Overview Juneau, the capital city of Alaska, is a popular port of call featured on many Alaska cruises. There's a wide range of things to do in Juneau, from helicopter rides that land on glaciers to lively pubs and art galleries, there's something for everyone in this historic city.
Destinations Juneau is frequently featured on Alaska cruise itineraries.
Cruise Lines Departing Here Juneau is not a cruise departure port.
Currency The official currency of the United States is the dollar.
Language The official language is English.
Tourist Attractions Juneau offers a lot of things to do for its tourists. Downtown Juneau can easily be explored by walking around town. There are a bunch of stores (mostly offering typical tourist items), art galleries, restaurants and pubs in the area.
Founded during Juneau's mining days, the Red Dog Saloon is one of the most well known pubs in all of Alaska. In fact, it has been recognized as the oldest man-made tourist attraction in Juneau. This lively, wild-west themed pub has an emcee that is sure to keep everyone laughing and singing when cruise ships are in port.
Visits to Mendenhall Glacier are among the most popular shore excursions offered in Juneau. This tour is usually given via helicopter, many of which actually land on the glacier for participants to (carefully) walk around for a little while.
Another popular shore excursion typically offered in Juneau is whale watching trips. Many tour operators guarantee that you'll see at least one whale during the excursion, so be sure to check that the company you're using has such a policy!
Right in downtown Juneau is the Mount Roberts Tramway. This popular activity is a (approximately) six-minute ride up a 1,600+ foot mountain slope. The view from the top is absolutely amazing.
Also in Juneau is the Alaska State Museum, which is located at 395 Whittier Street and is open 8:30 am to 5:30 pm daily (except on select holidays). Admission is $5 per person during the summer and $3 per person during the winter. Those that are 18 and under are admitted for free. This museum features a bunch of nice exhibits, many focusing on the natives of Alaska (such as the Aleut and Eskimo peoples).
The Gastineau Salmon Hatchery is an interesting place, where visitors can view the entire salmon egg harvesting process. There are also indoor aquariums at this venue.
Beer lovers should be happy to hear that the Alaskan Brewing Co. offers free tours, as well as barley and beer tastings. There's a nice shop there to purchase logo items.
Port Location There are three ports that may be used when a cruise ship visits Juneau. Any one of the three is within walking distance of downtown Juneau. If there are a bunch of ships already in port, your cruise ship may anchor offshore and use tender boats to transport passengers to and from the ship.
