Tips for Cruise Passengers-Glacier Bay National Park & Hubbard Glacier
Aug 10th, 2013, 09:08 AM
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Tips for Cruise Passengers-Glacier Bay National Park & Hubbard Glacier
Hello People,
In June, I travelled with Norwegian sun and visited 3 port of calls(Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway). On top of that, our ship visited 2 glaciers, namely Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier.
Here are some tips for cruise passengers:
1. Do read the cruise itinerary carefully and know what time the cruise will be stopping in the national park. Large cruises are only allowed an hour or two in the waters of the national park. So you do not want to miss it.
2. Wake up early in the morning. I am talking about having breakfast at 6.30-7.30am to avoid the large infux of passengers going for breakfast at around 8-9am.
3. Secure an outdoor seating(find a good spot) to eat your breakfast. This is fairly important to those who stays in interior stateroom. You would want a good spot to view the glaciers and to take pictures.
4. Dress warmly even in summer. It can get quite chilly out there. Dress in layers! No need for down jacket. A good fleece jacket, t-shirts and jeans will suffice. It will be good if you have long john for the bottom half of the body.
5. If traveling with more than 4 people, please book rooms(balcony) on both side of the ship(starboard and port side). This will make viewing of cruise easier as the ship will be rotating 360degree.
6. Bring a good camera/binoculars with a good zoom. LOL. The cruise is not as close to the glaciers as i expected it to be.
For tons of pictures on glacier bay national park, do visit my blog at http://keeewei.blogspot.sg/2013/08/alaska-part-7.html
For tips on Ketchikan,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
For tips on Juneau,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
For tips on Skagway,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
Hope this helps.
Cheers!
In June, I travelled with Norwegian sun and visited 3 port of calls(Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway). On top of that, our ship visited 2 glaciers, namely Glacier Bay National Park and Hubbard Glacier.
Here are some tips for cruise passengers:
1. Do read the cruise itinerary carefully and know what time the cruise will be stopping in the national park. Large cruises are only allowed an hour or two in the waters of the national park. So you do not want to miss it.
2. Wake up early in the morning. I am talking about having breakfast at 6.30-7.30am to avoid the large infux of passengers going for breakfast at around 8-9am.
3. Secure an outdoor seating(find a good spot) to eat your breakfast. This is fairly important to those who stays in interior stateroom. You would want a good spot to view the glaciers and to take pictures.
4. Dress warmly even in summer. It can get quite chilly out there. Dress in layers! No need for down jacket. A good fleece jacket, t-shirts and jeans will suffice. It will be good if you have long john for the bottom half of the body.
5. If traveling with more than 4 people, please book rooms(balcony) on both side of the ship(starboard and port side). This will make viewing of cruise easier as the ship will be rotating 360degree.
6. Bring a good camera/binoculars with a good zoom. LOL. The cruise is not as close to the glaciers as i expected it to be.
For tons of pictures on glacier bay national park, do visit my blog at http://keeewei.blogspot.sg/2013/08/alaska-part-7.html
For tips on Ketchikan,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
For tips on Juneau,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
For tips on Skagway,
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...passengers.cfm
Hope this helps.
Cheers!
Sep 6th, 2013, 03:53 AM
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I was glad I had on layers. The morning started off chilly but got pretty warm. I was glad I didn't have to go back to my cabin to change.
We sailed from Whittier and somehow missed the info that we woulld be in College Fjord EARLY the next morning and just caught the end of it. Very disappointing so yes read their literature ASAP.
We tried several viewing areas and ended up liking the aft. Our ship had an open area with seats there. Hardly anyone else was back there. We had a wider viewing area than our side balcony or a side railing up on deck.
We sailed from Whittier and somehow missed the info that we woulld be in College Fjord EARLY the next morning and just caught the end of it. Very disappointing so yes read their literature ASAP.
We tried several viewing areas and ended up liking the aft. Our ship had an open area with seats there. Hardly anyone else was back there. We had a wider viewing area than our side balcony or a side railing up on deck.
Feb 26th, 2014, 10:20 PM
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We spent most of the day in Glacier Bay and it was the highlight of the 7 day cruise on the Sapphire Princess.
The layers were crucial for versatility in changing weather and a raincoat with a hood was used a lot.
Having a balcony is a 'must' if you want to view the scenery in a peaceful manner without crowds.
Bring binoculars. We spotted bears on the shore and whales in the distance that others couldn't see because we had our binoculars. Get a travel set that fit in a small handbag slung over the body/shoulder as you never know when wildlife will pop up.
A good quality very warm zip up fleece with a hood worked perfectly for being outside in mid-late May on the ship.
If the viewing on your side of the ship from your balcony is great and you don't want to waste precious scenery walking up to the restaurant for a meal - order room service.
For pics of gorgeous glacier bay and the Alaskan cruise:
http://www.dreamhorsemedia.com/trave...se-glacier-bay
The layers were crucial for versatility in changing weather and a raincoat with a hood was used a lot.
Having a balcony is a 'must' if you want to view the scenery in a peaceful manner without crowds.
Bring binoculars. We spotted bears on the shore and whales in the distance that others couldn't see because we had our binoculars. Get a travel set that fit in a small handbag slung over the body/shoulder as you never know when wildlife will pop up.
A good quality very warm zip up fleece with a hood worked perfectly for being outside in mid-late May on the ship.
If the viewing on your side of the ship from your balcony is great and you don't want to waste precious scenery walking up to the restaurant for a meal - order room service.
For pics of gorgeous glacier bay and the Alaskan cruise:
http://www.dreamhorsemedia.com/trave...se-glacier-bay
Jul 1st, 2014, 04:06 AM
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Thanks for the helpful tips about the cruise. My husband and I are interested in doing a 7 day cruise and then a short road trip. As it looks like you did both, can you share your itinerary and any tips? Thanks!
Aug 10th, 2014, 05:24 AM
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Hi Travelgo7, we did the following itinerary:
Vancouver - 3 nights
Alaskan Cruise 7 days from Vancouver to Whittier (Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan stops - Sapphire Princess)
Hired car in Anchorage for road trip:
Girdwood - 1 night at Alyeska Resort
Spent a full day driving to Seward doing lots of stops and a full day driving back doing lots of stop offs - needed every second as there is so much to see and experience.
Seward - 3 nights (Kenai Fjords are amazing)
Cooper Landing - 2 nights at Kenai Princess Lodge (awesome views and organised a great rafting trip down the Kenai River)
Palmer - 2 nights (explored the area and hiked)
Denali - 3 nights (Denali National Park was the focus)
Anchorage - 1 night
Flew to Vancouver and hired another car to drive to:
Whistler - 4 nights (Scandinavian Spa was a winner and bears on the side of the road!)
Highly recommend this trip (spent many months researching and planning many options and routes) and made loads of stops off the beaten track along the way to see animals and do walks and explore - having a hire car gives you so much freedom. Just wish I had more time to add more places, as had to make difficult choices due to the time factor. Will be back!
Vancouver - 3 nights
Alaskan Cruise 7 days from Vancouver to Whittier (Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan stops - Sapphire Princess)
Hired car in Anchorage for road trip:
Girdwood - 1 night at Alyeska Resort
Spent a full day driving to Seward doing lots of stops and a full day driving back doing lots of stop offs - needed every second as there is so much to see and experience.
Seward - 3 nights (Kenai Fjords are amazing)
Cooper Landing - 2 nights at Kenai Princess Lodge (awesome views and organised a great rafting trip down the Kenai River)
Palmer - 2 nights (explored the area and hiked)
Denali - 3 nights (Denali National Park was the focus)
Anchorage - 1 night
Flew to Vancouver and hired another car to drive to:
Whistler - 4 nights (Scandinavian Spa was a winner and bears on the side of the road!)
Highly recommend this trip (spent many months researching and planning many options and routes) and made loads of stops off the beaten track along the way to see animals and do walks and explore - having a hire car gives you so much freedom. Just wish I had more time to add more places, as had to make difficult choices due to the time factor. Will be back!
