There are 4 main glaciers you can see on an Alaska cruise. Those are Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, Sawyer Glacier and Tracy Arm. So what are the differences?
Glacier Bay – the most well known and popular glacier. A cruise line can only visit if it has a permit which are limited each year.
Pictures just don’t do justice for Glacier Bay National Park. One of the most sought-after spots on Alaska’s Inside Passage, Glacier Bay comprises ever-changing glaciers that include one of the most photogenic, Margerie Glacier, sheltered fjords, rainforests and an abundance of wildlife.
Many cruise itineraries include Glacier Bay, although the experience varies depending on the cruise line, ship and time spent within the bay, as it is regulated and cruise ships don’t actually dock in the National Park. Guides also are required to be present on every ship. Look at the itineraries for which ship offers the most time. Holland America is one of our favorites.
While cruising thru the part, keep your camera handy at all times. Glacier Bay is a popular hangout for humpback whales, sea otters, bald eagles, grizzly, brown and black bears and more. Regardless of when you cruise there’s a good chance you’ll spot at least one of them on your trip.
Hubbard Glacier – The biggest glacier visited by cruise ships, Hubbard Glacier 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. On good days, you’ll get to within 1/2 mile of the face. 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. You won’t get the experience of traveling up a fjord to reach the Hubbard, nor will you have as much wildlife as other spots—although seals haul out on icebergs. But for a huge glacier and lots of icebergs, Hubbard is hard to beat.
Sawyer Glacier & Tracy Arm Fjord – Tracy Arm is the name of the fjord that leads up to the two faces of Sawyer Glacier. Instead of a large bay, the fjord walls are narrow and craggy, with steep rock faces that contain multiple waterfalls. The closer you get to the end of Tracy Arm, the more icebergs you’ll see, in shades of blue so deep you’ll think they are made of glass. In June, you may see newly born seal pups on the larger floes, their mothers guarding them closely. Cruise ships often send smaller excursion boats out to get a closer look at Sawyer Glacier. (If you’re lucky, you’ll see it calve, close up.)