Major Attraction Reduces Hours Just as Alaska Season Gets Underway
In late February, mass federal layoffs in the US Forest Service and National Park Service significantly reduced staffing at Juneau’s Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center (MGVC) – leaving cruisers bound for Alaska wondering how their cruise tours might be affected.
Now, we’re starting to get some answers. Cruisers will still be able to visit the famous Mendenhall Glacier and surrounding recreation area, but the hours of operation will be reduced for the MGVC.
The center will be open intermittently throughout the month of April 2025 – with the first cruise ship of the season, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Bliss, calling on Juneau on April 14, 2025.
The schedule becomes more consistent after May 4, 2025, with the new operating hours announced as 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Sunday to Friday.
The center will be closed on Saturdays – when Juneau already has a reduced limit on the number of cruise passengers that can visit. The normal cap is 16,000 cruisers per day, but that number drops to 12,000 on Saturdays.
“Our goal is to maintain the unique and memorable experience visitors have come to expect by adapting to staffing changes and ensuring the area remains accessible and safe,” said Juneau District Ranger Michael Downs.
A team of volunteers and employees will work together to manage crowd control, safety, and provide support to tour companies and guides.
Additionally, the hours for the recreation area remain unchanged and will be open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight throughout the summer.
“A collaborative team of Forest Service employees, Discovery Southeast employees and volunteers, and the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida cultural ambassadors will work together to manage the center, conduct crowd control, protect natural resources in the high-density recreation environment, manage bear and human interactions, provide for visitor safety, manage the bookstore, provide interpretive education and information, and ensure bathroom facilities are operational,” reads a press release from the USDA Forest Service.
Employees from the Juneau Ranger District and the Tongass Supervisor’s Office and the Regional Office will also help cover staffing needs during the cruise season.
How Will Alaska Cruisers be Impacted?
With 2025 gearing up to be another busy Alaska cruise season, it’s good news that passengers shouldn’t be too impacted by the operational changes to the Mendenhall Glacier’s visitor center.
Cruise ships will still be able to call on Juneau – bringing an estimated 1.6 million cruisers to the port this summer – and visitors can still explore the glacier’s recreation area with or without a guide.
That said, even without the change to the operating hours, guests are not allowed to actually walk on the 36.78 mi² glacier due to glacial recession. An exception is made, however, for guided helicopter tours that include walks on the ice.
But for most guests, the best way to explore the glacier is through panoramic views and lookout opportunities from inside the center and by hiking the surrounding trails.
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While every itinerary is different, there are some port calls that are scheduled to begin and/or end outside of the visitor center’s operating hours.
Though the trails in the recreational area will remain open throughout daylight hours, those that want to go inside the visitor center to listen to ranger talks, view exhibits and a short film about the glacier, visit the indoor viewing area, and peruse the gift shops will want to plan accordingly.
Of course, local tour companies and the cruise lines will continue to monitor the situation for any future tweaks or changes that might impact guests.
Major Attraction Reduces Hours Just as Alaska Season Gets Underway