Juneau is the only US state capital inaccessible by road — surrounded by the Juneau Icefield, the Lynn Canal, and the vast wilderness of Southeast Alaska, it is reachable only by sea or air. This geographic isolation has preserved something rare: a genuine small city that has not been homogenized by highway commerce, where the wilderness begins at the edge of downtown and the glacier is visible from the main street. Juneau is the most adventure-dense port in the VV Alaska network and one of the great port days available anywhere in the fleet.
The Mendenhall Glacier
The Mendenhall Glacier is one of the most accessible glaciers in North America — a massive river of ice calving into Mendenhall Lake just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, managed by the US Forest Service as a free visitor area. The visitor center overlooks the glacier face from across the lake. The Nugget Falls trail runs right to the lake edge adjacent to the glacier. The West Glacier Trail climbs to ice cave access points. This is where most first-time Alaska visitors understand what the word glacier actually means when it is directly in front of them.
The Juneau Icefield and Helicopter Glacier Tours
Above the Mendenhall, the Juneau Icefield stretches 1,500 square miles across the Coast Mountains — the fifth largest glacier system in the Western Hemisphere, the source of 38 named glaciers. Helicopter tours from Juneau fly over the icefield, land on the glacier surface, and allow Sailors to walk on ice that is thousands of years old. VV Shore Things offers the helicopter glacier tour with the option of a dog-sled experience on the glacier surface. This is one of the most extraordinary Shore Things experiences in the entire VV network and books out well in advance.
Humpback Whale Watching
The waters around Juneau and the Gastineau Channel are rich humpback feeding grounds from spring through fall. Juneau has more consistent humpback whale sightings than almost any other Alaska port and the small-group whale watching tours available through VV Shore Things deliver encounters that are genuinely, reliably extraordinary. Humpbacks breaching, lunge-feeding, and slapping their flukes in Alaskan waters with mountains in every direction is one of the most moving wildlife experiences available from any VV sailing.
Downtown Juneau
Juneau’s downtown is compact, walkable, and genuinely charming — the Red Dog Saloon (historic, touristy, excellent), the Alaska State Museum (world-class), the Mount Roberts Tramway (cable car from downtown to alpine meadows with views over the Lynn Canal and the city), and the South Franklin Street bar and restaurant strip. The combination of a genuine state capital culture with a frontier character and extraordinary surrounding wilderness makes Juneau a port day that rewards both adventure-seekers and those who prefer a walk and a lunch.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- Book the helicopter glacier tour immediately when Shore Things open. It is the most popular Shore Thing in the VV Alaska network and sells out well in advance of sailing. Book it before any dining reservation.
- The whale watching is genuinely reliable in Juneau. Unlike some ports where whale sightings are possible, Juneau’s waters have consistent humpback populations throughout the Alaska season. Small-group tours give the best experience.
- The Mount Roberts Tramway is worth it for the view alone. The alpine meadow at the top of the tramway has eagles nesting nearby and views over the Gastineau Channel that explain why people have chosen to live in this extraordinary place.
Ready to Sail to Juneau?
Joel and Erin are certified First Mates. Juneau is the most adventure-dense port in the VV Alaska network and one of our personal favorite port days in the entire fleet.
Book your Virgin Voyages cruise at CruisePlanner.pro — and walk on a glacier above the capital of Alaska
