Juneau Whale Watching Tours: Best Alaska Cruises & Whale Watch Trips

If you only have a minute

Whale watching in Juneau: the answers before you book

If a friend stepping off a cruise ship asked us which whale tour to take, this is what we would say.

We would send them to Alaska Tales' wildlife cruise, from ~$177. It is the most reviewed whale trip in Juneau by a wide margin, with more than 9,500 reviews on Viator that average 5.0 out of 5, and its boats are built for the job, with a heated cabin, several outside decks and toilets on board. The bus collects you by the tram at the main cruise terminal, and you can cancel for free up to a day before. The price of that popularity is company, since a sailing can carry up to 49 guests.

Prefer elbow room at the rail? Juneau Whale Tours (JWT) takes 20 at most on a catamaran, for ~$209. Harv & Marv's collects you at your own ship and spends three hours on the water, but cannot be refunded. Dolphin Jet Boat Tours is the cheapest good option at ~$154. Want the glacier as well? Alaska Tales' combo adds the Mendenhall Glacier, and Juneau Lighthouse Tours lands you on an island with a lighthouse between the whales.

Every one of them depends on the whales and the weather. See how a trip fits into a port day, pick a departure that leaves you a margin before all-aboard, then read what no listing says loudly before you pay.

Our pick

The whale tour we would book: Alaska Tales

It is not the smallest boat in Auke Bay. It is the trip that thousands of travelers rate highest, it costs less than the small-group catamaran, and the free cancellation means a change in your ship's schedule costs you nothing.

A humpback whale in a full breach, its whole body clear of the water

Our pick

Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching, Alaska Tales

4.7 / 5 from 209 reviews on GetYourGuide · 5.0 / 5 from 9,570 on Viator

You meet the crew at a green canopy tent on the wooden dock beside the red tram building, the busiest corner of the cruise terminal, and a narrated bus takes you north to the boat harbor. From there the captain heads for wherever the humpbacks were feeding that morning, into the channels around Auke Bay, with a naturalist on the speaker explaining what the whales are doing and why. Recent reviewers describe several humpbacks per trip, and now and then a pod of orcas that the crew follows for as long as they are allowed.

The boats were built for whale watching, with a heated cabin when the rain comes in and decks on more than one level when the whales come up. Snacks and bottled water are included. On Viator, where almost every one of its 9,570 reviews gives five stars, the listing also promises a whale sighting. On GetYourGuide the guides score 4.9 out of 5, the transport 4.8 and the value 4.6.

Price: from ~$177 per person
Duration: About 3.5 hours
Meeting point: Green tent by the Mount Roberts Tramway
Rating: 4.7 / 5 (GetYourGuide) · 5.0 / 5 (Viator)
Boat: Heated cabin, several decks, toilets
Group: Up to 49 guests
Access: Collapsible wheelchairs only
Cancellation: Free up to 24 hours before

GetYourGuide Viator

How the trip runs, stage by stage

The whales set the route, so treat this as the outline of a typical sailing rather than a timetable:

Downtown

Check-in at the green tent 15 minutes before your departure
A narrated bus ride north to the boat harbor, sometimes with one more pickup

Out on the channels

A safety briefing, then the captain heads for the morning's sightings
Humpbacks blowing, diving and showing their flukes, with commentary
Sea lions, harbor seals and bald eagles along the way
Snacks and water in the heated cabin between sightings
The bus back to the tram, about 3.5 hours after you set off

What the price covers

The ticket buys the transfer, the boat and a naturalist who knows where the whales have been. Staying dry is your job.

Included

Bus from the cruise terminal and back
Heated cabin, outside decks and toilets
Commentary from a naturalist
Snacks and bottled water

Not included

Rain gear or warm layers
A stop at the Mendenhall Glacier
The shuttle from AJ Dock to the tram
Tips for the crew

Between us, before you go

A little advice, as one traveler to another. The size of the operation is the catch. With up to 49 guests a sailing, you share the rail, and the bus may stop to collect other passengers on the way north. One recent reviewer said a detour like that left their group well under an hour on the water, and another found the check-in crew brusque. Arrive early, ask how long you will spend on the boat, and pick a departure with a few hours to spare before all-aboard.

Pack a rain jacket and a warm layer even on a bright morning, because it is always cooler on the water. Our list for the boat covers the rest.

Why a bigger boat is no bad thing here

Federal rules keep every boat at least 100 yards (91 m) from humpbacks, large or small, so a smaller hull does not buy you a closer look by law. What a big, purpose-built boat adds is comfort in the rain, toilets, and decks at two heights, so people spread out when a whale surfaces. The trade-off is crowding at the best spot on the rail, and our guide to small boats against big ones weighs it up.

Who we would not send on it

Photographers who want the rail to themselves, who will be happier on JWT's 20-seat catamaran. Travelers docked at AJ Dock with little time, who should look at Harv & Marv's pickup at the ship. And anyone who wants the glacier on the same trip, for whom the Alaska Tales combo is built.

Book it if

You want the trip most travelers rate highest, a warm cabin to retreat to between sightings, and a booking you can cancel without cost if your ship's day changes.

Skip it if

You want a small group, a pickup at your own ship, the glacier as well or a landing on an island.

Ready to meet the humpbacks?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and with reserve now, pay later you can hold your seats while your shore plans settle. It is listed on both sites at the same price; pick the one you already use.

GetYourGuide Viator

The trip itself

How a whale trip from Juneau fits your day

Every tour here comes down to two choices. Do you want a big boat with a heated cabin, or a small one where everyone gets the rail? And how many of your hours in port can you give it?

Boat · the big cruisers

Room for 49, a warm cabin

Alaska Tales, Harv & Marv's, Juneau Lighthouse Tours

3.5–4.5 hfrom the docks and back, toilets aboard

Built for whale watching, with heated cabins and decks on two levels. Steady in a chop and comfortable in the rain, but on a busy sailing you share the best spots at the rail.

Boat · the small ones

A catamaran or a jet boat

Juneau Whale Tours (JWT), Dolphin Jet Boat Tours

3–3.5 h20 guests at most on JWT's catamaran

Fewer people, so everyone has a view when a whale comes up. JWT's catamaran has a walk-around deck and a restroom; Dolphin's jet boats are enclosed and quick to reach the whales.

The whale season, month by month

Hours of daylight, roughly

Apr14.5 hdaylight48 °F (9 °C)
First ships of the year, few tours running yet
May17 hdaylight56 °F (13 °C)
Boats start up, humpbacks back in the channels
Jun18 hdaylight62 °F (17 °C)
The longest days, steady sightings, full docks
Jul17.5 hdaylight64 °F (18 °C)
The warmest month and the busiest port
Aug15 hdaylight63 °F (17 °C)
Whales feeding hard, salmon in the creeks
Sep13 hdaylight56 °F (13 °C)
Quieter docks, whales still here, more rain
Oct10 hdaylight47 °F (8 °C)
The last ships, short days, the wettest month

Temperatures are the usual daytime high in Juneau; out on the water it feels several degrees cooler. Highlighted months are the ones we would pick for long days and settled feeding. The season in detail.

How each trip spends its hours

On the water
At the glacier
Bus to and from the harbor

Dolphin Jet Boat3 hours, from the tram
2 h
JWT catamaran3.5 hours, max 20
2¼ h
Alaska Tales3.5 hours, our pick
not listed
Harv & Marv'sAbout 4 hours, from your ship
3 h
Lighthouse combo4.25 hours, island landing
3 h
Whales and glacier4.5 hours, Alaska Tales
45 min2 h

Total lengths and time on the water come from the listings; the lighthouse landing is part of its three hours afloat. Alaska Tales does not state its time on the water, and where a listing gives no bus time we drew the 25 to 30 minute drive to Auke Bay.

Start from all-aboardFind the time you must be back on the ship, not the time it leaves. That is your real deadline for the day in Juneau.
Leave two hours sparePick a departure that brings you back to town at least two hours before all-aboard. Buses and boats can run late when the whales are close.
Book with your ship's nameSeveral operators ask for it, and two collect you at your own dock. A port day, planned walks through the docks and pickups.
Pack for rainA waterproof jacket, a warm layer and shoes that grip a wet deck. What to wear on the boat.

The full guide to the season: when the humpbacks arrive, the months with the most ships, and why September has its fans.

How to choose

How to pick the right whale tour

The whales are the same for everyone in Auke Bay. What changes is the boat you watch them from, how you get to it from your ship and what else the trip squeezes into the day.

Big boat or small

The big cruisers carry up to 49 and have heated cabins and toilets. JWT's catamaran takes 20, so the rail is never crowded. Small boat or big, compared.

Getting to the boat

Most tours meet by the tram near the main docks. Harv & Marv's and the lighthouse tour pick you up at your ship, which helps if you are moored at AJ Dock, a mile south.

Time on the water

From two hours on Dolphin's jet boats to three with Harv & Marv's. More time means more chances, and more of your port day. Fitting it in.

If the whales stay away

Several listings promise a sighting, but none spells out what you get back if the promise fails. Ask before you book, and see which animals you are likely to meet.

More than whales

Two tours stretch the morning. Alaska Tales' combo starts at the Mendenhall Glacier, and Juneau Lighthouse Tours lands on Sentinel Island. Whales and the glacier in one go.

Price

From ~$154 for Dolphin's jet boat to ~$230 for the glacier combo, per person. Two of the six are non-refundable, and one costs more on Viator than on GetYourGuide. Every price in one table.

The 6 tours

The 6 best whale watching tours from Juneau

Six ways to spend a morning or an afternoon with the humpbacks, from the big heated cruisers to a 20-seat catamaran. Price, rating, operator and the catch for each one, with a button for each site that sells it.

A humpback fluke rising above the channel with snowy mountains behind

Our pick

Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching, Alaska Tales

A narrated bus from the cruise terminal to the harbor, then a purpose-built whale boat with a heated cabin, decks on two levels and toilets. A naturalist explains what the humpbacks are up to, and snacks and water are included.

DurationAbout 3.5 hours
OperatorAlaska Tales
RatingGetYourGuide 4.7 (209) · Viator 5.0 (9,570)
BoatUp to 49 guests, heated cabin
StrengthsThe most reviewed trip in town, free cancellation, a whale promise on Viator
Ideal forFirst-timers and cruise passengers who want it easy

Good to know: A full sailing means sharing the rail, and the bus may stop for other guests on the way. The listing does not say how long you spend on the water. Coming from AJ Dock, you take the shuttle to the tram first. Small or big boat?

~$177per person

GetYourGuide Viator

A white catamaran on calm water in front of snow-capped mountains

Small group

3.5-Hour Small Group Whale Tour, Juneau Whale Tours (JWT)

A 40-foot catamaran that takes 20 guests at most, with a wraparound deck, a heated cabin and a restroom. A narrated bus ride from the tram to Auke Bay, then two and a quarter hours on the water with a naturalist and the captain.

Duration3.5 hours, 2¼ on the water
OperatorJuneau Whale Tours (JWT)
RatingGetYourGuide 4.8 (27) · Viator 4.9 (1,583)
GroupUp to 20 guests
StrengthsRoom at the rail, a crew reviewers love, guides rated 5.0
Ideal forPhotographers and anyone who dislikes crowds

Good to know: No pickup at AJ Dock, a mile from the tram, so take the city shuttle first. Food is not included; bring your own. A sailing with five guests or fewer is cancelled and rebooked or refunded. One reviewer found the high seats hard on the knees. Photographing whales.

~$209per person

GetYourGuide Viator

A humpback whale breaching just beyond the bow of a whale-watching boat

From your ship

Alaska Whale Watching Cruise: 3 Hours on the Water, Harv & Marv's

A shuttle from your own cruise ship dock to Auke Bay, then three full hours on a double-decker boat with enclosed cabins and two restrooms. Snacks, water and soft drinks, a look at the Mendenhall Glacier from the water, and departures nearly every half hour.

DurationAbout 4 hours, 3 on the water
OperatorHarv & Marv's Outback Alaska
RatingViator 5.0 (2,291)
PickupAt your ship's dock
StrengthsThe longest time on the water, crews who know the whales by name
Ideal forShips at AJ Dock, and anyone who wants the whales above all

Good to know: It cannot be refunded or changed once booked; only bad weather gets you another time or your money back. You must send Harv & Marv's your ship's name yourself. Not recommended with back problems. Only on Viator. What you pay, and when you can cancel.

~$159per person

Viator

Humpback whales lunging up through the surface while bubble-net feeding below snowy peaks

Lowest price

Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks, Dolphin Jet Boat Tours

A bus with a chatty driver to Auke Bay, then two hours on a small, enclosed and heated jet boat with a captain and a naturalist. Binoculars for everyone, plus coffee, hot chocolate, water and a snack bag.

Duration3 hours, 2 on the water
OperatorDolphin Jet Boat Tours
RatingGetYourGuide 4.8 (715) · Viator 4.8 (362)
BoatSmall, enclosed jet boats
StrengthsThe lowest price, binoculars, the shortest trip of the six
Ideal forTight port days and travelers on a budget

Good to know: The meeting point below the tram cables confuses people, and there is nowhere to wait out of the rain. The ramp to the boat can be steep at low tide. Not for back problems or wheelchair users. A calm ride?

~$154per person

GetYourGuide Viator

The Mendenhall Glacier between dark peaks above its meltwater lake

Whales and ice

Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska Tales

The bus goes to the Mendenhall Glacier first, with 45 minutes to walk the trails, see the visitor center or look for bears at the salmon creek. Then the same purpose-built boats as our pick, for two hours of whale watching with a naturalist.

Duration4.5 hours
OperatorAlaska Tales
RatingGetYourGuide 4.7 (146) · Viator 4.9 (7,687)
At the glacier45 minutes
StrengthsJuneau's two big sights in one booking, free cancellation
Ideal forOne port day, and both the ice and the whales

Good to know: Forty-five minutes at the glacier is too short to reach Nugget Falls and back at ease, and fog can hide the ice. It costs about $20 more on Viator than on GetYourGuide. Some reviewers call it pricey for the time. Whales and the glacier in one go.

~$230per person

GetYourGuide Viator

The Sentinel Island lighthouse standing among spruce trees above the shore

Island landing

Whale Watching & Lighthouse Combo, Juneau Lighthouse Tours

About three hours on the water with a landing on Sentinel Island, where a short boardwalk leads to one of the oldest lighthouses in Southeast Alaska and the view across Lynn Canal. Alaskan fudge, caribou sausage sticks and hot drinks on board, then the glacier viewpoint at Brotherhood Bridge.

DurationAbout 4.25 hours
OperatorJuneau Lighthouse Tours (Alaska Galore Tours)
RatingViator 5.0 (599)
PickupAt the pier, or meet at Statter Harbor
StrengthsThe only lighthouse landing, near-perfect reviews, two bathrooms aboard
Ideal forRepeat visitors and anyone who wants more than whales

Good to know: Non-refundable once booked. When the water is rough nobody lands, and renovations can limit access to the tower. On a day with few bookings, guests may be moved to a regular whale trip. Only on Viator. What else lives out there.

~$199per person

Viator

Just so you know, these are GetYourGuide and Viator affiliate links. When you book through one, we earn a small commission and your price stays exactly the same. It keeps this little guide running, and it never decides which tour we put first or which catches we tell you about.

Before you go

Eight things about Juneau whale tours that no listing puts in big letters

None of these sits at the top of a booking page, and every one of them decides whether your morning ends with a fluke on your camera or a dash back to the ship.

What you should know

Most tours do not start at your ship. The usual meeting point is the tram building by the main docks. Only Harv & Marv's and the lighthouse tour collect you from your own pier, and only if you give them the ship's name.
AJ Dock is a mile from everything. Ships moored there are about a mile south of the tram. A downtown shuttle runs for a few dollars, and JWT will not pick up there, so add the time to your plan. Docks and pickups.
Two of the six cannot be refunded. Harv & Marv's and Juneau Lighthouse Tours are final sales on Viator. The other four can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before, which matters if your ship skips Juneau.
"Guaranteed whales" is a promise without terms. Several listings guarantee a sighting, but none of them says what you get if the whales stay away. Ask the operator before you count on it.
The bus eats into your time. Every boat sails from Auke Bay, a half-hour drive up the coast from the docks. A 3.5-hour tour may give you two hours or so on the water, and a stop to pick up other guests can shave that further.
Rain is normal, so dress for it. Every boat sails rain or shine, and it is colder on the water than in town. A hooded waterproof jacket beats an umbrella on a moving deck. What to wear.
No boat may chase a whale. Federal rules keep boats 100 yards (91 m) from humpbacks, whatever their size. Close encounters happen when a whale chooses to surface near you, on a big boat as often as a small one.
Tips are not in the price. Several listings say gratuities are excluded, and tipping the crew is customary. Budget a little extra per person on top of the ticket. The full cost.

Everything in one table

Six whale tours, catch included

The six tours side by side, with the strength and the catch of each one in the same row.

Swipe the table sideways to see all columns →

Tour	Ideal for	Price	Hours	Boat and pickup	Operator and rating	Strength and catch	Book
Alaska Tales (our pick)	An easy, well-rated first trip	~$177	About 3.5 h	Up to 49, heated cabin, from the tram	Alaska Tales GetYourGuide 4.7 (209) Viator 5.0 (9,570)	Huge track record, free cancellation. A busy boat, water time not listed.	GetYourGuide Viator
JWT catamaran	Room at the rail	~$209	3.5 h, 2¼ on the water	Catamaran, max 20, from the tram	Juneau Whale Tours (JWT) GetYourGuide 4.8 (27) Viator 4.9 (1,583)	Small group, walk-around deck. No AJ Dock pickup, bring your own food.	GetYourGuide Viator
Harv & Marv's	The most time with whales	~$159	About 4 h, 3 on the water	Double-decker, pickup at your ship	Harv & Marv's Outback Alaska Viator 5.0 (2,291)	Three hours afloat, dock pickup. Non-refundable, Viator only.	Viator
Dolphin Jet Boat	A short port day, a low price	~$154	3 h, 2 on the water	Small enclosed jet boat, from the tram	Dolphin Jet Boat Tours GetYourGuide 4.8 (715) Viator 4.8 (362)	Cheapest, binoculars included. Confusing meeting point, steep ramp at low tide.	GetYourGuide Viator
Whales and glacier	Two sights in one port day	~$230	4.5 h, 2 on the water	Up to 49, glacier stop first	Alaska Tales GetYourGuide 4.7 (146) Viator 4.9 (7,687)	Glacier and whales together. Only 45 minutes at the ice, dearer on Viator.	GetYourGuide Viator
Lighthouse combo	Whales plus an island	~$199	About 4.25 h, 3 afloat	Heated cabins, pickup at the pier	Juneau Lighthouse Tours Viator 5.0 (599)	Sentinel Island landing, glowing reviews. Non-refundable, no landing in rough seas.	Viator

A quick word on the numbers. Prices are the regular per-person "from" rates in US dollars, and the ratings are what GetYourGuide and Viator showed when we compared the tours. Dates and offers nudge them around, and one tour can cost a little more on one site than the other, so peek at both. The booking step always has the final say.

Who went

Reviews from travelers back on board

Eighteen travelers, some with whales all around and some with a quiet, rainy morning, on what won them over and what they would do differently.

★★★★★Wildlife cruise, our pick

We nearly booked the ship's own excursion and I am glad we did not. The bus driver talked us all the way up to the harbor, half history lesson and half stand-up. Twenty minutes out, three humpbacks were working the same patch of water, blowing, diving and coming up again in a loose line. The naturalist told us to watch the gulls, and a minute later the water boiled and four mouths came up together. Nobody on our deck said a word for a good ten seconds. Back at the tram by half past twelve with the afternoon still ahead of us.

★★★★★Wildlife cruise, our pick

Rain on the windows, a whale tail in the middle of them. Perfect morning.

★★★★☆Wildlife cruise, our pick

The whales were wonderful but the bus stopped twice for other people, and we lost time on the water because of it. Ask how long you will actually be out before you book.

★★★★★Catamaran, max 20

Twenty people and a deck all the way around, so when a whale came up on the left we just walked over. No elbows, no phones in my face. The captain cut the engines and we heard the blow before we saw it. They had told us to bring our own lunch, and I was glad of the sandwich.

★★★★★Catamaran, max 20

Small boat, big whales. The crew got as excited as we did.

★★★★☆Catamaran, max 20

Lovely crew and a great catamaran, but those raised seats are a climb with my knees. I stood at the rail most of the trip, which is where you want to be anyway.

★★★★★Pickup at your ship

Our ship was at the far dock and I was worried about getting anywhere in time. The van was waiting right at the foot of the gangway with my name on a list. Three hours on the water felt generous, and it was. We had a mother and calf for a long stretch, the calf breaching over and over like it had just discovered it could, and later an orca fin cutting past in the distance. The crew knew several of the humpbacks by their tails and told us where each one spends the winter. Back at the ship with an hour and a half to spare.

★★★★★Pickup at your ship

Three hours went by in what felt like forty minutes. Book the earliest one you can.

★★★★★Jet boat, lowest price

Cheapest one we found and we still saw whales the whole time. Hot chocolate and binoculars on a small warm boat. Our driver could have a second career on the radio. The meeting place under the tram cables is chaos, so look for the blue and yellow sign.

★★★★☆Jet boat, lowest price

Grey, drizzly morning and the whales stayed down a lot. We saw blows and a couple of tails, nothing more dramatic, and spent a lot of time looking at fog. The crew worked hard and the boat was warm, but go in hoping for flukes, not breaches. For the price it was still a good morning out.

★★★★★Whales and the glacier

We had one day in Juneau and two things on the list, the glacier and the whales, and this did both without any stress. The glacier stop was short, I will not pretend otherwise, but we got photos of the ice from the lake shore and watched salmon in the creek from the boardwalk. Then two hours on the boat, where the crew went further out than the other boats and found a group of five humpbacks feeding together. The only thing I would change is ten more minutes at the glacier.

★★★★★Whales and the glacier

Glacier in the mist, whales in the rain. Scotland, basically, but with humpbacks.

★★★★★Lighthouse combo

The lighthouse was the reason I booked, and climbing the tower and looking out over the water was everything I hoped for. Then the whales stole the show. The crew named every whale we met and knew its story. Caribou sausage on the boat was a nice touch.

★★★★★Lighthouse combo

We have done whale trips in Iceland and Hawaii, and this was the one with the most going on. The boat stopped at Sentinel Island and we walked the little boardwalk up to the lighthouse while the gulls screamed at us, then it was straight back out to a pair of humpbacks diving close to the island. On the way in we stopped for the view of the glacier from the bridge. It cannot be refunded, which made me nervous, but the ship stayed on schedule and it was the best day of our cruise.

★★★★★Wildlife cruise, our pick

We booked this for my parents, who are both in their seventies and do not love boats. The heated cabin meant my mother stayed warm and dry the whole time and only came out on deck when the naturalist called a whale. My father, who had sworn he would be bored, stood at the rail in the rain for most of the trip with binoculars he borrowed from a stranger. It was smooth water and nobody felt ill. The bathroom on board mattered more than I expected with older parents.

★★★★★Pickup at your ship

Two orcas surfaced beside the boat. I forgot to press record.

★★★★☆Lighthouse combo

The island landing was cancelled because of the swell, so we only saw the lighthouse from the water. The whale watching was excellent and the crew was kind about it, but if the lighthouse is your reason to go, check the forecast.

★★★★★Catamaran, max 20

I brought a long lens and a lot of hope. The small group meant I could move along the rail for the light, and the captain always told us which side the whale was likely to surface on next. The best moment came near the end, when a humpback lifted its tail almost straight in front of the bow and held it there long enough for a whole burst of frames, water pouring off the edges. Rain all morning, and I did not care at all. Bring a rain cover for your camera and a cloth for the lens.

Flukes before lunch

Book Alaska Tales for your day in Juneau

If you have a morning or an afternoon in port and want the humpbacks without fuss, we would book Alaska Tales' wildlife cruise. A bus from the terminal, a warm boat built for whale watching, a naturalist who knows where the whales were feeding, and back in town with time to spare.

Close to ten thousand travelers rate it between 4.7 and 5.0 out of 5 across the two booking sites. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, and you can reserve today and pay later. Bring a rain jacket.

~$177

per person · about 3.5 hours · from the tram

GetYourGuide Viator

✓ Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
✓ Reserve now, pay later
✓ Heated cabin and toilets on board
✓ Several departures a day in season

Good to know

Why the humpbacks favor Juneau, and what you are watching

Five minutes of reading, and you will know where Juneau's whales spend the winter, and what the naturalist means by "bubble-netting".

Juneau sits on the Inside Passage, a maze of fjords and channels sheltered from the open Pacific by a long chain of islands. In summer the cold water there fills with herring, krill and other small fish, and the humpback whales come to eat. Most of the humpbacks that feed around Juneau spend the winter near Hawaii, thousands of miles south, where they breed and give birth and barely eat at all. They arrive hungry, and that is why a whale trip here so rarely comes back empty.

01A capital with no road in

Juneau is Alaska's capital, yet no road links it to the rest of the continent. You arrive by ship or by plane, and most summer visitors arrive on a cruise ship for a single day. The whale boats do not leave from the cruise docks but from Auke Bay, about 12 miles (19 km) north, which is why nearly every tour begins with a bus ride.

02Sheltered water, rich water

The boats work the channels around Auke Bay, from Stephens Passage to Lynn Canal, Favorite Channel and Saginaw Channel. Islands and mountains break the swell, so the water is usually calmer than the open sea, and the tides stir up food all summer. A whale can surface a few hundred yards from a boat that has barely left the harbor.

03Bubble-net feeding

Now and then a group of humpbacks hunts together. One whale blows a spiral of bubbles beneath a school of fish, the others call to herd it, and then the whole group lunges up through the middle with mouths wide open, gulls screaming above. It is the most dramatic thing you can see here, and nobody can book it: bubble-net feeding happens when the whales decide it does.

A humpback rarely gives you warning. A blow, a long curved back, and then the tail lifts and slides under, and the boat goes quiet for the five minutes it stays down.

04Orcas, sea lions and eagles

The humpbacks are the reliable part. Orcas pass through on some days, in family groups that can turn up anywhere in the channels, and many trips meet Steller sea lions hauled out on rocks and buoys, harbor seals, quick Dall's porpoises and bald eagles on the shoreline trees. Who you might meet has the full cast.

05Keeping a distance

In Alaska, federal rules forbid boats from approaching humpbacks closer than 100 yards (91 m). Captains slow down, keep to the side and wait. The close encounters you see in photos happen when a curious or busy whale surfaces near a waiting boat, which is one reason patience on deck pays off.

06The rain is part of the deal

Juneau lies in a temperate rainforest and gets rain on more days than not in many months. The whales do not mind, the boats sail anyway, and a grey sky softens the light for photographs. Dress for wet and cool, and a drizzly morning on the water can be the best part of the cruise. Dressing for the boat.

100 ydThe closest a boat may approach

12 miFrom the docks to Auke Bay

18 hOf daylight in late June

5 monthsOf whale season, May to September

Which months bring the longest days and the most settled feeding, and where the crowds of ships fall, is in our guide When the whales are in.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about Juneau whale tours

Fourteen questions we hear again and again, with the full answer.

How much does whale watching in Juneau cost?

Dolphin Jet Boat Tours costs ~$154 per person, Harv & Marv's ~$159, Alaska Tales ~$177 and the small JWT catamaran ~$209. The combos cost more: the lighthouse trip ~$199 and whales with the Mendenhall Glacier ~$230. Tips are extra. Every price and extra is in our cost guide.

Which Juneau whale watching tour is the best?

For most people, Alaska Tales' wildlife cruise, because its purpose-built boats, free cancellation and enormous number of five-star reviews make it the safest choice. If you want a small group, JWT's 20-seat catamaran is better. If you want the longest time on the water and a pickup at your ship, pick Harv & Marv's.

When is the best time to see whales in Juneau?

The tours run from about May to September, and humpbacks are around for all of it. June, July and August bring the longest days and the warmest weather, along with the busiest docks. May and September are quieter, and September is often wetter. Month by month.

Am I guaranteed to see whales?

Nobody can promise wild animals, although Juneau's success rate in summer is high and several operators advertise a whale guarantee. The listings do not explain what that guarantee pays if the whales stay away, so ask the operator before you book if it matters to you.

Can I fit a whale tour into a cruise stop?

Yes, most visitors do. The tours take three to five hours from the docks and back, with several departures a day. Pick one that returns at least two hours before your all-aboard time, and give the operator your ship's name. Planning a port day.

Should I book through my cruise line or independently?

Independent tours usually cost less and often use smaller groups, and these six all run to cruise-ship schedules. Cruise lines generally promise to hold the ship only for their own excursions, so with an independent tour the timing is your responsibility. A generous margin before all-aboard covers it.

Where do Juneau whale tours meet?

Most meet by the Mount Roberts Tramway building at the main cruise terminal, each under its own sign. Harv & Marv's and Juneau Lighthouse Tours pick you up at your ship. JWT does not collect from AJ Dock, about a mile south, so guests docked there take the shuttle to the tram.

Is a small boat better for whale watching?

A small boat gives everyone a place at the rail, but it does not get closer to the whales, because federal rules keep every boat 100 yards away. Big boats offer heated cabins, toilets and a steadier ride. The two compared.

Can I see the Mendenhall Glacier on the same tour?

Yes. Alaska Tales' combo spends 45 minutes at the glacier before two hours of whale watching, and Dolphin Jet Boat Tours runs a longer version with time to hike to Nugget Falls. Several whale-only trips also show you the glacier from the water. The glacier options.

Will I get seasick on a Juneau whale tour?

Most people do not, because the boats stay in sheltered channels rather than the open ocean. Wind can still raise a chop. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit low and in the middle, watch the horizon and ask a pharmacist about remedies before you sail. Staying steady.

What should I wear on a whale watching tour?

A waterproof jacket with a hood, a fleece or light down layer, a hat and light gloves, and shoes with a good grip for a wet deck. Summer days in Juneau are mild, but wind on the water makes it feel cold, and the boats go out rain or shine. The full list.

Can children come on whale tours?

Yes, on all six. Infants sit on a lap on most boats, and Juneau Lighthouse Tours has infant seats. Children must come with an adult. The heated cabins on the bigger boats help with small children on a wet day. Families and access.

Are Juneau whale tours wheelchair accessible?

None of the six is fully accessible. Alaska Tales takes collapsible wheelchairs, and Harv & Marv's can if a companion helps the guest board. Motorized chairs and scooters are not allowed, and Dolphin's ramp can be steep at low tide. Ask the operator before booking.

Can I cancel for free if my ship's plans change?

On four of the six, yes, up to 24 hours before: the two Alaska Tales tours, JWT and Dolphin Jet Boat Tours. Harv & Marv's and Juneau Lighthouse Tours are non-refundable on Viator, except when the operator cancels for weather. Check the terms in the booking step.

Read before you sail

Guides to whale watching in Juneau

Ten questions that keep coming up, each with the long answer instead of the short one.

Juneau Whale Watching Tours

Whale tours at a glance

What a whale day looks like

Whale watching in Juneau: the answers before you book

The whale tour we would book: Alaska Tales

Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching, Alaska Tales

How the trip runs, stage by stage

What the price covers

Included

Not included

Between us, before you go

Why a bigger boat is no bad thing here

Who we would not send on it

Ready to meet the humpbacks?

How a whale trip from Juneau fits your day

Room for 49, a warm cabin

A catamaran or a jet boat

The whale season, month by month

How each trip spends its hours

How to pick the right whale tour

Big boat or small

Getting to the boat

Time on the water

If the whales stay away

More than whales

Price

The 6 best whale watching tours from Juneau

Juneau Wildlife Whale Watching, Alaska Tales

3.5-Hour Small Group Whale Tour, Juneau Whale Tours (JWT)

Alaska Whale Watching Cruise: 3 Hours on the Water, Harv & Marv's

Whale Watching Cruise with Snacks, Dolphin Jet Boat Tours

Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska Tales

Whale Watching & Lighthouse Combo, Juneau Lighthouse Tours

Eight things about Juneau whale tours that no listing puts in big letters

What you should know

Six whale tours, catch included

Reviews from travelers back on board

Book Alaska Tales for your day in Juneau

Why the humpbacks favor Juneau, and what you are watching

01A capital with no road in

02Sheltered water, rich water

03Bubble-net feeding

04Orcas, sea lions and eagles

05Keeping a distance

06The rain is part of the deal

Frequently asked questions about Juneau whale tours

Guides to whale watching in Juneau