Juneau Cruise Port
Juneau, United States · Alaska
Cruise ship docks at AJ Dock — Alaska-Juneau South Berth, Juneau.
Ideal DIY port — walk off the ship straight into town, with Mendenhall Glacier a $45 blue-bus ride away
Downtown-dock cruise port with walkable historic center and excellent DIY options for Mendenhall Glacier and whale watching.
Port summary
Juneau has four cruise berths along South Franklin Street, all within a five-minute walk of downtown. The port fills up fast on peak days (up to five ships), so book tours early and build in a generous return buffer for summer rain and traffic on Egan Drive.
Cruise docks
🚢 AJ Dock — Alaska-Juneau South Berth
The southernmost cruise berth, at the foot of Mount Roberts right beside the tramway base. Built for the largest modern cruise ships and often assigned to them on peak days. Walking to downtown South Franklin Street takes about five minutes.
📍 Latitude: 58.288974, Longitude: -134.397857
See dock on port map →🚢 Franklin Dock — South Franklin Dock
Mid-harbour cruise berth on South Franklin Street, a couple of minutes on foot from the shops and Red Dog Saloon. Used by medium and large cruise ships.
📍 Latitude: 58.292677, Longitude: -134.396419
See dock on port map →🚢 Cruise Ship Terminal — Steamship Wharf
The central downtown cruise berth, directly in front of the Marine Park pavilion and the Juneau Visitor Information Center. Passengers step off straight into town.
📍 Latitude: 58.295359, Longitude: -134.401751
See dock on port map →🚢 Alaska Steamship Dock
Northernmost downtown cruise berth, closest to the Alaska State Museum and the seawalk extension. Used mainly by smaller ships and when three or four ships are in port on the same day.
📍 Latitude: 58.297518, Longitude: -134.405122
See dock on port map →Getting to Juneau
From the cruise terminal to the city centre
Downtown Juneau starts at the end of the dock — no transport needed for the historic center
📍 Step directly off the ship onto the seawalk and follow South Franklin Street
The Mendenhall Glacier Transport (MGT) blue buses run a fixed loop between the cruise docks and Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center
📍 Blue MGT shuttle stop at the cruise ship terminal, clearly signed
Juneau taxis take cards and most contactless payments; a round trip to Mendenhall Glacier is around $80-100
📍 Taxi rank on Marine Way next to the Cruise Ship Terminal
Route 3 or 4 reaches the Mendenhall Valley but stops about a mile from the glacier visitor center — cheap but slower than the blue bus
📍 Capital Transit bus stops on Main Street and along Egan Drive, two blocks from the docks
Uber operates in Juneau but driver supply is thin on busy cruise days — have a backup plan
📍 Request via the Uber app from anywhere along the waterfront
Map & things to do
Money & payments
Cards are fine almost everywhere; keep a few singles for tips and the public bus
Things to do
Mendenhall Glacier
⭐ Highlight
Juneau's most popular DIY sight — a vast river of ice with visitor center and trails
🕐 Late morning on arrival day so you have time for Nugget Falls and the return bus queue
Mount Roberts Tramway
⭐ Highlight
Six-minute aerial tram up to a summit complex with trails and Gastineau Channel views
🕐 Early or late in the day for the clearest views — cloud often rolls in at midday
Alaska State Capitol
Short stop⭐ Highlight
Low-key 1930s capitol with free summer tours — and no road access to the rest of the US
🕐 Weekday mornings when free guided tours run on the hour
Nugget Falls Trail
🚶 Walk
Easy 3.2 km trail from the Mendenhall Visitor Center to a roaring glacier-side waterfall
🕐 After visiting the Mendenhall Visitor Center — the trail starts right outside
South Franklin Street Historic Walk
Short stop🚶 Walk
Self-guided walk past gold-rush storefronts, totem poles and the State Capitol
🕐 Any time of day — the downtown is most alive between 10am and 3pm
Whale Watching from Auke Bay
🎯 Activity
3-4 hour boat tour from Auke Bay with near-guaranteed summer humpback sightings
🕐 Book a mid-morning departure so you return with time to spare before all-aboard
Macaulay Salmon Hatchery
Short stop🎯 Activity
Working hatchery with viewing window over the fish ladder in salmon-run season
🕐 July through early September when salmon are running up the ladder
Red Dog Saloon
Short stop🍹 Bar
Sawdust-floored gold-rush saloon with live music, stiff drinks and Wyatt Earp's pistol
🕐 Mid-afternoon once you're back from Mendenhall — before the 4pm cruise crowd
St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
Short stop⛪ Church / Cathedral
Tiny 1894 octagonal Russian Orthodox church, the oldest original in Southeast Alaska
🕐 Late morning when volunteer docents are usually present
Alaska State Museum
Short stop🏛️ Museum
Alaska's flagship museum — Tlingit, Haida and Russian-era artifacts in a bright new building
🕐 Any time — good rainy-day backup
Last Chance Mining Museum
🏛️ Museum
Museum in the original 1912 AJ gold-mine compressor house, 1.5 km up Basin Road
🕐 Mornings when volunteer staff are usually present
Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure
🌿 Nature
Family-run rainforest garden with covered golf-cart tours and a summit viewpoint
🕐 Midday if you're already on the Mendenhall side and want a covered rainy-day option
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Plan my day →Frequently asked questions
- Where does my cruise ship dock in Juneau?
- Your ship docks at one of the cruise terminals in Juneau, United States. The specific berth is assigned by the port a few days before arrival.
- Can I walk from the cruise port into Juneau?
- Yes. Juneau is walkable from the cruise port — many cruisers reach the city centre on foot.
- How do I get from the cruise port to Juneau centre?
- Typical options include On foot, Shuttle bus, Taxi, Local bus, Ride-hail (Uber/Bolt). Durations and costs are listed in the transport section above.
- How much time do I need in Juneau?
- Plan for at least 4 hours ashore to see Juneau independently and return to the ship with a safe buffer.
- What currency is used in Juneau and are cards accepted?
- Juneau uses the US Dollar. Carry some cash for markets, taxis, and smaller vendors — cards aren't accepted everywhere.
- Is there Wi-Fi at the cruise port?
- Free Wi-Fi is available at the Juneau cruise terminal.
- When should I be back at the ship?
- Cruise lines usually require all passengers on board about 30 minutes before scheduled departure. Confirm the exact all-aboard time on your daily programme.