Hot Tub Boat Tour in Juneau – Yes, you read that correctly!

The hot tub boat in Juneau is the activity you didn’t know you needed. Wow, what a unique thing to do, and if you’re like me and spend most of your time in Alaska hiking, getting out on the water IN a hot tub is a welcome and relaxing experience. I know this may sound so very odd, but let me just say that you don’t know what you’re missing until you head into the harbor, surrounded by mountains and birds while you soak in a hot tub. It’s a fantastic experience and something I expect to see popping up in more places, but for now it’s a gem of Juneau.

We’ve got the scoop on just what to expect and how the whole hot tub boat experience works, because we’ve gotten a lot of questions about it. IntoAlaska is owned by the coolest women and they love being able to offer such a unique experience to people visiting Juneau. It’s not something you see every day, so we’ll help you understand how to enjoy the hot tub boat and add it to your time in Juneau. If you have any questions about this or need additional recommendations for things to do in town, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a great Alaska trip!

Is the Juneau Hot Tub Boat Worth It?

Yes! Don’t get me wrong, I love visiting Juneau and can always find new things to do and places to explore all around the city and beyond, but also, sometimes I don’t want to be wildly active. I had never thought about Juneau as being a relaxing destination until I took out the hot tub boat for a sunny afternoon on the Gastineau Channel. It’s easy to drive, easy to enjoy, and such a different sort of thing to do. I think what makes the hot tub boat in Juneau such a great activity is that it combines three great things into one easy activity: beautiful scenery, being on the water, and relaxing in a hot tub.

Driving a boat makes a lot of people nervous because of the general operation and having to be aware of obstacles and other boats, but all of those things are minimal when you do IntoAlaska’s hot tub boat. The part of the channel you’ll be navigating has very little boat traffic and is quite a wide space. If you don’t have much experience boating, you’ll still be able to safely and confidently operate the hot tub boat in Juneau. Before you get out on the water, you’ll get a full orientation of how the hot tub boat operates, from the heater to the motor, and you’ll also be shown a clear map of where you can safely go. It’s not a powerful boat and since it’s full of hot water, you won’t want to go fast, so take comfort in knowing that you’ll be just fine dinking around and relaxing, taking in the views of the surrounding mountains.

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As a bonus, doing the Juneau hot tub boat is a great mini-wildlife safari. I’m not saying that you’ll be surrounded by orcas when you’re out on the water, but there are lots of harbor seals and sea birds all around this part of the Gastineau Channel. It makes it a little more fun even when you’re tooling around the bay and curious seals repeatedly pop up close to you to check out what’s going on. I didn’t have any jump into the hot tub boat with me, but that would’ve made for a great story.

Tips for the Hot Tub Boat in Juneau

When you rent the hot tub boat in Juneau, you’re getting a boat that is 90% hot tub. While on board you are IN the water. It’s not a boat to go sightseeing in while you sit on deck, but it’s for relaxing while taking in the views. After you go through your orientation for how to operate the hot tub boat safely, then you’ll get to get in. This is a no-shoes no-shirt experience from the get go. You’ll be able to leave your things at the IntoAlaska dock, stored securely, so nothing gets wet that shouldn’t. There are changing rooms in their lobby, so you’ll have an easy time getting ready for cruising around in the hot tub boat. Rain or shine, it’s fun.

For anyone who wants to do the hot tub boat but feels unsure about driving it around the harbor, here’s a tip: ASK FOR HELP. While you’re the one renting the boat and it’s your time to enjoy, if you don’t understand steering or how to navigate on the water, say so and have your IntoAlaska host explain the movement and driving differently. Because the steering is done with a classic rudder at the back of the boat versus a steering wheel like a speedboat, you just have to get your mind into the method of how opposite motion from the direction you want to go is how you steer. It’s similar to backing up a car with a trailer. A great way to get used to steering the hot tub boat is just to go slow. You’ll need to go pretty slow as you leave the marina because it’s a no wake zone, but this is actually also good practice for getting a feel for the boat before being on the open water.

Being Prepared for the Hot Tub Boat in Juneau

I think it goes without saying that you need to arrive at the IntoAlaska dock for the hot tub boat with your swimsuit. The boat is full a hot tub and NOT a boat with a sun deck. If you’re on the boat, you’re in the water. Upon check-in there are changing rooms if you arrive still in your regular clothes, and then you can store your things securely there in the office. You don’t need to bring beach towells with you as IntoAlaska provides them (and they’re nice!).

You’re welcome to bring snacks and drinks on the Juneau hot tub boat, but you need to be tidy about it. There is storage on the sides for you to keep anything, and then once you’re out on the water and ready to enjoy, pull your snacks and drinks out and have fun. You can bring alcohol on the hot tub boat too, but just not anything in a glass bottle or hard alcohol. Whomever is the designated boat driver cannot drink while operating the boat. It’s all about safety. Speaking of safety, the hot tub boat experience is kid-friendly. Kids 13 and under do have to wear life jackets, because while it is a hot tub and you wouldn’t normally wear a PFD in a hot tub, this is also a boat, and safety laws require life jackets for kids. Remember “kids don’t float” so follow the rules.

You can bring your camera if you like, and there is a dry place to put it, but I would recommend sticking with a smart phone in a waterproof case or a GoPro since the whole experience is in the water, both because it’s a hot tub and because you’re on the Gastineau Channel. It’s fun to get photos in a hot tub boat, especially in Juneau because nobody expects to see this sort of activity in Alaska. I mean, did you ever consider having an afternoon out on a hot tub boat in Alaska before now? It’s pretty fun and unique and definitely worth capturing the memories.

How Long is the Hot Tub Boat Experience in Juneau

When you rent the hot tub boat from IntoAlaska, you’re reserving it for 90 minutes. This is plenty of time to get comfortable with the driving process and explore beyond the marina, all while still relaxing and having a nice soak in a beautiful setting. You can have up to six (6) people onboard, as there is plenty of room. If you want to spend the 90 minutes just soaking and not worry about other boats or wildlife, you can also keep the hot tub boat directly in the marina and just enjoy a dockside version. Either option is a nice addition to your visit to Juneau.

Parking for IntoAlaska’s Hot Tub Boat

IntoAlaska is located in the Aurora Harbor just north of downtown Juneau. It’s just a few minutes’ drive or Uber from downtown and then there is plenty of parking. You’ll find the IntoAlaska office for check in on the northernmost dock with boathouses. Your host will meet you there and get you all checked in and oriented for your hot tub boat time, and they’ll see you off safely. You’re then welcome to navigate around the marina and out into the nearby part of the Gastineau Channel. There is a map onboard that clearly shows where you’re not to go in the hot tub boat. It’s easy; you’ll love it.