Hubbard Glacier, Disenchantment Bay, Alaska is possibly the longest tidal glacier in North America measuring 76 miles (122 kilometers) long. It is fed from the Yakutat Icefield, which is famous for its turquoise blue ice and violent calving. These generate stunning displays that attract both tourists and researchers. What makes Hubbard Glacier unique is the aspect of both retreat and advance, which helps us understand more about glacial processes in a changing climate. This also makes homes for high altitude birds and wild animals and affects the weather in the region. Statistics show that Hubbard Glacier is one of the most breathtaking places to visit when one is doing a cruise or flying in a helicopter over the tremendous landscapes of Alaska.
Being one of the largest tidewater glaciers in North America, Hubbard Glacier is not only impressive but also intriguing in its ever-changing ice features. Nestled within fertile biospheres and magnificent views, this giant glacier is full of activities that enable you to explore it thoroughly. There are numerous activities offered, for example, taking a ride on a boat through the bay, paddling around icebergs in a kayak, and watching fascinating birds and animals. On this page, we outline the top activities to undertake at Hubbard Glacier in order to maximize your visit to the glacier.
A cruise is arguably the most satisfying way to appreciate Hubbard Glacier. These cruises sail across beautiful Disenchantment Bay, featuring a breathtaking view of the glacier's active region, which is the calving face. As the ship gets near, the most beautiful and loudest ice breaking off a glacier and falling into the ocean can be seen. Many of the cruises offer open decks for better viewing, and stationed naturalists often share information about the glacier's movement and history. Some of the ice can be impressive, so don’t forget binoculars! Dress in layers because it tends to get cold around the glacier.
Thanks to the extensive ecosystems that surround the Hubbard Glacier, it is possible to observe lots of animals in their natural habitats. For instance, a visitor can hunt for harbor seals resting on their beds of ice, active sea otters, and sun-warmed sea lions. There is also something for photographers and bird lovers, whose appreciation is extended by but not limited to the bald eagle, puffins, and different varieties of gulls. Later on, it is this time of the year when the humpback or orca whales will be gliding in the waters around the area. Early morning or late afternoon are generally the best times for spotting wildlife, as it tends to be so late in the day that they are too hot to be active.
For individuals looking for a closer thrill, a unique way to venture outside the frozen terrains of the glacier is through kayaking. Usually, guided kayaking tours offer safety gears, a short lecture about kayaking, and it enables you to row through drifting icebergs and enjoy the sights of the glacier from a completely different angle. The activity is quiet except for the calving glacier and the sounds of the nature surrounding it. Don’t forget to put on water proof attires and get ready to be wet at times, plus, it is advisable to carry a water resistant camera to be able to document the fun experience!
A helicopter tour or a small plane tour is perhaps one of the most enjoyable parts of visiting Hubbard Glacier and its huge surroundings. On take-off, expect to see glacial valleys, ice fields, and mountain ranges Looking down from the sky cannot help but emphasize the size and the magnificence of the glacier, which can hardly be fully understood whilst standing on land or in the water. It is recommended to make reservations ahead of time, most especially during high seasons and also to dress in layers because it might be chilly in higher altitudes.
The Hubbard Glacier is very attractive for photography owing to its vibrant blue color and the surrounding scenery. Observers, however, should try to aim at events involving calving ice, uniquely designed ice sculptures, and the surface of the water, especially the sunrises and sunsets that tend to create the most extensive blue color and texture on the glacier. Shots can be enhanced with a camera tripod for steady images and to avoid blurriness in low-light conditions as well as a polarizing filter to cut off the brightness and bring out the real colors of the ice or the water without the shine. From amateur to professional photographers, there is no doubt that the view at Hubbard Glacier will capture remarkable photographs.
Hubbard Glacier in Alaska is a picturesque spot for cruise passengers, and a number of premium cruise lines organize expeditions that allow you to get as near as twenty miles to this beautiful ice formation. These cruise lines vary from the ultimate in amusement, as some of these cruises are oriented for families to the best in available resorts. Whatever the cruise style you prefer as a client, there is always an option that fits you. That said, here are some of the best cruise lines for Hubbard Glacier:
Celebrity Cruises is renowned for its contemporary luxurious vessels. Moreover, its Alaskan cruises, more so to Hubbard Glacier, provide breathtaking sights from its expansive decks and signature solarium. Many of the ships have a range of Alaskan activities onboard, including food photography in connection to regional food and wildlife, and environmental experts are giving enlightening conversations onboard. The chic design of Celebrity's rooms offers great scopes for the enjoyment of the glacier especially the private balcony rooms. Most people rate the service and the facilities of this cruise line higher than other similar lines. Thus, it is very popular with travelers wishing to take a luxurious cruise vacation in Alaska.
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Princess Cruises seems to be the go-to choice for travelers who would like to find an equilibrium between luxury and adventure while on Alaskan cruises. Offering appealing service and diverse itineraries, Princess is probably the only cruise line that extends its cruises as far as Hughes Glacier. The passengers are treated to impressive glacier sights usually combining the Hughes glacier with a visit to Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm Fjord. Furthermore, since there are programs offered on board which make sure that the guests appreciate the culture, wildlife and even the history of Alaska, Princess Cruises well serves even the most neophyte and round the world voyagers. Furthermore, its rich range of shore excursions improves the Alaskan holiday experience as it allows one to enjoy other activities like whale watching and guided nature hiking among other things.
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Holland America Line is famous for the classic cruising with mid-sized ships that are very comfortable for the passengers. There are lots of deep itineraries including Alaska, which noticeably includes cabins to Hubbard Glacier, which are famous for geological beauty. Their vessels are also smaller, therefore there is no hindering wall between them and the ice formation. Apart from awesome sights of ice, which most cruises provide, Holland America line also goes to other places e. After Glacier Bay and such places as Sitka and Juneau off the Inside Passage, this line also offers a variety of experiences. Their extensive programming and emphasis on the local culture makes this line popular amongst the travelers who want to experience the real Alaska.
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Ideal for families and adventure-seekers alike, Royal Caribbean is arguably the most popular cruise line offering trips to Hubbard Glacier. Royal Caribbean is well known for its sizeable activity centered ships ensuring a fun but adventurous holiday while at the same time enjoying the great Alaskan scenery. The ships have excellent viewing decks for the guests to appreciate the amazing glacier while other facilities include activities such as rock climbing and ice skating to cater for diverse tastes. Royal Caribbean also offers cruises around Disney's Alaska cruise packages that cover famous Alaskan cities like Skagway, Ketchikan, and Juneau, thus a cruise experience to families and age groups is well catered for.
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Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) has developed a unique niche with its Freestyle Cruising concept that allows for enhanced dining and activities management for the travelers. NCL also prides itself in maintaining a cordial working environment, which appeals to many of its passengers on their Alaskan trips to Hubbard Glacier. The cruise line’s fleet of modern vessels boasts large observation lounges as well as outdoor decks allowing for breathtaking views of the glacier background while on board. NCL’s cruise programs usually feature a combination of famous glaciers ports in Alaska along with cruising days and this gives the tourists quite a number of chances to savor the pristine nature. For the passengers wishing to enjoy deluxe experience with the luxury cruise packages, NCL provides also additional premium suites with extrinsic features and high-quality service.
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Silversea Cruises gives an ultra-luxury feeling with small, close-knit ships that can get closer to the Hubbard Glacier than bigger ships. It is famous for its services being all-embarking, Silversea gives a hands-on approach to all its users with a crew facing a guest ratio of nearly one and one making their services very efficient and comfortable. The experience is even more enhanced with great pictures of the glacier available at different angles from the deck of the ship because it is a smaller ship. The voyages offered by Silversea are for people seeking a more sophisticated cruise vacation with fine dining, interesting land activities, and special onboard programs that celebrate the natural scenery and wildlife of Alaska rather than the intense cruises that are commonly taken.
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Oceania Cruises is perfect for such an upscale yet informal cruise experience. Famed for its delicious catering and cruises that are more focused on the destination rather than sea travel, the Hubbard glacier cruises offered by the company have a slower speed and fewer cruisers than most ships. The line prides itself on the culinary experience with high-end restaurants found on board that can compete with several top eateries on land. Most of Oceania Cruises' Alaskan programs include a longer or additional visit to Hubbard Glacier than most other glaciers offered on cruise itineraries. Targeting the luxury market, the Cruise line focuses more on destinations than on the sea and life on board and therefore, is ideal for such customers.
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Seabourn represents the finest of luxury cruise lines available and has a very small ship category offering ‘six star’ quality service and cabin experience. Its Alaska cruises especially those into the Hubbard Glacier are built with the intention of enabling the guests fully engage and appreciate the sights of Alaska. The larger vessels are far less crowded and allow longer more exclusive stays at the glacier while the interior settings are quite sophisticated. These include fine dining, luxurious suite accommodation, and complete attention to every detail from organizing shore excursions to having a team of specialists on board conducting educational lectures. Seabourn offers an all-inclusive fare which means that every aspect of the cruise exceeds basic expectations to the delight of those who wish to travel around Alaska in style.
Book Seabourn CruisesIf you’re planning on traveling to Alaska’s Hubbard Glacier, the best time of the year is within the summer months, which ranges from the middle end of May to the middle end of September. Here is why:
Weather: With the coming of summer, the weather becomes more forgiving so more people can afford to go sightseeing or engage in outdoor activities and summer is warmer. During the day the temperatures are usually between 50-degree and 60-degree Fahrenheit (10 to 15 degrees Celsius) and there are more hours of sunlight but including the famous ``midnight sun’’ in the months of June and July.
Wildlife: This time of year is among the best if you want to enjoy watching the diverse wildlife of Alaska. For example, in summer, bald eagles hunt for food and are more noticeable and active while humpback whale and sea otter use this time to thrive.
Cruises: Hubbard Glacier is mainly sailing on this season which provides tourists with the fascinating sight of the glacier in action where huge walls of ice fall off into the ocean.
In case, you are keen to avoid heavy tourist crowds, it is advisable to travel in May and September when the tourist numbers are lower but still fair enough for some decent glacier viewing.
To make your Hubbard Glacier port of call more memorable, pack these mentioned things.
Accessories: binoculars, sunglasses, hat and sunscreen, reusable water bottle, backpack, dry bags, and insect repellent
Clothes: Fleece or down jackets, long-sleeve tops, pants, rainproof and windproof jackets, warm accessories, comfortable walking shoes, evening wear, swimsuit, comfortable loungewear, and leggings.
Documents: Passport, cruise boarding documents, travel insurance, health records, credit card, and cash.
Health and Safety: Motion sickness remedies, first aid kit, hand sanitizer, prescription, sunscreen, and lip balm.
Technology: Camera, power bank, waterproof phone/camera case, binoculars, and Adapters.
Finance: Foreign currency, Credit/Debit Cards, and travel budget.
