What are the
must-see glaciers
of Alaska cruising?

My glacier ratings

Alaska has more than 100,000 glaciers, about half of the world's total. The best on Alaska cruise itineraries are:

Top 2 individual glaciers

Hubbard (see photo)

Sawyer

Runners-up: Mendenhall, Endicott, Margerie, Worthington, Kenai Fjords

 

Top glacier complex

Glacier Bay (16 glaciers)

Runner-up: College Fjord

Can you visit both
Hubbard Glacier
and Glacier Bay?

Not on the same cruise. The Alaska authorities, for the sake of conservation and limiting overcrowding, permit one set of cruise lines to visit Glacier Bay but not Hubbard Glacier. The opposite is true for the other set of cruise lines.

Which is better,
Hubbard Glacier
or Glacier Bay?

Many seasoned Alaska cruise-goers believe that Hubbard Glacier is the more exciting glacier destination. Many others think that Glacier Bay is the winner. Each side has its strong arguments.

Arguments for Hubbard

Size

It dwarfs Margerie, the largest of the 16 glaciers in Glacier Bay.

Breadth

Hubbard's face is 10 kilometers (6 miles) wide. That's 5 times broader than Margerie's. And Hubbard's vertical face is taller than a 30-story building.

Calving

Hubbard's calvings (ice chunks breaking off) occur more frequently. They are also more dramatic (some calves are as high as a 10-story building).

Arguments for Glacier Bay

Number

It has 16 individual glaciers.

Entrance

Its entrance bay is more scenic and varied than Hubbard's.

Upclose odds

The chances of a ship being able to get close to a glacier are much better in Glacier Bay than at Hubbard Glacier. Reason: The number of icebergs that Hubbard generates sometimes creates a navigational hazard for cruise ships. If so, this would prevent your ship from getting within thrill range of the Hubbard glacier.

 

The vote is close. In my mind, Hubbard has the slight edge because of its awesomeness.

 

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