Narrated trip to Mendenhall Glacier on Blue Bus Glacier Express
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Narrated trip to Mendenhall Glacier on Blue Bus Glacier Express
By AJ Mine Gastineau Mill
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About
Ages 0-100, max of 40 per group
Duration: 1–8 hours
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
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Audio guide: English
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- All Fees and Taxes
- Entry/Admission - Mendenhall Glacier
What's not included- Gratuity for your Driver Guide is not included
- Start:Multiple meeting point options.
- Option 1490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USAThe Blue Bus Glacier Express departs from the Mount Roberts Tramway parking lot going to the Mendenhall Glacier. The Blue Bus picks up at “The BEAR Stop” ONLY at the Glacier to return to town.
- Option 2Mount Roberts Tramway, 490 S Franklin St, Juneau, AK 99801, USAThe Blue Bus runs from 8 AM to 6 PM on MOST DAYS! Look for “The Blue Bus” occasionally we use “The Orange Bus” in the parking lot of the Mount Roberts Tramway near the visitor center facility and Tracy‘s crab shack
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Pushchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 306071P1- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Most travellers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 40 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 306071P1
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Itinerary
- 1There are NO timed tickets! Go when you are ready and return before last Blue Bus!! Our knowledgeable guide will narrate on the drive to the Mendenhall glacier. You’ll hear stories of Historic Downtown Juneau and the mining days. Learn of our black bears whales and bald eagles. The blue bus glacier express runs every 30 minutes most days from the Mount Roberts tramway parking lot to the glacier. Some days it is every hour. Please check the last return with your driver. While at the glacier be sure to visit the glacier visitor Center building and Gift Shop. See the film about the glaciers and how they are formed. The national forest service imposes a five dollar fee for entry into the visitor center but that fee is included in the cost of your tour. Don’t miss nugget falls. One of the most fabulous sites of nature near Juneau. When returning to downtown remember “The Blue Bus” picks up right where It dropped you off and that is at the “Bear stop“.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Phillip M0 contributionsGreat Mine TourMine tour was a great way to get to actually go into an old mine. Tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and was very interesting.Written 6 September 2024
- TammyPatterson960 contributionsCool gold mining history tourInteresting local gold mining history tour, cool to see working mining machinery and walk inside the mine, gold panning was funWritten 17 August 2024
- 818jb0 contributionsHad a great timeHad a great time - guides were very informative and entertaining. Also learned how to "pan for gold" after the underground tourWritten 14 August 2024
- Gael C0 contributionsInformative and interestingA bit expensive for what it was, but everything in Alaska is. The tour was informative and interesting. Bring a sweater or light jacket as it is much cooler in the mine.Written 7 August 2024
- 39darrenr0 contributionsImmersive JuneauAlicia was our bus host and she did a wonderful job to tell us all sorts of details about the area from Botha local and tourist point of view. Very nicely done and M&M is a great way to see the site in JuneauWritten 7 August 2024
- 740blissa0 contributionsWe loved it!This experience was absolutely spectacular! The mine tour was full of interesting and educational information, as was the history of the mine after the tour. Panning for gold was great- we all got some gold and were helped when we needed it, but also given enough space to go at our own pace. All of the employees were so kind and helpful from start to finish. I highly recommend this tour! I’d definitely do it again.Written 21 July 2024
- 2BPs0 contributionsStruck gold booking the Juneau Underground Gold Mine and Panning Experience tourLearned a bunch about early miner days and the surrounding Juneau area. Was a perfect rainy day family tour. The heaters above during the talk were a nice touch. Friendly, informative team and Marianne was just the sweetest. Would absolutely recommend.Written 20 July 2024
- Lorum G0 contributionsA must if you have never visited a historic gold mine. Great family fun as wellGreat fun! Easy to find when we disembarked from cruise ship. Great fun ,knowledgeable people. Great fun Gold panning 👍Written 5 July 2024
- LoisRM0 contributionsAwful driver to see beautiful glacier and fallsWe booked this tour to see the Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls, and we did get to see them. We spent about 90 minutes there and it was beautiful. However, the driver/narrator for the tour spent most of the drive telling one bad, old joke after another plus promoting his personal photos and music CDs. There were also some subtle racist and political comments. We couldn't wait to get off the bus. I would advise finding another way to get to the glacier and falls.Written 4 July 2024
- 157ramkumars0 contributionsDriver left the sight seeing spot leaving behind few passengers not sticking to the told timeWe had added the tour excursion "Juneau Highlights Tour and Mendenhall Glacier" to our cruise. It was worth seeing Mendenhall Glacier. But the driver was bad. At the "Whale statue", he said the bus will wait 30 mins until 6:30 pm, but it was really bad of the driver to leave the spot at 6:25 pm, when not all passengers had boarded the bus. He said, the missing passengers can walk to the port as it's not a long walk. It was really very disappointing and unprofessional.Written 29 June 2024
- Relax5325710 contributionsRecommend this activitySuch a fascinating tour, friendly and knowledgeable staff, highly recommend! We booked on TripAdvisor instead of the cruise.Written 21 June 2024
- julier3250 contributionsA fantastic place for a holidayBeautiful place the cruise port was right in town with plenty of shops and places to go on tours,food restaurants and bars were plentiful and local people were friendly and helpful ,shops varied in prices but plenty of everything needed.Written 9 June 2024
- joshuapO5092BJ0 contributionsJuneau mine visit.Very cool to see, a little different than originally expected as the area of the mine was less than anticipated. The guide was very friendly and provided great information. Would have liked to have had more time doing the "panning" with the pay dirt. All in all a good experience, but a little pricey for what was provided/offered.Written 3 June 2024
- 17suzang0 contributionsYou will never forget this experience !!!!THIS IS A MUST DO !!!! Best thing we did at any port . The transportation was perfect and the tour of the old mine was amazing . You won’t regret doing this and knowing this history helps you understand so much about how these towns came to be .Written 10 May 2024
- Carol W0 contributionsWe found gold (and had a lot of fun)!Great experience to be able to learn about and explore a real mine and see how the original equipment was used (and still works today). It was also fun to pan for gold. Overall, a really enjoyable day!Written 28 April 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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4.0
76 reviews
Excellent
49
Very good
9
Average
3
Poor
6
Terrible
9
Tanksmon
Spartanburg, SC546 contributions
Do not take the city bus to Mendenhall Glavier. Pay the 45.00 and take the Blue Bus - worth every penny. We got a narrated history, inside scoop and a a super driver. Plus it only took 20-25 mins to get there. When we took the city bus it took over an hour and was not as comfortable by any means. We got on the blue bus at the Glacier and they quickly worked the credit card - it only cost 20.00 to return to Juneau. Super value!
Written 23 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thrilled you were here with us! So glad you enjoyed the Blue Bus Glacier Express!
Thank you and Blessed Travels,
Mariann
Written 4 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Warren B
1 contribution
May 2023
The driver was great and funny and informative. I rate 4 out of 5 due to a frustrating experience getting back from the glacier. The bus did in fact run every 30 minutes, but as we ran toward it exactly on the half-hour, the bus started to pull away with the driver seeing us but ignoring our waves. We were only seconds away if he had chosen to stop. I understand that could open the door for someone 45 seconds away and waving, and so on, but it put a big damper on the day waiting a fresh 30 minutes (actually 45 this time). The real frustration lies in a real line queue that would reward those who were waiting first. As we waited for the next bus, other began to arrive and there is no organized way that instructs how or where to wait in line. Soon a mob of people all surged the bus, ignoring those who had been waiting the longest. For the sake of my marriage and very tired wife, I had to get a bit testy with some others and explain we had been there on our feet for 45 minutes. We were getting on that bus! Please improve this process with a clearly designated line, or if not possible, explaining to people to form on their own respect those who have special needs and have been waiting waiting the longest.
Written 13 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fjHu2630
Tukwila, WA41 contributions
Jun 2022
We highly recommend using the Blue Bus Glacier Express to get to Mendenhall Glacier. Our driver was very informative. Felt very safe with our driver since he's been driving tours for years. He also provided a lot of useful knowledge since he is a member of the Native Tlingit Tribe. The bus picked us up exactly where it is was supposed to at the port and at the drop off point near the glacier. We had the freedom to walk to the glacier and explore the area and then hop back on the bus back to the port. Total time of our self lead excursion was about 3 1/2 hours. You can do it in less or more time depending on how much exploring you want to do.
Written 29 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Fidel G
21 contributions
Our driver was assigned the route last minute and he didn’t have the narration script so he improvised. Didn’t know Walmart failed in Juneau after 6 years because the locals banded to support the local family owned business-Fred Myers and Safeway Supermarket. Friendly gent. He also wasn’t used to driving a school bus. He slammed the breaks the first time not knowing how well they would work. Gave us all a jolt. Still the best value to Tongass National Forest and Mendenhall Glacier.
Written 7 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We strive to make every experience the best it can be. I’m sorry we did not accomplish that for you. I will make sure that our Team has the knowledge and training necessary to make that happen in future. Thank you for taking the time to share.
Blessed and Happy Travels,
Written 20 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rebecca J
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Family
Views were amazing, getting to and fro a nightmare. Longer than 30 min waits with people breaking into the lines with no sign of Blue Bus employees to monitor. Running late was the best reason to go to the front of the line and board a bus. Find other teansportation!
Written 13 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelimmersion
Cool,CA114 contributions
This is no longer just a bus. They were bought out and it now a “tour”. It’s 75 dollars now and it’s mostly sold out in advance whenever cruise ships are in port. The booth that you can purchase tickets right on the dock was packed and the attendant was very rude, basically telling us we’d be lucky to get on a bus today. It’s much cheaper and nicer to take a private taxi. We were a party of 6 and we got taxi by dLux rides. It was 150 round trip for all 6 of us. It took about 20 minutes and she was waiting for us at the exact time we asked for when we finished.
Written 29 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Meechi M
1 contribution
Jun 2023 • Family
I consider this just a ride to Mendenhall Glacier as I found the staff unprofessional and snarky. If you have an opportunity to use a vendor from your cruise line I would go that route. I went on my own with this company and got what I paid for-a less than average experience. The excursions I booked through the cruise line were much better. The drivers and narrators were much more professional and knowledgeable. We actually heard a heated verbal exchange between an employee and a guest while we were in line and when we were on our way the driver told dumb jokes and was snarky. The glacier was amazing though and should not be missed. I wouldn’t book this company again nor recommend them.
Written 15 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
yaorong2018
Maryland, NY3 contributions
Jun 2023 • Friends
Narrations and the flexibility in riding the bus are very attractive to us. The frequency of bus runs is great. The price is fair The only downside is it will get very crowded on the bus often times. On our way back to town we had to wait for next bus and some late get-on people have stand in the aisle.
Written 2 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FirsttimeEurope
Montreal, Canada8 contributions
Jul 2023
Pick up, both going to and from Mendenhall was very disorganized and stressful. Some of it was beyond the control of Blue Bus for two reasons: 1) 4th of July parade closed main road between 10 and 12:30 and we needed to be back on our cruise ship by 1:30; 2) Our cruise ship arrived one hour late.
But what was within their control was that they should have had some type of queue system for pick up, both from Mt. Roberts Tramway parking lot and from the Mendenhall visitor's center. In was a free for all getting onto the buses, some folks who had patiently been waiting to catch a bus (and only had less than an hour to visit the glacier) were left in the dust as other less considerate families just shoved their way onto the bus. And I don't think there was enough seating capacity to ensure everybody was able to catch the 9:30 bus back to ensure being back on the ship well before departure from Juneau.
Probably the most stressful portion of our whole Cruise! Maybe things runs more smoothly on non-Holiday days, but I would recommend other ways of seeing Mendenhall.
But what was within their control was that they should have had some type of queue system for pick up, both from Mt. Roberts Tramway parking lot and from the Mendenhall visitor's center. In was a free for all getting onto the buses, some folks who had patiently been waiting to catch a bus (and only had less than an hour to visit the glacier) were left in the dust as other less considerate families just shoved their way onto the bus. And I don't think there was enough seating capacity to ensure everybody was able to catch the 9:30 bus back to ensure being back on the ship well before departure from Juneau.
Probably the most stressful portion of our whole Cruise! Maybe things runs more smoothly on non-Holiday days, but I would recommend other ways of seeing Mendenhall.
Written 8 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Discover580969
Madrid, Spain9 contributions
City tour is minimal, did not see most listed sights, just some casual comments about where to shop. Ride out to glacier was worthwhile. Good narration. However, we were led to believe we could spend extra time at the glacier and continue with the next bus, but we’re only allowed to board a shuttle bus back, zero narration, zero information. We were a party of three, so would have been cheaper to take a cab and ask driver to wait.
Written 10 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How far from the Royal Caribbean cruise ship is the blue bus? Also, how far from the drop off point at Mendenhall to the visitor center?
Written 8 June 2022
Yes; they run on a solid schedule that you can trust and relax with.
Written 5 April 2022
How far from cruise ship docks is the bus stop? And how long approximately is the ride from the bus stop to the Glacier?
Thanks
Written 29 July 2021
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.