While we did get closer to the glacier We had a fairly good view from the ship and likely missed some time preparing to go to the small boat. Imagine the thrill of cruising here onboard an UnCruise, Lindblad or American Cruise Lines vessel. We're scheduled for Tracy Arm in late May and I'm just trying to set my expectations accordingly. Dawes Glacier opens into one of Alaskas lesser-known gems, Endicott Arm Fjord. Alaska Glaciers - Alaska Glacier Cruise - Princess Cruises Tip: If your cruise is offering a glacier viewing excursion on the day the ship is scheduled for scenic cruising near a glacier, take it. Its ice face is approximately 200 feet high above the waterline and currently extends about 270 feet below it. This calving action is what many cruise passengers hope to see when they spend time in front of Alaska. After touring the town, take a helicopter to snow-capped Denver Glacier and go on an exciting ride with a dog sled team led by a professional guide. Check here before booking an award fare. Last updated: October 8th, 2021 The opportunity to witness towering glaciers up close is one of the main reasons travelers choose to book a cruise to Alaska. The choice, though, for Princess roundtrip cruises from Seattle is either Glacier Bay on the Crown or Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier on the Discovery. Its located in Tongass National Forest, the largest protected forest in the United States, which spans almost 17 million acres. CoastView Science. ere are some comparisons between visiting Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. Alaska cruises are filled with spectacular scenery and memorable experiences. Once you've settled in, head to the National Park Visitor Center (located on the second floor of the lodge). With a terminal face thats about seven miles wide, Hubbard Glacier has been nicknamed the Galloping Glacier. Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Ships typically get within a quarter- to a half-mile of the face of the glacier, but the amount of ice in the water can force ships to halt farther out in the fjord in some cases. POLL: Oogie Boogie Bash - Did You Get Tickets? Luckily, cruise lines devote time to cruising near some of Alaska's most scenic and famous rivers of ice, so passengers can have prime glacier viewing options. Look for bears and mountain goats. Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve Comparing Hubbard Glacier with Sawyer Glacier is easy when it comes to size. See what a point or mile is worth with our appraisals of a loyalty programs currency, based on redemption values. Tracy Arm Fjord is less than a half-mile wide and waterfalls often cascade down the fjords craggy cliffs. Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier plus Glacier Bay are on the itinerary. Reviewed August 23, 2014 . We have our choice of 2 ships, the Regal Princess or the Emerald Princess. Aialik is one of the largest tidewater glaciers in Kenai Fjords National Park. We were on Legend (larger ship) and booked small boat for Tracy's arm but ship went into Endicott. Its fast movement leads to large sections of ice breaking off and falling into the sea (a phenomenon known as calving) occurring about every fifteen minutes or so. I was not in any way disappointed. Tracy Arm is often missed and Endicott Arm is what ships would often do if they couldn't get into Tracy Arm. Are you ready to book your Alaska cruise and see these iconic glaciers and fjords up close? Backpacking and multi-day hiking trips take travelers to see the impressive glacier. Some ships have naturalists on board to help with (and announce) sightings of wildlife during the ship's visit to the bay. Of the three, I'd say that Glacier Bay was the best, but all have their own special characteristics. Ice chunks the size of three-story buildings often fall into the water, creating a thunderous roar and waves that pound nearby shorelines. In general, if you've never been on an Alaska cruise, we recommend a cruise that sails Glacier Bay for the full experience. McBride Glacier is about mile wide and 14 miles long. Roughly 76 miles long and as tall as a 30-story building, Hubbard Glacier is as large as the state of Rhode Island and is the biggest glacier you can see from a cruise ship. Review of Sawyer Glacier. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Some cruise lines provide the option of taking a small excursion boat that gets you closer to the glacier. 11 Alaska Mountains to Add to Your Bucket List, A Look at the Fascinating Culture & Traditions of Alaska, 11 Expert Tips for Photographing Alaskas Landscapes & Wildlife, Experience The Last Frontier On An Alaska Cruise, 20 Unforgettable Things to Do in St. Lucia, 2022 Celebrity Cruises, Inc. Ships Registry: Malta and Ecuador. The glaciers in Glacier Bay are quieter, far less flashy and less likely to exhibit calving of large ice chunks. Dawes Glacier is a tidewater glacier with a face hundreds of feet tall. Glacier Bay National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its magnificent glaciers and incredible wilderness scenery. Also are their small boat excursions to dawes glacier? While spectacular, Hubbard is just one glacier, whereas Glacier Bay consists of many glaciers; sailing Glacier Bay takes several hours and is an iconic Alaska cruise experience. Cruise lines that visit Glacier Bay: Cunard, Holland America, Norwegian, Princess, Seabourn, American Cruise Lines, Lindblad, UnCruise and Alaskan Dream Cruises. Glacier Bay cruises are often viewed as the best Alaska glacier itineraries because they offer views of multiple glaciers, spectacular mountain vistas, and frequentwildlife sightings. Hubbard gets a nod for its sheer size, while the Glacier Bay option is prized for how many glaciers you can see in one day. Johns Hopkins Glacier is currently the only advancing tidewater glacier on the eastern side of the Fairweather Range, while the LaPerouse Glacier draining from the western side of the Fairweather Range continues to have a relatively stable tidewater margin, being the only glacier in North America that calves periodically directly into the Pacific Ocean. AK Voyages into Glacier Bay are limited each season so visiting the National Park feels more like an event than other glacier viewings. We have been to Endicott arm. Tidewater glaciers become unstable when the terminus retreats from a protective shoal into a deep basinand rapid calving of the glacier terminus ensues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5Wz5lTeUv0 Join my channel to get access to added benefits and perks:https://www.youtube.com/cruisingwithjt/joinI appreciate your support by subscribing to my channel and liking this video and commenting as well. Alaska Voyage of the Glaciers Cruise - Princess Cruises Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier - Tracy Arm Fjord's Beautiful Neighbor Sorted by Most Common to Least Common Viewings, Long-tailed Duck, Common Merganser, Canada Goose, Red-necked Phalarope, Northern Pintail, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Gull, Glaucous-winged Gull, Tree Swallow, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Kittlitz's Murrelet, Black-legged Kittiwake, American Crow, Surf Scoter, White-winged Scoter, Marbled Murrelet, Herring Gull, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Harlequin Duck, Bufflehead, Vaux's Swift, Spotted Sandpiper, Pigeon Guillemot, Arctic Tern, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Hermit Thrush, Rufous Hummingbird, Black Oystercatcher, Bonaparte's Gull, Red-throated Loon, Pacific Loon, Yellow-billed Loon, Pelagic Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Barn Swallow, Pacific Wren. The National Park encompasses 13.2 million acres in the northernmost reaches of America. We are planning a family cruise to Alaska next year and made a deposit on DCL because we thought our daughter would like that experience best. In general, tidewater and terrestrial glaciers in the Park have been thinning and slowly receding over the last several decades. Legal Information | Privacy Policy. The good thing about Hubbard Glacier is that its so big you cant miss it as your cruise ship sails by it. With these Tracy Arm Fjord excursions, avidglacier seekers may have the option of visiting this stunning area in addition to Hubbard Glacier or Glacier National Park. Each stripe represents the average global temperature for one year. Even if youre not driving, you can walk from the parks entrance to the toe of the glacier. The first two went to Tracy Arm. Here's what to look for and what to expect. If you visit Glacier Bay on a flightseeing excursion, youll get to see a bit of everythingwildlife, icebergs, multiple glaciers, and the beauty of the Alaskan landscapeall in one place. Hubbard Glacier is renowned for its strong blue color on clear days as well. The ability to see both Glacier Bay and Hubbard on the. Because of the magnitude of ice loss for tidewater glaciers is so large relative to non-calvingglaciers, retreating tidewater glaciers tend to bethe dominant contributor to sea level rise in coastal Alaska. v6.0 - 2023 (see first page for add'l details). seals hauled out on ice floes, depending upon time of year, Can sometimes get closer to Sawyer Glacier if on a smaller excursion boat, than Glacier Bay, with only one fjord to explore, experience while Tracy Arm is generally 4-5 hours, Weather in Glacier Bay is often more favorable than Tracy Arm Fjord. Witness the beauty of Exit Glaciers sparkling blue ice and see how much it has receded in the last 120 years. Re: Glacier Question Dawes Glacier, Alaska Retreat and Harbor Seals - From a Glacier's This mighty glacier used to advance every winter, and by the spring, it would dump millions of gallons of melted ice into Lake George, causing it to overflow. As the largest active glacier in North Americaits over 76 miles long and 600 feet tallHubbard Glacier offers an unforgettable chance to witness this icy natural phenomenon in action. Itsalsopossible to spotbears, moose,mountain goats,and deeron land as well. sometimes included on northbound Alaska cruise itineraries. #1 I'm hoping for some honest opinions, and experiences. A Guide To The Best Glaciers In Alaska | Celebrity Cruises Mike Godsey's SF Bay Area Weather Glossary - videojibe.com You will be able to leave a comment after signing in. Aside from the wonder of seeing these colossal ice walls from up close, its also a spectacle to watch pieces of them break down and fall thunderously into the sea; a natural phenomenon known as calving. ROFR Thread July to Sept 2023 *PLEASE SEE FIRST POST FOR INSTRUCTIONS & FORMATTING TOOL*. Dawes Glacier, Alaska - Alaska Guide But if you're impressed by sheer size or if you've already experienced Glacier Bay, choose an itinerary that includes Hubbard Glacier in Alaska.