glacier bay and hubbard glacier cruise

Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay: Alaska Cruise Experience

Are you planning an Alaska cruise and unsure which to choose—cruising along the awe-inspiring Hubbard Glacier or exploring the vast wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park? Deciding between these two spectacular destinations can be a challenge. Both offer unique experiences that showcase the majesty of Alaska’s natural beauty. Our guide, based on our personal experiences, Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay: Ultimate Alaska Cruise Showdown, aims to provide a detailed comparison, highlighting the visual splendor, wildlife encounters, and educational opportunities each location offers. We will give you the pros and cons of choosing a location to help you make the best choice for an unforgettable journey.

Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay: Our Personal Choice and Experience

Deciding between Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay for your Alaska cruise itinerary can be daunting. When planning a cruise, you must choose one of the locations. Cruise ship routes usually include one of the glaciers.

If you’re seeking a quick recommendation, we recommend Glacier Bay because of its status as a national park and its inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

However, due to the packed nature of cruise schedules, truly absorbing its vast beauty in just one day can be challenging.

When Chris and I planned our first Alaskan cruise, we opted for Hubbard Glacier. On previous trips by land, we explored various other Alaskan glaciers, such as Matanuska , Root, Exit Glacier, or Mendenhall, and we even experienced a scenic flight over Denali with a glacier landing .

So, on the Alaska cruise, we were looking for something different. Cruising offers a distinct perspective compared to land-based visits. Our primary aim for our first cruise was to experience less accessible, picturesque towns along the Inside Passage .

We wanted to visit historic Juneau , Skagway , Sitka , Icy Strait Point , and Ketchikan . So, we chose an itinerary that maximized our time in each of these enchanting locations.

Then, we choose an Alaska cruise itinerary with Glacier Bay. So, after experiencing both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay, we understand the difficulty in choosing between them. Here, we’ll share some insights, pros, and cons of each destination to help guide your decision.

Hubbard Glacier Overview

Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America, is renowned for its spectacular calving events, during which massive blocks of ice dramatically break off and crash into the sea.

Located in Eastern Alaska and part of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, this glacier spans an impressive 76 miles in length and rises about 400 feet above the waterline, with depths reaching 250 feet below sea level.

The glacier’s active advance contributes to its nickname, “the galloping glacier,” making it a dynamic and thrilling sight for visitors. The area around Hubbard Glacier is also rich in wildlife, including seals, whales, and eagles, offering cruisers a scenic spectacle and opportunities for wildlife viewing.

Pros and Cons of Cruising Along Hubbard Glacier

• Dramatic Calving Events: Hubbard Glacier is famous for its active calving, where large chunks of ice break off and crash into the sea, providing a spectacular display.
• Impressive Size: As one of the largest tidewater glaciers in North America, its massive size and scale are breathtaking from any vantage point on a cruise ship.
• Wildlife Opportunities: The waters and surrounding areas are rich in wildlife, including seals, whales, and eagles, enhancing the viewing experience.
• Limited Viewing Time: Cruises typically spend only a few hours near Hubbard Glacier, which may feel rushed for some travelers. But for Chris and me, 5 hours was enough.
• Weather Dependence: Poor weather can significantly impact visibility and the overall experience of seeing the glacier. It’s cold from the glacier, so check what to wear on a cruise.
• Less Educational Interaction: Unlike Glacier Bay, no park rangers are on board to provide information and education during the cruise.
• Due to the glacier’s colossal size, safety is paramount, so cruise ships maintain a respectful distance—usually between a quarter and a half-mile away from the glacier’s face. However, the icy waters can be unpredictable, sometimes filled with floating ice that might make your captain play it even safer. No one on board is aiming for a “Titanic reenactment,” so if the ice thickens, expect to admire the glacier’s majesty from a bit further back in the fjord.

Glacier Bay Overview

Glacier Bay National Park is a protected marine sanctuary and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offering visitors a more extensive and immersive experience with a variety of glaciers, most notably the Grand Pacific and Margerie Glaciers.

This vast park encompasses 3.3 million acres of rugged mountains, dynamic glaciers, temperate rainforests, wild coastlines, and deep sheltered fjords. The park features 1,000 glaciers, seven of which are tidewater glaciers you can see from your cruise ship.

Glacier Bay is unique not just for its scenic beauty but for the educational opportunities it provides. Park rangers often board cruise ships to narrate the voyage, explaining the area’s glacial activity and rich history.

The park’s diverse ecosystems support a wide array of marine and terrestrial wildlife, including humpback whales and sea otters, making it a fantastic location for both scenic cruising and wildlife observation​. You can rarely even see brown bears, black bears, bald eagles, or mountain goats on the shoreline.

Pros and Cons of Cruising Along Glacier Bay

• Educational Experience: Park rangers often board the cruise to narrate the journey, offering insights into the glacial landscape and local ecology, enhancing the cruise’s educational value.
• Variety of Glaciers: Glacier Bay features multiple glaciers within the park, offering a more diverse glacial experience than a single glacier setting. You will be cruising near seven glaciers.
• Extended Time in the Area: Ships spend a whole day cruising through Glacier Bay, allowing for more in-depth exploration and observation. The journey is usually 9-10 hours and 120 miles along glaciers.
• Glacier Bay offers a stunning mix of landscapes, and its scenery is more varied. Its scenery changes from towering mountains and glaciers to lush forests and tranquil waters, and the shoreline is more diverse.
• Long Day on the Ship: The extended time spent cruising in Glacier Bay can be taxing, especially for those who prefer more active or varied excursion options.
• No Disembarking: Visitors cannot disembark the ship to explore Glacier Bay up close, limiting the experience to what can be seen aboard the ship.
• Crowding: Due to the popularity of Glacier Bay, some travelers might find the viewing areas on the cruise ship crowded during peak viewing times.

Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay: Cruise Options and Best Practices

Cruise lines that visit each glacier.

Hubbard Glacier

• Most cruise lines have this glacier in their itinerary. Royal Caribbean and Celebrit y Cruises are popular for their routes that feature Hubbard Glacier. These cruises often offer onboard naturalists who provide commentary as the ship approaches the glacier.
• Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America Line also visit Hubbard Glacier. Their itineraries focus on the ice giant’s natural beauty and grand scale. Check out our 10-day Alaska cruise review with Norwegian.
• Check out also smaller ships like Silversea .

Glacier Bay

• Princess Cruises is well-known for its Glacier Bay itineraries. With special permits to enter the park, they offer a comprehensive day-long cruising experience through the bay.
• Norwegian Cruise Line , Seabourn , and UnCruise Adventures offer smaller ship experiences. This allows for a more intimate view of the multiple glaciers within Glacier Bay National Park. Our first Alaskan cruise was on the smaller Norwegian Sun .
• Check out Cunard, Holland America , Viking, American Cruise Lines, and Alaskan Dream Cruises.

Tips for the Best Glacier Viewing Experiences

• Early Positioning. For both destinations, try to find a spot on the ship early, especially on decks with unobstructed views or from the comfort of a balcony room. The front or sides of the ship often offer the best panoramic views.
• Use of Binoculars. Bringing a pair of binoculars will significantly enhance your ability to see wildlife and distant glacier details that might otherwise be missed.
• Layer Clothing. Weather can change rapidly in these regions. So, dressing in layers will allow you to stay comfortable, regardless of sudden temperature shifts or winds.

Pro Tip: Check out the Alaska cruise packing list to prepare for your trip!

Considerations for Families, Wildlife Enthusiasts, and Photography

• Glacier Bay. The extended cruising time and educational talks by park rangers make Glacier Bay particularly appealing for families interested in learning more about the environment and glaciology. On the other hand, kids may like Alaskan towns more, as they have many attractions. A day cruising along the glaciers can be boring, especially for smaller children.
• Hubbard Glacier. The dramatic calving events are exciting for children. But be aware that the viewing time is shorter (4-5 hours), so plan accordingly to ensure you’re on deck at the right time. It might also be windy, so prepare your family for a bit of cold.

Wildlife Enthusiasts

• Wildlife viewing is great at both locations. At Hubbard Glacier, look out for seals, whales, and eagles. Glacier Bay has a broader range of marine life, bears, and goats on the shorelines.
• Cruises that include on-board naturalists can provide insightful commentary and point out wildlife that is easy to miss.

Photography

• Best Light. Lighting can be crucial for photographers. Early morning or late afternoon often provide the most dramatic light and color contrasts against the ice.
• Telephoto Lens. A telephoto lens is essential for capturing detailed shots of the glaciers and the wildlife. Additionally, a good wide-angle lens can capture the vastness of the landscapes.
• Stability. It’s often windy and chilly on deck, so using a tripod or stabilizer can help get clear, sharp images.

Our Personal Recommendation : You won’t leave the ship in any of these locations, so don’t expect a spectacular wildlife-viewing experience. You will still be quite far from any animals, and the ships’ boards are pretty high, so this distance is significant. As wildlife enthusiasts, we recommend going on some additional shore excursions in one of the ports. You can check our best spots for whale watching in Alaska and the best places for bear viewing in Alaska.

Choosing Between Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay: Final Thoughts

So, which glacier is better? Choosing between Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay ultimately depends on what resonates most with your interests, as both destinations offer unique and breathtaking experiences.

Whether this is your first journey to Alaska or your inaugural cruise, the beauty of either route is likely to leave a lasting impression, sparking a desire to return and explore more.

Take it from our own experience: when Chris and I were planning our first Alaskan cruise, he was skeptical, much preferring road trips over what he thought of as the unnecessary luxury of a cruise.

Yet, when we docked back in Seattle, Chris was already browsing our options for our next Alaskan adventure. True to his word, just seven months later, we were aboard another Alaska cruise, heading back to those majestic icy landscapes. This shows that the charm of Alaska’s natural beauty can sometimes turn even the staunchest skeptics into cruise enthusiasts!

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Agnes Stabinska is the creative force and co-founder behind the Alaska Itinerary blog. With a degree in Tourism Management and postgraduate studies in Journalism, Agnes combines academic expertise with real-world experience. Alongside her partner, Chris, she's your go-to guide for an authentic Alaskan adventure.

Agnes doesn't just write about Alaska; she lives it. From capturing the state's breathtaking landscapes through her lens to hiking its rugged trails or observing bears and whales in their natural habitat, her firsthand experiences are your compass to all things Alaska.

With Agnes and Chris, you're not just reading another travel blog; you're tapping into a treasure trove of insider tips, curated itineraries, and invaluable insights to make your Alaskan journey truly unforgettable.

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Hubbard Glacier vs Glacier Bay: Which is better on an Alaska cruise?

Cruising to Alaska is a unique and unforgettable experience, partially because of the incredible glaciers you can see during your visit. 

The scenery on an Alaskan voyage is simply stunning, with misty mountain peaks covered in lush forests, tiny islands blanketed in vegetation, and abundant opportunities to spot eagles, sea lions, and whales. And perhaps the most awe-inspiring sight of all are the glaciers - vast sheets of ice stretching across the horizon as far as the eye can see. It's no wonder that scenic sailing days are such a beloved part of an Alaska cruise itinerary!

So how do you pick an itinerary if it boils down to Hubbard Glacier versus Glacier Bay?

One advantage Hubbard has it its immense size, while Glacier Bay stands out because of how many glaciers you can see in one visit.

Hubbard Glacier

The awe-inspiring Hubbard Glacier, located in Alaska's Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, is a must-see on any cruise. At more than 400 feet high and almost 7 miles wide, the glacier's sheer scale is something to behold - even from a quarter-mile or half-mile away. 

Hubbard Glacier is often referred to as "the Galloping Glacier", due to its continuous advance into Disenchantment Bay over the past century. 

This incredible natural wonder isn't just an impressive sight either. The area around Hubbard Glacier benefits from immense biodiversity; humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles, seals and sea lions can all be spotted throughout Yakutat Bay during cruise season. Some cruises even include naturalists who can help passengers identify animals they may otherwise have missed! 

Hubbard Glacier Pros : You're far more likely to see a movement that causes ice to break off and fall into the sea in a process known as calving. It's loud and impressive.

Hubbard Glacier Cons : Unlike Glacier Bay, there's only glacier at Hubbard.  So if the weather doesn't cooperate, you might take a cruise and not see any glaciers.

Glacier Bay

You'll find seven glaciers in this national park.  In fact, park rangers will come on your ship to talk about the glaciers and natural surroundings. With maps, charts and other materials, they can help answer your questions about the history and natural features of the Glacier Bay National Park. Plus, you can even get your passport stamped!

Depending on the itinerary, ships may spend 9 to 10 hours sailing through Glacier Bay National Park.

Fortunately for those who prefer more intimate settings, smaller tour vessels like UnCruise, Lindblad and American Cruise Lines are not limited by the park's daily two-ship maximum limit.

Throughout your journey, be sure to keep an eye out for various species of marine life like harbor seals, St whales. spot black bears or mountain goats along remote coves; or watch birds such as bald eagles and puffins fly overhead.

Glacier Bay Pros : A U.S. park ranger will join you on your cruise during your visit to the park. Your kids (and adults too!) will have a chance to ask questions and interact with the knowledgeable park ranger throughout the duration of your journey—providing captivating narratives and fun facts about the surrounding area.

Glacier Bay Cons : It's a long day of viewing, and you can't get off the ship during your visit.

Which is better: Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay?

Of course, the choice of which glacier to visit is going to be quite subjective because they're both amazing.

Here are a few reasons to pick one over the other.

Time spent at the glacier

If you want the most time possible at a glacier, Glacier Bay is the right choice for you. 

Most cruises that visit Hubbard Glacier will spend a few hours near the glacier.

Most likely to see a glacier

The numbers game favor Glacier Bay yet again, because there are 7 glaciers in this park.

It's rare for a ship visit to not be able to see at least one glacier on a day at the park.

The only reason Glacier Bay is a better choice is because you'll spend more time near the glacier, thus, you'll have more time to potentially see animals.

If you have kids

Hubbard is a better choice if spending an entire day looking at glaciers isn't all that interesting. People in this category tend to be children.

Natural beauty

One advantage Hubbard has is how picturesque it looks, with its enormous size and color.

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Alaska Glacier Discovery

Get face-to-face with frozen giants. Wait breathlessly for ice to thunder into the sea. Each Glacier Discovery itinerary showcases two pristine wilderness areas, home to some of the best glaciers in Alaska. Northbound sailings feature both Glacier Bay and College Fjord. Southbound sailings cruise Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. Find countless adventures in three charming ports. Reel in salmon in Ketchikan, soar 1,800 feet up on the tramway in Juneau, ride the rails to a gold rush camp in Skagway.

Map of Alaska Glacier Cruise

A 7-day one-way cruise north- or southbound from Vancouver, B.C., or Whittier, Alaska.

Ports of Call on This Cruise (Northbound)

• Vancouver, BC
• Scenic Cruising the Inside Passage
• Glacier Bay

College Fjord

Ports of call on this cruise (southbound), hubbard glacier, ships sailing this cruise, nieuw amsterdam.

Why Take This Cruise?

Cross glaciers off that bucket list. Twice. Two glacier cruise opportunities increase your chance to witness ice calving, one of nature’s greatest spectacles.

Glacier Bay National Park

Alaska Glacier Discovery Ships

Travel in high style to the Last Frontier. Nieuw Amsterdam is an homage to New York City, featuring an outstanding art collection, ambitious design and exceptional onboard experience. Named “Best Cruise Ship Overall” at the Travvy Awards.

Discover the great outdoors on a ship named for the Northern compass point. Outfitted with museum-quality art, from 19th-century oils to photographs. Enjoy our exclusive Alaska programming, Alaska Up Close on board.

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Cruise to Hubbard Glacier (Cruising)

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Hubbard Glacier Cruise Guide

Hubbard Glacier is by far one of Alaska’s most exciting natural treasures. On a Hubbard Glacier cruise, you’ll experience picture-perfect views of this glorious mount of ice from every angle on board one of our luxury cruise ships.

On an Alaska cruise to Hubbard Glacier, witness stunning icy landscapes as your ship makes its way through frigid waters, turning from Yakutat Bay into the narrow Disenchantment Bay to come face-to-face with the towering Hubbard Glacier. The strong currents and riptides that flow between Gilbert Point and the face of the glacier cause calving to occur on a daily basis, sending massive chunks of ice crashing into Disenchantment Bay.

Witness this awe-inspiring phenomenon through the misty, chilled air of the Gulf of Alaska. Our dedicated onboard naturalist narrates the experience and helps you spot the whales, harbor seals, and otters that hunt and play in the waters of Disenchantment Bay. It’s an adventure of a lifetime.

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Top Sights & Attractions for Hubbard Glacier Cruises

Hubbard glacier.

Dramatically massive at about 7 miles wide, 76 miles long and as tall as a 30-story building above the waterline, it’s the largest tidewater glacier in North America. While most of the world’s glaciers are retreating, Hubbard Glacier has continued to thicken over the years.

Glacier Calving

Hubbard Glacier is a calving glacier, meaning large chunks of ice break off from the side and fall into the water below, thus creating icebergs. It is a spectacular and powerful sight to see, with some of the pieces being as tall as a three-story building.

Alaskan Wildlife

Spotting wildlife is a thrilling possibility while at Hubbard Glacier. You might see whales breaching in the waters around the glacier, or view sea lions lounging on icebergs. Sea birds often circle the glacier, looking for fish.

Learn More About Alaska Shore Excursions

Top things to do at hubbard glacier, embark on a wilderness exploration tour.

While you’ll experience incredible views of Hubbard Glacier from your cruise ship, you can get even closer to this natural wonder on a shallow-draft vessel. Navigate through an icy labyrinth of towering icebergs, and marvel at the glacier’s extraordinary calving displays and native wildlife.

Wake up Early

Enjoy both the journey to the glacier and your time near it by getting up early on your Hubbard Glacier cruising day. If you won’t be admiring the view from your own private veranda, you’ll get to choose a prime viewing spot on one of the decks or lounges by getting there early.

Listen to the Naturalist

While at Hubbard Glacier, spend some of your time indoors so you can listen to the onboard naturalist describe what you’re seeing. The narration will be broadcast over the speakers in common areas, and you can turn on a channel to hear it through your stateroom’s TV.

Get a Veranda Stateroom

To take full advantage of all the views and wildlife you can see from the ship during your day sailing alongside Hubbard Glacier (and the rest of Alaska), book one of the coveted veranda staterooms or suites so you’re always just a couple of steps away from incredible views.

History of Hubbard Glacier

Named after Gardiner Hubbard, the founder and president of the National Geographic Society, Hubbard Glacier is the longest tidewater glacier in the world. It’s located about 200 miles northwest of Alaska’s capital city of Juneau. Unlike most glaciers, which are receding, Hubbard Glacier is advancing into Disenchantment Bay, giving it the nickname of the galloping glacier. This constant movement (which is extremely slow and not noticeable to the human eye) is what contributes to the regular calving of Hubbard Glacier.

Before it calves, the ice can be more than 400 years old! Keep that in mind as you’re marveling at the face of the glacier and witnessing part of its journey.

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Alaska Glaciers

Carved by the hands of mother nature, meet alaska masterpieces.

Alaska’s glaciers have shaped the surrounding landscapes for millions of years. Mountains, valleys and fjords all come from the slow march these monuments make every day. Today, the glaciers of the Great Land — once only accessible to the adventurous few — are ready for you to explore. With over 50 years of experience cruising to Alaska, we look forward to showing you these unique wonders. All Princess Alaska cruises include at least one glacier-viewing experience.

Glacier Bay National Park

Known as Alaska’s crown jewel, Glacier Bay National Park is otherworldly in its beauty and breadth. This UNESCO World Heritage Site covers millions of acres and contains seven tidewater glaciers as well as mountains and deep fjords. Its waters are even home to whales, seals and otters. Cruise to Glacier Bay National Park and let the landscapes and wildlife show you what makes it so worthy of the utmost protection.

Endicott Arm

Cut from age-old glacial movements, Endicott Arm is a narrow fjord over thirty miles long. Sailing down it gives you a view into some of the most dramatic vistas in the north. See the Alaska glaciers of Endicott Arm, including Dawes Glacier, and revel in the walls of ice that stretch stories above the waterline. Or delight in the cliffsides that are decorated with forests and wildlife.

College Fjord

College Fjord is the meeting place where many of Alaska’s glaciers congregate and flow to the ocean. At the water’s edge are massive valley glaciers and dozens of smaller monuments that dot the mountainous region. Thanks to the professors who first settled here in 1899, many of these glaciers are named after the country’s best institutions of higher learning, such as Harvard Glacier.

Hubbard glacier

Hubbard Glacier is an unforgettable sight. 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.

Mendenhall glacier

Tucked in the coastal mountains around Juneau, this nearly 14-mile-long glacier cuts through the landscape and ends in a freshwater lake. Mendenhall is the best of Alaska’s ecosystems. It’s home to wildlife, and its rivers are brimming with salmon and trout. Not to mention, its forests burst from every inch of terrain, creating a true wonderland of nature.

Matanuska glacier

With ice colored in vibrant blues and bright whites, Matanuska is a sight to be seen on an Alaska Copper River cruisetour. Considered an "ice flow", it floats through valleys under its own weight. This structure measures 24 miles in length and is responsible for creating a "weather hole" — a pocket of sunny skies and enjoyable climates that occurs due to warm valley air being pushed into the atmosphere.

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See the Great Land’s glaciers, wildlife, and national parks.

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Combine a cruise + train + lodge + Denali for an in-depth Alaska experience.

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Best Alaska Glacier Cruises Explained: All You Need To Know

Nancy Schretter

• August 19, 2023

Alaska cruises are filled with spectacular scenery and memorable experiences. Sought-after views of Alaska’s icy blue glaciers are always some of the most anticipated sights. Determining which voyages have the best glacier views is often a key factor in choosing a cruise to America’s 49th state. 

Since several Alaska cruise destinations include the word “glacier” in their description, deciding which Alaska itinerary is the best option can often be tough .

Suppose you’re trying to decide which cruise itinerary is the best Alaska glacier cruise for your trip to the Last Frontier.

In that case, we have the information you need to help sort through your choices and pick the Alaska glacier voyage for you.  

Best Alaska Glacier Cruises

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. 

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.  

Glacier Bay itineraries are always one of the most popular Alaska cruise routes. Glacier Bay National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its magnificent glaciers and incredible wilderness scenery. Cruise ships visiting Glacier Bay typically spend nearly a full day there. 

The 3.3 million-acre park is home to many glaciers enveloping close to a third of its land. Cruise guests can see multiple glaciers sailing through Glacier Bay National Park.

In addition to glaciers, visitors to Glacier Bay will marvel at the area’s snow-covered mountain peaks, fjords, waterfalls, forests, and wildlife.  

Glacier Bay cruises are often considered the best Alaska glacier itineraries because they offer views of multiple glaciers, spectacular mountain vistas, and frequent wildlife sightings.

Marine wildlife is plentiful in Glacier Bay, so cruise visitors often see humpback whales, orca whales, harbor seals, porpoises, otters, and sea lions. 

It’s also possible to spot bears, moose, mountain goats, and deer on land. Interpretive park rangers come onboard each cruise ship while vessels are in Glacier Bay National Park , and they often point out wildlife and other interesting sights during their talks.

You might see bald eagles flying overhead or a brown bear swimming across the bay.

In Glacier Bay, the glaciers are typically the stars of the show. Cruise ships spend much of their time sailing past several of the park’s active tidewater glaciers — the kind of glacier that breaks off massive icebergs that plunge into the sea.

This “calving” action is what many cruise passengers hope to see when they spend time in front of Alaska’s glaciers. The thunderous cracking sound of a calving glacier followed by the colossal crash as the iceberg splashes into the sea is something that Alaska cruise passengers remember forever.

Ships generally cruise through Glacier Bay, exploring its inlets and sailing past various glaciers. These include Johns Hopkins Glacier, Lamplugh Glacier, Grand Pacific Glacier, and Margerie Glacier. 

It’s common for ships to spend an hour or so in front of one of the glaciers so guests can possibly see multiple calvings. Many sailings visit  the mile-wide Margerie Glacier, an advancing tidewater glacier that frequently calves. 

You’ll want to look into your ship’s schedule for your day in Glacier Bay and check out the best spots for unobstructed glacier views. Determining which ships go to Glacier Bay is important in choosing the best Alaska glacier cruise. 

Holland America Line and Princess Cruises have many Alaska sailings that go to Glacier Bay, offering various itineraries, including ports such as Juneau, Skagway, Ketchikan, and Sitka.

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 . 

While most of these cruises generally include close to a full day in Glacier Bay National Park, several UnCruise Adventures Alaska itineraries feature two full days in Glacier Bay.

To sum up, here are some of the many advantages of sailing through Glacier Bay on your Alaska cruise:

• C ruise ships ty pically spend 9-10 hours  in  Glacier Bay National Park  
• Glacier Bay National Pa rk includes eleven glaciers — eight can be seen on clear days  
• Sailing through Glacier Bay includes traveling through inlets and beautiful scenery  
• More wildlife is often seen in Glacier Bay National Park
• Park rangers come onboard to offer insights and narrate the trip while in Glacier Bay
• Kids can earn Glacier Bay Junior Ranger badges while sailing in the National Park
• Weather can be a safe bet, particularly early and late in the season 

READ MORE: Alaska Inside Passage Cruises: What You Need to Know

Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay

For those searching for the best Alaska glacier cruise, one of the most common questions is, “Which one is best — Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay?”

Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay are both beautiful but have different experiences. Hubbard Glacier is not in Glacier Bay National Park. The glacier is located north of Glacier Bay National Park at the tip of Disenchantment Bay, inside Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

Cruise itineraries that do not include Glacier Bay often include Hubbard Glacier instead. Reaching the height of more than a 30-story building above the waterline, Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America. 

This glacier’s massive size dwarfs cruise ships . Hubbard Glacier is also known to be one of the most rapidly advancing glaciers, moving as much as multiple feet per day. Unlike many other glaciers, Hubbard Glacier continues to thicken. 

With a terminal face that’s about seven miles wide, Hubbard Glacier has been nicknamed the “Galloping Glacier” due to the rapid forward movement of this river of ice. Hubbard Glacier is also renowned for its strong blue color on clear days .

Since Hubbard Glacier is advancing quickly, its movement results in plenty of calving. Cruise guests watch in awe as huge multi-story chunks of ice fall into the sea with a thunderous boom. Some have reported seeing this happen three to four times in an hour. 

Visitors cruising through Disenchantment Bay can also view nine of North America’s sixteen tallest mountain peaks on their way to Hubbard Glacier if the weather is favorable. Some cruise lines also offer optional small boat excursions that can get you closer to Hubbard Glacier.  

While Hubbard Glacier is magnificent, there can be some downsides to  choosing this itinerary. Since Hubbard Glacier can be the only major glacier on some Alaska cruises, if the weather isn’t favorable, there is a chance that passengers won’t get close-up views of any glaciers at all on their cruise.

Hubbard Glacier can be difficult to reach at certain times due to ice, fog, or other bad weather conditions. Weather in Glacier Bay tends to be more reliable, although it can sometimes be rainy .

Finding a cruise itinerary that visits Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier would be the best of both worlds, but typically, Alaska cruisers have to choose between the two. Here are some comparisons between visiting Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay.

Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay Advantages: 

• Hubbard Glacier is taller and more massive than the glaciers in Glacier Bay  
• Calving occurs  more frequently  at Hubbard Glacier  than  at  glaciers in Glacier Bay  
• Hubbard Glacier’s calving tends to be more spectacular, with huge multi-story icebergs
• Ships can sometimes get slightly closer to Hubbard Glacier than those in Glacier Bay
• Sailing to Hubbard Glacier includes views of some of North America’s tallest mountains 
• On clear days, the color of Hubbard Glacier is very blue 

Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay Disadvantages:

• Ships typically spend most of the day in Glacier Bay — Hubbard Glacier is a shorter visit  
• Glacier Bay  includes multiple glaciers , while Hubbard Glacier itineraries include only one    
• More wildlife is often seen in Glacier Bay National Park  
• Glacier Bay’s spectacular scenery is more varied
• Park rangers come onboard to offer insights and narrate the trip while in Glacier Bay  
• Weather in Glacier Bay can be a safer bet, particularly early and late in the season 

Glacier Bay National Park vs. Tracy Arm Fjord

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. 

Located south of Juneau, Tracy Arm is a long, relatively narrow fjord ending at the two stunning faces of Sawyer Glacier — North Sawyer Glacier and South Sawyer Glacier.

These twin glaciers often produce deep blue icebergs, and sometimes well over a hundred seals can be seen hauled out on the large glacial ice floes — particularly in June.

Sawyer Glacier is an active tidewater glacier. Ships travel up Tracy Arm Fjord, navigating the long channel and tight turns . On the scenic journey through Tracy Arm Fjord, cruise guests will marvel at the sheer, steep walls of the deep fjord and the area’s scenic beauty.

Tracy Arm Fjord is less than a half-mile wide, and waterfalls often cascade down the fjord’s craggy cliffs. Mountain goats can sometimes be seen near Sawyer Glacier, and bears are occasionally spotted near the water’s edge.  

Sailing through Tracy Arm Fjord is one of the highlights of this experience, particularly on a smaller ship. Large cruise ships often offer small boat tours of Tracy Arm Fjord on itineraries featuring a full day in the port in Juneau.

These tours are highly recommended, as the smaller excursion boats can get much closer at Sawyer Glacier, and calving can be more easily seen.

With these Tracy Arm Fjord excursions, avid glacier seekers may have the option of visiting this stunning area in addition to Hubbard Glacier or Glacier National Park. 

If weather or sailing conditions make it difficult to navigate Tracy Arm, ships and excursion boats sometimes choose to go up Endicott Arm to visit Dawes Glacier instead.  

If you’re trying to decide between an Alaska cruise that visits Glacier Bay and one that only includes Tracy Arm Fjord, here are some pros and cons.

Tracy Arm Fjord vs. Glacier Bay Advantages: 

• It was a spectacularly memorable sailing experience navigating through Tracy Arm’s narrow fjord
• Plenty of  strikingly  blue icebergs  and stunning waterfalls
• Can have more  seals hauled out on ice floes, depending upon the time of year
• You can sometimes get closer to Sawyer Glacier if on a smaller excursion boat 

Tracy Arm Fjord vs. Glacier Bay Disadvantages: 

• Tracy Arm is smaller  than Glacier Bay, with only one fjord to explore  
• Not as many glaciers as Glacier Bay
• I ce may  sometimes  block  large  ships from getting far enough in  to see the twin glaciers
• Glacier Bay is  a full-day  experience, while Tracy Arm is generally 4-5 hours
• Weather in Glacier Bay is often more favorable than in Tracy Arm Fjord 

READ MORE: When is the Best Time To Cruise Alaska?

Hubbard Glacier vs. Sawyer Glacier

Comparing Hubbard Glacier with Sawyer Glacier is easy when it comes to size. As the largest tidewater glacier in North America, Hubbard Glacier’s towering height and mammoth overall size are much more impressive than Sawyer Glacier. Calving at Hubbard Glacier can be more astounding and frequent as well.

Visits to Sawyer Glacier are memorable in their own right, however. Sailing through narrow Tracy Arm Fjord is truly spectacular, particularly when the weather is clear. Wildlife, including harbor seals, mountain goats, bears, and bald eagles, are often seen during the trip. 

Since Sawyer Glacier is an active tidewater glacier, calving does occur regularly. Since the glacier extends hundreds of feet under the water, underwater calving also occurs with giant blue icebergs the size of submarines shooting to the surface.

Suppose your Hubbard Glacier Alaska cruise itinerary includes a full port day in Juneau. In that case, it may be possible to visit Tracy Arm Fjord and Sawyer Glacier on a small boat excursion. If that’s not the case and you must choose between Hubbard Glacier or Sawyer Glacier, here are some pros and cons.  

Sawyer Glacier vs. Hubbard Glacier Advantages:  

• Sailing  through Tracy Arm’s narrow   fjord  is particularly memorable  
• Can have more seals hauled out on ice floes, depending upon the time of year  
• Breathtaking  scenery in Tracy Arm can include snowy peaks and  stunning waterfalls  
• Often, more wildlife is seen  in Tracy Arm,  including mountain goats, bears, and bald eagles 

Sawyer Glacier vs. Hubbard Glacier Disadvantages: 

• Hubbard Glacier is  significantly  larger and more impressive  than Sawyer Glacier  
• Ca lving is particularly awe-inspiring  at Hubbard Glacier and can occur more frequently  
• Ships may have trouble reaching Sawyer Glacier due to weather and ice conditions 

Additional Alaska Glacier Cruises

In addition to all these choices, additional glacier viewing options exist for travelers seeking the best Alaska glacier cruise. Some cruise lines  include Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier on their Alaska cruise itineraries.

Located southeast of Juneau, Endicott Arm Fjord is part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness area. Sailing through Endicott Arm Fjord to Dawes Glacier is a somewhat similar experience to navigating up Tracy Arm Fjord.

While sailing through Endicott Arm Fjord, waterfalls and various wildlife, including harbor seals, mountain goats, and bears, can often be seen.

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.

Many of these glaciers are named after well-known East Coast colleges and universities, including Harvard Glacier, Yale Glacier, Amherst Glacier, Wellesley Glacier, and Williams Glacier. Additional glaciers are also located nearby.

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.

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.

READ MORE: What To Pack For An Alaska Cruise: Top 12 Things You’ll Need

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What To Expect On A Hubbard Glacier Cruise

When I chose my first cruise to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, little did I know I’d be seeing North America’s largest tidewater glacier. Advancing at a rapid rate, Hubbard, otherwise known as the “galloping glacier,” wows cruise passengers with its turquoise hues, massive size, and spectacular calving action.

At its terminus, its face measures 600 feet, with 350 of it above the waterline. Located in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, it’s further north than Glacier Bay National Park.

Where Is Hubbard Glacier?

I still remember the slow and quiet approach to Disenchantment Bay on my  inside passage Alaska cruise . While I had experienced numerous spectacular glaciers over the years, I had always viewed them from solid ground. This was the first Alaska adventure of what later came to be a recurring affair. 

I chose to sail a Celebrity Alaska cruise from Vancouver, from the advice of my travel agent and researching Alaska itinerary reviews. My encounter left me so captivated that it launched me into an era hungry to experience more.

Not only is Hubbard Glacier the largest tidewater glacier in North America, but it’s also the longest tidewater glacier in the world. It’s important to note it can only be seen by air or by boat. Hubbard Lacier is located north of Juneau, in the Wrangell–St. Elias National Park.

The “galloping glacier” has been thickening and advancing into Disenchantment Bay ever since measurements began in the late 1800s.

Don’t be disappointed if your cruise ship isn’t cruising Glacier Bay. While many struggle with choosing between  Hubbard and Glacier Bay  as an Alaska itinerary, both are breathtaking in their own way.

I have cruised Hubbard Glacier four times and Glacier Bay National Park four times, and both offer fabulous itineraries that will leave you speechless.

When To Cruise To Hubbard Glacier?

Depending on when you travel, Hubbard Glacier can appear quite different. I’ve seen the glacier as different times of the year and Hubbard Glacier weather can play a huge factor in the experience.

In May, the snow-capped mountains will blend seamlessly with the glacier. On clear days, you’ll enjoy mesmerizing towering peaks.

As the ship leaves the Gulf of Alaska into Yakutat Bay, the captain will slow its engines for a cautionary approach into the narrowing Disenchantment Bay.

Weather can also affect how much ice dots the waters of Disenchantment Bay. Remember to bring binoculars, as you can see harbor seals on the icebergs and sea lions on the rocks. In fact, you’ll probably hear them before you see them.

Since Hubbard is advancing at a slow but persistent rate, it consistently calves into the waters, leaving them heavily populated with blue-hued icebergs. If you want to witness glacier calving, Hubbard is the best glacier to visit.

As the warmer weather approaches, the glacier calves more. So, by July, you will see much more ice in the water. The amount of ice can affect how close a cruise ship can get to the terminal face.

The captain’s experience will also factor into how close they are willing to go. In bad weather, ships may stop several miles before the glacier. If all conditions are right, you may get within 1/4 mile of its towering face.

Surging through the icy waters, guests are transported in a “twilight zone” as the ice multiplies not only in quantity but in size. Soon, the silted striped bergs rivaled the size of houses adorned seagulls, harbor seals, and bald eagles.

If you cruise towards the end of the Alaska season, expect colder temperatures and an increase chance of rain.

The Face Of Hubbard Glacier

Disenchantment Bay is wide and can accommodate large cruise ships. It’s less likely your Alaska itinerary will chance due to ice in the water. However ice and fog will affect how close you get to the colossal face.

So, how big is Hubbard Glacier? At its face, it measures an enormous 7 miles wide and 600 feet tall, of which 350 feet is visible above the water while 250 feet lie beneath.

Keep in mind that much of the ice lies beneath the water line, and that will determine how close a ship can get to its façade. On the day I arrived, the conditions swung in our favor, and at a ¼-mile distance, I came face-to-face with the towering behemoth.

Standing on the deck, my cruise ship dwarfed in size next to Hubbard, and I was in awe of this spectacular natural wonder.

Unlike Glacier Bay itineraries, Hubbard is not inside a national park. Therefore, park rangers will not board the ship during the time spent at the glacier. Instead, a knowledgeable naturalist will accompany cruisers on their journey.

He/she provides oodles of appealing information about the surrounding tundra and the Alaskan wildlife that inhabits this area.

In the five hours I spent in the bay, the naturalist kept his eyes peeled to alert us to sightings of brown bears, eagles, mountain goats, seals, and humpback whales. Keep your cameras and  binoculars   handy, so you don’t miss out on that unexpected appearance.

At the face of Hubbard Glacier, I noticed the ragged ice had various shades of blue and aqua. Although looking to the far left, it meets the much dirtier Valerie Glacier, mottled with silty stripes of volcanic ash.

On a clear day, you’ll see towering peaks behind the icefield, and some of these lie in Canada.

The Rise And Fall Of Hubbard Glacier

Over the last century, Hubbard has been advancing and retreating. Currently, it’s in a slow-advancing stage. In a world of increasing climate change where most icefields are retreating at an alarming rate, it’s comforting to see one defying the odds.

If this isn’t a reason to book your cruise to Hubbard Glacier now, I don’t know what is.

At 76 miles long, this giant glacier begins at Mount Logan in the Yukon Territory of Canada. Due to its vast catchment basin, it gathers a tremendous amount of snow during the winter.

This fallen snow either moves with the ice or later melts and adds to the glacier’s size. It’s astonishing to know it takes 400 years for the ice at the top to traverse to the terminus or the toe.

So, when viewing those gorgeous shades of blue ice at the face, know that it’s 400 years old. Interestingly enough, in 1986 and 2002, the ice flow advanced sufficiently to close off the entrance to Russell Fjord, on the righthand side of Hubbard.

The blockage of this fjord caused the water levels to rise rapidly and threatened to flood the Alaskan town of Yakutat.

The rising water in the now newly-developed lake caused a natural death to the surrounding flora, which could not survive underwater.

Eventually, the force of the water broke through, creating a new channel for drainage into Disenchantment Bay. Experts believe it’s a matter of time before Hubbard Glacier advances enough to dam Russell Fjord again.

During your glacier cruise, look to the far right where the land juts out. This is Gilbert Point and the area that will eventually close up again.

Glacier Calving

Since Hubbard is actively advancing, all that movement causes the ice to crack. Routinely, chunks of ice break away from the terminus and fall into the frigid waters below.

This action is known as “calving’. Calving is one of the most amazing natural wonders in the world, and it’s a treat to witness.

First, I heard the earth-shattering thunder, and then I scoured the towering ice to watch for the calving action. At 7-miles long, it was often difficult to predict where the ice would break off.

It was a matter of luck if I had my camera positioned in the correct direction. Sometimes the pieces were scanty, but other times, the chunks paralleled the size of a six-story apartment building.

Some of the newly-calved icebergs would collide with the water and splinter outwards, creating significant waves. This is one reason ships keep their distance from the edge of Hubbard.

During my Alaska cruise with Celebrity, the captain performed a slow pirouette of the ship allowing everyone equal viewing time.

So, whether you choose to view up on deck (as I did) or from the privacy of a stateroom balcony, every location is ideal for gazing. Plus, each cruise ship spends hours at the foot of Hubbard, so there’s ample opportunity to take plenty of photos.

Hubbard Glacier & Wilderness Exploration

​To elevate your experience at the icefield, consider booking the Hubbard Glacier Explorer tour. This excursion is only offered through your cruise line and sells out months in advance.

Operated by Allen Marine, the tours allows booked guests to board a large catamaran along their cruise ship. Then the vessel follows closer to the land on an approach to Hubbard. 

By cruising closer to the shoreline, you’ll have an increased chance of wildlife viewing. Alongside giant icebergs, you’ll be face-to-face with harbor seals who are undeterred by your presence.

Sometimes, your tour operator will retrieve ice from the water to make cocktails onboard.

Smaller vessels can also get closer to the glacier’s surface, providing a front row seat to frequent calving. While most tidewater glaciers in Alaska are retreated due to global warming, Hubbard is advancing.

Once the excursion finishes, you’ll meet your cruise ship as it’s leaving Disenchantment Bay.

Alaskan Weather

On my first cruise to Hubbard, it rained the whole time we were glacier cruising and visibility was poor. I observed a few people in the steaming hot tubs outside on the wet deck, and it sparked an idea. 

How often do you get to enjoy the bubbling waters of a spa while sitting next to a glacier? So, like the other few brave souls on that Hubbard Alaska cruise, we grabbed our bathing suits and Celebrity bathrobes to enjoy a hot tub with a spectacular view.

Call me adventurous or call me crazy, but life’s more enjoyable with a little spontaneity.

During the summer months (May through to September), expect the temperatures to be between 40- and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The average rainfall is 7 inches to 21 inches per month, with the wettest months towards the end of the Alaska cruise season.

Keep this in mind when packing for your Alaska adventure. While you might enjoy much warmer temperatures in port, it can be mighty cold next to Hubbard.

It’s hard to top my first cruise to Alaska. Maybe part of that comes from the newness of my surroundings and the fact that everything was a “first”. However, my 4th cruise on Cunard Queen Elizabeth got me closer to Hubbard with near-perfect weather conditions.

Perhaps part of it was that Celebrity Cruises made everything so fantastic. But even though I have traveled back to Alaska several more times, its immense panoramas still captivate me.

Other Visits To Hubbard Glacier

During my second Hubbard Glacier cruise with Princess Cruises, the temperatures were warmer, and the skies were void of rain. However, there were lots of low-lying clouds on the face of Hubbard.

All that fog obscured the views and made for a less-than-spectacular glacier viewing experience.

During my third Alaska cruise in May 2022, the skies were crystal clear, and the mountains were heavy with snow. The snow blended with the ice and blue hues of Hubbard Glacier. 

Although I got COVID during my cruise, I was still able to enjoy Hubbard Glacier from my balcony, and I was extra thankful I had one.

Know that whenever you sail, you can’t predict the weather, control the visibility, or know how close to Hubbard Glacier your ship can get. So, if Alaska serves you lemons (or liquid sunshine), jump in the hot tub as I did!

If you can’t get enough of glacier viewing, book a one way cruise itinerary. You could see Hubbard Glacier along with Glacier Bay National Park. In Glacier Bay, the wildlife viewing continues as Johns Hopkins Glacier provides an important harbor seal breeding environment.

Happy travels ~ Karen

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Glacier Bay VS Hubbard Glacier?

By LoveCoffee , August 27, 2017 in Alaska

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We are debating between a HAL vs Celebrity Alaska Cruise w/land time on our own. The itinerary is basically the same on the 2 cruises we are looking at - EXCEPT HAL goes to Glacier Bay, while Celebrity goes to Hubbard Glacier. Should we lean to one over the other? And why? Thanks.

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We haven't been to either yet but did a lot of research before we chose Holland America and one of the main reasons we chose Holland America was because it went to Glacier Bay instead of Hubbard Bay. Ymmv

I haven't read a single review or report from anybody saying that Hubbard Bay was better than Glacier Bay but I have read lots of reviews and reports saying that Glacier Bay is an absolute don't miss.

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Hubbard glacier is missed more than Glacier Bay. I would pick GB because of that.

Just returned from our Princess cruise that included both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. They are quite different experiences. Hubbard is very impressive due to its massive size but is a much shorter visit. Glacier Bay is a full day of awesome beauty with viewing of multiple glaciers. We were fortunate to have great viewing conditions both days.

The problem with an itinerary that includes Hubbard only is that there is a greater chance of missing it entirely if visibility is poor or ice does not allow the ship to get close. While some have reported poor viewing conditions in Glacier Bay as well, it seems to happen much less often and it is unlikely that the entire day would be a wash out (or fog out). Wildlife sightings are more frequent in GB as well.

I prefer to include both but if forced to choose I would lean toward Glacier Bay.

Glacier Bay will have national park rangers come on board for commentary and you will see more than one glacier. It will be an all day event. Hubbard Glacier is very large and impressive but it can be missed altogether if adverse conditions exist. Choose Glacier Bay if you want to be sure to enjoy glacier viewing.

NCL Jewel northbound from Vancouver to Seward includes both. We did this itinerary on NCL Sun last year & absolutely loved it. We took ACT bus from Seward to Anchorage airport where we picked up our rental & drove to Denali. Fabulous trip!

We just returned from 3 cruises that each visited Glacier Bay; one of them was also supposed to visit Hubbard Glacier. We are big fans of Hubbard but were disappointed this time around because we didn't get the opportunity to visit Hubbard due to fog --- this hasn't been the case for us in quite a few trips. Although we were sad to have missed Hubbard, we did enjoy every minute of our trips to Glacier Bay. If you look at the links below my signature you will see in my 2017 pictures numerous shots of Glacier Bay. Looking at my 2016 pictures, you will see what we have experienced during our visit to Hubbard in 2016; other visits can be found under other photo years.

Yea - I have missed Hubbard multiple times, never missed Glacier Bay. If this is your only cruise to Alaska I can tell you missing the only glacier is a big deal. I missed Hubbard on my first trip to Alaska.

Your question is a difficult one to definitively answer for me.

Hubbard Glacier is absolutely awesome due to its size and beauty. The sail into and from the glacier, regardless of weather, is scenic and memorable, for me.

Glacier Bay has the advantage of having NPS Rangers who ought to be aboard to offer narration as the ship sails into the National Park. If the weather is cooperative, one ought to see several glaciers. Are these awesome? Not in my opinion as compared to Hubbard Glacier.

new_cruiser

Our cruise had both. The points made by the others above on the differences are pretty accurate.

On the way into Glacier Bay, we saw otters swimming near the boat. We were able to see Dall Sheep up in the rocks and bears looking for salmon in the steams. The fog lifted so we viewed the glaciers in partial overcast. John Hopkins and Margerie glaciers both had some calving. John Hopkins had a really large piece drop off that made a big loud splash. Margerie is pretty magnificent.

The ranger narrating helped in spotting wildlife and explaining what we were seeing in the glacier. Another ranger was in Palm Court (a forward lounge with large windows) so we could ask questions and there were ranger talks before and after visiting the bay.

The next day we went to Hubbard glacier. Since one doesn't have to travel into a deep bay to reach it, the visit isn't as long as a whole but we were at the glacier about as long as we were at Margerie (about an hour). We saw calving there too but it wasn't doing quite as much that day. Visibility was excellent on a partially overcast day where the sun back lit some of the ice spikes sticking up. It was even more magnificent.

It would be hard for me to say which is better. From what has been posted here, it seems like Glacier Bay is a bit more reliable for visibility but not 100%. Someone recently posted about fog there and on our cruise we were told that the John Hopkins glacier was obscured by fog for the ship that was there earlier in the morning. If seeing glaciers tidewater is important to your trip, you might also add a excursion that goes to a glacier. E.g. out of Ketchican, Juneau, Seward or Wittier.

Princess does both also (Southbound cruises). I always suggest you have 2 glaciers just in case you miss one due to weather.

Amen to that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 3 weeks later...

Melinda Brasher

Both are amazing, but Hubbard isn't as common, so if you ever plan on going back to Alaska and you have the opportunity to catch Hubbard this time, I might lean toward Hubbard. For sheer size and activity, Hubbard can't be beat. Other cruisers are right, though: you may not be able to approach Hubbard because of weather or ice conditions. Glacier Bay is a longer experience, and so very beautiful. Either way you'll be happy.

Here's a picture of the ice our ship broke through at Hubbard: https://cruisingalaskaonabudget.wordpress.com/2017/09/06/ice-breaking-for-our-friends/

Have you also taken into consideration the port times for the two options?

Before you make your final decision I would followup on the point made by Ashland and that is to look hard at the port times to see if one has more optional times in port (such as the length of time or arrival time) then the other.

hubofhockey

We faced a similar question, but with Princess and Celebrity. Princess will actually go to both. We settled on Celebrity Millennium for the following reasons. (1) we wanted two base balcony cabins for the four of us and found a deal on Celebrity which effectively saved us $1400 over, (2) used savings, much of it in OBC to pay for sea plane glacier excursion in Juneau, (3) we really like M Class on Celebrity and yes, the food does matter to us. If the pricing were similar, however, we would be on Coral Princess.

Just returned this past Saturday off the Eurodam and Glacier Bay was AWESOME. Saw calving at the Margarie and John Hopkins Glaciers and we saw something like 6 or 7 glaciers total in GB.

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The Magnificent Hubbard Glacier in Alaska

05/20/2023 By Traveling Canucks 1 Comment Categories: Alaska British Columbia National Park North America Trip Ideas United States World Attractions

Hubbard Glacier in Alaska

When you think of Alaska , what images come to mind? For us, it’s icy glaciers, humpback whales and vast rugged wilderness. So, when planning our Alaska cruise , we decided to visit the mighty Hubbard Glacier in Alaska’s picturesque Disenchantment Bay.

The Hubbard Glacier is famous for being North America’s largest tidewater glacier . It’s over 120 kilometres long (75 miles), 11 km wide (7 miles) and flows directly into Disenchantment Bay, which feeds into the North Pacific Ocean. 

The Hubbard Glacier height is said to be 600 feet at its terminal face (350 feet exposed above the waterline and 250 feet below the waterline – source ). For perspective, this is the same height as the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington. It’s HUGE!

Related: Watch our video tour of the Celebrity Eclipse Cruise ship

Where is Hubbard Glacier located? 

The Hubbard Glacier location is at the tip of Disenchantment Bay. It connects to Yakutat Bay in the Gulf of Alaska. The actual location of the Hubbard Glacier is inside Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve, which is north of Glacier Bay National Park. Here’s a Hubbard Glacier map .

You cannot reach the Hubbard Glacier by car. Unless you have a private boat, you will need to join an Alaska cruise to see the Hubbard Glacier. Or, you can take a scenic flight-seeing tour and witness the ancient glacier from the air.

The glacier is very impressive and definitely worth visiting.

Further perspective.  The huge cruise ship is dwarfed by the impressive Hubbard Glacier. 

The camera sensor had a hard time focusing on the glacier. Many of my photos captured the glacier as a turquoise blue. However, to the naked eye, the glacier appears more white than the photos illustrate.

View from our stateroom on the Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship

This stateroom is considered an obstructed view because of the orange life boat, however, as you can see, the ocean views are minimally impacted. It’s pretty incredible to witness a massive calving glacier from the private deck of your stateroom. 

The Alaska cruise departs from Vancouver and takes 4 days to reach the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska . 

The Celebrity Eclipse floats gently beside the glacier. It rotates 360 degrees so guests on either side of the ship can see the Hubbard Glacier. The cruise ship does not get too close to the calving glacier out of an abundance of caution. Waves and icebergs from glacier calving is dangerous. So is the depth and width of the glacier that is underwater.

The cruise ship spent about an hour inside Disenchantment Bay bay before returning south from the Hubbard Glacier to Juneau, Alaska. The ship sailed overnight from Juneau to Hubbard Glacier. We arrived at the glacier around 11:00 AM. 

Related –  Everything you need to know about an Alaska cruise

The obligatory family photo on the observation deck of the cruise ship.

Hubbard Glacier fun facts

• The ice you see at the terminal face originally fell as snow, as much as 500 years ago. [ source ]
• The glacier is over 2,000 feet thick at some locations.
• Hubbard Glacier starts at Mount Logan (2nd tallest mountain in North America at 19,850 feet) in the Yukon Territory in Canada.
• It ends at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, over 120 kilometres later. 

Panoramic views of the Hubbard Glacier

We experienced heavy clouds and overcast skies during our visit to the Hubbard Glacier. Although we were a little bummed that we didn’t get the full mountain and glacier panorama – like this photo – we were told that it’s quite common for this type of weather.

A few hours before reaching Yakutat Bay , we overheard crew members say that our Alaskan cruise ship might not be able to make it inside the bay. Hubbard Glacier weather in August is unpredictable. Fortunately, the weather cooperated that morning. The ship was able to get up close to the glacier.

Guests marvel at the glacier from the viewing deck on the cruise ship.

Streams of glacial ice float past the ship in Disenchantment Bay. The colour of the water is an amazing turquoise blue. It’s hard to see in these photos, because of the overcast skies. The water looks similar to the glacier fed lakes in the Canadian Rockies (like Moraine Lake in Alberta ). 

Connor is mesmerized by the floating chunks of ice that pass the cruise ship. 

Views of the glaciers and mountains from the observation deck. A highlight from our Alaska cruise.

You can see the tip of the Hubbard Glacier far off in the distance. The surrounding mountain landscapes are quite remarkable. Alaska is nature at its finest!

Have you visited Alaska? 

If not, is an Alaska cruise on your travel wish list?

Read next – Our experience on the Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship

Related posts:.

07/09/2023 at 10:12 am

Visited a week ago WOW its fantastic the size, the calving it was awesome

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Hubbard Glacier, Alaska

Behold a jaw-dropping natural wonder and the largest calving glacier in north america., destination details, port adventures.

Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay: Which is the better scenic cruising spot in Alaska?

Editor's Note

Glacier viewing, salmon fishing, whale watching, dog sledding — Alaska cruise bucket lists tend to be long.

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. When it comes time to book your cruise, which of the top glacier cruising experiences should you pick? For most cruisers, it comes down to Hubbard Glacier versus Glacier Bay National Park .

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. For me, the best glacier cruise would include both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay, but if forced to choose, it would be Glacier Bay. Before we dive into the reasons, let's cover the basics of what you can expect when it comes to glacier viewing in Alaska.

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Tips to ensure you see a glacier on your cruise

Can you cruise to Alaska and not see glaciers? More importantly, would you still have fun? Sure. I did it recently and had a marvelous time.

My glacierless cruise was not a surprise. It was an early season, short cruise that only visited Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia. You should know, though, that almost any Alaska cruise can leave you without a glimpse of a glacier. Weather, ice in the water and onboard emergencies are the usual reasons ships must skip scheduled glacier visits.

If scenic cruising near a glacier is a priority for you, there are three things you can do to improve your chances.

First, book a midseason cruise because early and late cruises face more ice in the water and more challenging weather conditions. Second, book a cruise with more than one glacier cruising day to double your odds. Finally, add a glacier cruising excursion; these are often possible from the ports before or after the day your ship plans to do its scenic cruising near a glacier.

Tip: If your cruise offers a glacier viewing excursion on the day the ship is scheduled for scenic cruising near a glacier, take it. It indicates that the ship won't get as close as you might want.

Related: Best time to cruise Alaska

Hubbard Glacier

Details: It's the longest tidewater glacier in North America; the face is more than 400 feet high and almost 7 miles wide.

Cruise lines that visit Hubbard Glacier: Most cruise lines that visit Alaska include Hubbard Glacier on at least one itinerary — often on one-way sailings or longer round-trip cruises. The list includes small- and medium-ship cruise lines like Crystal and Silversea .

What makes Hubbard Glacier special: Hubbard Glacier's enormous face is its biggest draw. Its massive size means you can see it even on visits when the ship cannot get as close as you'd like. 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 sometimes force ships to halt farther out in the fjord.

Hubbard is sometimes called "The Galloping Glacier" because it has been advancing into Disenchantment Bay for more than 100 years — sometimes in surges that cut off nearby Russell Fjord. It is currently considered stable in terms of overall size, but it's steadily moving forward into the bay.

That movement causes ice to break off and fall into the sea in a process known as calving, which is not related as much to temperature as it is to the physics of the glacier's thickness and the steepness of the land mass it crosses. Ice chunks the size of three-story buildings often fall into the water, creating a thunderous roar and waves that pound nearby shorelines.

The glacier is part of the 13.2 million-acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park encompasses the largest glacial system in the U.S., with 35% of the park covered by glaciers.

During the cruise into Yakutat Bay, which narrows into Disenchantment Bay, you may see humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles, seals, sea lions and even bears on shore. Some ships have naturalists on board to help with (and announce) wildlife sightings during the ship's visit to the bay.

Related: The 6 best Alaska cruise shore excursions — from heli-hiking to whale watching

Glacier Bay

Details: It's part of a national park and preserve covering over 3 million acres and encompassing more than 1,000 glaciers — seven of which are tidewater glaciers you can see from the ship.

Cruise lines that visit Glacier Bay : Cunard , Holland America , Norwegian , Princess , Seabourn , Viking , American Cruise Lines , Lindblad, UnCruise and Alaskan Dream Cruises.

What makes Glacier Bay special: The obvious wow is that you can see seven glaciers in one day here. Also cool is that the bay is part of a national park, and rangers will board the ship to answer your questions. They'll have maps, charts and all the information you could want about the park's glaciers and wildlife. Yes, you can get your national park passport stamped.

The ship will visit the park for nine to 10 hours, traveling more than 120 miles. We found itineraries that started as early as 6 a.m. and one on Holland America that arrived at 8:30 a.m. (It stayed until 6:30 p.m.) Ships stop in front of one of the tidewater glaciers for about an hour, rotating 360 degrees to give everyone on board a view.

Only two large cruise ships are allowed per day; luckily, the park classifies smaller lines — including UnCruise, Lindblad and American Cruise Lines — as tour vessels rather than cruise ships, so the big-ship limits don't apply.

Throughout the day of cruising, you can expect to see harbor seals, Steller sea lions, sea otters and bald eagles. You may also see brown bears (coastal grizzlies), black bears, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, mountain goats, orcas and puffins.

Related: Best Alaska cruise tips to help you make the most of your time aboard and ashore

Which is better: Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay?

For length of time spent scenic cruising : Glacier Bay wins this one. The limited number of ships allowed each day means it is an all-day event for the lucky few who cruise these waters. Cruises to Hubbard Glacier typically spend a few hours near the glacier.

For dramatic presentation: Hubbard Glacier is the drama queen of all Alaskan glaciers. Between its brilliant blue colors, thunderous calving and monumental size, Hubbard puts on quite a show. The glaciers in Glacier Bay are quieter, far less flashy and less likely to exhibit calving of large ice chunks.

For wildlife viewing : Both scenic glacier cruises put you in ideal spots to see Alaskan wildlife and sea life throughout the visit; however, Glacier Bay is the winner because ships stay in the bay longer. It's like having an extended wildlife viewing excursion — except you never have to leave the ship.

Better for children or those with short attention spans: Hubbard wins here because it's a shorter visit. A visit to Glacier Bay is a long, slow affair, often beginning early in the morning and requiring warm clothing and lots of patience. The one plus for kids at Glacier Bay is interaction with the park rangers on board the ship.

For choice of cruise lines : Hubbard for the win here also. I tracked down 13 different cruise lines offering Hubbard stops in their itineraries. Glacier Bay does earn bonus points, though, for having the greatest number of small-ship options. Imagine the thrill of cruising here onboard an UnCruise, Lindblad or American Cruise Lines vessel.

For cost of the cruise: Both glacier stops are likely to require a one-way itinerary, which can add to your airfare costs, but Glacier Bay edges out Hubbard on this one. This is primarily because we did find a handful of seven-night round-trip itineraries that included stops here. Also, for the best viewing at Hubbard, you may still need a shore excursion on a smaller boat, which will add to your total costs.

Most likely to succeed: This one is also a win for Glacier Bay. With seven glaciers, the odds are stacked in your favor. It would take severe weather, dense fog or a ship emergency to keep you from seeing at least one glacier with this park on your itinerary.

Related: The best Alaska cruise for every type of traveler

Other glaciers in Alaska to see by cruise ship

While Hubbard and Glacier Bay are the two most famous glacier choices on Alaska cruises, don't forget the smaller options. Here's what to look for and what to expect.

If your itinerary says you'll be cruising in Tracy Arm Fjord, you are there to see the twin Sawyer glaciers. The narrow fjord is stunning in its beauty. Plus, you'll get closer to land here than in the big open bays, offering a better view of waterfalls and wildlife. Look for bears and mountain goats.

Endicott Arm is a fjord that branches off Tracy Arm and might be used as a backup for Tracy Arm if the weather or ice prevents your ship from reaching the Sawyer glaciers. Because Endicott Arm is a bit straighter than Tracy Arm, larger ships (such as Quantum of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas) will schedule visits here. The glacier you'll see at Endicott Arm is Dawes Glacier. Ships may offer boat excursions to see these glaciers close-up, both on the day of scenic cruising and in Juneau.

College Fjord is a more northerly option near Whittier, so you'll typically find it on itineraries that sail to or from Whittier or Seward. This is a bonus glacier viewing spot because most itineraries that include it also include either Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay. The real bonus, though, is that the fjord is home to five tidewater glaciers.

Disney Cruise Line often does its scenic cruising in the Stikine Icecap, the most southerly ice field in Alaska. The icy fjord is home to waterfalls, floating icebergs and wildlife such as whales, eagles, brown bears and mountain goats.

Bottom line

You can enjoy an Alaska cruise without seeing glaciers. However, if that's an important part of your dream Alaska experience, you should book a cruise with more than one opportunity to see glaciers because things can (and do) go wrong.

As for choosing Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay, our vote goes to Glacier Bay for ease of viewing, time spent in front of the glaciers and cost to visit — but you won't be disappointed with either option.

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A beginners guide to visiting Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

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Among North America‘s best-known national parks, Glacier Bay is a bit of an outlier.

Unlike Yellowstone or Yosemite, you can’t visit Glacier Bay on a road trip. There are no roads leading into the park, and the only way to reach it is by small plane, boat or ship.

There’s also little infrastructure within the park. It does have a visitor center and lodge, located at its very edge. But its biggest attractions — its giant tidewater glaciers — are viewable only from the deck of a vessel. At its essence, Glacier Bay is a giant, fjordlike body of water lined with snowcapped mountains, forests and glaciers, and it’s best seen from the water.

For more cruise news, guides and tips, sign up for TPG’s cruise newsletter .

It is for this reason that a large percentage of Glacier Bay’s nearly 700,000 visitors a year arrive on a cruise ship. Indeed, you could almost call Glacier Bay a cruise ship park.

Only by arriving by cruise vessel (or another boat, including the park tour boat) can you fully experience the park by traveling up the 65-mile-long waterway to a glacier and back.

Even so, you’ll only see a small portion of the park. Established as a national monument in 1925 and elevated to national park status in 1980, Glacier Bay covers more than 5,200 square miles — an area about the size of Connecticut. That makes it nearly as big as Yellowstone and Yosemite combined — though much of this area is relatively inaccessible.

As a longtime travel writer specializing in cruising, I’ve been to Glacier Bay many times, and it’s one of my favorite places in Alaska. Its glaciers are its star attractions, for sure. But it also offers spectacular mountain scenery, wildlife and — for those who make an effort to come for a multinight stay — wonderful hiking, kayaking and other outdoorsy pursuits.

Related: How to find the right Alaska cruise for you

Getting to Glacier Bay

As noted above, most of Glacier Bay’s visitors arrive by cruise ship. The typical cruise that includes a visit to Glacier Bay is a seven-night Alaska voyage out of Vancouver, British Columbia, or Seattle that also includes stops at the Alaskan towns of Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. The visit to Glacier Bay fills just one day of the seven-night trip.

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 National Park Service allows just two ships a day into the park, and arrivals are governed by a permitting system that gives preference to lines that operated in the park before the permitting system began.

Norwegian Cruise Line , Seabourn , Cunard Line  and Viking also have ships that visit the park, as do small-ship operators UnCruise Adventures , Alaskan Dream Cruises, Lindblad Expeditions and American Cruise Lines .

A trip on a cruise ship isn’t the only way to get into Glacier Bay. Would-be visitors can also fly or take a ferry to Gustavus, a tiny town (population 642) on the edge of the park near the access point for a tour boat that travels into the park daily. Dubbed Baranof Wind and operated by park concessionaire Aramark, the tour boat departs from Bartlett Cove, which is just inside the park boundary and the home to the park’s visitor center.

During the summer tourist season, Alaska Airlines offers daily service to Gustavus Airport (GST) from Juneau International Airport (JNU), 48 miles to the southeast. An air taxi company, Alaska Seaplanes, offers small-plane flights to Gustavus from Juneau year-round. Ferry service to Gustavus is through the Alaska Marine Highway System, which sends a ferry to the town regularly from Juneau.

The two main airlines that fly to Juneau are Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines.

Park visitors also can arrive at the park by private or chartered boat.

Related: How to get to Alaska with points and miles  

While Glacier Bay is open year-round, visitor services are extremely limited outside of the summer season, and nearly everybody who visits comes between May and September.

Most cruises that include a stop in Glacier Bay take place between April and September, and the Glacier Bay tour boat only runs in the summer months. The park’s visitor center and only lodge (Glacier Bay Lodge), which share a building, also are open only in the summer.

Summer is the most pleasant time to be in Glacier Bay, temperature-wise. But even at the height of summer, it can be chilly, with temperatures topping out between 50 and 60 degrees during daylight hours. Rain is also common, with the area around Gustavus getting around 70 inches a year.

April, May and June are often the driest months. September and October tend to be the wettest. The bottom line is that, even at midsummer, you should be prepared for any sort of weather. Pack good rain gear, waterproof boots, wool or fleece layers and a warm hat and gloves.

No matter when you go, there’s no fee to enter Glacier Bay, which is unusual for national parks. Nor are there fees for camping or boating permits. So you can leave your national park annual pass at home.

Related: Best time to cruise Alaska

What to see and do

As the name suggests, Glacier Bay is a park all about glaciers. It’s home to more than 1,000 of them, and seeing a glacier up close is the big draw for most visitors.

Specifically, tourists come to view one of the park’s seven-ish giant tidewater glaciers, which flow down from the mountains to the water. I say seven-ish as the park’s rangers in the past couple of years have noted that some of the tidewater glaciers have melted back so much that they may not be interacting with the ocean water anymore. That’s the definition of a tidewater glacier. The park rangers these days like to say there are “no more than seven” of the tidewater glaciers now, maybe fewer.

The reduction in the number of tidewater glaciers at the park is an ongoing trend. When I wrote an earlier version of this guide a few years ago, the number of tidewater glaciers at the park was nine.

Whatever the exact number, for those visiting Glacier Bay by cruise ship, the experience will revolve heavily around a stop at one of these glaciers to watch giant chunks of ice crash down from its face — a magnificent show.

Cruise ships arrive in the park for the better part of a day, and the experience goes beyond a stop at one of the park’s glaciers. Sightings of puffins, harbor seals, Steller sea lions and even the occasional humpback whale or brown bear are part of the allure — all while traveling by water through an immense, glacier-carved landscape.

If you come on a big cruise ship, you’ll be doing your Glacier Bay viewing from the deck of your vessel. Big cruise ships in Glacier Bay never dock, and nobody gets off them. Still, you’ll get the full National Park Service experience. Park rangers and often a local Huna Tlingit cultural guide will board the vessel for the day to offer presentations and shipwide commentary over loudspeakers, lead activities for kids and answer questions.

Some small cruise vessels that spend the night in Glacier Bay do allow passengers to disembark.

For those visitors who travel by plane or ferry to Gustavus, more options are available. In addition to taking the Glacier Bay Day Tour up the bay on the park tour boat ($262.44 per adult; $137.11 for children ages 3 to 12), visitors will find opportunities to hike, kayak and camp.

The day tour on the park tour boat includes stops at two glaciers — Margerie and Grand Pacific. Each towers nearly 250 feet above the ocean and stretches another 100 feet beneath the water. The ice that calves from their faces is, on average, 200 years old.

Hiking trails within the park near Gustavus range from the 1-mile Forest Trail, which offers a leisurely meander through a lush forest, to the 8-mile-long Bartlett Lake Trail, a rugged trek to a tranquil lake. Most visitors head down one of the trails on their own, but for those looking for interpretation, park rangers based at Bartlett Cove offer a daily guided forest loop walk (at 1:30 p.m., as of the publication of this story).

Kayak rentals are available at Bartlett Cove, where the park service visitor center is located, for both day trips around the area and multiday outings deep into the park. Kayakers can go off on their own or sign up for a guided tour.

Birdwatching also is a popular activity in Glacier Bay. The park’s diverse habitat allows for a wide variety of species (at last count, 281), including rainforest species such as the American three-toed woodpecker and neotropical migrant warblers, thrushes and other songbirds. There also are island and cliff seabird colonies of gulls, guillemots, puffins and cormorants.

In addition, daily cultural activities are available at Xunaa Shuka Hit (the tribal house) in Bartlett Cove. Unveiled in 2016, this is the first permanent Huna Tlingit clan house since the original Huna Tlingit villages of the area were destroyed by a glacier over 250 years ago. Located within a short walking distance of Glacier Bay Lodge, it offers the chance to learn firsthand about Huna Tlingit history, culture and life from tribal elders. Visitors can also experience dance performances and native foods and see historical photographs. Hand-carved totem poles tell the Huna Tlingit story.

A National Park Service visitor center is located on the second level of Glacier Bay Lodge. Park rangers are available much of the day to answer questions, and films on the park are available for watching in the visitor center’s auditorium. A ranger program is presented in the auditorium each evening.

Visitors also can get an overview of Glacier Bay’s mountains, ice and water from a flightseeing tour out of Gustavus or even the Alaskan towns of Yakutat or Haines.

Where to stay

If you’re arriving at Glacier Bay on a cruise, you don’t have to worry about a place to stay. You’ll be spending the night on your ship.

Those planning to visit the park by way of Gustavus will find several places to bed down. Many visitors stay at the 48-room Glacier Bay Lodge , which is within the park about 10 miles from the town (rooms from $270.40 a night). Cozy and rustic, the lodge is nestled among Sitka spruce on the shores of Bartlett Cove, which also is home to the park’s headquarters and the jumping-off point for daily tours on the park boat. Glacier Bay Lodge is the only lodging within the park.

Back in Gustavus, you’ll find a handful of small inns, guesthouses and bed-and-breakfasts. They include the 14-room Bear Track Inn (from $495 per person per day, including meals and ground transportation) and the five-room and five-cabin Glacier Bay Country Inn ($319 per person per day, including meals and ground transportation). Gustavus is not a big place; some venues here offer just a few rooms.

You also may face a bit of sticker shock when seeing the rates for lodging in Gustavus. In many cases, this is driven by the fact that the properties operate on a semi-all-inclusive basis, with all meals and transportation from the airport included in the base price.

Unfortunately for points and miles devotees, there are no points hotels in Gustavus. You can find a few points hotels back in Juneau, such as the Four Points by Sheraton Juneau (rooms in the summer start at $389, or 50,000 points) and a trio of Wyndham Rewards -affiliated properties (a Ramada, Travelodge and Super 8).

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. Firewood is provided.

That said, most camping in Glacier Bay takes place in the wilderness. The park offers more than 700 linear miles of shorelines, beaches and islands open to camping. Campers can arrange for the park’s tour boat to drop them off at one of several designated locations within the park and pick them up days later.

Campers must register upon arrival at the Visitor Information Station near the Bartlett Cove dock. Campers can call 907-697-2627 prior to arrival to inquire about space availability at the campground at Bartlett Cove.

Related: How to use points and miles to stay near national parks  

Where to eat

Again, if you’re arriving by cruise ship, you’ll be eating on board your vessel.

If you’re staying in the Gustavus area, you’ll probably be eating at the lodge or inn where you’re staying or at another one of the lodging properties in town. The town is so small that its dining establishments generally are tied to its lodging outlets. They’re also only open in the summer.

Many of the lodging options offer a “full board” plan that includes three meals each day. Be warned that a la carte pricing at eateries can be high in the Gustavus area, as is true in many places in Alaska. This partly has to do with the high cost of getting supplies to remote parts of the state.

For those staying at Glacier Bay Lodge, the in-house restaurant, the Fairweather Dining Room , is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner for both lodge guests and outsiders. The dinner menu includes local Alaska salmon and halibut. Lunch brings burgers and sandwiches (including a halibut sandwich).

Also open to guests and outsiders is the restaurant at Glacier Bay Country Inn. It serves Alaskan cuisine, such as salmon, typically offered en croute with a green peppercorn sauce.

Bottom line

A visit to Glacier Bay is one of the iconic experiences of a trip to Alaska, and something you should try to do at least once in your life — if only to see the giant calving glaciers. For most visitors, experiencing the park will involve a voyage on a cruise ship that brings just a day in the park. But for those who want to explore deeper in the park, there are ways to do that, too.

Planning a cruise to Alaska or elsewhere? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
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Cruise to Glacier Bay (Cruising), Alaska

Glacier bay (cruising) shore excursions, amazing experiences coming soon., sorry, there are no excursions for this port at this moment., things to do in glacier bay.

Witness the Wild

From the land to the seas and skies, Glacier Bay is home to a wide array of wildlife. Keep your binoculars handy and your eyes peeled for seals floating on ice flows, whales splashing in the water and bears trolling the shores.

Grab the Camera

Because you'll be surrounded by towering icy blue glacial walls and roaming wildlife, you may not know where to point your camera in Glacier Bay. Be on the lookout for Margerie Glacier, with its icy-blue appearance as it reflects the waters of the inlet, and Johns Hopkins Glacier, backdropped by impressive, ice-capped mountain ridges. Be sure to catch a shot of the gray skies surrounding the glaciers, as they can really make the ice pop.

A Birder's Paradise

If you're a birdwatcher, be sure to keep your field guide and lists handy. Glacier Bay is home to more than 274 species birds, so you'll be sure to spot some fantastic flyers. As you pass by Bartlett Cove, keep and eye out for cute tufted puffins and ruby-crowned kinglets — although they're small, you can spot them by the bright-red feathers that top their heads.

Best Deals to Glacier Bay (Cruising), Alaska

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