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Hubbard glacier. Anyone getting close?

jskinsd

By jskinsd,
in Alaska

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don't-use-real-name

don't-use-real-name

Posted
Posted

Hubbard is a much larger glacier and is not located in a (Tracy Arm) fjord that is frequently

blocked by ice chunks. Also near the point of viewing the Sawyer glacier is Sawyer Island

which is a navigation issue when the ice is caving blocking passage. Hubbard does not

have this issue.

 

Hubbard and Glacier Bay are outstanding glaciers that the cruise ships can get rather

close and rotate to afford viewing for all on board. You will get close enough to hear

the crack of caving ice chunks off the face of glacier. 

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Glaciers

Glaciers

Posted
Posted
9 minutes ago, Dancing Shoes said:

Thanks.  Looks small. 😉  Glad I have seen Glacier Bay. Different day, different experience.  

Have you done the small boat excursion?

Haven’t done the small boat excursion. A bit over our heads at $250+pp for the fairly short excursion. I’d rather do 2 whale watches for the same price which is what I did this month in Juneau.  Priorities.

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DogLover

DogLover

Posted
Posted

On our Celebrity Eclipse cruise in August 2019, we got within a half mile of Hubbard Glacier. Yes, you read that correctly .... it was UNBELIEVABLE! Captain Leo said it was the closest he had EVER been able to get. Conditions were optimal and rare.

 

Leonardos Palaiokrassas (@captainl3o) • Instagram photos and videos

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DaveOKC

DaveOKC

Posted
Posted
48 minutes ago, RussNJodi said:

Am I correct in assuming you are more likely to get closer to Hubbard the later in the season you are? 

Correct.  One time we did a late Sept sailing and got very close, and then the following May on the same ship we were far away from it and many people were disappointed and upset.

 

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Glaciers

Glaciers

Posted
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50 minutes ago, RussNJodi said:

Am I correct in assuming you are more likely to get closer to Hubbard the later in the season you are? 

There can sometimes be less ice blocking the way later in the season.  Although, of our 6 trips, this is the least ice I’ve ever seen. The two times we made it to the face were Celebrity & Oceania, never Princess.

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donaldsc

donaldsc

Posted
Posted

If you do AK on a small expedition type ship you will almost certainly get close.  One time that we did that when the glacier calved our boat rocked.  There was another smallish sailboat that was even closer than we were.  I will bet that they had a glorious time.

 

DON

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3rdGenCunarder "Live from...." Rare

3rdGenCunarder

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 6/1/2022 at 12:12 AM, DogLover said:

On our Celebrity Eclipse cruise in August 2019, we got within a half mile of Hubbard Glacier. Yes, you read that correctly .... it was UNBELIEVABLE! Captain Leo said it was the closest he had EVER been able to get. Conditions were optimal and rare.

 

Leonardos Palaiokrassas (@captainl3o) • Instagram photos and videos

 

We got very close on QE in June 2019. As you say, optimal conditions. I hadn't been to Hubbard before so I didn't realize how lucky we were. That same trip, our time in Tracy Arm was a joke. The ship turned into the large area where Tracy and Endicott branch off and then turned and continued on to Juneau. No explanation. 

 

The cool thing about Tracy Arm is, if you get far enough in to see the glacier, as we did on our first cruise to Alaska (September), not only do you get the crack sound of the ice breaking, but it echoes down the fjord like thunder. I hadn't expected that.

 

Edited by 3rdGenCunarder
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Coral "Live from...." Rare

Coral

Posted
Posted
On 6/1/2022 at 7:12 AM, RussNJodi said:

Am I correct in assuming you are more likely to get closer to Hubbard the later in the season you are? 

One season - no one got even close. 

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jskinsd

jskinsd

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12 minutes ago, jskinsd said:

 

Thank you.  Yours is the only current 2022 report on Hubbard.  All other responses are more than two years old are just guesses.  And the Alaskan season is two months old.  I have been to Hubbard Glacier over 10 times and ideal viewing was been less that 50%.  And on one special time was able to see multiple glacier calving.  Fog, ice field, captains knowledge of the area are all factors for poor viewing.  Hopefully the NCL Sun will get close later this month.

And what are these tours of Hubbard glacier that people are talking about?  Where do they start from?✌️

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3rdGenCunarder "Live from...." Rare

3rdGenCunarder

Posted
Posted
8 hours ago, jskinsd said:

Thank you.  Yours is the only current 2022 report on Hubbard.  All other responses are more than two years old are just guesses.  And the Alaskan season is two months old.  I have been to Hubbard Glacier over 10 times and ideal viewing was been less that 50%.  And on one special time was able to see multiple glacier calving.  Fog, ice field, captains knowledge of the area are all factors for poor viewing.  Hopefully the NCL Sun will get close later this month.

And what are these tours of Hubbard glacier that people are talking about?  Where do they start from?✌️

 

Your ship may offer a tour to get closer to the glacier. A boat will tie up to your ship so passengers can get on the boat. Passengers return to the ship the same way. This is only through your ship. There are no other companies that you can book with because they wouldn't get permission to get close to your ship. Because you're a "captive audence," it's likely to be expensive.

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don't-use-real-name

don't-use-real-name

Posted
Posted

Google Map for reference:

 

Google Maps

 

Map can be zooomed in or out for greater lessor detail

 

Top center of image is Hubbard glacier melting into Disenchantment Bay

The nearest port for tours is Yakutat - some distance away and not in the

shelter of an Inside Passage.

Still yet there may be excursions of the small vessel type getting closer to

the calving action - check for what is offered with your ship (shore) excursions.

 

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3rdGenCunarder "Live from...." Rare

3rdGenCunarder

Posted
Posted
On 6/4/2022 at 10:35 AM, jskinsd said:

No tours offered by the Sun.🙁

 

When is your cruise? They might arrange it last-minute when they have a good idea of the weather. IIRC, on my 2019 cruise, that tour was not offered online in advance. 

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