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Best Alaska cruise glacliers
USINFO | 2013-05-23 15:04
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
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.
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
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.
