United States Alaska Glacier Bay National Park
A full day of scenic cruising in a national park in Southeast Alaska, up the bay to the tidewater glaciers of Tarr Inlet.
Scenic cruisingNo going ashore
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Local time
Ships spend about nine hours in the park and stop for about an hour in front of a tidewater glacier. Park rangers come aboard for the day.
Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve covers about 13,300 km² (3.3 million acres) of mountains, glaciers and fjords west of Juneau, in Southeast Alaska. It became a national monument in 1925 and a national park in 1980, and it is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared with Wrangell-St. Elias and two Canadian parks, Kluane and Tatshenshini-Alsek. It is also the homeland of the Huna Tlingit. Some 250 years ago the bay was filled with ice; today eight glaciers within the bay still reach the sea.
Cruise ships do not dock and nobody goes ashore. Ships spend nine to ten hours in the park and cover over 190 km (120 miles) up the bay and back. The main stop is about an hour in front of Margerie Glacier, at the head of Tarr Inlet: its face is about 1.4 km (0.85 miles) wide and some 60 m (200 feet) high. Johns Hopkins Glacier is usually seen from the mouth of its inlet, which is closed to cruise ships from May to August to protect harbour seals. Park rangers board every ship for the day, and many lines also carry Huna Tlingit cultural interpreters.
The National Park Service allows no more than two cruise ships a day, with seasonal quotas, under ten-year contracts that run until 2029. Princess, Holland America, Norwegian, Seabourn, Cunard and Viking hold them. Glacier Bay is on many seven-night round trips from Seattle and Vancouver and on one-way cruises across the Gulf of Alaska, from May to September.
How the day goes
- 06:15Rangers come aboardThe ship enters the park through Sitakaday Narrows, near Bartlett Cove. Park rangers board from a boat and stay on the ship for the whole day.
- 08:00Up the bayCommentary starts as the ship sails north past South Marble Island, where Steller sea lions rest. Watch for humpback whales, sea otters and mountain goats.
- 10:45Margerie GlacierAbout an hour in front of Margerie Glacier, at the head of Tarr Inlet, with Grand Pacific Glacier beside it. The ship turns slowly so both sides get the view.
- 12:30Johns Hopkins and LamplughOn the way back the ship stops at the mouth of Johns Hopkins Inlet, next to Lamplugh Glacier. In September it may sail into the inlet.
- 15:15Leaving the parkAfter the return trip down the bay, the rangers leave the ship near Bartlett Cove and the ship heads out through Icy Strait to its next port.
Map of Glacier Bay National Park
Where ships stop to see the glacier
Climate
Average daily temperatureNow in Glacier Bay National Park–Loading weather…
Cruise season
MayJuneJulyAugustSeptember
Cool and often wet: summer highs of 10 to 15 °C, colder and windier on deck near the ice. Rain, low cloud and fog are common; April to June are usually the driest months, September the wettest.
Cruises that sail into Glacier Bay National Park
EurodamHolland America · 7 nights · Scenic cruising 06:00–15:00
Seattle· at sea ·JuneauGlacier Bay National ParkIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)SitkaKetchikan
Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleApr 24, 2027May 1, 2027May 8, 2027May 22, 2027May 29, 2027Jun 5, 2027Jun 12, 2027Jun 19, 2027Jun 26, 2027Jul 3, 2027Jul 10, 2027Jul 17, 2027Jul 24, 2027Jul 31, 2027Aug 7, 2027Aug 14, 2027Aug 21, 2027Aug 28, 2027Sep 11, 2027Sep 25, 2027
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KoningsdamHolland America · 7 nights · Scenic cruising 06:15–15:15
Apr 24, 2027May 8, 2027May 15, 2027May 22, 2027May 29, 2027Jun 5, 2027Jun 12, 2027Jun 19, 2027Jun 26, 2027Jul 3, 2027Jul 10, 2027Jul 17, 2027Jul 24, 2027Jul 31, 2027Aug 7, 2027Aug 14, 2027Aug 21, 2027Aug 28, 2027Sep 4, 2027Sep 11, 2027Sep 18, 2027Sep 25, 2027
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Norwegian EncoreNorwegian Cruise Line · 7 nights
Apr 25, 2027May 2, 2027May 9, 2027May 16, 2027May 23, 2027May 30, 2027Jun 6, 2027Jun 13, 2027Jun 20, 2027Jun 27, 2027Jul 4, 2027Jul 11, 2027Jul 18, 2027Jul 25, 2027Aug 1, 2027Aug 8, 2027Aug 15, 2027Aug 22, 2027Aug 29, 2027Sep 5, 2027Sep 12, 2027Sep 19, 2027Sep 26, 2027Oct 3, 2027Oct 10, 2027
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Royal PrincessPrincess Cruises · 7 nights · Scenic cruising 06:00–14:30
May 1, 2027May 8, 2027May 15, 2027May 22, 2027May 29, 2027Jun 5, 2027Jun 12, 2027Jun 19, 2027Jun 26, 2027Jul 3, 2027Jul 10, 2027Jul 17, 2027Jul 24, 2027Jul 31, 2027Aug 7, 2027Aug 14, 2027Aug 21, 2027Aug 28, 2027Sep 4, 2027
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Crown PrincessPrincess Cruises · 14 nights · Scenic cruising 06:15–15:15
Vancouver· at sea ·KetchikanJuneauSkagwayGlacier Bay National Park· at sea ·Anchorage (Whittier)· at sea ·· at sea ·SkagwayJuneauKetchikan· at sea ·VancouverMay 8, 2027May 22, 2027Jun 5, 2027Jun 19, 2027Jul 3, 2027Jul 17, 2027Jul 31, 2027Aug 14, 2027Aug 28, 2027
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WesterdamHolland America · 14 nights · Scenic cruising 06:00–15:00
Vancouver· at sea ·KetchikanJuneauSkagwayGlacier Bay National Park· at sea ·Anchorage (Whittier)· at sea ·· at sea ·SkagwayJuneauKetchikan· at sea ·VancouverMay 9, 2027May 23, 2027Jun 6, 2027Jun 20, 2027Jul 4, 2027Jul 18, 2027Aug 1, 2027Aug 15, 2027Aug 29, 2027
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Norwegian JadeNorwegian Cruise Line · 7 nights
Vancouver· at sea ·KetchikanJuneauSkagwayGlacier Bay National ParkIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)· at sea ·Anchorage (Whittier)May 10, 2027May 24, 2027Jun 7, 2027Jun 21, 2027Jul 5, 2027Aug 30, 2027
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Island PrincessPrincess Cruises · 14 nights · Scenic cruising 06:00–15:00
Vancouver· at sea ·KetchikanJuneauSkagwayGlacier Bay National Park· at sea ·Anchorage (Whittier)· at sea ·· at sea ·SkagwayJuneauKetchikan· at sea ·VancouverMay 12, 2027May 26, 2027Jun 9, 2027Jun 23, 2027Jul 7, 2027Jul 21, 2027Aug 4, 2027Aug 18, 2027Sep 1, 2027
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ZaandamHolland America · 7 nights · Scenic cruising 06:00–15:30
May 12, 2027May 19, 2027May 26, 2027Jun 2, 2027Jun 9, 2027Jun 16, 2027Jun 23, 2027Jun 30, 2027Jul 7, 2027Jul 14, 2027Jul 21, 2027Jul 28, 2027Aug 4, 2027Aug 11, 2027Aug 18, 2027Aug 25, 2027Sep 1, 2027Sep 8, 2027
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Discovery PrincessPrincess Cruises · 14 nights · Scenic cruising 06:15–15:15
Vancouver· at sea ·KetchikanJuneauSkagwayGlacier Bay National Park· at sea ·Anchorage (Whittier)· at sea ·· at sea ·Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)JuneauKetchikan· at sea ·VancouverMay 15, 2027May 29, 2027Jun 12, 2027Jun 26, 2027Jul 10, 2027Jul 24, 2027Aug 7, 2027Aug 21, 2027Sep 4, 2027
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Nieuw AmsterdamHolland America · 14 nights · Scenic cruising 08:30–17:30
Vancouver· at sea ·KetchikanJuneauSkagway· at sea ·· at sea ·Anchorage (Whittier)· at sea ·Glacier Bay National ParkSkagwayJuneauKetchikan· at sea ·VancouverMay 16, 2027May 30, 2027Jun 13, 2027Jun 27, 2027Jul 11, 2027Jul 25, 2027Aug 8, 2027Aug 22, 2027Sep 5, 2027
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Norwegian JoyNorwegian Cruise Line · 9 nights
Seattle· at sea ·SitkaSkagwayGlacier Bay National ParkIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)Ketchikan· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleMay 19, 2027Jun 16, 2027
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Coral PrincessPrincess Cruises · 14 nights · Scenic cruising 06:00–15:00
Vancouver· at sea ·KetchikanJuneauSkagwayGlacier Bay National Park· at sea ·Anchorage (Whittier)· at sea ·· at sea ·SkagwayJuneauKetchikan· at sea ·VancouverMay 19, 2027Jun 2, 2027Jun 16, 2027Jun 30, 2027Jul 14, 2027Jul 28, 2027Aug 11, 2027Aug 25, 2027
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Norwegian JoyNorwegian Cruise Line · 10 nights
Seattle· at sea ·SitkaGlacier Bay National Park· at sea ·Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)JuneauKetchikan· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleMay 28, 2027
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Norwegian JoyNorwegian Cruise Line · 7 nights
Seattle· at sea ·Icy Strait Point (Hoonah)Glacier Bay National ParkSitkaKetchikanVictoria (British Columbia)SeattleJul 2, 2027Jul 16, 2027Jul 23, 2027Jul 30, 2027Aug 13, 2027
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Norwegian JoyNorwegian Cruise Line · 9 nights
Seattle· at sea ·KetchikanSitkaSkagwayGlacier Bay National ParkIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)Juneau· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleAug 30, 2027
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Norwegian JoyNorwegian Cruise Line · 9 nights
Seattle· at sea ·SitkaJuneauSkagwayGlacier Bay National ParkKetchikan· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSep 8, 2027
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Royal PrincessPrincess Cruises · 10 nights · Scenic cruising 06:45–15:30
Seattle· at sea ·KetchikanJuneauSkagwayIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)SitkaGlacier Bay National Park· at sea ·· at sea ·VancouverSep 11, 2027
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Norwegian JoyNorwegian Cruise Line · 10 nights
Seattle· at sea ·SitkaSkagwayGlacier Bay National ParkJuneauIcy Strait Point (Hoonah)Ketchikan· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSep 17, 2027
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Norwegian JadeNorwegian Cruise Line · 7 nights · Scenic cruising 06:45–15:00
Seattle· at sea ·JuneauGlacier Bay National ParkKetchikan· at sea ·Victoria (British Columbia)SeattleSep 21, 2027
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Tips for your call
- Warm layersOn deck near the ice it is cold and windy even in July. Bring a hat, gloves, a waterproof jacket and warm layers; the park warns of hypothermia all year.
- BinocularsWildlife is often far from the ship: humpback whales, brown bears on the shore, mountain goats on the cliffs, seals on the ice. Binoculars help a lot.
- Ranger programmeRangers board at the park entrance early in the morning. They give commentary over the speakers, talks and Junior Ranger activities. Check the daily programme.
- Where to watch fromThe bow and the open upper decks give the widest view, and many ships open the bow at the glacier. In rain, forward lounges with large windows are an option.
- Johns Hopkins InletFrom May to August cruise ships stay out of this inlet to protect seal pups and view Johns Hopkins Glacier from about 11 km away. In September they may go in.
- PhotographyIce breaks off the glacier face at any moment, so stay in one spot for a while. A zoom lens helps for wildlife and for details of the ice face.
In pictures
