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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. Travel back in time and pan for gold like a prospector during the Gold Rush. Snuggle sled dog puppies in the ship's Piazza, or see the Northern Lights in the planetarium. At the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, explore our treehouse and enjoy unmatched views of Denali. Dive deeper into what makes the Great Land special on your cruise to Alaska.
Getting to Whittier
They have a profound impact on landscapes, wildlife, and people. There are many ways to experience Alaska glaciers on Alaska cruises. Take an early peek out your window to spy fjord cliffs and deep valleys, along with harbor seals and their pups lounging on chunks of floating ice. At the end of Endicott Arm is the blue face of Dawes Glacier.
One of the biggest reasons people visit
Learn about the role the Mendenhall Glacier had in carving Juneau’s landscape with our exclusive Mendenhall Glacier Explorer experience. Enjoy around 8-hours in Glacier Bay National Park cruising by spectacular scenery with one hour spent at the face of Margerie Glacier. Park rangers will provide commentary from the bridge, hold presentations in the Princess theater and wander the open decks so you may ask them questions. Many of the activities onboard will be suspended to ensure you get the most from this special experience. No one does seafood quite like Alaska—which is why we brought the best of the Great Land on board, so you can experience it all with Princess. Our award-winning North to Alaska program brings local personalities, culture and cuisine on board and ashore to immerse you in all things Alaska during your cruise to the Great Land.
Alaska Glaciers
These tours are highly recommended, as the smaller excursion boats can get much closer at Sawyer Glacier, and calving can be more easily seen. Tracy Arm Fjord is another breathtakingly beautiful area that’s often included on Alaska cruise itineraries. Tracy Arm Fjord is part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness, including nearby Endicott Arm Fjord. Other cruise lines such as Alaskan Dream Cruises, American Cruise Lines, Cunard Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and UnCruise Adventures also offer cruises that visit Glacier Bay. Spending a day in Glacier Bay is a must for an Alaska cruise, whether it’s your first time visiting Alaska or your tenth voyage there.
Holland America's 'Glacier Day,' fresh catch, special drinks enhance Alaska cruises - Seatrade Cruise News
Holland America's 'Glacier Day,' fresh catch, special drinks enhance Alaska cruises.
Posted: Fri, 19 Apr 2024 13:30:50 GMT [source]
DAY 6: Glacier Bay National Park
On an Alaska cruise, let us show you Glacier Bay National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier. Known for its timber, Ketchikan hosts the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show, where athletes throw, race and chop their way to victory. Explore one of the world’s oldest collection of totem poles at the Totem Pole Heritage Center, or stroll along Creek Street. As the salmon capital of the world, Ketchikan’s waters make for incredible fishing. Cast your rod into a sea of opportunity on a cruise to Alaska.
DAY 4: Icy Strait / George Island
College Fjord is another spectacular area that’s sometimes included on northbound Alaska cruise itineraries. Located in the northern area of Prince William Sound, College Fjord contains five tidewater glaciers, five valley glaciers, and several smaller glaciers. Ask many Alaska cruise aficionados how to select the best Alaska glacier cruise, and they’ll tell you to pick an Alaska voyage that includes Glacier Bay National Park. Since access to Glacier Bay is tightly controlled, only a limited number of cruise ships can visit Glacier Bay National Park each season. Spend several days visiting America’s largest national forest; home to an abundance of wildlife, glaciers and old-growth forest to explore. Spend 14 days exploring Alaska’s waterways and islands as you navigate small channels and visit waterfalls , glaciers, and wildlife rich forests.
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The most popular destinations are Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Prince William Sound, or Tracy Arm. Some boats visit more than one of these spots, particularly cruises that combine the Inside Passage with an Interior land tour. But most cruises only visit one of these locations, so you’ll want to find out the itinerary before you book. A day spent on the water with Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruises is a complete Alaska experience! With its roaring glaciers, rugged mountains and deep fjords, Glacier Bay National Park feels like a dream. With 3.3 million acres to explore, cruise to this world-renowned landmark — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and let the landscapes inspire your next adventure.
From top-rated cruises that visit Glacier Bay National Park to scenic rail travel and exclusive Princess lodges, you will find a seamless Alaska experience with Princess. Alaska's seafood is famous, and we bring the best to you with locally inspired dishes from the state’s best eateries. From ship to shore, the best is at your fingertips on our Alaska cruises. Our cruise experts are enthusiastic and ready to talk about Alaska with you.
Real Wildlife Shows
We’ve been connecting our clients to water adventures around the world since 1987. We partner with select outfitters who share our values and are pros at creating exceptional experiences. There is no fee for our service; we earn our commission from the outfitters we represent, and the cost of your expedition is the same as booking direct. The Alaska Glacier Cruises have a maximum number of guests and a generous guest to guide ratio of 2.5 guests for each crew member. This means that you will have plenty of opportunities to learn about the landscape, ecology, and culture of the area, as well as have expert instruction for all your adventure activities. This sample itinerary is only a guideline; variations may occur to maximize your experience.
On Alaska cruises to Glacier Bay National Park, enjoy privileged park access and talks from rangers, and Huna Tlingit guides. Remove the hassle from air travel and give yourself the gift of flexibility, time and a thicker wallet with Princess EZair flights. We negotiate lower rates with the airlines, allow you to modify your flight up to 45 days prior with no penalty and protect you if your flight is late or canceled. They groan, creak and shudder on their march to the sea, punctuated by the booms and crashes of "white thunder" — a sound that echoes across the water when ice calves into the ocean below.
Most importantly, don’t forget to bring binoculars so you can admire the natural landmarks up close from the comfort of the ship. Long ago, the Grand Pacific Glacier once included the likes of Margerie Glacier and Johns Hopkins Glacier. Now the 2-mile-long glacier resides on its own, extending into both Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska and Grand Pacific Pass in Canada. Cloaked in black, it’s easy to mistake this landmark for a rock or land. Keep an eye out for this hidden treasure, and dive deeper into the history of this ever-evolving glacier with the help of park rangers. Once a part of the Grand Pacific Glacier, Margerie Glacier claimed independence in the 1990s and has become its own masterpiece.
On this tour, you’ll see seven glaciers, including Blackstone and Beloit Glaciers in a catamaran with indoor seating. You’ll see seals, sea otters, possibly whales, bears and mountain goats. The tour also includes a hot lunch and narration provided by the Captain. And, like the 26 Glaciers Cruise, there is a no-seasickness guarantee, so you can focus on all the wonders around you. Prince William Sound boasts one of the world’s largest concentrations of tidewater glaciers. College Fjord and Blackstone Bay provide impressive panoramic views of spectacular glaciers flowing down from the mountains to the saltwater.
At lunch – you will find a range of salads, sandwiches, and homemade soups. For happy hour – enjoy a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres in the lounge. During dinner -choose from several entrées including fresh, local seafood and meat or a vegetarian dish with a chef-selected wine pairing. Be sure to leave room for an indulgent dessert, such as tiramisu. Itineraries are guidelines; variations in itinerary and the order of days may occur to maximize your experience. Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska encompasses 3.3 million acres of mountains, emerald forests, and many glaciers.
The West Arm is narrow enough that you’ll have good views of the shoreline (from the ship), the glacier-carved land and wildlife. Bears frequent the tide line, foraging for food and mountain goats congregate near Gloomy Knob. The biggest glacier visited by cruise ships, the Hubbard is truly impressive. With a 6-mile wide, 400-foot tall face, the blue ice will seem to envelop your boat, especially if you can get up close. But ice can keep cruise ships at a distance of several miles, particularly in August and September when warmer temperatures and rainfall can cause more calving. The Hubbard is in Disenchantment Bay near the outer coast town of Yakutat, and offers large vistas on clear days, including Mt. St Elias at 18,008 feet.
Flightseeing trips and glacier dogsledding tours are other exciting ways to experience Alaska’s glaciers. Some of the best Alaska glacier cruises sail from Seattle or Vancouver or start in North Alaska and sail south. Visiting Mendenhall Glacier is a popular excursion for Alaska cruise guests spending the day in Juneau. These Mendenhall Glacier tours can also include other active adventures such as kayaking, canoeing, and glacier hikes.
The Chugach National Forest encompasses nearly 3500 miles of shoreline where 3-5 thousand bald eagles soar and five species of salmon flourish. The dense spruce forest provides shelter for a variety of wildlife and migratory birds. Hubbard Glacier is also known to be one of the most rapidly advancing glaciers, moving as much as multiple feet per day.
