One of the most popular ports of call on the Alaska Panhandle cruise is Juneau, the capital city of Alaska. It is the third largest urban center in Alaska with just over 32,100 residents. Juneau is, however, the most isolated state capital in the entire nation. No other capital city lacks a highway connection to the outside world. Juneau can only be reached by air or sea.

It is also the only capital city in the nation that borders another country, as the city and borough limits reach to the crest of the mountains to the east that constitute the international boundary. But there is no physical connection with Canada. The city and borough also constitute the second largest corporate city in the nation, the largest being Sitka. Juneau is approximately 2.5 times larger in land area than the state of Rhode Island, yet it is only a city.

Juneau is located along the shores of the Gastineau Channel, which narrows to the north of the city center, making it impossible for ships to continue northward. Thus all sea traffic must depart to the south and sail around Douglas Island, which blocks the city from the main Inside Passage. The city is actually composed of three distinct segments:

• The former city of Douglas, located across the channel from central Juneau is now a residential suburb.
• The central city, which is quite small in land area, is tucked up against the steep slopes that during winter months can pose an avalanche threat to the downtown and government center.
• Mendenhall with Mendenhall Valley, which is home to the majority of Juneau residents, located about 10 miles north of the central city and connected by one lone road.

Mendenhall valley is the result of the retreating Mendenhall Glacier having carved its channel to the Inside Passage. The front face of the glacier is just a few miles north of the residential area and is a major tourist attraction. This is just one of many outflows from the massive Juneau Ice Field, one of the largest glacial fields in Alaska. The ice field appears to be relatively stable, but the Mendenhall and Lemon Creek Glaciers have shown retreat since the early 1900’s, part of the overall warming of the planet that has been ongoing for 10,000 years since the end of the last Ice Age. Today’s addition of carbon dioxide and other pollutants to the atmosphere are simply hastening a process that has its origins in the ebb and flow of temperature on earth for millions of years. But there is no doubt that human pollutants added to the atmosphere are harmful.

The main core of Juneau is very cosmopolitan in its overall flavor, yet it bears architectural traces of the late 19th century gold rush era with its many Victorian buildings that reflected the wealth of the time. Cruise ships dock in great numbers during summer, the wharves running parallel to the city’s main street. There can be as many as five large ships can be in port on a given day, adding thousands of visitors to mingle with the local populace. Downtown Juneau has scores of shops strictly catering to visitors. In recent years large jewelry chains that are so dominant in Caribbean ports of call are now found in the Alaskan ports. It makes me wonder why a cruise passenger would book an Alaska cruise and then spend time shopping for watches or diamonds when there is so much to see in each port.

When visiting Juneau for the day, you can spend your time walking through the downtown area, looking at the shops, but also taking in the Victorian architecture that so characterizes the city center. There are a few important landmarks worthy of note. You can visit many of these sites on your own, or take a city tour offered by your cruise line to see:

• Mount Roberts Tramway – Only if the air is clear and visibility is good should you take the tramway from just off the cruise dock to the top of Mount Roberts. The view over Juneau, Douglas Island and the Gastineau Channel is absolutely spectacular when visibility is good.
• The Alaska State Capitol – Located above the downtown, this imposing building was built in 1931, but it looks more like a bank building than a capitol. It is relatively small and unimpressive, but the tour does give you an understanding of how the state is run and why the capitol has remained in Juneau, isolated from the rest of the populace.
• Alaska Governor’s Mansion – Built in the early years of Juneau, this beautiful colonial building is home to the governor and a venue for state functions. It is not open to the public, but you can photograph it from the outside, and the view from the street over the Gastineau Channel makes the walk worthwhile.
• Macaulay Salmon Hatchery – Here you have a chance to learn about the life cycle of salmon and see fry and young salmon being raised for later release. The hatchery is located a short distance from the city center.
• Saint Nicholas Church – A small Russian Orthodox church constructed out of wood and serving the small native community.
• Juneau-Douglas City Museum – A small collection on the local history and geography makes this a worthy stop to learn more about the area.
• Juneau Public Library – This new building overlooking the cruise docks has a modern vibe and some beautifully designed stained glass windows.
• Alaska-Gastineau Mill and Gold Mine Tour – Although oriented to the visitor, this tour does help you gain an understanding of the gold mines that put Juneau on the map.
• Alaskan Brewery and Bottling Company – Located in the city, this is a famous microbrewery and does offer a tour and tasting.
• Red Dog Saloon – Very touristy, but it does somehow capture some of the feeling of old Juneau back in the gold rush days.

There are many out of door activities that are either available through your cruise line:

• Mendenhall Glacier – The number one attraction in Juneau, this is the only urban glacier in America. There is a visitor’s center that overlooks the face of the glacier, and there is a hiking trail that brings you close to the front edge. During summer you may see the calving, that is the dropping off of large chunks of ice that splash into the melt water lake at the glacier’s edge. Your ship may also offer helicopter tours to the top of the glacier, or dog sled runs farther onto the glacier.
• Tracy Arm Fjord – Two active glaciers are still carving the fjord, but a boat tour will bring you face to face with this spectacular sight located southeast of Juneau. The overall scenery is quite breathtaking.
• Nugget Falls – Located near the Mendenhall Glacier, this powerful waterfall is very prominent. The walk from the parking area is relatively level and gives you a chance to enjoy the fresh air and scent of the trees.
• Whale Watching Tours – There are several boat operators that will take you out into the main Inside Passage for a few hours of whale watching. Orca and Humpback whales are often sighted. There are eagles, seals and dolphins to see as well, and this is also a very scenic adventure
• Perseverance National Recreation Trail – Leading out from central Juneau this trail takes you into the mountains and forests where you forget that the city center is a short distance away. This is a favored local hiking trail.

Juneau is a relatively young city, having been developed during the 1880’s, when gold was discovered. The territorial capital was moved here in 1906 from Sitka, which had been the prior Russian capital since it was first founded. Before Juneau existed, the Tlingit tribe would fish for salmon in the waters of the Gastineau Channel and make camp along its shores. It was not until 1880, that Europeans showed any interest in the area, and that was only to prospect for gold, which was found at the head of what is now known as Gold Creek.

Today state and federal government payrolls are the largest sources of income in Juneau year around. But during summer over a quarter million cruise ship tourists visit, spending money in the shops and restaurants, as well as purchasing tours. Add to this the docking fees, and tourism is a major addition to the city’s economy. Juneau will no doubt remain as the state capital because of the high cost to build a new infrastructure in the event voters chose to relocate the capital. The measure has failed to pass on several occasions mainly because of the high cost of relocation.

For more information about cruising Alaska, please check out my upcoming traveler’s companion book Cruising Alaska. It is scheduled to be released by the end of March. — Dr. Lew Deitch www.www.doctorlew.com

Many people who had planned a Baltic Sea cruise for this summer are now reconsidering and asking, “Is it right to spend some of my money in Russia?” The question is in response to the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russian rebel forces that are believed to have the military backing of the Russian government. Western powers have placed strong economic sanctions against sectors of the Russian economy in hopes of persuading President Putin to withdraw his support for the rebels. Many people living in the West now feel that it would be disloyal to their governments if they were to visit Saint Petersburg as part of a Baltic Sea cruise, as this adds income to the Russian economy.

I take a different view on the issue of whether or not to cruise the Baltic Sea this year. There are many aspects of the long and often painful relationship between Russia and the Ukraine that are not discussed by Western media. This is not to say that war is the answer to solving the long-standing difficulties.

• In 1654, Ukraine sought union with Russia to protect their land against Poland
• In 1783, Russia took the Crimean Peninsula
• During the 18th century many Russians settled in eastern Ukraine
• In 1921, Ukraine became a Soviet State after the Russian Revolution
• In the 1950’s Soviet Premier Khrushchev gave Crimea to the Ukraine
• In 1991, the Soviet Union broke apart and both Russia and Ukraine separated, but Russians felt that Crimea belonged to them

The long history of Ukraine being a part of the Russian Empire and later Soviet Union has encouraged the Russian majority to think of the territory as a part of their nation. Russians feel the move by Ukraine toward stronger ties with the West as a threat to their national interests.

Cruising the Baltic Sea is a great personal experience. All of the countries you visit are rich in history, architecture and cultural traditions. And Saint Petersburg is the jewel in the crown of such a cruise.

• Why deny yourself the pleasure of fulfilling a wish to see this part of the world and especially to visiting the elegant city of Saint Petersburg?
• Why punish the people of Saint Petersburg by hurting their local economic base that is so dependent upon tourism?
• The people of Saint Petersburg have no animosity toward us, and they welcome us as visitors.
• Will a tourist boycott of one innocent city cause the Russian government to change its views regarding Ukraine?
• By cancelling a booking or deciding against a Baltic Sea cruise you also hurt the economies of Denmark, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland and Sweden, as summer tourism is a vital part of their livelihood.

The politics of the relationship between Ukraine and Russia must be worked out by the leadership of the two nations involved and with the backing of their citizens. The roots of the conflict are centuries old and we cannot begin to understand the depth of feelings held on both sides. So take that Baltic Sea cruise and enjoy each and every port, leaving the political decisions to world leaders.

Submitted by, Dr. Lew Deitch www.www.doctorlew.com