Juneau Alaska Helicopter Tour & Guided Walk on Mendenhall Glacier - From the Juneau Cruise Port

Overview of This Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter & Walking Adventure

This video documents a complete Alaska helicopter tour and guided glacier walk booked through a cruise ship excursion program in Juneau. The creators take viewers through every stage of the experience, starting from the Juneau cruise port, through the booking and preparation with NorthStar Trekking, the helicopter flight over and landing on Mendenhall Glacier, and the hands-on walking experience across the ice with professional guides. The couple had previously visited Juneau and seen Mendenhall from the visitor center and nearby trails, but wanted to experience the glacier from both the air and ground level during a short port day.

Shot during a 31-day transpacific repositioning cruise from Australia to Seattle aboard Carnival Luminosa, the video captures what favorable weather conditions—clear skies without heavy rain or wind—made possible for glacier flightseeing and walking. The creators chose to book through the cruise line rather than independently, prioritizing the peace of mind of a guaranteed return to the ship before all-aboard time, a practical consideration when port days are limited.

Key Details About the Glacier Tour Experience

• The excursion operator, NorthStar Trekking, provides all necessary gear for helicopter flight and glacier walking, shown in detail during the gearing-up segment.
• Participants receive a safety briefing before boarding, meet their pilot, and get a helicopter briefing covering what to expect during the flight.
• The helicopter route includes scenic flightseeing over Juneau, Nugget Falls, Mendenhall Lake, the glacier moraine, and a glacier dogsledding camp before landing on the ice.
• Once on the glacier, guests put on crampons with help from guides and walk across the ice, learning about the glacier's features and water sources during the walkabout.
• The experience includes a water break during the glacier walk and views of granite rocks and moraine before the helicopter returns to pick up the group.
• Booking through the cruise ship offered logistical simplicity and guaranteed timing for passengers with limited time in port.

Why This Excursion Matters for Alaska Cruise Planners

For cruise passengers planning Alaska itineraries, this video addresses a real decision point: whether a helicopter glacier tour belongs in the budget and schedule. The creators' honest walkthrough—showing gear, actual walking conditions, the time involved, and the booking process—provides the practical detail needed to weigh the excursion against other port activities. Many Alaska cruisers return to the same ports multiple times; this video illustrates how repeat visitors can deepen their experience by choosing activities that move beyond standard shore walks into more immersive, aerial, and hands-on encounters with iconic landmarks like Mendenhall Glacier. For those deciding whether the cost and time investment are justified, seeing the real flow of the day and the actual conditions on the glacier helps set realistic expectations.

Common Questions About Mendenhall Glacier Helicopter Tours

What gear does the tour operator provide?

The video shows NorthStar Trekking providing all necessary equipment for the helicopter flight and glacier walk. Viewers can see the gearing-up process in detail, though the specific inventory of items is shown rather than listed verbally.

How long is the entire experience from cruise port to return?

The video shows the full timeline from leaving the cruise port through gearing up, helicopter briefing, the flight, glacier landing, the guided walk, and return to base camp, but does not state a specific total duration. Viewers can estimate by following the video's progression.

What if weather is bad on the day of the tour?

The creators mention they were fortunate to have clear skies without heavy rain or strong winds, which made the experience "even more incredible." The video does not explain how the operator handles cancellations or rescheduling due to poor weather, though safety conditions are clearly a factor.

Why book through the cruise ship instead of independently?

The creators specifically state they chose the cruise-line booking because they had a short port day and wanted peace of mind about returning to the ship before all-aboard time. Independent booking would have added uncertainty about logistics and timing.

What previous Mendenhall experience did the creators have?

They had visited Juneau before, toured the Mendenhall Visitor Center, walked near Mendenhall Lake, and explored Nugget Falls. This helicopter and glacier walk was their first time seeing the glacier from the air and walking on its surface.