Hubbard Glacier vs. Glacier Bay: Which is the better place for a scenic cruise in Alaska?

Cruising in Alaska means you want to see everything. The list includes whales, sled dogs and bald eagles. You want stunning scenery and an informative tour.

Most people’s first choice is glacier viewing. It’s an inherent part of what we like to see on a cruise in Alaskan waters – and may even be the main reason to choose a cruise or cruise tour instead of exclusively vacationing on land in Alaska.

Cruise lines realize this and invest time cruising around the region’s most famous glaciers in an effort to make everyone’s glacier-awed dreams come true.

But how do you know which Alaska cruise itinerary will get you up close and personal with the best glaciers? Let’s start with the top two options for most Alaska cruises: Hubbard Glacier and Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.

Some cruises go to both locations, but usually you have to choose between them when you book your cruise. My vote is for Glacier Bay, but before we delve into the details that support my choice, let’s go over the basics of choosing an Alaska Glacier Cruise.

Tips to make sure you see glaciers on your cruise

You need to know that it is entirely possible to book a cruise in Alaska that doesn’t take you to any glaciers. I’ve done it and had a great time.

It’s important to remember, though, that even routes planned for ice time can have problems. Weather, ice in the water, and onboard emergencies are common reasons why a ship must skip a scheduled glacier excursion.

My glacier-free trip was neither an accident nor an accident. This was an early season short cruise that only visited Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia.

If you’re hunting for glaciers, plan accordingly with these three tips to improve your chances.

First, book a mid-season cruise, as early and late season cruises face more ice in the water and more challenging weather conditions. Secondly, book your cruise for more than one glacier cruise day to double your odds. Finally, add a glacier cruise; these can usually be taken from port before or after your ship plans a scenic cruise around the glacier.

Tip: If your cruise ship offers a glacier viewing tour on the day you plan a scenic cruise near the glacier, take it. This indicates that the ship will not be as close as you would like.

Here are highlights from two of the most popular glacier destinations.

RELATED: The Best Time to Cruise in Alaska

hubbard glacier

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It is the longest tidewater glacier in North America, with a surface height of more than 400 feet and a width of nearly 7 miles.

Cruise Lines Touring Hubbard Glacier

Most cruise lines to Alaska include Hubbard Glacier on at least one itinerary – most commonly one-way sailings or 10- to 14-night cruises. Keep in mind that only a handful of seven-night round-trip cruises include Hubbard Glacier. The list includes Alaska’s new cruise line Virgin Voyages, as well as small and medium-sized cruise lines such as Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

What’s so special about Hubbard Glacier

The sheer size of Hubbard Glacier is its biggest attraction. Its huge size means you can see it even when the boat can’t get close to you. Ships typically come within a quarter to a half mile of the glacier’s surface, but the amount of ice in the water sometimes forces ships to stop farther into the fjord.

Hubbard is sometimes called the “Running Glacier” because for more than a hundred years it has been pushing toward Disillusionment Bay, sometimes cutting off nearby Russell Sound due to rough waves. Currently, its overall size is considered stable, but it is steadily moving forward into the bay.

This movement causes the ice to break off and fall into the sea in a process called calving, which has less to do with temperature and more to do with the physics of the thickness of the glacier and the steepness of the land it crosses. Blocks of ice the size of three-story buildings often fall into the water, creating thunderous roars and waves that crash onto nearby shorelines.

The glacier is part of the 13.2 million-acre Wrangell-Holy Glacier. Elias National Park and Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park has the largest glacier system in the United States, with 35% of the park covered by glaciers.

As you sail into Yakutat Bay, which tapers to Disillusionment Bay, you may see humpback whales, orcas, bald eagles, seals, sea lions, and even bears on the shore. Most ships have naturalists on board to help with (and announce) wildlife sightings during the ship’s visit to the bay.

RELATED: 6 of the Best Cruise Ship Shore Excursions in Alaska—From Helicopter Hiking to Whale Watching

glacier bay

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Part of a national park and preserve, it covers more than 3 million acres and is home to more than 1,000 glaciers, seven of which are tidewater glaciers that you can see from your boat.

Cruise Lines Visiting Glacier Bay

Cunard, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, Viking Cruises, American Cruise Lines, Lindblad Cruises, UnCruise Cruises and Alaska Dream Cruises all operate cruises to Glacier Bay.

What’s so special about Glacier Bay

The most obvious surprise is that you can see seven glaciers in one day here. What’s also cool is that the bay is part of a national park and rangers will be on board to answer your questions. They’ll provide maps, charts, and all the information you could want about the park’s glaciers and wildlife. Yes, you can even get your national park passport stamped.

The boat will tour the park for 9 to 10 hours and cover more than 120 miles. I found that one of the trips that departed as early as 6am arrived at 8:30am on the Holland America route (and stayed until 6:30pm). The boat stops in front of one of the tidewater glaciers for about an hour, rotating 360 degrees to give everyone on board a view.

Only two large cruise ships are allowed per day; fortunately, the park classifies smaller cruise lines (including UnCruise, Lindblad, and American Cruise Lines) as tourist ships rather than cruise ships, so the large ship restrictions do not apply.

You can see harbor seals, sea lions, sea otters and bald eagles on all-day cruises. You may also see brown bears (coastal grizzly bears), black bears, humpback whales, harbor porpoises, mountain goats, killer whales and puffins.

RELATED: Best Alaska cruise tips to help you make the most of your time on board and ashore

Which is better, Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay?

For the length of your scenic cruise: Glacier Bay wins this one. A limited number of boats are allowed each day, meaning this is an all-day event for the lucky few who cruise these waters. Cruise ships to Hubbard Glacier typically stay near the glacier for a few hours.

for dramatic presentations: Hubbard Glacier is the drama queen of all Alaska glaciers. Hubbard puts on a great show with its brilliant blues, thunderous disintegration and sheer size. Glacier Bay’s glaciers are quieter, far less flashy, and less likely to experience large ice calvings.

For watching wild animals: Both scenic glacier cruises put you in the perfect spot to view Alaska wildlife and marine life throughout your tour; however, Glacier Bay is the winner because the ship stays in the bay longer. It’s like an extended wildlife viewing trip – except you never have to leave the boat.

For children or people with short attention spans: Hubbard wins here because of shorter visits. Visiting Glacier Bay is a long, slow process that usually starts early in the morning and requires warm clothing and lots of patience. One of the great things about Glacier Bay for kids is interacting with the park rangers on board.

Used to select cruise routes: Hubbard wins here, too. I found 16 different cruise lines that had Hubbard stops on their itineraries. Glacier Bay does get bonus points for having the largest selection of small craft, though. Imagine the thrill of cruising here on an UnCruise, Lindblad or American Cruise Lines ship.

For cruise fares: Both Glacier stops may require a one-way trip, which will add to the cost of your ticket, but Glacier Bay beats Hubbard on this one. This is mainly because we did find a few seven-night round-trip itineraries that included here. Additionally, for the best viewing in Hubbard, you may still need to take a shore excursion on a smaller vessel, which will increase your total cost.

most likely to succeed: It’s also a win for Glacier Bay. With seven glaciers, the odds are in your favor. Only bad weather, fog, or a boat emergency can prevent you from seeing at least one of the park’s glaciers on your trip.

Related: The Best Alaska Cruises for Every Type of Traveler

Take a cruise to see other glaciers in Alaska

While Hubbard and Glacier Bay are two of the most famous glacier options on an Alaska cruise, don’t forget about the smaller options.

If your itinerary is to cruise the Tracy Arm Fjord, you’ll be able to see the Twin Sawyer Glaciers there. The beauty of the narrow fjord is breathtaking. Plus, it’s closer to land than the open Great Bay, allowing for better viewing of waterfalls and wildlife. Look for bears and goats. MSC’s first season in Alaska included cruising time in Tracy Arm.

Endicott Bay is a fjord that branches off Tracy Bay and can be used as a backup fjord if weather or ice prevents your boat from reaching Sawyer Glacier. Because Endicott Bay is straighter than Tracy Bay, larger ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas and Ovation of the Seas, will schedule tours here. The glacier you see on the Endicott Arm is Dawes Glacier, which is a listed destination on Disney Cruise Line’s Alaska itineraries. Whether on the day of a scenic cruise or in Juneau, Alaska, the ship may offer boat tours to see these glaciers up close. Windstar Cruises’ Star Seeker itineraries utilize Zodiac excursions to see these glaciers up close.

College Sound is a more northerly option near Whittier, Alaska, so you’ll typically find it on routes to and from Whittier or Seward, Alaska. This is an additional glacier viewing spot as most itineraries that include it also include Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay. The real bonus, though, is that the fjord is home to five tidewater glaciers.

bottom line

You can enjoy an Alaskan cruise without seeing the glaciers. However, if this is an important part of your dream Alaska experience, you should book a cruise with more than one opportunity to see the glaciers, because things can (and do) go wrong.

As for choosing Hubbard Glacier or Glacier Bay, we voted for Glacier Bay because of the ease of viewing, time spent in front of the glacier, and the cost of the visit—but you won’t be disappointed with either option.

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