A really long shuttle line had us stressing when we missed our excursion start time, but this group…read morewas extremely accommodating and immediately got us on a different tour starting 10 minutes later. Everyone we interacted with from this group was so kind and informative. And at the end they took us straight to our cruise ship. Definitely worth supporting this small family business! Shout out to Sam, Brendan, Aurora, and cJ!

We had a very interesting tour. Captain Sam and First Officer Savannah were great. They were very…read morefriendly and helpful. They guided us to a few whale viewings immediately. The jet boat tour was cut short due to a MAYDAY broadcast and that's totally fine. However, when we got back to the dock, the land crew was not very coordinated or understanding. There were no apologies for the inconvenience. No one guided us to the bus for the glacier portion since we arrived early unexpectedly. One person from our group asked a female bus driver and her response was "If you didn't come with me then I'm not taking you." Not even a "Let me find out" or being helpful. It started well with the boat crew but not with the land crew.

At the Norwegian Bliss Excursion desk, we asked the attendant what was worth doing if we were only…read moregoing to do one. She said the glacier boat tour, and it did not disappoint! Allen Marine Tours was fantastic. The boat picked us up directly from the ship as we were leaving Juneau around 1pm, and brought us back around 6pm. That really extended the day in a nice way. The boat moved at a relaxed pace through Stephen's Passage and into the Endicott Arm. The weather was glorious, something money can't buy! The scenery as we passed miles of coniferous rainforest and snow covered peaks was absolutely incredible. So calm and quiet, we never saw a single cabin or human on the shore. I felt so relaxed I napped twice. The guides were energetic and friendly, and very knowledgable. They interacted warmly with the guests, took pictures and answered every single question. They weren't in a hurry. When two bears were spotted, they stopped the boat for several minutes. The onboard snacks were actually -- dare I say it -- inexpensive! The crew provided coffee and hot chocolate free of charge, as well as warm donut holes. We spent a substantial amount of time up close to the glacier, probably close to an hour. We saw it calve several times. It's so massive and gorgeous, you don't understand the scale until you're close to it. Overall, worth every penny. Allen Tours made it special, relaxed, warm and memorable. It was the highlight of our trip.

Sailed via the Norwegian Encore as a solo doing the Mendenhall Glacier & Whale Quest, applied $50…read moreexcursion credit. Easy transport to the Mendenhall Glacier though the entrance was very busy with 6 cruise ships in port that day. Short walk to the visitor center, watch your time closely if doing a hike into the park, we had 4 guests not returning to our bus can only hope they used a related bus at departure time for the transfer to Statter Harbor. Not exactly a retreat into nature because of the crowds but still a nice stop. Not a long drive to Auke Bay, Statter Harbor and our transfer to the Whale Watching Boats. My excursion was on May 5th, weather was dry, and mostly clear. Complimentary warm beverages, and some nibbles were provided, plus other food and beverages for purchase, clean bathrooms, and sheltered seating on decks 1 and 2. Found my insulated jacket, gloves, and binoculars all useful, but even being sheltered it was cold on deck 2. The binoculars were helpful to view the humpbacks that we sighted, but so was the gps of my phone to know where the boat was in relationship to its surroundings, we sailed up the Saginaw Channel. In my opinion the sailing component makes sense if you enjoy the idea of a cruising the channel, with marine sightings as a bonus. Overall a good experience with the crew proving insights into this area of Alaska during Whale Watching component. Got back to my cruise ship post normal dinner service, but the Encore extended buffet hours, and I grabbed some food via the Local / Pub.

We had an amazing experience with Liquid Alaska Tours on the Canoe & Hike to Mendenhall Glacier!…read moreOur guides, Joe and Sophie, were outstanding from start to finish. Communication was excellent from the moment we were picked up. Every step of the tour was clearly explained, making everything easy to follow and stress-free. Joe and Sophie were not only incredibly knowledgeable about the glacier and the surrounding area, but they also kept the group entertained with their great sense of humor. They did an excellent job keeping us on schedule, ensuring we made it back to the cruise port with plenty of time. Their professionalism, organization, and enthusiasm made this one of the highlights of our Alaska trip. If you're visiting Juneau and want an unforgettable glacier experience, I highly recommend Liquid Alaska Tours--and if you can, ask for Joe and Sophie!

We booked Liquid Alaska Tours for our canoe experience as there were very little excursions…read moreavailable since we booked so last minute. We booked through Tripadvisor and the cost for the canoe for each person was about $230 each (pricey, I know). We were pretty bummed when we found out that our tour didn't include getting off the canoe to get up close to the glacier, especially since the price was quite steep. The photos on Tripadvisor and Viator show that the people do in fact get off the boat, but apparently it was incorrect (false advertisement imo). What I will say was the saving grace was the fact the scenery of this canoe ride was epic. There's a lot that can't be seen unless you take a helicopter, seaplane, kayak, or canoe up close to the Mendenhall Glacier. Our tour guide, Dawson was also great. He was full of dad jokes throughout the whole canoe ride. P.S. Don't think you're gonna get off this easy! The canoe ride was an exercise to say the least! My arms were sore the next day!

Captain Dan and first mate Dane were terrific. Interesting and knowledgeable commentary; found and…read morefollowed several orcas and humpbacks. Top it off with good weather and calm seas.

We had an amazing experience with Ben as our tour guide on. 6-person tour. Ben was knowledgeable…read moreabout everything. The company was way to work with regarding changes to our group. Everything was punctual and well communicated. Would highly recommend and go again myself.

I loved this tour duo. There was so much natural beauty and history along the trail and the big…read morefinish at the glacier. Having three whales leaping in unison took my breath away. The seals finished in second place as they cavorted on the rocks. I have to mention that I signed up for a moderate tour and it was definitely a challenge on the hike to keep up. But Tristan and Sam encouraged me all the way and to their credit and my astonishment, I was able to say I did it!

Absolutely Outstanding! One of the Best Excursions We've Ever Taken!…read more If you're visiting Juneau, this is the excursion to book! Our Whale Watching & Mendenhall Glacier tour with Gastineau Guiding was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. It was easily one of the best shore excursions we've ever experienced. Our guide, Collin Taylor, was exceptional. He was friendly, knowledgeable, engaging, and made the entire day so much fun. Throughout the tour, he shared fascinating information about Juneau, Alaska's wildlife, humpback whales, the Mendenhall Glacier, and even photography. His passion for Alaska was contagious. Our captain, Ron, was equally outstanding. He and Collin knew exactly where to find the whales, and they delivered! We saw at least a dozen humpback whales, including adults and a calf. We watched countless whale blows, multiple tail flukes, and even witnessed a breach in the distance. As a bonus, we got incredibly close to a group of sea lions relaxing on a navigation buoy. The Mendenhall Glacier portion of the tour was just as impressive. The hike through the rainforest was beautiful, and Collin explained how the glacier has retreated over the years and how an entirely new forest has grown in its place. It gave us a whole new appreciation for the landscape. We came away with some incredible photos and unforgettable memories. The icing on the cake is that Collin is also a professional photographer and shares his photos with the group afterward. That allowed us to stay in the moment while knowing we'd still have amazing professional-quality memories to take home. Five stars without hesitation. Gastineau Guiding exceeded every expectation, and if you can, request Collin Taylor. You won't regret it!

August 24, 2021 Sailing SE Alaska with John was by far the…read morehighlight or our summer adventures; my only regret was reserving only 3 days aboard S/V Shamrock with John at the helm. I wish we had 3 weeks. For anyone looking for a custom-built, authentic adventure, and lovers of off-the-beaten-path travel, I highly recommend contacting John (sailingalaska.com, facebook @alaskasailingcharter) and letting your imagination run with the endless possibilities his services provide. Not only did John cater to our saltwater and river fishing desires (not to mention our four young children), evenings in the cockpit (kids asleep in the main salon) were an adventure in and of themself; sharing stories of passages, family, open waters, foreign land. To our kids, John quickly became part of the family. When we arrived home in NE Oregon, my 6-year-old daughter said "mommy, I miss John!" Sailing with 6 people in our group (including ages 5, 6, 8, 9) is an intimate experience and John's patience and demeaner made it a trip that will endure in our hearts always. I particularly encourage people who craft their own DIY adventure travel to explore opportunities off S/V Shamrock. Upon anchor, we loaded our crew up in the skiff, motored to small islands, explored coastline geology, fished streams chalk full of salmon, set and pulled crab pots and, at every turn, chose our own adventure. The opportunity to build the adventure that you are after abound. Quiet coves, secret bays, paddling, wildlife viewing, photography, fishing, excellent meals, and forgetting that you have any other purpose save to explore and enjoy the wilds of Alaska await. For us, it was the perfect floating base camp and means of SE Alaska travel. Sarah Brandy La Grande, Oregon

How about waking up snuggled under a warm sheepskin blanket with the smell of coffee brewing and…read morethe sound of eagles calling? Get up to see a bear on the beach. Follow that with a great day of sightseeing, visiting unspoiled wilderness, glaciers, ice filled bays, small islands, unspoiled anchorages, and seeing towering, snow-covered mountains, waterfalls everywhere, and lots of wildlife - breaching and spouting whales, bears, eagles, seals, porpoises, and much more. And end it all with a delicious, custom dinner in the cockpit with ice from the glacier in our drinks and lots of great, fun conversation. My husband and I, along with our adult daughter, just spent 10 wonderful days aboard Shamrock with Captain John, who catered not only to our every need but to our every want. We appreciated the flexibility to change plans on the fly and John's willingness to meet our group's special dietary requirements. We visited Taku Harbor, both parts of Tracy Arm to see glaciers, Windfall Harbor, Snug Harbor, Endicott Arm, and both arms of the incomparable Fords Terror, rated by some as one of the top three anchorages in the world. Except for a few brief moments, we were without cell coverage from the time we left Juneau until we returned. However John has a satellite communicator in case of emergencies. Shamrock is well equipped and comfortable for cruising this area, and John's boat handling skills are impeccable. If you want to truly experience Alaska up close and personal, rather than from the deck of a cruise ship, I highly recommend Shamrock and Captain John.

Steve was absolutely fantastic!! My family and I were visiting Juneau by way of a cruise, and…read moreJuneau was our first stop. What a first stop it was! From the very first moment, Steve was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and hospitable. He started off the tour talking about Juneau's history and giving us an origin story of the Alaskan Native Indian population known as the Tlingit. Once we got to the docks, the true wonderment began. On our way out to the heart of Auke Bay, Steve continued with information about the local wildlife population, sharing fun facts about humpback whales, harbor seals, bald eagles, and more. The highlight of the trip had to be the humpback whale breaches. We got very lucky - there must have been 10-15 separate full-body jumps out of the water! Our presence was graced with several playful whale calves, many of them performing chin straps (a term I had never heard before ) and several full-body breaches. Thanks again Steve for helping make our trip to Alaska so special. I would strongly recommend his tours to anyone looking for something special to do in Juneau!

This was the best excursion we had all week when on our cruise in May. Captain Steve was so nice,…read moreaccommodating, and knowledgeable. We saw so many humpbacks and orcas and learned a lot about them. We saw several starfish when boarding the boat, and many Stellar Sea Lions. This was a small boat with a total of 6 on the excursion. So much better than large excursions. Captain Steve also stopped by Mendenhall Glacier for a few minutes before heading back to our ship. He told us a lot about the area and the natives of the area. I thoroughly enjoyed our day!

Look up Shelter on the web. Shelter Lodge at Auke Bay ( there are two Shelters run by different…read moregroups. Everythinhg first class Actually you need only show up with acchsnge of underwear and sundries as everything else is provided. They do just about everything except cstch your fish. Clean , fillet , package in boxes and freeze your catch. You don't touch your 2 boxes until you pick them up at your home airport. 5 stars !

We have been going to Shelter Lodge every other year for 20 years. This is an update of a review…read morethat I wrote in 2010. I cannot believe it but since writing my review, it has gotten even mo betta. They have totally rebuilt their lodge and nearly all of their cabins. They have a beautiful dining area and decking all around. They have a new utility/changing room where they check you in and outfit you with your rain gear. The dining experience continues to be truly outstanding with Chef Kenny designing, preparing and presenting incredible meals that rival dining experiences of five-star restaurants. Fishing continues to be outstanding with expert guides who put you on the fish. The best and most noteworthy attribute continues to be their wonderful hospitality.

Great trip with Captain Jon on the Petrel July 21 and 23. Jon and deck hand Dillion were very…read morepolite and professional. Jon put us on halibut limit and several salmon both days. Great trip. Thanks

Captain David and Jack were amazing!! We booked an 8 hour salmon and halibut fishing excursion and…read moreasked if they could find 1 or 2 more people to go out with us on the date of our tour so that the price would go down a bit since originally we only had 3 people. Captain Mike found us one other person to go which dropped our prices by around $20/PERSON. They were a little late starting the day because they had to pick up the other passenger from his cruise ship. Captain Mike said not to worry because they would keep us out longer to compensate for the lost time, which he did. Once we arrived at the first fishing spot, Captain David gave us a brief but thorough tutorial on how to reel in the big fish without hurting ourselves (backs) and tiring yourself out since we would be reeling from depths of 250-300 feet. This info was more valuable than I can tell you!! We went to 6 or 7 halibut fishing spots in the AM, then fished for salmon in the afternoon. We had a good catch overall for the day. Captain David event called out to his whale watching friends to find out if there were any whales to see that day. He took us over to where we might find them, but they were not around. He then took us to see some local sea lions up close and bald eagles in their natural habitat along the water. I appreciate the extra effort! When we got back to the dock, Jack gave us a masterclass on cleaning and filleting the halibut, rock fish, and cod we wanted to take with us to eat for dinner. He then gutted and beheaded the rest of the fish so they would be lighter for processing by the pound. Big Jim's suggested a fairly priced processing plant that froze our freshly caught fish and shipped it directly to our homes. --We had a great experience with Big Jim's Charters and will definitely book them when we return to Juneau and tell all of our friends to do the same! Thank you :-)

We went on an Alaskan cruise and decided not to book any excursions through the cruise line. When…read morewe docked in Juneau, we decided to wing it and find a whale-watching tour and a way to see the glacier. There were several options available when we got off the ship, and luckily, we chose the right one! The bus was nice, and the whale-watching boat was great. It was clean, had plenty of seating, and the staff was incredibly friendly. They made the experience fun and interesting, and we were lucky enough to see whales! Our bus driver was also fantastic. He was very friendly, shared lots of history about the area, and pointed out bald eagles along the way. The captain of the boat was also super friendly, and they even provided snacks during the tour. The tour also took us to see the glacier. They dropped us off and gave us a specific time to meet back up, then picked us up and brought us back to the ship. We made it back to the ship on time, which was important since we were on a cruise. If I ever come back to Juneau, I will definitely use this company again. Next time, I'll know exactly who to book with in advance! Five stars all around! Ps. I also took pictures of whales that we've seen. We were able to see six, but I took the pictures with my other phone.

Nate & Jack were awesome during our whale watching tour. Very informative & funny. We saw about 4…read morewhales & sea lions. They were in constant communication with others about whale whereabouts. I loved that they really cared about these amazing creatures & strived to give them space at safe distance. Jack knows so much about whales and sea lions, you can ask him anything about them.