Your whale watching adventure begins with a narrated transfer from the pier to Auke Bay. There your captain and onboard naturalist will welcome you aboard the North Star, our state of the art 48-passenger jet boat custom designed for Juneau whale watching, with large windows and an outside viewing deck. On clear days you'll have a beautiful view of the Mendenhall Glacier as your sightseeing vessel departs the dock. Juneau has a healthy humpback whale population with some 65 whales returning each season to feed in the nutrient-rich waters, and your captain is excellent at locating them. In fact, whale sightings are guaranteed! If a whale is not spotted during your cruise we'll refund you $100 ($50 for children). Your captain will let you know when whales are spotted, but it's more likely you'll first be alerted by the collective chorus of "Oohhs!" and "Ahhs!" from your fellow adventurers as they witness a giant humpback suddenly breach.