Humpbacks feeding in Auke Bay, orcas on lucky days and bald eagles overhead. The main
bookable whale cruises from the cruise docks, compared honestly: guarantees, glacier combos and cancellation rules.
Guarantees explainedWhat each whale promise really pays back
Real guest ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Cancellation flaggedWhich tours refund, and which never do
Secure checkout on ViatorMobile ticket, instant confirmation
Tours
Choose your Juneau whale cruise
The most reviewed whale cruise here sits in the centre. Beside it, the two other ways cruise passengers
usually go: a pickup right at your ship, or whales and the Mendenhall Glacier in one half day.
A whale cruise that collects you right at your own ship's dock, with departures about every half hour and a glacier view stop. Note: this Viator listing is non-refundable.
What's included
Pickup and drop-off at your cruise ship's dock (give your ship's name)
Whale cruise from Auke Bay with live narration, about 3 hours on the water
Mendenhall Glacier view stop from the water (weather permitting)
Whale guarantee (money back, May 15 to September 15)
Water, snacks and soft drinks; non-refundable, gratuities extra
The most reviewed whale cruise on this page: a shuttle to Auke Bay, two hours on a boat with heated cabins and open decks, and a naturalist on board. Snacks and water included.
What's included
Round-trip shuttle from the Mount Roberts Tramway to Auke Bay
About two hours on the water with a naturalist guide
Boat with heated cabins and outdoor viewing decks (up to 49 guests)
Whale sighting guarantee, snacks and bottled water
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; gratuities are up to you
Two hours on the water looking for humpbacks, then the bus to the Mendenhall Glacier with time for the visitor area and Nugget Falls. Glacier entrance fees are included.
What's included
Round-trip transport from the Mount Roberts Tramway
2-hour whale cruise on a 24-seat jet boat or 49-seat catamaran
Naturalist on board, water and a light snack
Bus to the Mendenhall Glacier, entrance fee included
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before; gratuities extra
They all look for the same humpbacks in the same waters around Auke Bay. The differences that
matter are where you are picked up, the boat size, what is added on, and whether you can cancel.
Children usually pay less (the age bands differ by tour), and infants ride on a lap. Alaska Tales,
the glacier combo, the small-group catamaran, the Auke Bay binocular tour, the crab combo and the seaplane cancel
free up to 24 hours before; the Harv & Marv's, lighthouse and salmon bake listings are non-refundable.
Crew gratuities are usually extra.
Where the whales are
The whales are not downtown: they are in Auke Bay.
Cruise ships tie up in downtown Juneau, but the whale boats sail from Auke Bay, about 12 miles
north, where the channels between the islands fill with herring and krill every summer. Roughly 600
humpbacks spend the summer in Southeast Alaska after swimming more than 3,000 miles from Hawaii, and the
waters around Juneau are one of their favorite places to feed. That is why every tour here starts with a
bus ride of about 30 minutes, and why a "3.5-hour tour" means roughly two to three hours on the water.
One more thing the listings blur: a whale guarantee is a refund promise, not a promise that a whale
will breach on cue. Some refund the full price, some a fixed $100, and most only between mid-May and
mid-September. Federal rules also keep boats at least 100 yards from humpbacks, so the best moments come
when a whale chooses to surface near you.
12 mi
From the cruise docks to Auke Bay. The shuttle is
included, so the real question is where it collects you and when.
HumpbacksOrcasSteller sea lionsBald eagles
The Mendenhall Glacier sits on the way to Auke Bay, which is why combos pair the two.
01
Will we see whales?
In summer, humpbacks are seen on most trips. Orcas are a bonus nobody can promise.
02
How long on the water?
Two to three hours. The rest of the tour is the shuttle to and from Auke Bay.
03
Will I make my ship?
Pick a departure that ends two hours or more before all-aboard. Independent tours do not hold the ship.
04
Who might skip it?
Anyone who has just whale watched elsewhere and wants glaciers: the seaplane is the other big Juneau day.
The trip
How a whale cruise unfolds
About three to four hours from the tram and back. This is the standard shape of every shared tour here.
01
Meet at the tram
Check in under the Mount Roberts Tramway cables or at your ship's dock, 15 minutes before departure.
Check-in
02
Shuttle north
A narrated bus ride past the Mendenhall Valley to the boat harbor at Auke Bay.
About 30 min
03
Whales on the water
The captain follows the blows while a naturalist explains feeding, flukes and the whales' Hawaii migration.
2 to 3 hours
04
Back to town
The bus returns you to the tram or your ship, with time left for downtown or the glacier.
Getting there, prices and ages, the fine print and what to bring: one tab each.
Most tours meet under the cables of the Mount Roberts Tramway, 490 S Franklin Street, at the cruise ship terminal.
Harv & Marv's and the lighthouse combo meet you at your own ship's dock: give your ship's name when you book.
The AJ Dock is about a mile from the tram; use the downtown shuttle from there.
Check in 15 minutes early. Several operators note that tours leave on time and cannot wait for late arrivals.
Staying in town? The same meeting points work for hotel guests.
Shared whale cruises with transfers: from about $154 to $209 per adult in 2026.
Combos with the glacier, a lighthouse, salmon or crab: $199 to $274.
Children usually pay a lower child rate (the age bands differ by operator); infants ride on a lap.
Crew gratuities are customary and usually not included.
Whale guarantees are refunds: Harv & Marv's pays back if no whale is seen between May 15 and September 15.
Alaska Travel Adventures refunds $100 per adult ($50 per child) if no whale is seen.
Federal law keeps vessels at least 100 yards from humpback whales in Alaska.
Most boats are not wheelchair accessible; ask the operator about collapsible chairs.
Tours run in rain; they cancel only for unsafe weather, with a refund or new date.
A waterproof jacket over warm layers, even in July.
Hat, gloves and sunglasses: it is colder on the water than in town.
Non-slip shoes for wet decks.
Binoculars and a camera with some zoom.
Seasickness tablets if you need them, taken before you board.
CommonHumpback whalesBlows, flukes and, with luck, a breach or bubble-net feeding.
CommonSteller sea lionsHauled out on buoys and rocks, loud and easy to spot.
CommonBald eaglesPerched in the spruce along the shoreline.
Some daysHarbor seals and porpoisesSmaller and quicker; your naturalist will point them out.
Lucky daysOrcasThey pass through unpredictably; no tour guarantees them.
On the wayMendenhall GlacierSeen from the road or water on most tours; the combo stops there.
Where the tour starts
The meeting point
Mount Roberts Tramway, downtown Juneau
490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USA
Most whale tours check in on the sidewalk under the tram cables, beside the red tramway building at the
cruise ship terminal; Alaska Tales meets at a tent on the wooden dock on the water side of the building.
Representatives hold signs with the operator's name. From here a bus takes you about 12 miles north to the
boat harbor at Auke Bay and brings you back to the same spot.
Fantastic, well organised, fun trip. Although it was late September, we saw at least 5 whales, who breached right by the boat, it was spectacular.
★★★★★
We saw multiple whales, both solitary and in groups bubble feeding! We also saw a very rare sight, a whale breaching! It was incredible.
★★★★★
Plenty of indoor seating while the boat was motoring to the whale sighting areas. Plenty of standing area outside for viewing! Guides were very knowledgeable.
★★★★★
We saw three whales, bald eagles, Mendenhall Glacier and hiked out to beautiful Nugget Falls. The tour was well organized, the guides were great.
★★★★★
This was amazing! Despite a rainy cold day it still was so much fun! The captain and the naturalists were so informative and clearly love the whales!
★★★★★
I loved that it was a small group which allowed everyone an opportunity to see the whales. The inside of the boat was heated, which was wonderful because it does get chilly outside.
★★★★★
The transfers were smooth, the boat was comfortable and clean. We loved having the heated cabin and outdoor viewing areas, and the naturalist commentary made the humpback sightings feel even more special.
★★★★★
The crew was so knowledgeable, they were able to identify the whales we saw and explained how they could identify them! The boat was comfortable and enclosed.
★★★★★
They took us to three spots to see whales. The tour gave us a better view than what we could see from the cruise ship, as they were able to get closer while still giving the whales space.
Already seen whales?
See the icefield instead
If your cruise already passed whales, or you have a second port day, Juneau's other famous
half day is in the air: five glaciers from a floatplane and lunch at a remote lodge.
Taku Lodge Feast & 5-Glacier Seaplane Flight
★ 4.9 · 298 reviews · 3.5 hours
If you have whales covered and a bigger budget, this is Juneau's classic splurge: a floatplane from the downtown waterfront over five glaciers of the Juneau Icefield, a guaranteed window seat, and two hours at the remote Taku Glacier Lodge with a salmon meal.
Juneau is a very reliable place in Alaska to see humpback whales, and many
cruise passengers make it their port-day priority. Here is how the tours really work, what the price buys, and how to choose between
a dozen similar-looking listings.
What a Juneau whale cruise is, and what it isn't
Every tour here follows the same pattern: a shuttle from the cruise terminal to Auke Bay, about two hours
on a boat with a heated cabin and open decks, and the shuttle back. The boats go where the whales are feeding
that day, usually within the sheltered channels north of town, and captains share sightings by radio. It is
not an open-ocean trip, so the water is usually calm. It is also not a zoo: federal rules keep boats 100 yards
from humpbacks, and on some trips the whales stay further off. What you are paying for is a skilled captain,
a naturalist who reads the behavior, and the time on the water.
Auke Bay, 12 miles north of downtown, is where the whale boats tie up.
What it really costs
Shared cruises with transfers cost from about $154 to $209 per adult on Viator in 2026, with child rates on
most tours. The Alaska Tales cruise, the most reviewed here with more than 9,500 reviews, is $177. Combos
cost more because they add something real: the Mendenhall Glacier with entrance fees ($199), a lighthouse
stop ($199), an all-you-can-eat salmon bake ($239) or a king crab meal ($274). Budget for crew tips on top.
The honest small print: cancellation rules differ more than prices. Three of the
listings here, Harv & Marv's, the lighthouse combo and the salmon bake, are non-refundable on Viator, while
the rest cancel free up to 24 hours before. If your port day could still change, start with a refundable tour.
Guarantees, orcas and expectations
Whale guarantees sound like a promise, but they are a refund policy: Harv & Marv's refunds you if no whale is
seen between May 15 and September 15, Alaska Travel Adventures refunds $100 per adult. Orcas are different: they come and go, and no tour guarantees
them, although several groups saw them in 2026. Breaches and bubble-net feeding happen, but treat them as a bonus.
Bubble-net feeding near a lighthouse: a lucky sight, not a promise.
Making the most of the trip
Book a departure that ends at least two hours before all-aboard, give your ship's name, and arrive 15 minutes
early. Dress for cold rain even on a bright day, stand outside when the boat slows, and keep your camera on
burst mode: flukes come up fast. If you also want the glacier, choose the combo or an early cruise, because
the visitor center closes at 6 PM.
Rain shell, warm layers, binoculars: the Juneau whale watching kit.
Straight answers to what cruise passengers ask most about whale watching in Juneau.
Where do Juneau whale watching tours leave from?
Almost all of them sail from Auke Bay, about 12 miles north of downtown Juneau, not from the cruise docks. The tours include the shuttle: most meet under the cables of the Mount Roberts Tramway at 490 S Franklin Street, and a few collect you at your own ship's dock. Allow about 30 minutes each way on the bus. See the meeting point.
How much does whale watching in Juneau cost?
Shared Auke Bay cruises with transfers run from about $154 to $209 per adult on Viator in 2026. Combos with the Mendenhall Glacier, a lighthouse, a salmon bake or a crab lunch cost $199 to $274. Children pay a lower rate on most tours. Gratuities for the crew are usually extra. See the price guide.
Is whale watching in Juneau guaranteed?
Many operators offer a whale guarantee, but read it as a refund promise, not a promise of a sighting. Harv & Marv's refunds you if no whale is seen between May 15 and September 15; Alaska Travel Adventures refunds $100 per adult ($50 per child). Humpbacks feed around Juneau all summer, but no sighting is ever certain.
When is the best time to see whales in Juneau?
Tours run from about May to September, and June to August is the peak, when the most humpbacks are feeding around Auke Bay and in Stephens Passage. May and September trips are quieter and still see whales on most days. Read the best time to go.
Can you see orcas in Juneau?
Sometimes. Humpbacks are the reliable sighting; orcas pass through less predictably and may stay in an area for weeks, then disappear. Guests on several of the tours here reported orcas in 2026, but no operator guarantees them. Sea lions, harbor seals and bald eagles are common extras.
Which Juneau whale watching tour is best?
For most people, the Alaska Tales cruise: 5.0 from more than 9,500 reviews, a naturalist, heated cabins and free cancellation. Pick Harv & Marv's if you want pickup at your own ship, the small-group catamaran for more room at the rail, or the glacier combo if you also want the Mendenhall Glacier. Compare them all.
Can I do whale watching and the Mendenhall Glacier in one day?
Yes. Both are on the same side of town, and the combo tour does the whale cruise and the glacier in about five hours. Book an early departure: the visitor center closes at 6 PM in summer, and guests on late afternoon combos report arriving just before closing. See whales and the glacier in one day.
Is it better to book whale watching through my cruise line?
Not necessarily. Independent tours visit the same waters, can cost less than cruise-line versions, and many offer departures timed to ship schedules. The cruise line's advantage is that the ship waits if its own tour runs late. With an independent tour, pick a departure that leaves a comfortable buffer before all-aboard.
What should I wear whale watching in Juneau?
Layers and a waterproof jacket, even in July: it is often cool, damp and windy on the water. Add a warm hat, gloves, non-slip shoes, sunglasses and binoculars if you have them. See what to wear.
Can I cancel my whale watching tour?
It depends on the tour. Alaska Tales, the glacier combo, the small-group catamaran, the Auke Bay binocular tour and the crab combo cancel free up to 24 hours before on Viator. The Harv & Marv's, lighthouse and salmon bake listings are non-refundable, so book those only once your plans are fixed.
Is Juneau whale watching good for kids?
Yes. Most boats have heated cabins and restrooms, the time on the water is about two to three hours, and children pay less. Infants travel on a lap. Bring snacks and layers, and sit low and in the middle if anyone gets seasick. Read whale watching with kids.
Do you get seasick whale watching in Juneau?
Not usually, but it can happen. The tours stay in the protected inside waters around Auke Bay rather than the open ocean, so the water is often calm, though rough days do occur. If you are prone to it, take medication before you board and stay out on deck looking at the horizon.
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★ 5.04 hours2,284 reviewsNon-refundable
