What to Do in Juneau, Alaska: Mendenhall Glacier, Tracy’s King Crab Shack & Honest Port Review
If you are planning an Alaskan cruise, Juneau, Alaska is almost guaranteed to be one of the marquee stops on your itinerary. As the capital of Alaska—and a city completely inaccessible by outside road systems—Juneau offers a mix of massive glaciers, historic gold-rush streets, and bucket-list seafood right off the ship.
During our recent sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas, Eric, Beth, and Devin (on an Eric & Fam takeover of The Roaming Twins!) spent a full day in Juneau tackling the ultimate Alaskan trifecta: taking a narrated bus excursion out to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, putting the world-famous Tracy’s King Crab Shack to the test, and hunting for souvenirs in downtown Juneau.
Before you read our breakdown of costs, trail times, and honest pros and cons, watch the full Juneau vlog right here:
Getting Off the Ship in Juneau: What to Know First
Unlike some Alaskan cruise ports where you are bused miles into town (like Sitka), arriving at the downtown Juneau cruise docks puts you right in the middle of the action. Even with multiple massive ships in port alongside us—including the Norwegian Bliss and a Princess ship—the waterfront greets you immediately with towering totem poles, shops, and even a waterfall cascading down the mountain right by the pier.
Best of all, our itinerary kept us in port until 9:30 PM, which took away all the usual "all-aboard" rush anxiety and gave us plenty of time to explore both the glacier and downtown.
⚠️ A Quick Warning About Shore Excursion Meetups on the Pier
We booked the Exploring Mendenhall Glacier by Bus excursion directly through Royal Caribbean. While the tour itself was great, the pier pickup process was surprisingly unorganized.
In Caribbean ports, Royal Caribbean typically assigns clear numbered zones on the pier so you can walk straight to your group.
In Juneau, we were simply told to "meet on the pier" and spent over 15 minutes wandering through massive crowds trying to spot a guide holding a tiny sign.
Pro Tip: Give yourself an extra 15–20 minutes when disembarking for a ship excursion in Juneau so you aren't stressed trying to track down your tour operator!
Stop 1: Mendenhall Glacier & Hiking to Nugget Falls
Once on the bus, it’s a scenic 25-minute narrated drive from the cruise docks out to the Mendenhall Valley inside the Tongass National Forest—the largest temperate rainforest in the world at 16.7 million acres.
Along the drive along the Gastineau Channel, our driver shared some incredible local context:
Wild Tides & Bald Eagles: The channel tide shifts up to 20 feet in just six hours, and you can spot bald eagles perched right on the street lamps scanning for King and Chum salmon from up to a mile away.
A Massive Wall of Ice: Originally called Auk Glacier by naturalist John Muir before being renamed after Thomas Mendenhall, Mendenhall Glacier stretches 13 miles up to the Juneau Icefield, where the compacted ice reaches up to a mile thick.
How to Spend 90 Minutes at Mendenhall Glacier
Our tour gave us 1.5 hours on the ground (12:00 PM to 1:30 PM). Because the main Visitor Center was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with cruise crowds, we skipped the indoor exhibits and spent our time on the two best outdoor trails:
Photo Point Trail: A quick, picturesque walk along the crystal-clear glacial water where you get an unobstructed view of both the glacier and Nugget Falls in the same frame. Keep an eye out for nesting Arctic Terns along the shoreline!
The Nugget Falls Trail (Is It Doable in 90 Minutes?): Yes! The signs estimate a 45-minute roundtrip walk (roughly 2 miles total). Walking briskly, it took us about 20 minutes each way, and even at a relaxed pace, Beth made it back with 30 minutes to spare before our bus departed.
Trail Conditions & Footwear Tip: The trail is mostly flat and compacted, passing small forest waterfalls along the way, but it definitely gets wet and muddy in spots. Leave the flip-flops on the ship and wear water-resistant sneakers or hiking shoes! Standing on the beach at the base of Nugget Falls—feeling the cold glacial spray from 200 feet away with Mendenhall Glacier towering to your left—was easily one of the most majestic moments of our entire trip.
Stop 2: Tracy’s King Crab Shack Review (What $225 Actually Gets You!)
After our bus dropped us back at the port, we walked straight over to the iconic red building right near the pier: Tracy’s King Crab Shack.
Whenever cruisers research Juneau, the #1 question is always: "Is Tracy's King Crab Shack worth the line and the price?" Here is our candid breakdown.
The Wait & Seating
It was drizzling when we arrived, and we waited in the outdoor line for about 15 minutes to reach the ordering counter. Once you order at the counter, it’s communal, German-beer-hall-style long table seating inside (with outdoor tables and overhead heaters available too). Even inside, bring a warm layer—with the doors opening and the Alaskan rain blowing, it has a damp chill!
What We Ordered (Total: $225 with Tip)
King crab prices in Alaska are no joke, and our total for three people came out to $225 including tip. Here is what we got:
The Shack Combo (with Golden King Crab): Beth upgraded to the locally caught Golden King Crab leg, served with Tracy's famous crab bisque, four mini crab cakes, and warm garlic rolls.
The Taste of Alaska / Alaska Feast: Pre-shucked King Crab and Snow Crab served with melted butter, cocktail sauce, and rolls—perfect if you want all the crab meat without doing the heavy shell cracking yourself!
Two Extra Bowls of Crab Bisque: For Eric and Devin.
Snow Crab Queso: Plus a bonus cup of queso that made it onto our tray!
The Verdict: Worth It?
100% yes—at least once! We joined the "Clean Crabbie Club" and polished off almost every bite. The crab is unbelievably fresh, and the rich, creamy bisque might honestly steal the whole show. Plus, you can check out authentic painted Deadliest Catch crab pots and merch inside before you head out.
Stop 3: Downtown Juneau Shopping & Old West Vibes
Right outside Tracy’s exit is a visitor center and the heart of downtown Juneau. Compared to smaller ports like Sitka, downtown Juneau has a vibrant, "Old West" gold-mining town energy with wide streets, helpful crossing guards, and massive souvenir stores:
Alaska T-Shirt Company: Basically the superstore of Alaskan souvenir shops—complete with shopping carts and two carved black bears outside the entrance. This is the best one-stop shop for shirts, magnets, stickers, and small totem poles at reasonable prices.
Juneau Alaska Mining Company: Another huge stop where we picked up reusable bags and Alaskan salmon jerky.
The Red Dog Saloon: Located right on the corner where our bus tour started, this is one of Juneau's oldest saloons—and famously displays a pistol that Wyatt Earp allegedly sold to the saloon owner after gambling away his travel money on his way through Juneau!
Final Thoughts: Our Juneau Cruise Port Scorecard
Best Experience: Walking out to the base of Nugget Falls next to Mendenhall Glacier. No matter which excursion or shuttle you take, do not miss seeing this glacier in person.
Best Bite: The Golden King Crab and Crab Bisque at Tracy’s King Crab Shack.
Crowd & Walkability Score: Even with four cruise ships in port, Juneau’s layout spreads the crowds out nicely. Everything downtown—from the pier to the restaurants and shops—is completely walkable.
Have you visited Juneau on an Alaskan cruise, or are you planning a trip soon? Watch our full Juneau vlog on YouTube here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15u2yEh9Xxw), and drop a comment letting us know if you’d splurge on King Crab legs at Tracy’s!
Want to see more of our Alaska cruise adventure? Check out our previous port guide: What to Do in Sitka, Alaska: Totem Park, Wildlife & Private Whale Watching!
