Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay?

[shipfriend_max]

Hi everyone,

 

for 2015 we are considering an Alaska cruise between Vancouver and Seward/Whittier.

The itineraries are not released yet, but if the itineraries in 2015 are the same as in 2014, we would consider Celebrity, NCL, Princess or RCI, maybe Holland America.

 

Now my question: Is it better to book acruise which includes a passage to the Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay?

Celebrity and RCI are only doing the Hubbard Glacier, NCL and Princess do both, at least on some cruises...

HAL does not visit Hubbard Glacier on its North/Southbound cruises.

What would be your recommendation?

 

I assume the North/Southbound voyages in 2015 will be offered by the same ships as in 2014:

-CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM

-NORWEGIAN SUN

-OOSTERDAM

-CORAL/ISLAND/CROWN PRINCESS

-RADIANCE OF THE SEAS

 

Our favourite would be Celebrity, but maybe you all have some recommendations for a cruise line concerning onboard lectors, shore excursions, etc...

 

There is still left enough time, but your replies would be helpful for me, thank you! :)

[Snook]

The most memorable sea-day I've ever had was the one we spent cruising on Glazier Bay. The Bay was mesmerizing (rainy, cold, just perfect) as we cruised and the Park Ranger explained the details of the surroundings. We enjoyed it so much we are repeating the trip in May, 2014. I've never seen Hubbard Glazier so I can't give an opinion on that one.

[puppycanducruise]

We were on the Volendam a HAL ship and sailed into Glacier Bay with the ranger doing commentary and it was fantastic. I'm not sure if all cruise lines have the expert aboard. We were very lucky, the weather was sunny and cool (it was May). Just thinking of seeing a piece of the glacier split and fall while we watched from the bow of the ship, makes me want to go back.

Sorry, I haven't seen the Hubbard Glacier but cruising Glacier Bay is a must in my opinion.

[Coral]

I prefer Glacier Bay.

 

Southbound Princess cruises hit both Glacier Bay and Hubbard Glacier. I could look at the Coral or Island Princess.

Edited November 28, 2013 by Coral

[thinfool]

Many feel that Glacier Bay is a must for a first cruise. I tend to agree.

 

Princess has been doing Alaska longer than any other line....HAL a close second.

 

RCL/Celebrity have no permits to enter Glacier Bay (it is a National Park).

 

Regardless, everyone who goes...returns in awe of Alaska.

 

Have a great trip!

[Budget Queen]

We were on the Volendam a HAL ship and sailed into Glacier Bay with the ranger doing commentary and it was fantastic. I'm not sure if all cruise lines have the expert aboard. We were very lucky, the weather was sunny and cool (it was May). Just thinking of seeing a piece of the glacier split and fall while we watched from the bow of the ship, makes me want to go back.

Sorry, I haven't seen the Hubbard Glacier but cruising Glacier Bay is a must in my opinion.

 

Yes, ALL cruise ships sailing Glacier Bay are escorted in with Park Service Rangers.

[Budget Queen]

Hi everyone,

 

for 2015 we are considering an Alaska cruise between Vancouver and Seward/Whittier.

The itineraries are not released yet, but if the itineraries in 2015 are the same as in 2014, we would consider Celebrity, NCL, Princess or RCI, maybe Holland America.

 

Now my question: Is it better to book acruise which includes a passage to the Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay?

Celebrity and RCI are only doing the Hubbard Glacier, NCL and Princess do both, at least on some cruises...

HAL does not visit Hubbard Glacier on its North/Southbound cruises.

What would be your recommendation?

 

I assume the North/Southbound voyages in 2015 will be offered by the same ships as in 2014:

-CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM

-NORWEGIAN SUN

-OOSTERDAM

-CORAL/ISLAND/CROWN PRINCESS

-RADIANCE OF THE SEAS

 

Our favourite would be Celebrity, but maybe you all have some recommendations for a cruise line concerning onboard lectors, shore excursions, etc...

 

There is still left enough time, but your replies would be helpful for me, thank you! :)

 

I have sailed Alaska on all these cruise lines. Certainly ALL were enjoyable and worthwhile to me.

 

BUT, are you looking at selecting your cruise based only on the glacier sailing? For some, it is much more- ports, time in ports, price.

 

You do have two opportunities to include both these glaciers, on the Northbound NCL and southbound Princess.

 

With you going in 2015, you have plenty of time to later decide. Alaska has a "bad" habit of too many choices, so to get the best for you, I suggest, you keep your selections open and keep refining your itinerary before you get into a selection and reservations. :) Much easier to make changes on paper. :)

 

Read through trip reports, there are many very skilled people with descriptions, some include photos. The more you know, the better your final itinerary will be for YOUR Alaska touring priority. :)

Edited November 28, 2013 by Budget Queen

[mr green]

A tough question between the glaciers.

While I prefer Hubbard, at times the captain can't get close enough for good viewing, so, IMO Glacier Bay would be the way to go.

 

john

[shipfriend_max]

BUT, are you looking at selecting your cruise based only on the glacier sailing? For some, it is much more- ports, time in ports, price.

 

You do have two opportunities to include both these glaciers, on the Northbound NCL and southbound Princess.

 

Hi,

 

thanks for your helpful reply!! :)

I am not only selecting my Alaska cruise based on the Glacier sailings, but I think it would be an important part...

Of course, the price, the cruise line, ports (times (nearly every North/southbound cruise covers the same ports :D), and the target groups are important.

-According to some reviews, at Icy Strait Point you have the best possibilities to do some whale watching - so I think that port is important, and is visited by Celebrity, NCL, RCI.

-On the North/Southbound itineraries, HAL is the only company which does not offer any passage (College Fjord or Hubbard) on the day at sea before or after Seward/Whittier, depending on company.

All others are passing the Hubbard Glacier or College Fjord...

On top of that, HAL is very expensive and according to friends, most HAL-passengers are retired - so it would be our last choice.

-Princess offers quite appealing itineraries, but at a high price. And Hubbard is only visited on the Southbound voyage, which does not matter for us soo much...

-Celebrity/RCI have the best port times, Hubbard Glacier and Icy Strait on both North/Southbound voyages, and very good prices.

We loved CELEBRITY SUMMIT, and based on our love for CELEBRITY SUMMIT, we would boo Celebrity again on the Alaska cruise - we assume MILLENNIUM offers the North/Southbound voyages in 2015 as well.

-The North/Southbound voyages on NCL are also very appealing - Hubbard on both directions, long port timings (except Juneau on the Southbound voyages), good prices and a lot of people I know love(d) NORWEGIAN SUN. :)

 

Finally Celebrity, NCL and RCI are the "winners" for us :D, and if the prices are ok, also Princess.

But until 2015 it's a still a long time - but you cannot begin your plannings early enough! :D

[GORDONCHICK]

Personally, I think Hubbard is more jaw-dropping - but that is predicated on whether or not you can get in close to it. So my recommendation is based on exactly when in the season you are going. If going early in the season, go to Glacier Bay. Ships always get in. But if going late in the season,I would definitely want Hubbard Glacier on the itinerary. But your best bet is to pick a sailing that includes both. For whale watching, take an excursion in someplace like Icy Strait or Juneau. While seeing whales from the ship would be cool, it's nothing like an excursion provides.

[rjgdjg]

Hi-

We did a lot of research before our trip and we kept hearing people raving about Glacier Bay. Now that I've been there, I can see why. It was a remarkable, memorable, once-in-a-lifetime kind of place. I'll see if I can capture it: it's a narrow channel ridged with snow-capped mountains the entire way, several large ice-blue glaciers with calving, water that in spots was completely littered with chunks of ice. It's remote, unspoiled and like no other place I've seen.

 

By the way, we took Princess, which specializes in Alaska. The benefits were a number of fabulous lecturers, including an interesting naturalist who narrated Glacier Bay while we were there; a seafood buffet; and many special touches.

 

- Diana, http://musingaboutcruising.blogspot.com

[ntvsdgrl]

This past August I was on Coral Princess and went to Glacier Bay. The weather the entire time on the trip was cloudy and rainy. As we were approaching the bay, there was a break in the clouds and the entire bay was bathed in sunshine. It was the most breathtaking experience I've ever had. So much so I'm going back in '15. I'm doing southbound with land tour first. This time I'll see Hubbard Glacier. Also this time I'm going in June near the Solstice.

 

 

 

 

[shipfriend_max]

Hi at all,

 

thank you so much for your replies!! :)

Friends of me who already have been to Alaska said, I shouldn't miss Hubbard Glacier!!

But the pictures of Gacier Bay look very impressing!

 

I think it is the best way to have both , but I also woud like to have Icy Strait for whale watching... :D sadly no itinerary covers all three stations...

NORWEGIAN SUN has Glacier Bay and Hubbard on its Northbound itinerary, Hubbard and Icy Strait on its southbound itinerary, CELEBRITY MILLENNIUM has icy Strait and Hubbard on both North/Southbound cruises, CORAL/ISLAND/CROWN PRINCESS have Hubbard and Glacier Bay on the Southbound sailings...

OOSTERDAM only has Glacier Bay...

 

Until 2015 there is still enough time left, so we will see... :)

[thinfool]

Some of the best (and guaranteed) whale watching tours are to be found in Juneau.

 

That's not to say the ISP is not great, too.....:rolleyes:

[GORDONCHICK]

Hubbard Glacier photos

[shipfriend_max]

Thank you again for the helpful replies. :)

The Hubbard Glacier photos also look very impressing!!

 

I'll wait for the release date and the prices of the 2015 itineraries - I think NCL will release them this month.

 

Sadly, Princess is (slightly) more expensive than the other companies we consider...

 

The Tracy Arm Fjord was not mentioned at all.

I do not know whtether it is worth to see it?

I only could imagine that Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay are much more impressing...

Edited December 3, 2013 by celebrity_fan

[Budget Queen]

 

By the way, we took Princess, which specializes in Alaska. The benefits were a number of fabulous lecturers, including an interesting naturalist who narrated Glacier Bay while we were there; a seafood buffet; and many special touches.

 

- Diana, http://musingaboutcruising.blogspot.com

 

Park Service Rangers narrate Glacier Bay, Not Princess naturalists. The Naturalists do fill in later in the day usually around the last hour exiting.

[shipfriend_max]

That sounds interesting.

Do these Park Rangers also operate on NCL ships, or just aboard the Princess ships which sail Glacier Bay?

 

We are better able to decide when all the itineraries will be released, which must be at the latest in April 2014 - I think NCL already releases next week or even this month.

 

At the time of decision, we have been sailing two times on Princess, two times on Celebrity and one time on NCL - we also mst see which loyality benefits we get.

Sadly several Captains Circle benefits (Princess) are only available for US/Canada-citizens... that's also an important criteria.

[GORDONCHICK]

 

At the time of decision, we have been sailing two times on Princess, two times on Celebrity and one time on NCL - we also mst see which loyality benefits we get.

Sadly several Captains Circle benefits (Princess) are only available for US/Canada-citizens... that's also an important criteria.

 

I wouldn't think there would be hardly any noticeable benefits for so few cruises, and I wouldn't book an Alaskan cruise with those in mind. JMO.

[Budget Queen]

That sounds interesting.

Do these Park Rangers also operate on NCL ships, or just aboard the Princess ships which sail Glacier Bay?

 

We are better able to decide when all the itineraries will be released, which must be at the latest in April 2014 - I think NCL already releases next week or even this month.

 

At the time of decision, we have been sailing two times on Princess, two times on Celebrity and one time on NCL - we also mst see which loyality benefits we get.

Sadly several Captains Circle benefits (Princess) are only available for US/Canada-citizens... that's also an important criteria.

 

Park Rangers escort and narrate on ALL ships entering Glacier Bay.

 

Sorry but with only, at most, a couple cruises on cruise lines, the "benefits" are minimal and may not be of any priority to consider when selecting an Alaska cruise. The significant benefits come with far more cruises than you list.

[shipfriend_max]

Ah ok, than I think the benefits are not soo important when chosing our cruise.

The fact with the park rangers sounds interesting.

 

But as far as I heard, when cruising the Hubbard Glacier a crew member leaves the ship on the little rescue boat and takes a picture of the ship with the glacier in the background - that sounds great!!! :)

[mr green]

Ah ok, than I think the benefits are not soo important when chosing our cruise.

The fact with the park rangers sounds interesting.

 

But as far as I heard, when cruising the Hubbard Glacier a crew member leaves the ship on the little rescue boat and takes a picture of the ship with the glacier in the background - that sounds great!!! :)

 

I, for one found the 'Picture Taking' most upsetting on one of my cruises. Since the Capt. could not, or would not get within a half decent range of the Glacier, IMO he was just killing time. In this case the ship was circled by the boat, and the picture taking took about an hour, we hardly saw the glacier at all.

 

john

[GORDONCHICK]

I, for one found the 'Picture Taking' most upsetting on one of my cruises. Since the Capt. could not, or would not get within a half decent range of the Glacier, IMO he was just killing time. In this case the ship was circled by the boat, and the picture taking took about an hour, we hardly saw the glacier at all.

 

john

 

This why I recommend Hubbard to those going late in the season when the ships get in close because there's less ice in the water and it's safer. I'd say anything before July, you definitely won't get very close.

[shipfriend_max]

This why I recommend Hubbard to those going late in the season when the ships get in close because there's less ice in the water and it's safer. I'd say anything before July, you definitely won't get very close.

 

That's a good point.

We are planning to do the cruise nor before mid of July, due to holiday reasons...

 

Good to read that the ships are getting closer to the glacier in July and August! :)

[Glaciers]

That's a good point.

We are planning to do the cruise nor before mid of July, due to holiday reasons...

 

Good to read that the ships are getting closer to the glacier in July and August! :)

 

Certainly would seem to increase your chances of getting closer later in the season but no guarantees. Of the 3 trips we've been on to Hubbard we were able to get close once late in the season. We were there the second week of July this year and were only able to get within 12 miles.

 

Although College Fjord doesn't get as much hype as Hubbard, Harvard Glacier was spectacular this year and we were able to get very close to the face.