Glacier Bay

What to know

• Ships don't dock here; you watch from the deck while rangers narrate.
• Park permits limit how many ships visit, so only some itineraries include it.
• Dress warmly — it's cold on deck near glacier ice.
• Bring binoculars for wildlife and calving ice.

Getting around

Ships do not dock in Glacier Bay; most spend a full day of about 9 to 10 hours cruising more than 120 miles up the bay, including about an hour at the face of a tidewater glacier. National Park Service rangers board near the park entrance at Sitakaday Narrows, usually early in the morning, give narration and programs, staff an information desk, and leave in the afternoon. You see the park from the ship's decks and lounges, and a park map is usually delivered to your stateroom the evening before. Source: nps.gov

What you'll see

On deck · from the shipRanger narration and talksPark rangers come aboard to narrate the cruise up the bay and give special presentations; check your daily program for times.nps.govFree · from the shipRanger information deskAsk rangers questions, get the park passport cancellation stamp, and buy maps and books from the Alaska Geographic bookstore.nps.govFree · from the shipJunior Ranger programKids get a PeeWee (ages 2–6) or Junior Ranger (ages 6–12) booklet from the ranger aboard and earn a badge.home.nps.govOn deck · from the shipMargerie GlacierA 21-mile tidewater glacier at the head of Tarr Inlet that calves icebergs straight into the sea.nps.govOn deck · from the shipGrand Pacific GlacierThe debris-covered glacier beside Margerie that flows in from Canada and carved out Glacier Bay.nps.govOn deck · from the shipJohns Hopkins InletA glacier fjord with a large harbor seal gathering; cruise ships may enter only in late summer.nps.govWildlife · from the shipHumpback whales and sea ottersWatch the water for humpback whales, sea otters, Steller sea lions and seabirds as the ship moves up the bay.nps.govWildlife · from the shipBrown bears and mountain goatsScan upper-bay beaches and hillsides for brown bears and steep cliffs for mountain goats.home.nps.gov

Where to eat

There are no restaurants on the bay; you eat aboard your ship.

Photos on Unsplash by Michael Kirsh, Eric Hooper, Sebastien Devocelle, Frank Thiemonge, Marta Ceffa, John Yunker, Meg von Haartman. Many show the town or the kind of place rather than the listing itself.

Port tips

• Bring binoculars and warm, waterproof layers for long stretches on deck.
• Check your ship's daily program for ranger talk times and the ranger desk location.
• Ships stop at a tidewater glacier for about an hour, so be on deck early to find a good spot.

Each listing links to the official or source page we used. Hours and seasons change, so check before you go. Listings are not paid placements.