Alaska - getting to Mendenhall Glacier

[AAAG]

we want to do Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau on our own (not with a tour). I have read about shuttle buses that take you there for $20. I've searched, but I can't seem to find out if there is a children's price. are children also $20? if so, is it actually $80 for a family of 4? That seems really steep.
Given that we also want to visit the salmon hatchery, I'm trying to figure out if it would be cheaper to rent a car, vs taking the shuttle bus and then a cab to the salmon hatchery.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Everything I've read says it's $20./pp round trip for all ages.

EDIT: Looks like the white bus recently went to $30.pp. http://www.juneautours.com/shuttle-mendenhall-glacier/

The blue bus has mixed reviews on Tripadvisor. Some are pretty bad.

 

[xlxo]

Also those last buses end of day returning to the dock can be super busy.

 

[anricat]

We're in the same boat (har har) for our upcoming cruise. Here's a thread I where I was asking very similar questions: http://www.disboards.com/threads/ju...m-private-whale-watch-tour-in-the-pm.3477861/

Here's what I ended up deciding to do. We are going to rent a car with Juneau Car Rental. Their rental office is located at the same dock that the Wonder has used in the past (and we don't know for sure, but they are likely to use the same dock). The rental is $60 for a compact car and we don't have to worry about waiting for a shuttle bus and we can get to the glacier earlier in the morning (before the buses even start running).

 

[AAAG]

Thanks Anricat. I think we will rent a car through them as well. It looks like that will be the best option, given that we want to visit the Salmon Hatchery as well. Plus lunch.
We're on the Aug 15th sailing... I think you might be the week before us.

 

[scgustafson]

We did the DCL excursion with the helicopter ride to Mendenhall and the sled dogs. It was incredible and well worth the price. The helicopter is much more than a ride, it is a tour of the area as well.

 

[Geomom]

Everything I've read says it's $20./pp round trip for all ages.

EDIT: Looks like the white bus recently went to $30.pp. http://www.juneautours.com/shuttle-mendenhall-glacier/

The blue bus has mixed reviews on Tripadvisor. Some are pretty bad.

I've been researching this as well for our 8/8 cruise. On the white bus, children age 3-12 are $25 each. It doesn't show up until you go to book it. The glacier visitor center entrance fee is included in the cost. ($5/person for ages 16+)

 

[AAAG]

I've been researching this as well for our 8/8 cruise. On the white bus, children age 3-12 are $25 each. It doesn't show up until you go to book it. The glacier visitor center entrance fee is included in the cost. ($5/person for ages 16+)

Thanks! That's not much of a discount for kids... so for our family of 4, the bus is $110. Plus cab fare to the Salmon Hatchery.
It looks like a rental car is the way to go.

 

[ludari]

I did a wonderful port adventure in Juneau but it's probably not for the kids. Anyway, it was called Bike & Brew and just over 8 miles but we had multiple stops. The first was the Chapel by the Lake with a view of Mendenhall Glacier, we continued to ride our bikes through University of Alaska/Juneau and stopped again at a beach on the west side of the glacier, for pictures and a snack. We then continued to the east side of Mendenhall Glacier to the visitor center. We got off our bikes and walked a short distance to get a closer view of the glacier and on the way back we saw several bears! After our visit to the glacier we boarded the vans to a micro-breweries where we sampled beer from across Alaska. Then the vans took us back to the ship. The guides where great and knowledgeable about the area however the downside was the bicycles where basically crap, nevertheless I had a wonderful time.

 

[Travelbug22]

I'm sorry not related. But I'm wondering if anyone see a tour booth when you get off the ship? Thanks.

 

[Jess_S]

I'm sorry not related. But I'm wondering if anyone see a tour booth when you get off the ship? Thanks.

Are you asking whether there are booths for tour companies near where the ship docks? If so, the answer is yes.

 

[Travelbug22]

Thanks Jess_S ...yes, that's my question. Do they have it also at Ketchikan and Skagway? I'm wondering if they are cheaper than DCL Excursion.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Thanks Jess_S ...yes, that's my question. Do they have it also at Ketchikan and Skagway? I'm wondering if they are cheaper than DCL Excursion.

Yes there are tour companies right at the docks and they are cheaper than booking via DCL. You can also google each port and book through any of the providers ahead of time.

For example, I can save nearly $100./pp on the train in Skagway. I won't get the souveneir ornament and the glass of sparkling cider, but for $100/pp I am sure I can buy those items if I want. And I am also sure that I don't want them.

 

[Travelbug22]

Do you think the tour companies are license? If they are I will just book when I get off and maybe negotiate the price

 

[cyndiloveswalt]

I haven't had a chance to really research it for myself yet but read on another board that there is city bus that will take you to Mendenhall for $2. Not sure it's true but I'm going to look into it

 

[travellingwithnikki]

I travelled to Mendenhall using the MGT bus - it was stupidly easy.

http://www.travellingwithnikki.co.uk/2014/02/HowToGetToTheMendenhallGlacier.html

 

[princesskayla]

The downside of taking the city bus is that drops you off a little over a mile down the road from the glacier visitor center. It is also a little uphill to the glacier. It is a beautiful walk that is on a paved sidewalk. There are also numerous trails that lead off the main sidewalk. Plus you have to watch out for bears. (seriously - this was my first Alaskan bear encounter - on that sidewalk) Another important bit of the puzzle is that the buses run every half hour. Route 3 and 4 will both take you from the downtown transportation center to the Glacier Spur Road (where you would get off to see the glacier). It is almost a hour ride from Downtown to the glacier road. So if you were to catch the bus at 9:05am, it would be 9:55 before you got to the road, then another 20-40 min walk to the visitors center. Repeat that to get back. Cheap but not the best use of your time. You would see most of Juneau though!
I would take the MGT bus - $16 R/T pp. It takes you straight there and drops you off across from the visitors center.

 

[anricat]

Thanks Anricat. I think we will rent a car through them as well. It looks like that will be the best option, given that we want to visit the Salmon Hatchery as well. Plus lunch.
We're on the Aug 15th sailing... I think you might be the week before us.

Yep, we are on the Aug 8 sailing so there's probably not enough time to report back on how it went but I'll try to post as much as I can, when I can.