Alaskan Cruise Stop At Juneau - The Sites

Juneau is the most visited port city on the entire Alaskan cruise route. The city is located in an absolutely spectacular location, on a narrow salt water channel, surrounded on all sides by huge, lush mountains and vast glaciers.

If you are planning a cruise to Alaska, the odds are that you will be stopping in Juneau. Having been to the city and fallen in love with it, I have compiled this list of the top 5 shore excursions for cruise ship passengers visiting Juneau.

1. Mt. Roberts Tramway

The Mt. Roberts tramway is a low-cost option that is nonetheless one of the best excursions in Juneau. The tram picks you up from the waterfront right by the cruise docks, and it whisks you up into the mountains high above the city. The view from the top of the tramway is spectacular, and there are hiking trails for people of all abilities.

2. Four Glacier Helicopter Adventure

This aerial tour is simply spectacular, taking you over the vast and awe-inspiring Juneau Icefield and highlighting four specific glaciers: the rapidly advancing Taku Glacier, the retreating Norris Glacier, the Hole-in-the-Wall Glacier -- with its amazing ice spires -- and a unique floating glacier. These glaciers are actually rivers of ice and are changing daily, always presenting new sights to behold. This really is a once in a lifetime experience.

3. Mendenhall Glacier River Rafting

This is another incredibly unique and unforgettable experience. You take a short bus ride from the cruise docks to the visitor's center at the base of the immense Medenhall Glacier. There, you will board a river raft for a trip down the Mendenhall River that will take you past the immense face of the glacier. You'll see amazing wildlife and take in absolutely spectacular scenery. It's a thrilling adventure for everyone from beginners to experienced rafters.

4. Juneau Helicopter Flightseeing and Glacier Trek

This adventure includes a 30 minute helicopter ride that will give you the most spectacular views of glaciers from above - and you really haven't experienced glaciers until you've seen them from the air. Then you will spend two hours on top of a glacier with an ice axe, crampons, and full ice climbing gear - all provided by the tour operator. You will exploring the glacier close up, from a point of view very few people ever get to experience. It's thrilling and amazing, and you'll be taught all the skills you need during an orientation session, so beginners are welcome.

5. The Helicopter Dog Sledding Excursion

What could be more quintessentially Alaskan than a dog sled ride? Now combine that with a thrilling helicopter ride and aerial glacier tour, and you've got one amazing shore excursion.


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Alaskan Cruise Myths

There are certainly quite a few myths out there about Alaskan cruises, the truth is they're not true. So in order to set the record straight, I have put together this list of the top 10 myths about Alaskan cruises. When you take an Alaskan cruise, the experience is unforgettable - the shore trips range from fascinating to thrilling, the towns along the route are wonderfully quaint, and the scenery is simply spectacular. I love Alaskan and Alaskan Cruises. It is the most amazing scenery anywhere in the world. An Alaska vacation is one you will remember for the rest of your life. Alaska will, no doubt, defy many of your preconceived notions. It is a place that exceeds all expectations. So without further ado, let's move right to the myth busting.

1. You'll see the Aurora Borealis

There is a chance that you could catch a glimpse of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) at some point along your cruise, but the odds are definitely against it. You can increase your chances of witnessing the Northern Lights by including an inland tour that stops in Fairbanks or by scheduling your cruise at the very beginning or end of the season.

2. The weather in September and May is too cold

The Inside Passage actually has a relatively mild and moderate marine climate, more like that of Seattle than of northern Alaska. The temperature along the Inside Passage only varies about ten degrees from the coolest part of the cruise season in May and late September to the warmest time of the summer, when it can get up to the high 60's.

3. Passports are not needed for an Alaska cruise

As of 2009, passports will be required for all passengers on Alaskan cruises. In fact, anyone who flies in or out of Vancouver from the U.S. has been required to have a passport for a number of years. So do yourself a favor and get your passport early.

4. It rains constantly

It definitely does rain quite a bit in southern coastal Alaska. In fact, without the rain, there would be no lush rainforest vegetation or breathtaking waterfalls and glaciers. But still, it is very likely you will experience a mix of rain and sunshine during your cruise.

5. It is always less expensive if you start your Alaskan cruise from Seattle

It is definitely often less expensive to fly to Seattle than it is to fly to Anchorage or Vancouver. However, the money you save on flights can be eaten up by higher cruise fares, since sailings from Seattle often cost a bit more.

6. The front section of the boat is better for those with motion sickness

Neither the bow (front section) nor the top floors of the ship are your best bet if you suffer from sea sickness. Instead, people who are concerned about sea sickness might want to consider booking cabins on the lower floors of the ship, where there is less motion.

7. It is possible to make cell phone calls on an Alaska cruise

It's true that you should be able to use your cell phone in some of the port towns (especially in Juneau). However, there is little chance your phone will get a signal in some of the more remote segments of the cruise. Just from experiance. I have Sprint. While fishing in Sitka, I was not able to get any signal for any part of the trip. My friend had T-Mobile and was able to get a signal throughout. I believe some of it depends on your carrier.

8. The left (or right) side of the ship is better

Many people planning Alaska cruises seem to be under the impression that the right side of the boat is far better on a northbound Gulf of Alaska cruise (and that the left side is superior on a southbound cruise). There is indeed a period of about 1-2 days when your ship is out at sea in the Gulf of Alaska (assuming you have booked a one-way cruise). On those days, if the coastline is not shrouded in clouds (as it frequently is), you would have a better view from the rooms facing the coast. But for the remainder of the cruise, the views from both sides of the ship are often equally wonderful.

9. You can save big bucks by booking last minute

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Through those buying last-minute might get great deals on cruises of the Caribbean, the same does not really hold true for Alaska cruises. Alaskan ships often sell out far in advance for cruises in the months of July and August. If you are really looking for a last-second deal, you might be able to find one in May or September, though you could have to settle for an inside cabin.

10. You can see polar bears on the cruise

While there are many incredible sights that you will see on an Inside Passage or Gulf of Alaska cruise, you won't see any Polar bears. These massive bears live almost exclusively on arctic ice flows in the far northern region of Alaska. The cruise route focuses on southern and central Alaska. However, you might well see grizzly bears on your cruise, for they are very common in lower Alaska and are an incredible sight.

Alaskan Cruise Tips: Is a Balcony Room Worth the Cost?

If you've already started planning an Alaskan cruise or Alaskan cruise tour, you might have been considering whether it is worth the extra cost to book a balcony cabin. Of course, with Alaskan cruises in high demand, the cruise fares have been on the rise, meaning that a balcony room is often no small investment.

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So are balcony rooms worth the price? The answer depends on several factors, including your personal finances, the time of year you plan on cruising, and the amount of time you plan on spending out of your room.

Balcony rooms on Alaskan cruises can cost anywhere from a couple hundred to a thousand dollars more than inside rooms (and the differential can be even higher at the peak of the season). However, despite this sometimes big difference in pricing, it is common for balcony rooms to sell out before either inside or oceanview cabins.

Why are balcony rooms so popular on Alaskan cruises? The reason for their popularity is that there simply is so much to see along the Alaskan cruise rout that, if you don't have a balcony, you miss out on a good amount of it.

Unlike in the Caribbean, where you sail from island to island, spending much of your time at sea, in the Alaskan Inside Passage, you spend the majority of your journey passing through a relatively narrow waterway between a chain of islands, often with incredible landscapes visible from both sides of the ship: soaring mountains, lush, green forests, countless waterfalls, fjords, glaciers, and even the occasional whale -- you'll see it all along the Alaskan cruise route.

Of course, if you simply aren't able to spend the money on a balcony room, you still will see plenty of Alaskan scenery. There are wonderful views from many of the ship's decks, and often you will have great views from the restaurants as well. Many people who book inside rooms end up spending a good deal of their time outside of their rooms anyway, taking part in the many activities and attending the wonderful shows and other events available on large cruise ships.

However, with a balcony stateroom, you will be able to take it all in from the privacy of your cabin. If you have the money or can book in a less expensive time of year (like May or September), I highly recommend a balcony stateroom. It's simply the best way there is to experience the wonders of coastal Alaska