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!

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