Overview:  
    The Mt. Roberts Tramway will take passengers up and then back down Mt. Roberts.  Tram tickets are usually valid for the entire day and are for unlimited rides.  The ground entrance to the tramway is located near the cruise ship docks and it is easy to find.  The ride up and down takes about 5 minutes each way.  At the top there is a nature center, gift shop, refreshment shop, walking trails, and a rescued bald eagle.  The views going up and down the tram are amazing!  This is a great time to get pictures of your cruise ship as well as Juneau, Alaska.  Also at the top there is wooden decking to allow for observation of the mountainside, ships, and town below.  This was my favorite Juneau attraction and I would enjoy to go back to Juneau and ride this tram to the top again.  
    For information about the 2014 season and what is included with admission please visit the Mt. Robert's Tramway website: http://mountrobertstramway.com/ You can also find more information that listed here on my website. 
Don't Forget To Bring These Things:

• Camera -  The views going up and down on the tram are amazing and the view from the top is also amazing!  When going up or down this is the perfect chance to get a picture of your cruise ship from above.
• Binoculars -  You may want to zoom in and look at something below.  Don't forget these!
• Light Coat -   The temperatures at the top can be slightly cooler than on the ground.  You may already be dressed for cold weather, but if you are dressed for warm weather you might want to bring a light coat in case you get cold at the top.
• Good Walking Shoes -  You may decide to do the walking trails.  The walking trails are very private and have many uneven surfaces to walk on.

Caution:
   Be very careful on the walking trails.  The surfaces are uneven and in some places there are no railings.  If you get hurt you may not be heard or get immediate help.  Travel in a group.  Remember that you will probably encounter wildlife, maybe even a bear. You should probably bring water, take a map,  and use caution!  Check out this page on the tramway's website about hiking information and safety tips.  Click Here to Visit. 

    If you are worried about mobility or accessibility on the tramway or mountaintop experience call or email the Mt. Robert's Tramway company and ask questions.  Don't buy your ticket and then realize that you won't be able to see anything.  I think for the most part that the mobility for wheelchairs is fine, but you probably want to make sure for yourself. 

    If the weather is not favorable you might not want to do this attraction due to the chance of not seeing anything below.  The tram ride may be expensive to some so you want to make sure you are getting the best value for your money!

Want to get a taste of the tramway now? 
    I enjoyed the ride so much that I filmed the entire ride going down and posted it on You-Tube.
Click Here To View the Video

Overview:
     Taking a whale watching tour is great for people who enjoy seeing whales or natural wildlife.  Although there are times when you can see whales from the cruise ship, if you really want to get close to the whales, it may be worth the money for you to go on a whale watching boat that takes you to the whales.  There are two ways for you to purchase a whale watching tour.  The first option is to purchase the tour on your cruise ship.  Booking an excursion or tour from the cruise ship is usually more expensive because the cruise line makes a profit from all sales.  The second option is to book through a tour operator in the city.  This option is usually cheaper than the first, but keep in mind that the ship will probably not wait if you get delayed because of the tour.  
    Many cruise line sponsored excursions and some independent excursions offer a full refund guarantee if not a single whale is spotted.  The chances of this are highly unlikely.  
    There are a variety of excursions and tours that relate to whale watching.  Some tours are longer and some tours are shorter than others.  Research the tour you plan on taking.  Prices for whale watching tours will vary and can be expensive depending on the tour you take.
Don't  Forget To Bring These Things to Your Whale Watching Tour

• Camera  -  You will probably want to take lots of whale pictures to remember your experience.  Also consider bringing an extra pair of batteries incase your batteries die in your camera. 
• Binoculars -  You may want to get a close up view of a whale or a bunch of whales! 

Dressing For Your Whale Watching Tour 
    Some whale watching tour boats have inside/outside viewing areas, only inside areas, and only outside areas.  You need to make sure you are dressed for any type of weather condition.  For rainy days you might want to wear a poncho. For cold temperatures you might want to wear a heavy coat and dress using warm clothes.  For warm temperatures you might want to wear a t-shirt and some light clothing.  Research the weather before your day in Juneau to help yourself prepare for temperatures and weather conditions.

Links For Further Information Research (External Non-Website Links):
Mt. Robert's Tramway Website:  http://mountrobertstramway.com/
Mendenhall Glacier:  http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/tongass/about-forest/offices/?cid=stelprdb5401451 
Alaska State Capitol Tour:  http://w3.legis.state.ak.us/misc/capitol.php 
Juneau Tourism Website Link:   http://www.traveljuneau.com/ 
Whale Watching Tours:   Since there many operators please look up your tour operator's website for any information about whale watching attractions.

        What does a typical port of call day look like?  You've probably seen my pages on what to expect during embarkation and what to expect on the first day, but I have not addressed this day of the cruise.  The way your day in a port of call will look  is dependent on whether or not your ship is on schedule, what you want to do, the weather, and how much time you have in the port of call.   The information that I give below is what a typical port day on all of my cruises look like:

            On the port of call days many passengers wake up early and are at breakfast when the lines open. Many ships serve breakfast earlier on port of call days to accommodate guests with early shore excursions or the guests who want to get off the ship quickly.  I have always felt that breakfast on a port of call day is rushed and many crew are stationed in the buffet to make breakfast a quick process.   
              As your ship gets closer to port, you will probably start to see land in the distance or up close.  After breakfast or before breakfast (for some) many passengers who are not getting off first will be on the outside decks watching the scenery go by as the ship docks.  I am always one of the passengers that eats breakfast and then I go and find a spot on the outside decks to get pictures of the port as the ship pulls in. 
               If you are taking a shore excursion or shore tour that is early you will want to make sure you are ready to get off by the time the ship is docked.  Many passengers who are in this situation are usually waiting on one of the bottom decks in line to get off.  Make sure if you are taking a shore excursion or tour that you give yourself plenty of time to insure you arrive to your excursion on-time.  You don't want to miss your excursion!
               During your day in the port of call make sure you are aware of the time and when you are required to get back on the ship.   During your day in port, depending on what you do, you may have time to shop, take pictures, go to the beach, or take a shore excursion.  
                When the time to get back onboard approaches the line on the pier to get back onboard the ship will probably grow.  Passengers may have to wait anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.  The line is so long because cruise lines scan guest cards and usually have a security checkpoint set up that all guests have to go through.   
                 Your cruise ship may or may not wait on late guests.  Typically once the ship has pulled away from the pier it is not going back to get any passengers who are late.  If a guest is lucky the ship will go back for them or wait on them.  Right before the ship leaves port you may see "pier runners" who are running to make the ship before it leaves.   
                   Typically after a full day in a port of call the ship has many "dead" areas because most guests are tired from a long day in port.  Usually the main dining room is a little less full and onboard hubs have a little less people. 
                      Make sure you know your ship's schedule for the day in port, make sure you stay on ship's time, and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back onboard. Be back onboard by your designated time and watch the pier to see if you get to see anybody try to run and catch the ship!