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An Alaska glacier cruise is not just an unforgettable way to experience this unchanged call of the wild, but also the only way to see that quintessential Alaskan coastal scenery you've dreamed of. The glacier-rich waters of coastal Alaska are as pristine as they were a thousand years ago. In addition to seeing glaciers – the obvious goal and highlight of the 26 Glacier Cruise – we also saw wildlife during our cruise. This isn’t the priority for this cruise (different from Kenai Fjords) but our captain was sure to point out any wildlife we passed, and we made a stop at a sea lion rookery. As their name suggests, Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise is all about seeing glaciers – and in that department, they definitely do not disappoint!
First cruise ship of season expected to match last year’s record-high traffic arrives Tuesday - Juneau Empire
First cruise ship of season expected to match last year’s record-high traffic arrives Tuesday.
Posted: Sat, 06 Apr 2024 20:06:07 GMT [source]
#PrincessCruises Alaska Connection
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.
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The pristine waters of Prince William Sound provide a nutrient-rich environment for a variety of wildlife. We cover 150-miles on our way to view the glaciers, and our Captain keeps an eye out for sea otters, Steller sea lions, bears, mountain goats, and whales. At the end of the cruise, visit a kittiwake bird rookery inhabited by more than 10,000 birds nesting on the rocky cliffs in Passage Canal. Continue to Blackstone Bay, a dramatic deep-water fjord where two tidewater glaciers and several alpine glaciers await. The white spray of glistening waterfalls cascading down to the sea from glaciers perched on the mountain peaks catches the light creating a stunning contrast against the dark gray shale and graywacke rocks.
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Marine wildlife and migratory birds easily outnumber people in Prince William Sound, so the odds are good that you will see a lot more than glaciers on our cruises! Sea otters are a common sight, along with harbor seals, Bald eagles, and kittiwakes. It is not uncommon to see orca whales, humpback whales, sea lions, black bears, mountain goats, Dall’s porpoise, and migratory birds on our 26 Glacier Cruise.
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. With its roaring glaciers, rugged mountains and deep fjords, Glacier Bay National Park feels like a dream. With 3.3 million acres to explore, cruise to this world-renowned landmark — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — and let the landscapes inspire your next adventure. Princess Cruises is an authorized concessioner of Glacier Bay National Park.
Chugach National Forest
Keep an eye on the icebergs at the glacier to see harbor seals hauled out to rest. As your captain navigates to the face of a tidewater glacier, you’ll get an up close view of these dynamic rivers of ice. Prince William Sound boasts one of the world’s largest concentrations of tidewater glaciers. College Fjord and Blackstone Bay provide impressive panoramic views of spectacular glaciers flowing down from the mountains to the saltwater. The Glacier Quest Cruise, a shorter route (ideal for younger kids) focuses on magnificent glaciers in Blackstone Bay.
Preparing for Your Day in Glacier Bay
On Alaska cruises to Glacier Bay National Park, enjoy privileged park access and talks from rangers, and Huna Tlingit guides. "They were very helpful in accommodating my handicapped wife on and off the boat. The tour was very informative, and they did an excellent job getting us right up in front of the glacier." Check in at the tour office on the west side of the Valdez Small Boat Harbor one hour prior to departure.
Real Wildlife Shows
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. 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. In addition to glaciers, visitors to Glacier Bay will marvel at the area’s snow-covered mountain peaks, fjords, waterfalls, forests, and wildlife. 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.
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With Cook My Catch excursions, catch your own salmon or halibut with the help of a local expert, and in the evening our talented chefs will prepare your haul for your dinner — a Princess exclusive. From ship to shore, the best is at your fingertips on our Alaska cruises. When you cruise to Alaska with Princess, sail through one of the most iconic locations in the Great Land — Glacier Bay National Park.
Alaskans are inviting people who love to share what makes their state unique. Watch lumberjacks in action, learn from Glacier Bay National Park rangers and craft with a Native totem pole carver. Or listen to harrowing Tales from the Deadliest Catch fishermen and climbers who have summited Denali during your Alaska cruise. They groan, creak and shudder on their march to the sea, punctuated by the booms and crashes of "white thunder" — a sound that echoes across the water when ice calves into the ocean below. On an Alaska cruise, let us show you Glacier Bay National Park — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier, College Fjord or Hubbard Glacier.
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. 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. 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. Get up close to the Alaskan glaciers and wildlife you came to experience by taking a cruise into Kenai Fjords National Park on a custom-built catamaran out of Seward. The difference from other cruises, is that you’ll then get off the boat and into a kayak, paddle around icebergs, and watch for wildlife from your own vessel.
Surrounded by mountains, the bay offers ideal sailing conditions, and you’ll have plenty of chances to see wildlife and glaciers. Meet the many personalities of Glacier Bay National Park as you cruise through the natural habitats of Alaska’s wildlife. See humpback and killer whales break the ocean’s surface, welcoming you into the Great Land. Watch harbor seals float atop chunks of ice, and rejoice in the playfulness of sea otters as they float across the water on their backs. School-age children who complete their activity book during the cruise can earn their Junior Ranger Badge. We also cruised into Blackstone Bay, which has another half-dozen glaciers – including tidewater ones.
Seeing glaciers is one of the top things to do in Alaska, and draws many visitors there each year. This is where the Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise can be the perfect option; as the name suggests, it’s a cruise focused on seeing the many glaciers visible in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. In this post, I’ll share my Phillips 26 Glacier Cruise review from our 2021 trip to Alaska. 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.
Marine wildlife is plentiful in Glacier Bay, so cruise visitors often see humpback whales, orca whales, harbor seals, porpoises, otters, and sea lions. You’ve seen pictures of towers of glacial ice crashing into the ocean. You'll be glad to know that Alaska glacier cruises--the best way to get up close and personal with these icy behemoths--are among the most affordable and easiest to arrange day tours from Anchorage. Each half-day cruise includes narration on the history of the Alaska Natives who ventured into the sound in centuries past. Listen as the crew explains how the fjords have been transformed over the past 15,000 years. Learn about the various types of glaciers along the route and the history of the Harriman Expedition of 100 years ago that named many of the glaciers.
With national parks and four of North America’s tallest mountains, Alaska’s wilderness has been preserved for generations. Denali National Park is larger than Vermont and home to the highest peak on the continent. Meanwhile, Glacier Bay National Park has over 2,000 square miles of glacial coverage. Elias and Kenai Fjords, a world of natural wonders awaits on an Alaska cruise or cruisetour. On a cruise to Alaska, live a nature lover's dream in the land where guests can catch postcard-worthy sights. Canada's third largest city feels like a North American metropolis mixed with a small European town.
At Portage Lake, you’ll board the MV Ptarmigan, for the hour-long boat ride among icebergs and up to the glacier. The boat comes within a 1/4 mile, close enough to hear the glaciers move as well as see the brilliant blues in the ice. Because the glaciers are so huge—some go 18 miles back and a mile across—however, it will seem like you're even closer. 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.
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