Juneau Whale Watching, Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake

4.9

22 reviews

Excursion Overview

Experience three of Juneau's most popular attractions with this three-in-one excursion!

This tour includes a narrated transfer to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center, guaranteed whale sightings, and an Alaska style all-you-can-eat buffet to finish your day. Roundtrip transportation from the cruise ship terminal is also included.

Meet your guide on the pier of the cruise ship terminal, and hop on a bus to begin your narrated journey to the Mendenhall Glacier. Your guide will speak about Juneau and point out any wildlife you may catch a glimpse of on your way. Once at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center, you will have plenty of time to indulge in a self-guided tour of the grounds. Explore one of the hiking trails, or listen to one of the US Forest Service Rangers speak about the ecology of the spectacular ice wall that is world-renowned.

After you've spent some time exploring the Mendenhall Glacier, take a drive out to Auke Bay to begin your whale watching expedition. Humpback whales spend their summer in Juneau feeding on thousands of krill a day. Your captain and naturalist will search for just the right spot to see humpback whales, orcas, and maybe even a sea lion or two!

Finish your day with a mouth-watering feast at the Juneau Salmon Bake! This Alaskan-style backyard barbecue was made famous on the Food Network and has been grilling up perfection since 1978. Enjoy the views of the Tongass Rainforest as you feast on Alderwood-grilled wild salmon, cheechako chicken, Chilkoot baked beans, wild rice pilaf, hot clam chowder, a selection of side dishes, salads, and homemade blueberry cake for dessert. Beer and wine are available for purchase.

This tour is not available to Quantum of the Seas passengers sailing May-August for the 2024 season due to a short, 7-hour long, port call.

Things You Need to Know

Inclusions:

Roundtrip transportation from the cruise ship terminal
Narrated transfer to Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center
Whale watching cruise with onboard naturalist
All-you-can-eat salmon buffet

Requirements:

There are no additional requirements for this excursion.

Duration: 6.25 hours (Roundtrip from cruise ship terminal)

1 hour - self-guided tour at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor's Center
2 hours - whale watching cruise
1 hour - at the Juneau Salmon Bake
1 hour - roundtrip narrated transportation
The sequence of the tour may vary

Meeting Instructions:

This tour meets in front of the Goldbelt Mt. Robert's Tramway building. Fully detailed instructions are included on your finalized ticket vouchers.

ADA Accessibility of Tour:

This tour is limited mobility and wheelchair accessible. Guests must be able to take steps onto the bus and the boat. Limited storage is available for collapsible wheelchairs and motorized scooters. Equipment would need to be broken down and able to fit through the bus door and be light enough to be lifted onto the bus. The large dining area during the salmon bake portion of the tour has plenty of room for wheelchairs to maneuver. Please leave a comment during checkout if accommodations for collapsible or motorized equipment will be required on tour. If the operator is unaware beforehand of necessary accommodations, they may not be able to accommodate guests the day of.

Refund Policy:

You may cancel for any reason up to seven (7) days prior to the date of the tour for a full refund.
Please see our Refund Policy Page for complete details.

Frequently Asked Questions

The whale watching boat holds a maximum capacity of 48 passengers.

Yes! There is a restroom onboard the whale watching vessel.

-Full Menu-
Clam Chowder (served upon arrival)
Coleslaw
Salmon Caesar Salad
Beet Salad
Pickles and Olives
Baked Beans with Reindeer Sausage
Au Gratin Potatoes
Pasta Salad
Corn Bread
Blueberry Cake
Alder Smoked Sockeye Salmon
BBQ Ribs
Roasted Marshmallows
Water, Lemonade, Coffee, Tea, Apple Cider
Beer, Wine, & Soda (for purchase)

Gluten Free Items:
Clam Chowder
Cole Slaw
Salmon Caesar Salad
Beet Salad
Pickles and Olives
Baked Beans with Reindeer Sausage
Steamed White Rice*
Au Gratin Potatoes
Alder Smoked Salmon
Roasted Marshmallows

Vegetarian Items:
Cole Slaw
Caesar Salad*
Beet Salad
Pickles and Olives
Baked Beans*
Steamed White Rice*
Corn Bread
Blueberry Cake

Please note that anything with an asterisk needs to be requested at least 72 hours in advance in order to ensure it's available. If you would like to request any of these items, please leave us a comment at checkout.

We offer the local wholesale rates for all of our tours because we feel that everyone should get the same lowest price possible regardless of how many excursions you book. No tricks, no gimmicks, no hidden fees.

Definitely, arrangements of tours for groups or large families are possible. Please contact us with your group requirements.

Yes! Multiple families may join the same tour as long as adequate space is available and the maximum is not exceeded.

If your ship is late, please call your tour operator so that your tour time can be adjusted. If an alternate tour time is not compatible with your schedule, your ticket will be fully refunded with no fees or penalties.

This tour operates rain or shine. However, all tours that cancel because of weather will be fully refunded with no fees or penalties.

All tours pick up either at your cruise ship or within a short walking distance of your cruise ship unless otherwise noted. When you purchase your excursion, your ticket will be sent to you via email with detailed meeting instructions and emergency contact information. If you have any questions relating to a specific excursion, please contact the tour operator listed on your ticket.

This tour meets at the Goldbelt Mt Robert's Tramway building, which is located at the main cruise ship terminal. All pertinent directions and details will be listed on your ticket.

We guarantee that your tour will return on time. If you were to miss your cruise ship because the tour did not return on time, we will comp your hotel, food, and flight costs associated with meeting your cruise ship the next day. We have never had a passenger miss their ship.

Yes. All tours pick up from the main cruise ship terminal and include round-trip transportation.

All reservations are saved under the name you purchased your excursions and are kept on file with your tour operator. Having your tickets in hand is the optimal choice to avoid confusion because the directions and meeting instructions are included. Please contact us if you are unable to print the tickets.

Guest Reviews

Connie D

On Sep 2023

Ooh my goodness! This was the first time we booked excursions outside of our cruise company and we are SO glad we did!! Our driver, Darius was AMAZING!! I can't say enough great things about him. He is so knowledgeable and has tons of information and history that he shared between destinations. He gave us little "tasks" to find out about history.... For instance, when we stopped at the Mendenhall Glacier, He told us to go into the visitor center and ask about Romeo. On the whale watching tour, Libby and Captain Lee we're both THE BEST tour hosts!! Libby was so informative and her jokes were spot on! Captain Lee made sure that we got the best experience possible and we saw SO many whales!!! The salmon bake was phenomenal!!! The food was amazing and when we went to leave, the lady working the drink station told us that we HAD to make a S'more before we left. This was something we weren't aware we could do!! The waterfall is breathtaking and the environment was beautiful ❤️ We couldn't be happier with our experience and will certainly use your services in the future when returning to Alaska!

Yanisleydi S

On Sep 2023

It was a good experience we got to see a lot of whales I recommend this tour

Cynthia L

On Aug 2023

We had the pleasure of booking a three part tour with Alaska Shore Excursions. The day lived up to expectations. Our bus driver Mary was a delight and provided extra support for my husband who has mobility issues. Mendenhall Glacier was our first stop and we highly recommend watching the video presentation in the observation center. It helped us understand the importance of the glaciers and the eco system that they support. We then went to the harbor for our Whale watching tour. Our tour guide and captain (Libby and Lee) were amazing and we saw lots of whales during our time on the water. Libby provided great insights and education regarding the whales and encouraged everyone to ask questions. Our final destination was the Alaskan Salmon Bake. I really didn't expect much from this stop but it was incredible. The facility is really well designed. There was a wide variety of food including ribs if you don't love salmon. The seating area is covered with propane heaters. This was the perfect way to wrap up a very busy day in Juneau. We strongly recommend this excursion to anyone visiting the area.

Jessica M

On Aug 2023

This was a fabulous excursion for a day in Juneau. We booked independently (and saved significantly from those who booked directly from my cruise line) and felt like we saw all the best of Juneau. The Whale Watching boat was incredible--we saw so many whales and the captain and naturalist were friendly and informative. The glacier was beautiful, and we had time to hike down to the big waterfall beside the glacier. The salmon bake was a good meal, and the kids (ages 5-11) had a great time spying the salmon swimming in the lake, panning for gold, and roasting marshmallows over a campfire. I highly recommend this one!

Gerry R

On Aug 2023

This was by far our favorite excursion and a highlight of the trip. The driver between locations was amiable and entertaining. The glacier was stunning. The whale watching expedition was exceptionally memorable, and the salmon bake tasty and laid back.

$279.00

Best Price Guarantee!

$279.00

Duration: 6.25 hours

Best Price Guarantee!

Duration: 6.25 hours

Select Date & Time *

Number of Passengers *

Adult (13+): $279.00

Child (4-12): $199.00

Lap Child (Under 4): $139.00

Juneau Whale Watching, Mendenhall Glacier & Salmon Bake

Excursion Overview

Experience three of Juneau's most popular attractions with this three-in-one excursion!