I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. The Hubbard Glacier is North America's largest tidewater glacier. Related: Alaska cruise packing list: What to pack for your sailing. 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. Orca and humpback whales swim the waters of Stephens Passage, knowing there are seals nearby. All Rights Reserved. It takes about 400 years for ice to traverse the length of the glacier, meaning that the ice at the foot of the glacier is about 400 years old. Margerie is pretty magnificent. Cycling through Tasman's Great Taste Trail from Nelson, New Zealand, Why Taking the Tibet Train is Your Best Choice to Tibet. The ranger narrating helped in spotting wildlife and explaining what we were seeing in the glacier. Located in Disenchantment Bay between Seward and Skagway, Hubbard Glacier is the largest glacier in North America. Itll look more like ice waterfalls. Glacier Bay has a number of large tidewater glaciers including Margerie Glacier and Johns Hopkins Glacier. I don't need a 24/7 companion just a pleasant, trustworthy person to share some conversations with. In the next 24 hours, an estimated 5.3 cubic kilometres (1.3cumi) of water gushed through the gap, and the fjord was reconnected to the ocean at its previous level. Most of the glaciers are named after renowned east coast colleges, with the women on the NW side and the men on the SE section. Its hard to decide which one is better, Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay but Im going to discuss both of them. Two of the most beloved places visited on an Alaska cruise are Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park. Glacier Bay vs Hubbard Glacier Us - cruise virgins. You could try looking on Cruise Critic to find a travel companion? 9 of the 16 tallest peaks in North America are visible while en route to Hubbard Glacier. Park rangers will come on-board with live commentary while youre within the confines of the park. At the terminus, its towering facade impresses, dwarfing the uppermost decks of every cruise ship. Hubbard Glacier is absolutely awesome due to its size and beauty. Hundreds of icebergs dot the jade-colored waters, creating a picture-perfect scenery right out of a National Geographic magazine. There is always a chance that the cruise won't come too close or even skip the glacier. It is the only active glacier in that area so basically you are going there to see this one glacier. There is another glacier off to the side, but it is not advancing and does not calve. I would hope that only people with experience/knowledge provide advice to this thread, unlike posts on your other thread by some. Being my inauguralcruiseexperience, it was a special one. When preparing to view a glacier on an Alaska cruise, be sure to bundle up to ensure you dont get too cold while viewing the glacier. The advance is caused by global warming, which causes more precipitation to fall in the St. Elias Mountains. Linda Paull Garrison is a travel writer who has taken over 150 cruises and spent over 1,100 days at sea. I have sailed all three glacier areas and my preference is Glacier Bay. It was really nice too. Should you choose an itinerary early in the season before all ships have repositioned, you can find cruises that sail to Hubbard Glacier and a fjord. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-30452916', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hubbard Glacier and hope to see it some time in the future. We've always been ones to stray away from the "norm" and refuse to ever work a 9 to 5 job. I did it recently and had a marvelous time. There are many other glaciers you can visit on a Royal Caribbean cruise to Alaska, however, including Hubbard Glacier, Dawes Glacier, and the twin Sawyer Glaciers. Its a question asked a lot, especially by first-time visitors planning an Alaska cruise. Big glacier face, big vistas and big icebergs Cons: Open, not fjord experience. When should I book my Alaska shore excursion? From our day in Glacier Bay we had several whale sighting, although none closer than about 200m, two grizzly bears (lucky I had a good pair of bino's though), and sea otter. Its blue hues are mesmerizing, and Hubbard viewings provide memorable experiences. The fastest is Johns Hopkins Glacier, which can advance up to 15 feet per day. Calving of Hubbard Glacier, Alaska Choose Glacier Bay if you want to be sure to enjoy glacier viewing. We settled on Celebrity Millennium for the following reasons. Just returned from our Princess cruise that included both Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay. Not in my opinion as compared to Hubbard Glacier. Alaska cruise experts share their intel on how to pick the best Alaska cruise. Its immense beauty and phenomenal blue hues are enchanting, even from a distance. No matter which glacier you visit on an Alaska cruise, youll want to make sure youre prepared so that you have the best viewing experience possible. I went tracking along the glacier, I slept on a glacier in a tent. Roughly same amount of time in each. There is also an abundance of wildlife in the area, both on land and in the sea. Asthe precipitation cools, it forms snow. While you may opt to view glaciers from your balcony, you might want to consider somewhere onboard with more panoramic views, such as the pool deck or helicopter pad. However, since College Fjord is much further north, you may experience colder, foggy, or rainy conditions, which can affect visibility. Glacier Bay will have national park rangers come on board for commentary and you will see more than one glacier. We are Jim and Inna, and were firm believers that a world of adventure and travel should not just be for the wealthy, but for anyone who pursues it. The largest tidewater glacier in North America, Hubbard Glacier measures 76 miles long from the top of the icefield and plunges 1,200 feet into the bay. Like its neighboring cousin, Endicott Arm has lots of icebergs. The Hubbard Glacier starts at Mt. Having visited both, which one would I choose? A UNESCO World Heritage Site with several glaciers to see. The South Sawyer Glacier is larger than its sister in the northern arm and more accessible. Hubbard Glacier is North America's largest tidewater glacier. Is June "early"? Copyright 19952023 The Independent Traveler, Inc. Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos. Standing half a mile wide and six hundred feet tall, cruisers have a chance to witness its phenomenon calving action. Have our travel agency partner get you a free quote for a Royal Caribbean cruise. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-30464266', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');ALaska be a disappointment because I didn't get to see a glacier from the cruiseship. Here are our top tips & tricks for viewing glaciers on an Alaska cruise. Big glacier face, big vistas and big icebergsCons: Open, not fjord experience. Perfect timing! Use our calculator to find out, Stay casual, dress in layers, and get proper footwear, View All Southcentral & Interior Towns on a Map, Cruises depart Juneau or Sitka. On a B2B cruise, youll visit Glacier Bay twice, and travel to both Hubbard Glacier and College Fjord. Royal Caribbean does not currently offer cruise itineraries to Glacier Bay National Park. St Elias at 18,008 feet. Here Are The Top Landmarks To See. But it was one glacier (though a massive one at that). Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. If youre wondering what the largest glacier in Alaska is, you got it. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. There are currently 4 icebergs and 9 glaciers on the territory of Glacier Bay. 2-5 day small ship explorations. Cruise ships spend most of a day in Glacier Bay, where youll visit several tidewater glaciers and explore inlets carved by the ice. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Join the newsletter and get exclusive travel tips, giveaways and more! The glacier flows over 75 miles to reach Disenchantment Bay in southeast Alaska. Visit September to April to see the Northern Lights. Whether it is Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay, Sawyer Glacier or Tracy Arm fjord you have a preference for visiting, glacier viewing on a cruise ship makes for one of the most scenic journeys (or a perfect honeymoon trip) to explore these captivating, giant ice formations in Alaska. Since Glacier Bay is in anational park, park rangers will come on-board with live commentary while youre within the confines of the park. Where to chase the midnight sun this summer. In May 1986, the Hubbard Glacier advanced into the sea, blocked the entrance to the Russell Fjord and hence formed Lake Russell. Archive - We just returned from 3 cruises that each visited Glacier Bay; one of them was also supposed to visit Hubbard Glacier. One has a day at Glacier Bay and a day at Juneau, the other a stop at Dawes Glacier for a couple hours then on to Juneau later that same day. The biggest glacier visited by cruise ships, the Hubbard is truly impressive. But you also need to consider several factors, ports, time in ports, glacier, route, price. Chances of you witnessing calving is pretty low. Later in the season, they often go into Johns Hopkins Bay (off limits earlier in the season due to seal pups). 9 of the 16 tallest peaks in North America are visible while en route to Hubbard Glacier. Malaspina is a piedmont glacier, does not reach into the bay, and is difficult to see from a ship, even though it is about the size of Switzerland!. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But for a huge glacier and lots of icebergs, Hubbard is hard to beat. It will be an all day event. Hubbard Glacier is over 76 miles long, seven miles wide, and as tall as a 30-story building. Hubbard is big, very BIG. On my first trip (in the third week of July), the cruise ship got within mile of its face. Lamplugh has been receding rapidly, mostly from the center of the terminus. 15 reviews 21 helpful votes Is Hubbard Glacier or College Fjords more scenic 10 years ago Save We're planning a 7 day cruise through Alaska. I literally felt the glacier breathing and saw those huge chunks of ice breaking off. Additionally, the most active tidewater glaciers in the world are in Prince William Sound. Last updated: October 8th, 2021 The opportunity to witness towering glaciers up close is one of the main reasons travelers choose to book a cruise to Alaska. As cruise ships spend more time in Glacier Bay than at Hubbard Glacier, you have more time (and chances) to spot wildlife. Almost two-thirds of Grand Pacific Glaciers ice face is covered byrock debris and extends across. It is 76 miles long, 7 miles wide and 600 feet tall at its terminal face (350 feet exposed above the waterline and 250 feet below the waterline). The "face" of a glacier often looks like it has been cut, leaving a straight edge at the terminus of the glacier. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. Both stop in Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan. Cruise ships visiting Glacier Bay typically spend nearly a. If we have to pick the best glacier for wildlife viewing, though, it would be Glacier Bay. I would like to get your thoughts on visiting the glaciers in south east (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? The cruise liner entered the Russell Fjord and approached to the distance of 1.5-2km from the front edge of the glacier. Glacier Bay National Park is the 6th biggest national park in the United States. The next day we went to Hubbard glacier. 4 Ways To Find A Place You Can Stay In Denver, Traveling To Las Vegas? (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. Home United States of America Hubbard Glacier V.S. Given that it takes six hours to get up the bay to see up to two glaciers, surely you want to maximize your glacier visit and catch them calving? If you look at the links below my signature you will see in my 2017 pictures numerous shots of Glacier Bay. The classic Alaska Cruise, offered by such companies as Holland America, Princess, and Royal Caribbean. Guest. Since College Fjord is much further north than the others, it is only available on one-way cruises from Vancouver to Whittier or Seward, or vice versa, and not on roundtrip itineraries out of Seattle and Vancouver. But Alaskas glaciers are completely different. Margerie Glacier is the largest and the most active so you will probably the majority of the time there. Which one is right for you? Book entire boat for your family or group, or opt to bunk with other guests. A higher chance of witnessing truly spectacular calving of the glacier. It. If this happens, the fjord could overflow its southern banks and drain through the Situk River instead, threatening trout habitat and a local airport. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. HAL also has a 14 day round trip out of Seattle that currently is scheduled to go to Tracy Arm and Hubbard Glaciers. A naturalist will usually be on-board to provide information on the area. Hubbard Glacier is very large and impressive but it can be missed altogether if adverse conditions exist. Not to mention, its forests burst from every inch of terrain . Itineraries to Glacier Bay include a full day of sightseeing in the National Park. 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/. Related: Best things to do on an Alaska cruise. If you plan only one trip to Alaska and want to see it all or as much as possible, consider a back-to-back itinerary from Vancouvers port. These range from larger sizes to smaller pieces, called bergy bits. These bergy bits are floating islands of paradise for migratory birds. Hubbard Glacier was named in 1890 for Gardiner G. Hubbard, who was the founder of the National Geographic Society. I prefer to include both but if forced to choose I would lean toward Glacier Bay. [3] The fjord could become dammed again, and perhaps permanently. The actual location of the Hubbard Glacier is inside Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve, which is north of Glacier Bay National Park. Our picks for the best tours and experiences during your Alaska Cruise. I always suggest you have 2 glaciers just in case you miss one due to weather. Elias National Park and Preserve, "USGS Report: Hubbard Glacier, Alaska: Growing and Advancing in Spite of Global Climate Change and the 1986 and 2002 Russell Lake Outburst Floods", "2002 Russell Fjord Closure and Russell Lake Outburst", "Norwegian Cruise Line Cancels Remainder of Voyage After Ship Hits Iceberg]", "Vessel Profile: MV Hubbard - Alaska Marine Highway System", "Students name new ferries Tazlina and Hubbard", Earthshots: Satellite Images of Environmental Change, Google Maps: Interactive satellite view of where Hubbard Glacier meets the sea, U.S. Geological Survey: Sequence of photographs showing the 2002 ice blockage and breakthrough, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hubbard_Glacier&oldid=1160879864, Glaciers of Yakutat City and Borough, Alaska, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, Tidewater/Mountain glacier AKA Valley Glacier, This page was last edited on 19 June 2023, at 09:06. The beauty of glacier bay is, as k2ils said, the bay itself. Hubbard Glacier Vs Glacier Bay. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-30451061', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');cruise to Alaska included Glacier Bay. It connects to Yakutat Bay in the Gulf of Alaska. It cut its cruise itinerary short and sailed back to Juneau for assessment, and then Seattle for repairs without further incident. Weve described the experiences below, to help you decide. On good days, youll get to within 1/2 mile of the face. Deer and bears are found in the National Park, and whales can be seen just off the coast during a cruise.
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