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A balcony saves you from the hustle and ensures you don’t miss a thing or block anyone’s view. This guide will share insights on selecting cruises to Glacier Bay, what to anticipate aboard, and tips for making the most of your day amidst these ancient ice formations. Step back into history and explore the port town of Skagway, Alaska, the gateway to the legendary gold fields, and Alaska’s largest settlement. Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur to maximize your experience.
Day Alaska Round-Trip Seattle: Glacier Bay, Juneau & Ketchikan
Our day in Glacier Bay was a highlight of our cruise and one we can’t stop talking about. We were filled with awe from the moment we stepped onto our balcony until the final glacier faded into the horizon. Booking a balcony cabin, dressing for the cold, listening to the Park Ranger’s commentary, and capturing the stunning views are must-dos for the ultimate day cruising Glacier Bay. Stunning views and abundant wildlife make visits to Alaska National Parks unforgettable. The world’s largest carnivores and one of the most iconic mammals, Alaskan brown bears, call national parks home.
Glacier Bay Adventure Cruise with 2 Days in Glacier Bay
Along the way, enjoy two glacier-viewing experiences on every itinerary — including Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord. One of the unique, enriching features of experiencing Glacier Bay National Park on an Alaskan cruise is that you're able to learn directly from the park rangers. At the beginning of a Glacier Bay cruise, they board the ship in order to provide background information on the natural scenery, wildlife, and conservation efforts going on within the park. So, in addition to viewing some of the world's best scenery, you receive personal information from the people who work hard to protect this natural wonder each and every day. As an NCL employee for over 15 years, I've cruised Alaska many times for work and always left inspired by its majesty. Though, on one particular sailing, I have a memory of walking through the Observation Lounge during Norwegian Bliss' venture into Glacier Bay National Park.
Alaskan Explorer Cruise
Watch for whales feasting in these abundant glacial waters. Cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska’s oldest light station, and The Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocky nobs. Cruise past harbor seals and their pups lounging on chunks of ice. Tracy Arm delivers with the cotton-candy blue twin Sawyer Glaciers of its furthest reaches. Tides permitting, your skiff driver knows the ropes and guides you along. It’s a mashup of towering walls, temperamental currents, and the Coastal Mountains.
But before coming aboard, be sure to check out Seattle and all it has to offer. Check out the many lush parks, and enjoy some of the freshest seafood available anywhere. Rare sea birds, black oystercatchers, and orange-beaked tufted puffins can’t be missed.
Alaska Inside Passage Cruise
Other stops on this Alaska cruise include the Alaskan town of Ketchikan, where you can trek through lush rainforest, and Juneau, which offers numerous activities for anyone who loves nature. Cruisers will also find opportunities for flightseeing, which provides panoramic views of the waterfalls and mountains. Glacier Bay National Park is the jewel in the crown of any Alaskan voyage. Spanning 3.3 million acres, as part of a 25-million-acre World Heritage Site, a cruise through Glacier Bay National Park reveals some of the planet’s most remarkable tidewater glaciers.
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Alaska’s largest tidewater glacier rises hundreds of feet from the ocean floor and towers above the waves, radiating a brilliant blue in the daylight. Thanks to its exceptional movement speed — for a massive river of ice — the face of this Alaska glacier calves at an incredible rate, providing a breathtaking show for the lucky onlookers. Once a part of the Grand Pacific Glacier, Margerie Glacier claimed independence in the 1990s and has become its own masterpiece. Now this 21-mile landmark is the most famous glacier in the park, with one of the most active glacial faces. Sail past its powder blue walls and revel in its enormity from the comfort of your ship – which turns 360 degrees - while at the glacier, so all guests have an opportunity to view it.
You can take in this natural beauty through the floor-to-ceiling windows of your Deluxe Owner's Suite in The Haven. The journey starts in Vancouver, a small town with big-city sophistication. This cosmopolitan city has a definitive European charm. Explore Stanley Park, a 1,000-acre lush park located right in the heart of the city. Check out Gastown, an area of the city that is popular for its charming boutiques and shops.
Rush across the snow on a dog sled with a professional musher, fly fish for salmon in fresh rivers and soar over miles of glacial tundra in a helicopter. Watch migrating humpback whales from the deck of a catamaran or Native craftsman carve a traditional totem pole, and expand your Alaska cruise experience. With national parks and four of North America’s tallest mountains, Alaska’s wilderness has been preserved for generations. Denali National Park is larger than Vermont and home to the highest peak on the continent. Meanwhile, Glacier Bay National Park has over 2,000 square miles of glacial coverage.
The park also maintains a free, walk-in campground in a rainforest setting at Bartlett Cove. Available on a first-come, first-served basis, it offers bear-proof food storage caches, composting toilets, a fire pit on the beach and a small warming shelter. Unfortunately for points and miles devotees, there are no points hotels in Gustavus. Park visitors also can arrive at the park by private or chartered boat.
While you won’t disembark from your cruise ship, it is likely that you will spend much of the day on deck capturing photos and making lifelong memories. Much like the rest of Alaska, Glacier Bay National Park may reach temperatures anywhere between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit during cruise season. So, come prepared with light sweaters and windbreakers, and dress in layers. While May and June are the driest months of the year for this region, July through September can sometimes bring showers. Make sure you're prepared for the experiences Glacier Bay National Park offers, whether marveling at an otter floating across the mirrored waters or hearing the roar of a calving glacier.
The water was a beautiful light blue teal, and the guests were in silent meditation as we floated past centuries-old glaciers. I couldn't sit and join everyone because I was heading to meet co-workers, but knew I had to come back as a guest to experience this for myself. Two major lines with historic ties to the park — Princess Cruises and Holland America — offer the most sailings with a visit to Glacier Bay. The prime time to explore Glacier Bay is June to August and occasionally into September if the summer extends its warmth.
With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert. For a more interactive experience, attend the Park Ranger’s presentation in the ship’s atrium or theater.
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For those interested in local culture, US National Park Rangers are available to present their interpretive program covering the region's nature, history, and culture. If natural wonders are what you seek, be prepared for sightings of otters and whales in the water, puffins in the air, and even bears on the shore. Don't just visit this famous land, live it on Alaska excursions.
Linger over breakfast this morning cruising into Juneau. Then it’s off to the airport or begin your UnCruise hotel stay or land tour. Two days in Glacier Bay National Park offer an up-close look at glaciers, old-growth forests, and sea life.
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