2026 Juneau Whale Watching Season Resources

We are comfortable booking you on a departure that returns fifteen minutes before your all aboard time. Be sure to include your ship, and we will take note of it. We call tight departures “red letter departures” and we make sure to have a representative waiting at your ship to ensure your bus gets there on time.

If your ship’s delay makes you miss the tour, contact us immediately 1-866-617-5431. We’ll move you to the next available departure or refund per our ship-delay policy. We pay close attention to the cruise ship calendar and will probably know before you reach out, and have a back up plan or refund waiting for you, but sometimes they will let you know first. Either way, it is always helpful to check in.

Whatever time best works for your schedule! Humpbacks are up here to eat, which they do for up to 18 hours a day, napping in short bursts multiple times a day. There is no time that is better than any other.

Juneau is famous for our humpback whales. With our nutrient rich water, they come up here every summer to eat and eat and eat! Orca sightings are possible (they happen about once a week), while bald eagles, Steller sea lions and harbor seals are all common in the area. Be sure to ask your guide if you are particularly interested in any of the smaller marine mammals, so they can try to point them out to you. Whale sightings are (and general satisfaction is) guaranteed, or your money back.

When I think of Jet Boats, I think small and uncomfortable. Our boats are enclosed and climate-controlled for comfort, with large outside decks, a restroom, and comfortable forward-facing seats. We like to say “every seat is a window seat,” because the viewing is as good inside as it is outside. The boats have water- propelled jets, so they’re fast! We get you out to where the whales are, with comfort and safety. Although we ask you to stay in your seats while the boat is moving, you are welcome to get up and walk around when stopped to view the whales.

Dress in layers! It is often cooler on the water than by the cruise ships, so an extra sweater and raincoat is always handy. While waterproof footwear isn’t required, we do suggest something non-skid to help you walk down the deck, and around the deck of the boat.

We are a small, family owned and operated business, and we treat every booking with care. We like to say you come for the whales, but you remember the people. We want to give our crew time to interact with each and every guest, and answer any questions you might have, and we find that is easiest on our smaller boats. As far as proximity to the whales goes, we abide very strictly by the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the safety and well-being of the whales is our top priority. Because of this, we don’t approach the whales beyond a certain distance, we regulate our speed when near the whales, and we stay with a whale/group of whales for a limited period of time. This is all to ensure that we don’t threaten or harass our best water friends, so they’ll continue to love us and our boats and will keep returning to these waters!