Your Alaskan Cruise Guide To Glacier Bay National Park

An area in a constant state of change, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve allows visitors the chance to see some of this planet’s most powerful and creative forces at work. Encompassing the past, present, and future, an Alaska cruise to Glacier Bay is a true bucket-list experience.

Glacier Bay, Alaska has dramatic scenery and fascinating wildlife. There are a high number of tidewater glaciers, known to creak, groan, and then split right before your eyes. Frosted peaks and mossy forests, marine wildlife and more make Glacier Bay a draw of Alaska cruises. It is a significant place for the Huna Tlingit people, as they inhabited it long before the Europeans reached the Glacier Bay shores.

Glacier Bay, Alaska is part of a 24-million-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site, which also includes Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, and the Tatshenshini-Alsek Park in British Columbia. Glacier Bay is an extraordinary national park. As it isn’t accessible by roadways, there’s little human interference.

The park is more than the famous glaciers; it is a wilderness symphony with high mountain peaks, fjords, inlets, rivers, and streams; as well as forests, foothills, plains, and wet tundra.

When Captain George Vancouver explored this coastline in 1794, the region was covered in a single glacial sheet of ice thousands of feet thick. Since then, it has receded some 65 miles, revealing the bay and its surrounding environment.

Today, Glacier Bay National Park consists of more than 1,000 glaciers, covering almost 30 percent of its 3.3 million acres. Seven of the glaciers are considered active tidewater glaciers — the type that breaks off icebergs into the sea. This glacial "calving" is one of the more spectacular sights to be seen from aboard an Alaskan cruise ship. As new areas become exposed (deglaciated), fresh life springs forth from land and sea now free from eons of icy embrace. Stand at the deck rail and admire stunning rainforests, fjords, and ancient Tlingit homeland.

Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska is a vibrant ecosystem made up of a variety of terrestrial and marine species. Since nearly 20 percent of the park is composed of water, Alaska’s top 5 marine animals are in great abundance, with humpback whales, Steller sea lions, orcas, harbor seals, porpoises, otters, and a variety of fish prowling the waters.

On land, a large population of Alaska wildlife in the heart of a very wild place: both brown and black bears as well as moose, mountain goats, wolves, and Sitka black-tailed deer call Glacier Bay National Park home. And there’s a good chance you’ll catch sight of a bald eagle or two soaring overhead, in addition to the more than 200 species of other birds that keep watch over Glacier Bay.

There are many glaciers in Glacier National Park, but the tidewater glaciers, the ones that reach the sea, are the most dazzling. Rangers come on board to discuss the science behind Alaska glaciers and point out the named glaciers in the bay. Your Glacier Bay cruise will linger in front of at least one glacier, to give you the best view to witness calving ice. Listen closely as ice plummets from glaciers into the bay, the distance rumble of "white thunder."

• John Hopkins Glacier: A mile wide and 250 feet high, check out its stunning stripes—those are called lateral moraines
• McBride Glacier: The last tidewater glacier in the bay’s East Arm and in rapid retreat

The National Parks Service restricts access to a few cruise ships per day and only certain lines. Holland America Line has more cruises to Glacier Bay than any other cruise line. Since most Glacier Bay visitors arrive by Alaska cruise, the park staff is well-versed in how to create an enriching, memorable experience for passengers.

Want to get the most out of your park visit? Rangers come aboard the vessel bringing a mobile visitor’s center to you! During the Glacier Bay tour, look for them on the decks pointing out areas of interest and answering questions.

1. When you first board your cruise ship, scope out prime viewing spots ahead of when you cruise Glacier Bay — these are the open decks without windows between you and the breathtaking Alaska scenery. The covered promenade deck has the added benefit of shelter from potential rain.
2. Speaking of rain, pack rain gear for your Glacier Bay Alaska cruise. Chances are, you’ll need it because the region receives a great deal of precipitation. And dress in layers. The average temperature is 55°F (13°C), but the moist air may make it feel colder. Read what to pack for an Alaska cruise- based on the season and the best time to cruise to Alaska.
3. Bring binoculars. This is the best way to view Alaska wildlife from the deck and will give you a better chance to take in the stunning views.
4. Glacier Bay Alaska cruises typically spend about one hour directly in front of a tidewater glacier. Find out ahead of time when this will occur to ensure you can get a good spot to watch potential calving.

Getting ready to go to Glacier Bay National Park for your Alaska dream experience? View all Alaska Articles and Videos, or find information about Holland America's Alaska cruise ports.

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