dawes glacier Archives - Northern Viking Explorer

October 2, 2026October 2, 2026

MSC Poesia Alaska Cruise Day 5: Dawes Glacier & Juneau Trolley to Mendenhall Glacier 🚢

MSC Poesia Alaska Cruise Dawes Glacier, Juneau & Mendenhall Glacier Day 5 Vlog

Day 5 of our 7-night Alaska cruise aboard the MSC Poesia was one of those days that felt like we packed two completely different Alaska adventures into one. We started the morning sailing through the dramatic scenery of Endicott Arm toward Dawes Glacier, then spent the afternoon in Juneau on a trolley excursion out to Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls.

Watch our full Day 5 MSC Poesia Alaska cruise vlog here:

🧊 Sailing Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier

We were up early as the MSC Poesia made its way through Endicott Arm. The morning started out cloudy and a little foggy, but the scenery was beautiful, with steep mountains dropping into turquoise water, waterfalls along the cliffs, and icebergs floating around the ship.

As we got closer to Dawes Glacier, we headed to some of the forward outdoor viewing areas and listened to the ship’s naturalist provide information about the glacier and the surrounding area. The weather changed constantly, with rain, clouds, and even some sunshine breaking through, but it almost added to the atmosphere.

We ended up getting to within roughly two and a half miles of Dawes Glacier, which was one of the closer views we’ve had during our visits to the area. Between the glacier, icebergs, waterfalls, seals, and towering mountains around us, it was an incredible way to start the day.

Dawes Glacier viewed from MSC Poesia while sailing through Endicott Arm, Alaska. — Our view of Dawes Glacier from aboard MSC Poesia as we sailed through Endicott Arm.

☕ Brunch & a Little Time Aboard MSC Poesia

After heading away from Dawes Glacier, we warmed up and went to Le Fontaine Restaurant for brunch. There was a special brunch menu that morning with a mix of breakfast and lunch choices, which was perfect after spending so much time outside.

We also checked out MasterChef at Sea in the theater before getting ready for our afternoon arrival in Juneau. By then, it really did feel like we had already experienced a full day, and we hadn’t even reached port yet.

🚋 Juneau Trolley to Mendenhall Glacier

When we arrived in Juneau, the MSC Poesia was tendering passengers ashore before moving to the dock later in the afternoon. It did take us quite a while to reach shore, so if you are booking a private excursion on a tender day, we would definitely recommend leaving plenty of extra time.

Our excursion for the afternoon was the Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Tour with Juneau Tours. We met near the Goldbelt Tram and boarded one of their trolley-style buses for a narrated drive through Juneau and out toward Mendenhall Glacier.

Along the way, our guide pointed out some of Juneau’s well-known sights, surrounding mountains, and other interesting spots around the city while sharing information about the area. It was a fun way to see more of Juneau while making our way to the glacier.

🔗 Book the Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Tour with Juneau Tours:
https://www.juneautours.com/

Juneau Tours trolley used for our Mendenhall Glacier Shuttle Tour in Juneau, Alaska. — Our Juneau Tours trolley took us through downtown Juneau and out to Mendenhall Glacier.

🏔️ Mendenhall Glacier & Nugget Falls

Once we arrived at Mendenhall Glacier, we had about two hours to explore. We started at the visitor center, where there are some fantastic views overlooking Mendenhall Lake and the glacier.

From there, we walked the trail out to Nugget Falls. The trail is fairly flat and easy to follow, and the waterfall at the end is impressive. Standing near the falls, you can really feel and hear the power of the water, with Mendenhall Lake and the glacier nearby.

On the way back, we stopped at some of the viewpoints closer to the visitor center for more views of Mendenhall Glacier before it was time to meet our trolley for the ride back to Juneau.

Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall Lake viewed near the visitor center in Juneau, Alaska. — A beautiful view of Mendenhall Glacier and Mendenhall Lake during our afternoon excursion in Juneau.

🌅 Back Aboard the MSC Poesia

We made it back to the ship in time for a beautiful evening sail away from Juneau. Since we had missed our normal main dining room time, we grabbed a late dinner at the buffet and then enjoyed some of the evening entertainment, including the Silent Disco and comedy in Teatro Carlo Felice.

It was a long day, but a fantastic one. Seeing Dawes Glacier in the morning and Mendenhall Glacier in the afternoon made Day 5 feel especially memorable, and the trolley excursion gave us a fun way to see more of Juneau along the way.

If you’re planning an MSC Poesia Alaska cruise, visiting Dawes Glacier, or looking for a Mendenhall Glacier excursion in Juneau, we hope our experience helps with your own Alaska cruise planning.

Watch the full Day 5 vlog here:

Grand Princess Alaska Cruise Day 5 – Scenic Cruising Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier 🏔️❄️

Day 5 aboard the Grand Princess was truly breathtaking as we cruised through Alaska’s stunning Endicott Arm toward the impressive Dawes Glacier. This scenic sailing day offered awe-inspiring views of towering fjords, floating blue icebergs, and the vast icy expanse of the massive Dawes Glacier itself, all from the comfort of the ship.

While enjoying the peaceful surroundings, we were lucky to spot a bear on the shore and later a whale swimming nearby, making this day even more memorable.

After a day full of incredible natural beauty and wildlife watching, we returned to Botticelli’s main dining room for the Formal Night Gala Dinner. The elegant atmosphere and delicious cuisine made for the perfect dining experience.

The evening wrapped up with an incredible show, Remembering a Legend – A Tribute to Whitney Houston, performed by Cheaza in the Princess Theatre. It was a moving and powerful performance that capped off a wonderful day aboard the Grand Princess.

About the Grand Princess Alaska Cruise Series

This video and blog post are part of our complete Grand Princess Alaska Cruise Series, where we share detailed ship tours, cabin walk-throughs, port excursions, dining reviews, and entertainment highlights from our 7-night round trip cruise sailing from Vancouver, BC.

Cruise Details

📍 Ship: Grand Princess
📍 Cruise Line: Princess Cruises
📍 Departure Port: Vancouver, BC, Canada
📍 Itinerary: 7-night Alaska Cruise (round trip from Vancouver)

Watch the Day 5 Video

Experience this amazing scenic cruising day for yourself by watching the full Day 5 video here: Grand Princess Alaska Cruise – Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier | Day 5 🎥

August 5, 2023August 5, 2023

Ovation of the Seas Alaska Cruise – Dawes Glacier & Juneau – VLOG Day 5

In this Day 5 VLOG of our unforgettable Alaska cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean Ovation of the Seas, we embark on a breathtaking journey up the Endicott Arm to witness the majestic Dawes Glacier. The wonders continue as we head to Juneau, Alaska, where we’ll uncover the captivating whale statue in Overstreet Park, explore the charming Downtown Juneau, take a thrilling ride on the Goldbelt Tram, and so much more. Come and join us as we share our thrilling adventures on this remarkable Alaskan cruise aboard the Ovation of the Seas.

🔗 Goldbelt Tram – https://www.goldbelttram.com/

📽️ Mendenhall Glacier & Nugget Falls Shore Excursion – Juneau Alaska – https://youtu.be/V_dGMomJJgY

August 2, 2022August 2, 2022

Discovery Princess Alaska Cruise – Endicott Arm & Juneau Alaska – VLOG Day 4

Are you sailing to Alaska on the Discovery Princess cruise ship? In this Day 4 VLOG on the Discovery Princess we will be sailing the Endicott Arm to the Dawes Glacier and then visiting the city of Juneau Alaska. While in Juneau we will explore Nugget Falls, Mendenhall Glacier, Downtown Juneau, and more. So, join us for this awesome Day 4 Vlog from our trip to Alaska.

January 13, 2020January 13, 2020

Cruising the Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier – Alaska – What to Expect

In this video, You will see what our cruising experience was like while sailing the Endicott Arm and visiting the Dawes Glacier in Alaska. We spent several hours cruising the Endicott Arm and then stopped to view this magnificent Glacier in Alaska for about an hour. The cruise ship turned around after 30 minutes so that both sides of the ship could enjoy the scenery and the glacier. We were able to see calving on the glacier and got to enjoy waterfalls, icebergs and scenic views along the Endicott Arm. This video was filmed while sailing on the Norwegian Joy to Alaska. If you have not taken an Alaska cruise this is a must-do!

August 16, 2019August 16, 2019

Norwegian Joy Cruise VLOG – Day 4 Juneau Alaska – Dawes Glacier – Mendenhall Glacier

This day 4 Vlog is of our cruise to Alaska onboard the Norwegian Joy. In this video, we will visit Juneau Alaska, Dawes Glacier in the Endicott Arm and the Mendenhall Glacier. We will also walk the Nugget Falls Trail to Nugget Falls from the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor’s Center. This cruise set sail from Seattle and visits several ports and locations in Alaska and B.C. including Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Victoria and the Dawes Glacier in Endicott Arm. The Norwegian Joy is part of the Norwegian’s Breakaway Plus class and is a sister ship to the Norwegian Escape and Norwegian Bliss. The NCL Joy is a massive ship that is 333.46 metres in length and can hold 3883 passengers and 1700 crew. The Norwegian Joy currently has itineraries to the Mexican Riviera, Pacific Coast, Alaska, Bermuda, Panama Canal and the Caribbean. The NCL Joy has so many features including go-carts, laser tag, mini-golf, water slides, pools, hot tubs, buffets, restaurants, casino, theater and so much more. This Norwegian ship was truly amazing and a Joy to sail on.

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