hokkeika Posted February 11, 2019 #1 Share Posted February 11, 2019 Hello, I am thinking of booking a 7 day cruise in mid-May 2019 from Seattle. HAL offers two very similar itineraries, except one goes to Glacier bay and another to Hubbard glacier. Which one is better for the first time Alaska trip? (also Eurodam goes to Glacier bay and Oosterdam goes to Hubbard glacier). What do you think? thank you! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towhee Posted February 11, 2019 #2 Share Posted February 11, 2019 I prefer Glacier Bay over Hubbard Glacier, but both give you a great glacier experience. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krazy Kruizers Posted February 11, 2019 #3 Share Posted February 11, 2019 We have been to both many times. We do like Hubbard Glacier better as the glacier there is much bluer. But in May you may not get very close to Hubbard Glacier thus Glacier Bay may be better for viewing up close. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJSULIBRARIAN Posted February 11, 2019 #4 Share Posted February 11, 2019 For a first time Alaska cruise, I would pick Glacier Bay although my personal preference is Hubbard if you can get up close to it. You will see more glaciers in Glacier Bay which is the reason I would chose that on your first cruise. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grsnovi Posted February 11, 2019 #5 Share Posted February 11, 2019 We're doing our 4th Alaska cruise this summer and we're going to Glacier Bay a second time. Have been to Hubbard early season and you won't (typically) get very close. Eurodam also has Tamarind which happens to be a favorite specialty restaurant. Otherwise the cruises are very similar. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcand1923 Posted February 11, 2019 #6 Share Posted February 11, 2019 Since this is your first trip to Alaska AND you are travelling in May, I would go with the Glacier Bay cruise. (I personally prefer Hubbard Glacier, but getting close to it in May is not always possible. Also, you will see more glaciers in Glacier Bay.) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knittinggirl Posted February 11, 2019 #7 Share Posted February 11, 2019 (edited) Try a back to back and do both. Last year, we did Glacier Bay on one cruise and Endicott Arm on the second. But we had to spend the night in Vancouver between two cruises, because we started in San Diego and ended in Seattle. Done Hubbard twice the year before. Edited February 11, 2019 by knittinggirl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuthC Posted February 11, 2019 #8 Share Posted February 11, 2019 On a beautiful day, for a first cruise there, either one will suffice. But Hubbard is the more spectacular experience, especially on a sunny day. In early season the mountains in Yakutat Bay should be covered in ice & snow, and with the sun shining on them is a gorgeous sight. Hubbard is more likely to show calving. You really can't go wrong, though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted February 11, 2019 #9 Share Posted February 11, 2019 Hubbard is am amazing glacier but like others said, you may not get close in May. In fact, the closest I got in June was 5 miles. Given its May, I recommend Glacier Bay. Plus, I think Eurodam is a nicer ship. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaiidan Posted February 11, 2019 #10 Share Posted February 11, 2019 2 hours ago, hokkeika said: Hello, I am thinking of booking a 7 day cruise in mid-May 2019 from Seattle. HAL offers two very similar itineraries, except one goes to Glacier bay and another to Hubbard glacier. Which one is better for the first time Alaska trip? (also Eurodam goes to Glacier bay and Oosterdam goes to Hubbard glacier). What do you think? thank you! Thats easy, having been to both in may and sept. In may you want to go to Glacier Bay because you can see more. In May ice chokes the bay in the Hubbard Glacier and you wont get within 3 or more miles of the glacier... Sept is the time to see the Hubbard and get within 1/4 mile ....thats a treat. but only possible in September or late August Another plus for the Glacier bay choice Is that national Park Rangers come aboard for the day and give talks and point out things... No one does anything at the Hubbard except read from a card... Glacier Bay in May is the logical choice 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I_r_a Posted February 12, 2019 #11 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Glacier Bay Enjoy your visit Ira Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OlsSalt Posted February 12, 2019 #12 Share Posted February 12, 2019 (edited) Hubbard. Did both, but there was so much more calving at Hubbard when we did this in late May, early June last year. Loud booms and lots of crashing ice. Beautiful entry into the glacier viewing area and no other ships. Yes, you get closer in Glacier Bay but the sweep of the scenery and the action was much more dramatic at Hubbard. Edited February 12, 2019 by OlsSalt 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catl331 Posted February 12, 2019 #13 Share Posted February 12, 2019 You really should see both in your lifetime, but I'll go along with the consensus and say GB in May and Hubbard later in the season. Hubbard is much larger than anything in GB. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJSULIBRARIAN Posted February 12, 2019 #14 Share Posted February 12, 2019 23 minutes ago, catl331 said: You really should see both in your lifetime, but I'll go along with the consensus and say GB in May and Hubbard later in the season. Hubbard is much larger than anything in GB. And Hubbard Glacier is advancing while most other glaciers are retreating but I still say do Glacier Bay first. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rkacruiser Posted February 12, 2019 #15 Share Posted February 12, 2019 For a first time visitor to Alaska, I also would recommend a visit to Glacier Bay. There should be a National Park Service Ranger or two aboard to provide narration and walking around the outside decks to speak with guests. The visit to Hubbard Glacier does not provide that. One way to solve the Hubbard vs. Glacier Bay question is to select a cruise that does such. Princess has a Southbound Voyage of the Glaciers itinerary from Whittier to Vancouver that visits both sites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moriah Posted February 12, 2019 #16 Share Posted February 12, 2019 Hubbard is the much larger and more impressive glacier (not that Margery and the others in Glacier Bay are not...) and in my opinion just makes for a more dramatic "glacier day". Having said that, it's all SO wonderful, you are going to have a fantastic cruise whichever you choose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruise_More_Often Posted February 12, 2019 #17 Share Posted February 12, 2019 What a hard choice! I prefer Hubbard. It's so huge and just gorgeous. We saw her back in May 2012. But, I love the Eurodam, which is a little more modern and has the Tamarind restaurant. Either choice will be great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EbayCruiser Posted February 13, 2019 #18 Share Posted February 13, 2019 We have been to both and much prefer Hubbard Glacier. Our first cruise to Alaska included HG and it is HUGE with lots of calving. Our next cruise was to Glacier Bay and we were disappointed! We have been to Alaska four times and would love to go again. 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avian777 Posted February 13, 2019 #19 Share Posted February 13, 2019 On 2/11/2019 at 4:00 PM, Aquahound said: Hubbard is am amazing glacier but like others said, you may not get close in May. In fact, the closest I got in June was 5 miles. Given its May, I recommend Glacier Bay. Plus, I think Eurodam is a nicer ship. 👍👍👍 Agree completely on all counts!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loreto Posted February 13, 2019 #20 Share Posted February 13, 2019 Been to Alaska 6 times and we prefer the Hubbard Glacier. We have been in May and it was spectacular. In July I am taking my grand daughter and daughter-in-law and chose the Oosterdam for the Hubbard Glacier. This cruise a small ship experience is being offered for close viewing of the Hubbard. Enjoy your cruise, whichever you choose! Karen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Himself Posted February 13, 2019 #21 Share Posted February 13, 2019 I prefer Glacier Bay. Sometimes there is so much ice you cannot even see Hubbard's Glacier 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VennDiagram Posted February 13, 2019 #22 Share Posted February 13, 2019 56 minutes ago, Himself said: I prefer Glacier Bay. Sometimes there is so much ice you cannot even see Hubbard's Glacier I agree, that's been our experience with Hubbard. We've had bad luck trying to get near Hubbard. OP, I would choose Glacier Bay for your first Alaska cruise. Being on the Eurodam would be a good choice, also 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms. Alpha Posted February 14, 2019 #23 Share Posted February 14, 2019 I agree both are worth seeing. We've done both twice. Our most recent trip was to Hubbard (early July) and I kept waiting to get closer since our first visit we got very close. It was still spectacular, but not as awe-inspiring as our first visit which was in mid- August. Our first Glacier Bay visit was in late May, compared to late July for the second. Both were spectacular and the commentary from the Park Ranger was a definite bonus so I would go for Glacier for the best "intro to glaciers" experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare terrydtx Posted February 14, 2019 #24 Share Posted February 14, 2019 On 2/11/2019 at 1:50 PM, grsnovi said: Eurodam also has Tamarind which happens to be a favorite specialty restaurant. Otherwise the cruises are very similar. This would be my choice just because of the Tamarind, I agree it is the best specialty restaurant HAL offers. I would eat there more than 1 night too. We are on the Noordam doing a sea and land tour leaving from Vancouver in July, we will miss not having the Tamarind, but we will be cruising the inside passage for the fist couple of days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janmcn Posted February 16, 2019 #25 Share Posted February 16, 2019 Mid-May is your delimiting factor...Hubbard often fogged in or iced in still and not approachable, whereas Glacier Bay can always be visited. First timers, you want to make sure to see "something"...Glacier will do it. Been to Hubbard 2 of 3 times when we couldn't get in due to fog or ice early in the season. Only time we got there was in the later summer. You'll love Glacier Bay...then plan to return on another AK cruise 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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