she had never before seen anything like it. Check out the video to see this amazing event.
Wildlife Photography
I am definitely not a wildlife photographer, although I would love to be.
It is difficult to capture the beauty of whales through a lens. You have to be quick to get a picture.
I finally decided to relax and enjoy the Alaskan beauty, the Juneau whale watching, and the wildlife viewing experience.
Although I didn’t get great photos, I didn’t miss a thing because I had my binoculars. You will want a pair of whale watching binoculars in Alaska.
Choose the Best Whale Watching in Juneau
After two cruises to Alaska and countless excursions, whale watching in Juneau still tops my list.
Whether you go for a private charter or a combo tour with Mendenhall Glacier, you’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Don’t wait to book. These tours fill fast, especially during cruise season.
But why stop there? Alaska has so much more to offer. Consider exploring other Alaska cruise port destinations like Ketchikan for cultural experiences, Sitka for wildlife, and Victoria, BC for historical sites. Each port has something unique to offer, and together, they create an unforgettable Alaskan cruise experience.
No matter how you explore Alaska, you will have an amazing time in Juneau. You are in Alaska, after all!
Juneau Whale Watching FAQs
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
