wolfie11

You will not see gray whales in Juneau. The humpbacks who don’t spend the winter in Juneau start arriving in May. Don’t expect a great show since they haven’t eaten in months and when they arrive they are feeding pretty much 24/7. Lots of lunge feeding but not much bubble net feeding.

Unless you booked the tour through the ship, it will probably leave from the downtown area. I do think you are underestimating how long it will take for the shuttle bus. When I was there last summer, the line for the shuttle in the morning was around two hours. If there is another ship, that time increases. Make sure you are one of the first off the ship. Also allow at least an hour for the return shuttle before the all aboard time unless they agree to drop you off back at the ship.

The boat holds around 150 but most of them likely got it at a cheaper price.

Turo

Hoonah is a small community and relatively conservative. I think his boss and coworkers would find it bizarre and unprofessional if a bunch of random people came up to someone on the job and started hugging him. He would likely be teased and possibly bullied and could conceivably lose his job long before you got there to visit him.

I know the Bliss went to Vancouver once when it was brand new but had to wait for low low tide to leave. I think most of them can get in and out of Vancouver but only at low tides which would play havoc with a regular cruise schedule. They all have azipods so Seymour Narrows wouldn’t be a problem but it’s a couple more hours of sailing to go inside from Seattle.

The shuttle bus will drop you off for $15.

There might be a few tours sold at the dock but there are very few independent tour companies in Haines. If there’s something you want to do, book it in advance.

The only restrictions on big ships going out of Vancouver is their air draft. They have to be able to fit under Lions Gate Bridge at high tide. The Princess Royal class ships are banned by the BC pilots association from sailing inside Vancouver Island because propulsion and steering problems are a safety concern when transiting Seymour Narrows.

Celebrity Edge sails from Seattle and is out in the open ocean the first and last days. Vancouver sailings, as previously stated sail inside Vancouver Island and are much more scenic.

I believe you can rent electric bikes to go to Dyea as well. Try Doughboy’s! Yum! If it’s open this summer, Carrington’s has a nice ivory museum that’s free. Try the spruce tip ale at the brewery. Go to the local museum. Walk thru Pullen Park. Check out the fish ladder if the salmon are running and watch the seals. Walk out to Yakutania Point.

Somebody started one last year I think. Notice they call it a whale search and don’t guarantee whales like they do in Juneau and ISP.

Dave died a few years ago and the company has been out of business since 2019.

No. But you might be able to pick up a tour on the dock.

Glacier Bay times are dictated by the Park Service. There are two ships in each day and they have to coordinate the pilot boat to drop off and pick up the rangers within about 1/2 an hour of each other