How to Choose an Alaska Glacier Cruise

The state of Alaska boasts over 10,000 glaciers. Some are land-based while others run into fjords or the ocean. All are breathtaking. Marine glaciers can be viewed in an up front and personal way on an Alaska Glacier Cruise. There are many glacier cruise options on offer in this spectacular part of the world and selecting a cruise of this kind probably comes down to finding one that best fits into your holiday schedule.

You can do this in two ways. Travel along Alaska’s coastline on cruise that includes glacier viewing as part of its itinerary or travel around Alaska and select a stand alone Alaska Glacier Cruise, often a day cruise from designated towns along the coast.

Most of the large cruise lines will include in their vacation options a glacier cruise to see the Hubbard Glacier, Glacier National Park or glaciers in the Kenai National Park. This often follows a cruise up the Marine Inland Passage with stops at Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan. This is an Alaska Glacier Cruise I style.  You can view these glaciers from the deck or inside depending on the weather and enjoy the company of others and do this in five star accommodation.

The other alternative is more low-key and local.  Operators run day cruises to each of the well known glaciers across the summer and provide a wonderful experience for travelers in Alaska. Our experience of an Alaska Glacier Cruise in Prince William Sound including College Fjord there was breathtaking. We kept war and dry inside The Klondite Express and ventured out for magnificent scenery including spectacular calving in the afternoon.

Our trip to Tracy Arm to view Sawyer Glacier just south of Juneau on Adventure Bound was probably the most incredible adventure as we wound our way through a fjord covered in ice flows to reach our glacial destination. Images reflecting the color of the water and the ice floes and the searing rocky outcrops on either side of us will remain with us forever. Sawyer Glacier was worth every minute it took to reach it.

Columbia Glacier is located near Valdez south west of Anchorage. Perhaps it was the clear, sunny day or the friendly and very informative captain or even the otters, puffins or humpbacks we saw along the way, but this Alaska Glacier Cruise during our stay in Valdez was a cruise of a lifetime!  The expanse of the Columbia Glacier was the largest we’ve seen and left us hankering to return.  I suspect we will!

An Alaska Glacier Cruise is worth every cent it costs.  Alaskan cruise lines will do this magnificently and Alaskan cruise operators are impressive individuals who take great pride in these geological masterpieces. Select the way you’d prefer to experience Alaskan glaciers and savor every moment!

Leave a comment | View Comments

 

Juneau Whale Watching Adventure with Optional Mendenhall Glacier Tour

 

Skagway Spectacular: Klondike Gold Rush and the White Pass Trail

 

 

Alaska Cruise Videos

Alaska Cruise Travel Headlines

Princess Cruises Named “Best Cruise Line in Alaska” by Travel Weekly

Line Voted Best in Alaska for Fifth Straight Year at Magazine’s Readers’ Choice AwardsSANTA CLARITA, Calif. (PRWEB) December 29, 2011 Princess Cruises has once again received top honors as the “Best Cruise Line in Alaska” in the annual Travel Weekly Readers’ Choice Awards. This marks the fifth year in a row, and the eighth time, that the company has been recognized with this distinction by the ...

Read more...

---

Cruise like an Alaskan with new escorted tours

This is a discussion on Cruise like an Alaskan with new escorted tours within the Current Cruise Travel News forums, part of the category; Chris Owen Has Just Posted the Following: Norwegian cruise guests can now book their choice of four different escorted Cruisetours ...

Read more...

---

Travel Agents: Now's the Time to Book a Cruise

WSIL-- This is what's known as the 'wave' season for the cruise industry. It's their busiest time for bookings.

Read more...

---

Alaska Dream Cruises adds visits to little-known ports - USA TODAY

This is a discussion on Alaska Dream Cruises adds visits to little-known ports - USA TODAY within the Current Cruise Travel News forums, part of the category; Cruise News Reporter Has Just Posted the Following: USA TODAY Alaska Dream Cruises adds visits to little-known ports USA TODAY ...

Read more...

---

Travel pros vote Princess Cruises number one in Alaska

This is a discussion on Travel pros vote Princess Cruises number one in Alaska within the Current Cruise Travel News forums, part of the category; Chris Owen Has Just Posted the Following: Princess Cruises got tagged again as the “Best Cruise Line in Alaska ” ...

Read more...

---

Norwegian announces 2013 Alaska Cruise Tours

This is a discussion on Norwegian announces 2013 Alaska Cruise Tours within the Current Cruise Travel News forums, part of the category; Norwegian Cruise Lines announced their 2013 Alaska Cruise Tours today, all which can be paired up with Norwegian Sun, who’ll ...

Read more...

---

Price Reduction Fairy Has Visited...thanks Lori!

This is a discussion on Price Reduction Fairy Has Visited...thanks Lori! within the Cruise & Travel Chat forums, part of the category; Just got two new confirmations from Lori for the C@ Group Alaska B2B cruise in May with a nice $500 ...

Read more...

---

10 Money-Saving Alaska Cruise Tips

This is a discussion on 10 Money-Saving Alaska Cruise Tips within the Current Cruise Travel News forums, part of the category; By Nancy Schretter Alaska is a dream destination for many cruise passengers. Aptly called “The Great Land,” Alaska is filled ...

Read more...

---

Norwegian Cruise Line Launches New Alaska Cruisetours

This is a discussion on Norwegian Cruise Line Launches New Alaska Cruisetours within the Current Cruise Travel News forums, part of the category; Cruise Industry News Has Just Posted the Following: Starting today, Norwegian Cruise Line guests can book pre- or post- Cruisetours ...

Read more...

---

Tiny cruise ships have no problem with Mexico

This is a discussion on Tiny cruise ships have no problem with Mexico within the Current Cruise Travel News forums, part of the category; Chris Owen Has Just Posted the Following: Seattle-based American Safari Cruises pioneered yacht cruising in Alaska in 1997 and since ...

Read more...

---

Disney to Cruise from Seattle in 2012

For folks in the Pacific Northwest, cruising to Alaska just got a lot more family friendly. The Port of Seattle is, you imagine, thrilled that, a few years after Disney picked Vancouver over Seattle as the embarkation point for its Alaska cruises, Disney has decided to give Seat�…

Read more...

---

Alaska 2009: The Journey Begins

It's May 9th, the day my wife and I leave for our two week Alaskan vacation. Knowing that our flight leaves from Atlanta at noon I thought I would get up around 0600, shower, get dressed, finish packing last minute items and slowly make progress towards the airport.

Read more...

---