Alaska Cruises

Glacier Bay National Park is truly one of the most beautiful and amazing places you will ever visit.

Set in a steep fjord at the far northern end of Alaska’s Inside Passage, Glacier Bay is a magical place, where the steep, lush sides of the fjord rise up seemingly endlessly, decorated with literally thousands of waterfalls.

The peaks surrounding this fjord are some of the tallest in North America, rising up over 15,000 feet, lending this place a sense of sheer peace, isolation, and majesty.

On the day our ship entered the Glacier Bay National Park fjord on my first trip to Alaska, a thick overcast hung over the bay, clinging to the sides of the cliffs and giving the place an almost mystical feel, as if the waterfalls along the sides of the fjord were literally plunging out of the misty clouds.

Only two large cruise ships per day are allowed to enter the pristine waters of Glacier Bay, due to the abundance of delicate marine life in this preserve.

Therefore, when you are in the bay, you might well not see another ship for miles, further enhancing its sense of isolation and tranquility.

I really can’t say enough about this wonderful place, which is perhaps the most beautiful and awe-inspiring location I have ever visited.

When you reach the end of the fjord, you are treated to the sight of vast glaciers, composed of an almost translucent blue ice, winding down in self-carved valleys from the mountains above.

Seeing the glaciers break apart or “calve”, sending huge chunks of ice plummeting into the bay waters below is simply an awesome sight.

Perhaps the one frustration of a cruise into Glacier Bay is that you only get to spend a few hours in this place. If you are like me, you will want to go back and spend much more time exploring this magnificent preserve.

For those who seek a more intimate connection with Glacier Bay National Park, several options are available.

Airplane shore excursions are available during cruise stops in Skagway and Juneau, allowing passengers the rare pleasure of seeing the breathtaking fjord and glaciers from above.

Combination pane and boat tours are also available, letting passengers spend an entire day up close and personal with the glaciers.

Of course, if you are like me and really want to get to know the park, the best way is to return for a stay at the Glacier Bay Lodge, located at the base of the 15,320 foot Mount Fairweather.

This rustic accommodation serves as a wonderful base to explore the park and is accessible via Alaska Airlines commuter jets from Juneau and air taxi service from Skagway and Haines.

Spending time alone in this natural wonderland is both amazing and unbelievably tranquil.

Sea kayaking might just be the best way to explore the ins and outs of the Glacier Bay National Park shoreline.

The lodge runs a 150 seat catamaran, and guests can take kayaks with them on the boat for a small fee.

Whatever amount of time you spend here, you too are bound to fall in love with this magnificent place.