If you are planning a cruise up to Alaska, chances are your itinerary will have a cruise day in any one of these three. IMHO, there is one clear winner. Tracy Arm Fjord / South Sawyer Glacier. In chronological order…

In 2009, we were on the Celebrity Mercury which went into Hubbard Glacier. It was very early in the season. May 5th was the day. It was a spectacular. There were icebergs galore. Not just a bunch of “Growlers” (less that 3 ft high and 16 ft long). Most were “Bergy Bits” (3 – 13 ft high and 15 – 46 ft long). There was even one that was a bit top-heavy and rolled over right in front of us.

We didn’t see or hear any calving, but Hubbard Glacier was something not to miss.

In 2014, we were on Star Princess towards the end of the season. September 5th, to be exact. The journey through the fjord started with us being almost completely engulfed in fog. The further we went, the clearer it got. Tracy Arm is a narrow passage with really sheer cliffs.

Part of the excitement is winding through the fjord wondering when you are going to get your first glimpse of the South Sawyer Glacier, then it happens…

You still have a ways to go, you just hope the ship can get close enough without any of these guys getting in the way.

Then you pull in at the end of the fjord and there she is. South Sawyer Glacier in all her glory.

After spending an hour doing a slow 360, we head out, back into the fog.

Just this past September, we did an itinerary that included Glacier Bay National Park. Don’t get me wrong, Glacier Bay is beautiful, but… Maybe because it was the end of the season and most of the snow had melted. Maybe Global Warming has really taken it’s toll. Maybe my expectations were out of whack… It just didn’t wow us.

Three Naturalists joined the ship, one went to the Bridge to narrate the journey. Quite informative.

If you get one chance to cruise to Alaska, I’d go for Tracy Arm Fjord, but hey, it’s Alaska!!!! You won’t be disappointed.