spirit of adventure

We loved the 8 hour tour through the bay, seeing so many glaciers, whales, and other wildlife. The park ranger who narrated the tour was excellent. There was a light breakfast with hot drinks and a filling lunch provided without extra charge. I recommend highly. It is cold even in July, so bring a coat or layers of jackets.

Great view and great day at the Glacier. We even got to see a little of it break off. Bring a good camera with a long zoom. 50X worked great for us.

We had seen Glacier Bay from a cruise ship, but this boat trip is so much better. The boat is very nice, clean, and the food is great. The best thing is that the boat is able to get closer to the islands and glacier than the cruise ship. You get to see much more wildlife - whales, bears, seals, birds and the Park Ranger on board keeps everyone informed.

The boat was over crowded, there were too many children with parents who thought it was okay for the children to run around the decks playing hide and seek. It was a wasted trip for what we saw and the amount of money it cost to get there, take the boat tour and get out. I would not recommend this.

Like the other reviewers we saw sea otters and many different birds up close. At a distance we saw mountain goats, whales, and one brown bear. We saw three glaciers fairly close but only stopped at one for a while. We were told the other one that we would normally also stop at was not accessible that day. That was disappointing. We did see some smaller pieces break off, and heard the ice popping and cracking. Lunch consisted of a bag of chips, a small drink, and a sandwich similar to what you'd get from a lunchroom vending machine. The ranger was friendly and answered lots of questions, but the PA system and/or the ranger needed more volume and clarity. Seats were fairly comfortable. There were about 23 people on board the Baranof Winds, so we had plenty of room. If there had been fifty the glacier viewing would have been more difficult. Still, it was worth it to see the park.

We have been vacationing in Alaska for 10 days thus far; this boat excursion into Glacier Bay was the highlight. We joined about 100 other passengers on the 150 capacity three level boat for the 8 hour trip. The entire trip was narrated by a National Park Service ranger. We were thrilled to see puffins, sea otters, mountain goats, and bald eagles. The boat slowed and idled at all of the good sightseeing spots. With unexpected luck, the boat captain was able to adjust course to the newly opened Johns Hopkins glacier. And he brought us up quite close, so that we could see and hear the calving ice. Excellent photographic opportunities were available from the open top deck. A snack and lunch were included in the $225 cost per person.

We took the boat day trip in early June. Nice boat, calm water, and friendly staff. Seeing the glaciers right in front of us is breath taking. And we saw a lot of wildlife on the way too – bears, mountain goats, puffin, bold eagle (and even an eagle nest), sea lions, sea otters, and all different kinds of birds. We stayed at the Glacier Bay Lodge within a short walk to the dock so the 7am check-in was not a problem. Do dress warmly and bring hats, gloves, etc. as standing on the top deck can be cold!

We have seen many glaciers both in the US & Europe, but this trip was well worth it. We used the Alaska Toursaver coupon book and this was a 2-for-1 deal. Great value, even if you just buy the book for this trip. From the minute we boarded the crew was awesome. We had a terrific naturalist on board who pointed things out throughout the trip. There was coffee, tea, hot chocolate, pastries, etc for breakfast & throughout the trip. They served hot soup before lunch - just when people were a bit chilled from shooting so many pics and lunch was buffet style with plenty to eat. We were able to see a glacier calving 3x. Having never seen this, it was quite a sight. The wildlife was awesome. We saw humpback's and orca's, sea otters & lions, puffins, more bald eagles than I could count and a variety of birds. The crew was constantly coming around with something to eat after lunch - cookies, salmon jerky, chocolate. All in all this trip is why you come to Glacier Bay. Do not miss it. Thanks to everyone who made this trip so wonderful, you are all terrific!

Misty and and chilly, yet wondrous experience as glaciers calve. Crack and thunder echoes from miles into the river of ice. Just sat there and marvelled at nature's magnificence.A few whales breached -- puffs of condenscing moisture emanating from their spouts.Orca's frollicked as we entered the bay - All in all it was not the best conditions for whale watching due to the mist and fog - but September maritime weather is what it is.Quite happy with the trip. Next time I will do a land trip staying at a lodge near Denali National Park. That's where you hear wolves plaintively howling in the distance.

More by good luck than planning our Holland America cruise was diverted from Kodiak and Homer to Glacier Bay to stay ahead of a storm in September.This was not "Bartlett Cove", it was a cruise through marvellous "Glacier Bay" which has no human population or towns and is only accessible by water.This was my second trip, the first in 1998 and although there seemed to be fewer glaciers the scenery was still amazing. We had a glorious sunny day and the blue / white colours were outstanding. The weather can change in minutes from sun to rain then fog making it a photographers dream. Large chunks can break off the large ones as the ship sits silent in the narrow bays.On our way in there was a pod of whales (30 or more) breaking the surface and on the way out small islands were covered with seals. More wild life than most paid tours enjoyed from land ports.I can not say much more, please see the pictures as this is the only way to see parts of this wonderful area which words really can not describe.If you get the chance to cruise this marvellous area I would make it a number one priority.I would also recommend the Holland America cruise (does not do two weeks next year in Alaska) as everything is well planned, the food is above average, and staff is very friendly.

As part of our "Scenic" tour of Canada & Alaska, our ship visited Glacier Bay. We spent several hours listening to the cracking & roaring of the ice, watching it break away & fall with a noise like thunder, into the water. What a spectacle! We were just mesmerized, & stayed on our balcony of our ship, witnessing Nature at work.Bird life & sea creatures could also be seen, although blending in well to this icy landscape. - A fantastic experience!

We saw lots of whales and the captain alerted us when he saw animals. We cruised slowly so we got good photos. It was cold but sunny. We really enjoyed our cruise with Holland America. The food was very good. In the dining room you could order a bottle of wine and have the wine steward keep the unfinished bottle for another time. Portions were pleasingly small so that you could easily eat an appetizer, entree and desert. If you want larger quantities the buffet was available. The staff is very helpful. At the buffet, if it looks like you are having trouble carrying your food to your table, a staff member carries it for you. Since my husband sometimes needs to use his walker, they were ready to help him down the gangway in Vancouver, BC.

Glacier Bay is ever changing and marvelous. We have visited three times and the Bay is different each time. The water is icy clear with chunks of ice floating upon the surface. Most cruise ships spend at least six hours drifting through the quiet Bay. This last time we saw at least six bears, sea lions, whales, and multiple glaciers calving. The Park Rangers are very knowledgeable and patiently point out interesting sights. Alaskan Cruises are very nice, but this is the crowning glory of Alaska.

Took a cruise on Princess Cruise Lines and had the experience of a lifetime. We sailed from Seattle Washington up the Inside Passage to Glacier Bay and back. The Glaciers calving were an awsome experience. To watch the ice fall into the water and make tha big splash like they do is a sublime experience. And I can't say enough about Princess. We were treated like royalty every step of the way. A naturalist was on the ship by the name of Michael Modzelewski. He has written several books and the one I bought way titled "Inside Passage." Michael is our modern day John Muir. He lived on an island for 18 months pretty much solo and alone. His writting is visceral and real. I highly advise the Inside Passage; the trip as well as the book.

Glacier Bay is simply breathtaking! The sound of the glaciers when they "calve" or break apart is like a thunderous gunshot! It breaks the awesome silence of the icy waters. The bay is so clear the glaciers and mountains reflect and really take your breath away. It is one of the most spectacular places I have ever been and I will remember it the rest of my life. To see glaciers up close and so real was inspiring...and almost unbelievable. The reality of seeing them was so much more than I had imagined they would look like. This is a must see for anyone who wants to breathe the clear icy air and see the treasures that Alaska has to offer.