Cruising After 50 NCL Encore Juneau Alaska Cruise Port Guide | Mendenhall Glacier & Glacier Gardens
Cruising After 50 NCL Encore Juneau Alaska Cruise Port Guide 2026 | Mendenhall Glacier & Glacier Gardens Planning an Alaska cruise on the NCL Encore or another cruise ship visiting Juneau, Alaska in 2026? 🚢🏔️ Whether you are cruising after 50, planning your very first Alaska cruise, or simply looking for the best way to explore Juneau, this ultimate Juneau Alaska cruise port guide is designed to help you make the most of your day in port. In this video, we walk you through everything first-time Alaska cruisers need to know about visiting one of the most popular cruise ports in Alaska, with practical tips especially helpful for mature travelers looking for a balance of comfort, scenery, accessibility, and adventure. Whether you are searching for the best Juneau Alaska cruise excursions or trying to decide how to plan a DIY Juneau port day on a budget, we’ve got you covered! We dive into what’s within walking distance of the cruise ship pier and share the top things to do in Juneau near the port, including Mendenhall Glacier, Nugget Falls, Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, and Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure. Plus, we compare our 2023 and 2026 visits to Mendenhall Glacier to show how much the glacier has receded over time. Seeing the side-by-side difference was honestly eye-opening and one of the most memorable parts of returning to Juneau. 😊🏔️🚢 🦺 WHAT WE COVER IN THIS VIDEO: • Juneau Cruise Port Overview: Where you dock and what’s within walking distance. • Getting Around Juneau: Breakdown of local transportation, shuttles, and taxis. • Mendenhall Glacier & Nugget Falls: What the trail conditions are really like during the early Alaska cruise season (May snow and slush vs. June clear paths!). • Top Juneau Attractions: Reviews Macaulay Salmon Hatchery, and Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure inside the Tongass National Forest. • DIY vs. Ship Excursions: Pros, cons, and tips to help you decide if you should book a tour or explore Juneau on your own. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 NCL Encore Juneau Alaska Cruise Port Guide 03:59 Getting Around Juneau 05:53 Top Things to Do Near Juneau Port Without an Excursion 08:14 Juneau Alaska Cruise Excursion Overview 09:33 Macaulay Salmon Hatchery Tour 12:12 Mendenhall Glacier Experience 15:51 Glacier Gardens Rainforest Adventure (Tongass National Forest) 19:22 Juneau Excursion Pros and Cons 20:42 DIY vs. Excursion: Which Is Better? 22:11 Essential Tips for First-Time Alaska Cruise Travelers 🚢 MORE ALASKA CRUISE RESOURCES ✨ Check out our full NCL Encore Tips Playlist for cabin tours, Haven reviews, Alaska cruise guides, cruise packing tips, and more! 👉 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzYEp6eOW5gUBJK71iWPc9nkzrA7KMnhv 🌊 SUBSCRIBE TO CALM SEA CRUISE Join Pat and Kathy for real cruise experiences to help you cruise smarter 📺 https://www.youtube.com/@CalmSeaCruise 🍪 LOVE CRUISE FOOD Watch Calm Sea Cooks 👉 https://www.youtube.com/@CalmSeaCooks 🧳 CRUISE ESSENTIALS & PACKING LISTS Shop the gear we actually use for packing, filming, and living life at sea. 🛍️ Start here 👉 https://www.amazon.com/shop/calmseacruise 🎒 Packing & Travel Gear 👉 https://amzn.to/4p9JbCv 🪶 Cruise Essentials 👉 https://amzn.to/45QcTVA As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. 📄 FREE CRUISE PACKING CHECKLIST 👉 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_A7u6wHQMUnO_zLO2ZLSUKWxcoRD0ScZ/view 💬 STAY CONNECTED 📸Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/calmseacruise 📱TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@calmseacruise 🎓 CREATOR & RETIREMENT RESOURCES Thinking about sharing your own travel experiences or planning your next chapter? These are the resources we’ve personally used: ▶️ YouTube After 40 Build Your Channel 👉 https://groundedlife.thinkific.com/courses/youtube-after-40?ref=8ea664 ▶️ Retirement Travel Jumpstart 👉 https://groundedlife.thinkific.com/courses/retirement-travel-jumpstart?ref=8ea664 #AlaskaCruise #CruisingAfter50 #JuneauAlaska #MendenhallGlacier #NCLEncore