Ah, Juneau. Alaska’s capital city, where Mother Nature puts on a show that rivals any Broadway spectacle and the excursions are as varied as the fish in the sea. I’ve had the pleasure—or misadventure, depending on which part of this story you latch onto—of visiting this picturesque port not once, but twice, on two different cruises. And let me tell you, it’s not just the scenery that changes; it’s the entire experience, especially when it comes to excursions.

On my first voyage aboard the Carnival cruise, I embarked on a whale-watching tour that was nothing short of spectacular. If you’re considering this, remember to check when the whales are most likely to put on their best performance. We hit the jackpot with a rare triple breach—a sight so magnificent, even the seasoned tour operators were scraping their jaws off the deck. The boat was a cozy, two-tiered vessel that balanced indoor warmth with outdoor spectacle perfectly. Despite my initial concern about the crowd (close to 60 people!), the viewing experience was unspoiled, proving that whales are the kind of divas that can draw everyone’s attention. The cherry on top? A bear sighting, courtesy of our eagle-eyed bus driver. This excursion was a solid 4.6 out of 5 stars in my book.

Then came the Royal Caribbean cruise and the gold panning excursion. Ah, the lure of gold—a promise that turns out to be more fool’s gold if you ask me. Despite assurances of striking it rich (okay, maybe not rich, but at least shiny), the experience panned out to be a dud. The guide knew as much about historical context as I know about quantum physics (which is to say, zilch), and the gold-panning instruction was as scarce as the gold in my pan. My advice? Skip the gold panning unless you’re already a pro, or enjoy the thrill of doing something without a clue. This one gets a disheartening 1 out of 5 stars.

But it wasn’t all missed connections with nature and history; Juneau served up some culinary delights that redeemed any excursion mishaps. Top of the list is Tracy’s King Crab Shack, right on the dock. Their fresh crab legs and lobster bisque are the stuff of legend—a solid 4.5-star food experience (the half-point deduction is for the seating scramble). If you find yourself in Juneau, don’t you dare miss this; just don’t save it for the last minute, or you’ll be dreaming of crab legs instead of eating them.

And let’s not forget the tram. The ticket to the top of Juneau for those breathtaking views can be bought on the spot, so no need to commit before you’ve even seen the weather. Speaking of, bring your rain gear; Juneau does a great impression of Seattle, just a tad chillier.

So, there you have it, a tale of two cruises, complete with highs, lows, and a bit of advice: always check the whale schedule, skip the gold rush, and never, ever pass up on fresh crab legs in Juneau. Juneau gets a 3.8 for the overall experience.

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