Alaska Glacier Cruise Guide

All About Alaskan Glacier Cruises

An Alaska Glacier Cruise is an incredible experience. The Fjords of Inside Passage and the Gulf of Alaska have some have the most spectacular scenery anywhere in the world.

I will never forget my first experience cruising these majestic fjords, seeing the stunning blue ice of the glaciers up close as they break off or "calve", dropping enormous chunks of ice into the pristine waters.

You can either take a cruise on one of the large cruise lines or you can cruise on a small ship to Alaska.

The larger cruise ships have an amazing variety of activities and amenities, while the small cruise ships offer a more intimate look at wildlife, scenery, and other natural wonders.

To see more photes of the region, start by taking a look at my Alaska cruise picture gallery.

What makes all Alaskan cruises so amazing is the breathtaking scenery of the areas in which the coastal glaciers form.

The fjords of lower Alaska are nothing short of breathtaking, with sections of dense temperate rainforest lining the steep slopes which rise up from the deep blue waters.

Seemingly endless waterfalls plunging thousands of feet down sheer cliffs, and peaks reaching upwards of 20,000 feet within just miles of the coast.

Common glacier viewing spots include the Hubbard Glacier, Glacier Bay National Park, Tracy Arm Fjord, and College Fjord.

Of course, seeing the glaciers just a hundred or so yards away from the dock of the ship is thrilling and awe-inspiring, but Alaska glacier cruises allow you opportunities to get even closer to these living rivers of ice.

Stopping in Juneau, near the northern end of the Inside Passage, cruise passengers are able to take a short bus trip to the amazing Mendenhall Glacier, where hiking trails allow you to get as close to the glacier as your heart desires.

For those who seek more extreme adventure, aerial tours of the glaciers allow you to see these massive rivers of ice from above. This is truly an experience you will never forget.

There are other shore excursions that allow you to hike and go ice climbing right on the glaciers themselves, often combined with a helicopter tour of the glaciers, giving you both extreme overhead views and up close and personal experiences with the glaciers.

Of course, the ultimate glacier experience comes in Glacier Bay National Park, a mystical fjord carved by glaciers which wind down from some of the tallest peaks in North America.

For me, this was the highlight of my Alaska glacier cruise, and it was an experience that I know I will remember for a lifetime.

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