hubbard glacier boat tours

• Enable Accessibility

• 1-866-234-7350 1-855-577-9489 1-877-288-3037 1-877-288-3037 1-877-474-2969
• 11-Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog
• 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Northbound Cruisetour | Norwegian Cruise Line
• 14-Day Authentic Alaska - Southbound Cruisetour | Deck Plans | Norwegian Cruise Line
• 20-Day Transpacific from Tokyo (Yokohama) & Alaska | Norwegian Cruise Line
• 11 Reasons to Cruise to Alaska this Summer | NCL Travel Blog
• View All Results
• Preferences
• Latitudes Rewards
• Special Offers
• Personalized Recommendations
• Make reservations before you cruise
• 1 (current)

* Terms & Conditions Package not available on sailings less than 5 days or charter sailings.

Shore Excursion Details

Hubbard glacier & wilderness explorer, hubbard glacier, alaska.

Added to Favorites!

• 2 hrs Estimate Duration

Cruise remarkably close to Hubbard Glacier for the ultimate look at this huge river of ice that has the distinction of being North America’s largest tidewater glacier. After boarding the boat directly from the cruise ship in the mouth of Disenchantment Bay, you will settle into the heated cabin with large windows that provide excellent viewing. The vessel also features a shallow draft, allowing it to easily cruise around the icebergs near the face of the glacier, which is hundreds of feet high above the waterline. Hubbard Glacier is nicknamed the Galloping Glacier because at times it advances several feet a day. Few natural sights are quite so spectacular as when large chunks of ice calve – or break off – from the glacier with a thundering roar. The naturalist guide will describe the glacier’s characteristics in fascinating detail.

• See Hubbard Glacier up close from the comfort of a heated, expedition-style boat. • Behold the sheer face of the glacier, which soars hundreds of feet above the waterline. • Hear compelling commentary about Hubbard Glacier from the naturalist guide. • Look for harbor seals, orcas and humpback whales, which inhabit the surrounding waters.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.

Need to Know:

Check out the, activity attributes, excursion type:.

Scenic & City Tours

Activity level:.

• 3 Challenging

• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Hubbard Glacier and Wilderness... - Hubbard Glacier

• United States    
• Alaska (AK)    
• Alaska - Things to Do    
• Hubbard Glacier

Views are unbelievable - serene and majestic. Visited on a cruise which would not be our‘thing’ but... read more

What a sight to behold. To me it is another Wonder of the World. Quite emotional to see it all in... read more

Hubbard Glacier and Wilderness Exploration - nice side trip

This is a side trip we took off our Princess cruise ship, which went to the Hubbard Glacier. This side trip is run by a vendor called Allen Marine. They try to get you closer to the glacier than the cruise ship normally gets, using a smaller boat. In our case, the weather was great, so the cruise ship actually got as close to the glacier as the smaller boat (about 1/2 mile). But the smaller boat made a circular trip around the area, so we still got to see more. Plus we had some good narration and someone to answer our questions. The crew was super-nice. The glacier is an awesome sight to behold. Costs around $200, but worth it, especially if the cruise ship doesn't get that close. (Depends on the weather, so you won't know until the day-of.)

We took the itinerary we did because of the the stop at Hubbard Glacier. I could not be more pleased that we did. This Glacier is stunning and amazing in every way. Highly recommend making a journey here to see it in person as no photo does it justice. So peaceful and majestic, I would return in a heartbeat.

Highly recommend Hubbard Glacier on everyone's bucket list. I do not have the appropriate words to express the beauty that the glacier as well as Alaska possesses. Watching the glacier, listening to it, was the best meditation one could do. Loved it and hope to go back someday soon.

Expansive Glacier - beautiful view from cruise ship on an awesome clear day. Saw many icebergs on the way to the Glacier but no wildlife other than birds.

We cruised on the Radiance of the Seas in July 2019 and the visit to the Hubbard Glacier was one of the highlights. The captain got us incredibly close and we were able to see ice calving off! The scale was just insane.

Our cruise ship approached through the mist, and we thought it was magical seeing it as the mist lifted over the mountains beyond. Then we got closer, as pieces of ice drifted towards us, and the pieces became bigger, and I thought of Titanic, and how you only see the tip of an iceberg... We got closer stil, and it was breathtaking- the colours, the size, and the sound of thunder as it calved and fell into the water with a splash we could see. Awesome indeed!

What To Expect On A Hubbard Glacier Cruise

When I chose my first cruise to Hubbard Glacier in Alaska, little did I know I’d be seeing North America’s largest tidewater glacier. Advancing at a rapid rate, Hubbard, otherwise known as the “galloping glacier,” wows cruise passengers with its turquoise hues, massive size, and spectacular calving action.

At its terminus, its face measures 600 feet, with 350 of it above the waterline. Located in Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve, it’s further north than Glacier Bay National Park.

Where Is Hubbard Glacier?

I still remember the slow and quiet approach to Disenchantment Bay on my  inside passage Alaska cruise . While I had experienced numerous spectacular glaciers over the years, I had always viewed them from solid ground. This was the first Alaska adventure of what later came to be a recurring affair. 

I chose to sail a Celebrity Alaska cruise from Vancouver, from the advice of my travel agent and researching Alaska itinerary reviews. My encounter left me so captivated that it launched me into an era hungry to experience more.

Not only is Hubbard Glacier the largest tidewater glacier in North America, but it’s also the longest tidewater glacier in the world. It’s important to note it can only be seen by air or by boat. Hubbard Lacier is located north of Juneau, in the Wrangell–St. Elias National Park.

The “galloping glacier” has been thickening and advancing into Disenchantment Bay ever since measurements began in the late 1800s.

Don’t be disappointed if your cruise ship isn’t cruising Glacier Bay. While many struggle with choosing between  Hubbard and Glacier Bay  as an Alaska itinerary, both are breathtaking in their own way.

I have cruised Hubbard Glacier four times and Glacier Bay National Park four times, and both offer fabulous itineraries that will leave you speechless.

When To Cruise To Hubbard Glacier?

Depending on when you travel, Hubbard Glacier can appear quite different. I’ve seen the glacier as different times of the year and Hubbard Glacier weather can play a huge factor in the experience.

In May, the snow-capped mountains will blend seamlessly with the glacier. On clear days, you’ll enjoy mesmerizing towering peaks.

As the ship leaves the Gulf of Alaska into Yakutat Bay, the captain will slow its engines for a cautionary approach into the narrowing Disenchantment Bay.

Weather can also affect how much ice dots the waters of Disenchantment Bay. Remember to bring binoculars, as you can see harbor seals on the icebergs and sea lions on the rocks. In fact, you’ll probably hear them before you see them.

Since Hubbard is advancing at a slow but persistent rate, it consistently calves into the waters, leaving them heavily populated with blue-hued icebergs. If you want to witness glacier calving, Hubbard is the best glacier to visit.

As the warmer weather approaches, the glacier calves more. So, by July, you will see much more ice in the water. The amount of ice can affect how close a cruise ship can get to the terminal face.

The captain’s experience will also factor into how close they are willing to go. In bad weather, ships may stop several miles before the glacier. If all conditions are right, you may get within 1/4 mile of its towering face.

Surging through the icy waters, guests are transported in a “twilight zone” as the ice multiplies not only in quantity but in size. Soon, the silted striped bergs rivaled the size of houses adorned seagulls, harbor seals, and bald eagles.

If you cruise towards the end of the Alaska season, expect colder temperatures and an increase chance of rain.

The Face Of Hubbard Glacier

Disenchantment Bay is wide and can accommodate large cruise ships. It’s less likely your Alaska itinerary will chance due to ice in the water. However ice and fog will affect how close you get to the colossal face.

So, how big is Hubbard Glacier? At its face, it measures an enormous 7 miles wide and 600 feet tall, of which 350 feet is visible above the water while 250 feet lie beneath.

Keep in mind that much of the ice lies beneath the water line, and that will determine how close a ship can get to its façade. On the day I arrived, the conditions swung in our favor, and at a ¼-mile distance, I came face-to-face with the towering behemoth.

Standing on the deck, my cruise ship dwarfed in size next to Hubbard, and I was in awe of this spectacular natural wonder.

Unlike Glacier Bay itineraries, Hubbard is not inside a national park. Therefore, park rangers will not board the ship during the time spent at the glacier. Instead, a knowledgeable naturalist will accompany cruisers on their journey.

He/she provides oodles of appealing information about the surrounding tundra and the Alaskan wildlife that inhabits this area.

In the five hours I spent in the bay, the naturalist kept his eyes peeled to alert us to sightings of brown bears, eagles, mountain goats, seals, and humpback whales. Keep your cameras and  binoculars   handy, so you don’t miss out on that unexpected appearance.

At the face of Hubbard Glacier, I noticed the ragged ice had various shades of blue and aqua. Although looking to the far left, it meets the much dirtier Valerie Glacier, mottled with silty stripes of volcanic ash.

On a clear day, you’ll see towering peaks behind the icefield, and some of these lie in Canada.

The Rise And Fall Of Hubbard Glacier

Over the last century, Hubbard has been advancing and retreating. Currently, it’s in a slow-advancing stage. In a world of increasing climate change where most icefields are retreating at an alarming rate, it’s comforting to see one defying the odds.

If this isn’t a reason to book your cruise to Hubbard Glacier now, I don’t know what is.

At 76 miles long, this giant glacier begins at Mount Logan in the Yukon Territory of Canada. Due to its vast catchment basin, it gathers a tremendous amount of snow during the winter.

This fallen snow either moves with the ice or later melts and adds to the glacier’s size. It’s astonishing to know it takes 400 years for the ice at the top to traverse to the terminus or the toe.

So, when viewing those gorgeous shades of blue ice at the face, know that it’s 400 years old. Interestingly enough, in 1986 and 2002, the ice flow advanced sufficiently to close off the entrance to Russell Fjord, on the righthand side of Hubbard.

The blockage of this fjord caused the water levels to rise rapidly and threatened to flood the Alaskan town of Yakutat.

The rising water in the now newly-developed lake caused a natural death to the surrounding flora, which could not survive underwater.

Eventually, the force of the water broke through, creating a new channel for drainage into Disenchantment Bay. Experts believe it’s a matter of time before Hubbard Glacier advances enough to dam Russell Fjord again.

During your glacier cruise, look to the far right where the land juts out. This is Gilbert Point and the area that will eventually close up again.

Glacier Calving

Since Hubbard is actively advancing, all that movement causes the ice to crack. Routinely, chunks of ice break away from the terminus and fall into the frigid waters below.

This action is known as “calving’. Calving is one of the most amazing natural wonders in the world, and it’s a treat to witness.

First, I heard the earth-shattering thunder, and then I scoured the towering ice to watch for the calving action. At 7-miles long, it was often difficult to predict where the ice would break off.

It was a matter of luck if I had my camera positioned in the correct direction. Sometimes the pieces were scanty, but other times, the chunks paralleled the size of a six-story apartment building.

Some of the newly-calved icebergs would collide with the water and splinter outwards, creating significant waves. This is one reason ships keep their distance from the edge of Hubbard.

During my Alaska cruise with Celebrity, the captain performed a slow pirouette of the ship allowing everyone equal viewing time.

So, whether you choose to view up on deck (as I did) or from the privacy of a stateroom balcony, every location is ideal for gazing. Plus, each cruise ship spends hours at the foot of Hubbard, so there’s ample opportunity to take plenty of photos.

Hubbard Glacier & Wilderness Exploration

​To elevate your experience at the icefield, consider booking the Hubbard Glacier Explorer tour. This excursion is only offered through your cruise line and sells out months in advance.

Operated by Allen Marine, the tours allows booked guests to board a large catamaran along their cruise ship. Then the vessel follows closer to the land on an approach to Hubbard. 

By cruising closer to the shoreline, you’ll have an increased chance of wildlife viewing. Alongside giant icebergs, you’ll be face-to-face with harbor seals who are undeterred by your presence.

Sometimes, your tour operator will retrieve ice from the water to make cocktails onboard.

Smaller vessels can also get closer to the glacier’s surface, providing a front row seat to frequent calving. While most tidewater glaciers in Alaska are retreated due to global warming, Hubbard is advancing.

Once the excursion finishes, you’ll meet your cruise ship as it’s leaving Disenchantment Bay.

Alaskan Weather

On my first cruise to Hubbard, it rained the whole time we were glacier cruising and visibility was poor. I observed a few people in the steaming hot tubs outside on the wet deck, and it sparked an idea. 

How often do you get to enjoy the bubbling waters of a spa while sitting next to a glacier? So, like the other few brave souls on that Hubbard Alaska cruise, we grabbed our bathing suits and Celebrity bathrobes to enjoy a hot tub with a spectacular view.

Call me adventurous or call me crazy, but life’s more enjoyable with a little spontaneity.

During the summer months (May through to September), expect the temperatures to be between 40- and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The average rainfall is 7 inches to 21 inches per month, with the wettest months towards the end of the Alaska cruise season.

Keep this in mind when packing for your Alaska adventure. While you might enjoy much warmer temperatures in port, it can be mighty cold next to Hubbard.

It’s hard to top my first cruise to Alaska. Maybe part of that comes from the newness of my surroundings and the fact that everything was a “first”. However, my 4th cruise on Cunard Queen Elizabeth got me closer to Hubbard with near-perfect weather conditions.

Perhaps part of it was that Celebrity Cruises made everything so fantastic. But even though I have traveled back to Alaska several more times, its immense panoramas still captivate me.

Other Visits To Hubbard Glacier

During my second Hubbard Glacier cruise with Princess Cruises, the temperatures were warmer, and the skies were void of rain. However, there were lots of low-lying clouds on the face of Hubbard.

All that fog obscured the views and made for a less-than-spectacular glacier viewing experience.

During my third Alaska cruise in May 2022, the skies were crystal clear, and the mountains were heavy with snow. The snow blended with the ice and blue hues of Hubbard Glacier. 

Although I got COVID during my cruise, I was still able to enjoy Hubbard Glacier from my balcony, and I was extra thankful I had one.

Know that whenever you sail, you can’t predict the weather, control the visibility, or know how close to Hubbard Glacier your ship can get. So, if Alaska serves you lemons (or liquid sunshine), jump in the hot tub as I did!

If you can’t get enough of glacier viewing, book a one way cruise itinerary. You could see Hubbard Glacier along with Glacier Bay National Park. In Glacier Bay, the wildlife viewing continues as Johns Hopkins Glacier provides an important harbor seal breeding environment.

Happy travels ~ Karen

Privacy Overview

Hubbard Glacier, AK, USA (Cruise-by) cruises

Hubbard Glacier Port Guide.

The largest tidal glacier in North America, Hubbard Glacier is a rarity; an icy abyss, formed over centuries, where nature, not man, is King. Only by cruising alongside it can you appreciate the majesty of its colossal scale. It’s a sight quite unlike anything else, drawing the curiosity of visitors keen to experience one of the natural world’s most humbling creations. 

Top landmarks and sights in Hubbard Glacier.

The top landmark to see in Hubbard Glacier is of course Hubbard Glacier itself. This phenomenal natural wonder is a sight to behold; a gargantuan glacier of ice, 76 miles long and over 2000 feet deep in parts.

It is the largest tidewater glacier in North America and yet just 350 feet of its mass is visible above water. The bulk remains hidden beneath the surface, faced with a 400-year wait to breach the tideline; the exact length of time it takes for the ice to traverse the glacier’s body and meet air for the first time.

Witness the grace and brilliance of glacial formations and towering icebergs in action as you sail by a highlight of Alaska’s many coastal wonders. Learn the history it’s created and take in the view. Hubbard Glacier has dictated local geography and human endeavor over millennia. This is your chance to get close to one of Earth’s majestic giants of slow-moving ice.

Things to do in Hubbard Glacier.

A cruise-by of Hubbard Glacier offers the perfect opportunity to slow down, forget the outside world, and immerse yourself in the beauty of Alaska’s unspoiled scenery.

There is no civilization here. No roads to travel on or telephone masts to connect to. No enduring evidence of man’s existence whatsoever. The only way to see Hubbard Glacier is by ship and even then only a handful of vessels are permitted access each year. Many who venture here have never seen a glacier. Those that fail to visit most likely never will. Yet to be among the few to have experienced Hubbard Glacier affords you more than bragging rights.

It is disarmingly beautiful. Emitting a curious iridescent glow that even the sharpest lens fails to capture while casting out icebergs the size of buildings. The occasional echo of cracking ice is the only discernible sound in the otherwise pin-drop silence. A tell-tale sign of life in this gentle sleeping beast.

Grab your binoculars and search for sea lions lazing on the glacier’s surface, or keep a watchful eye for an orca fin rising from the mysterious depths. Order breakfast in your stateroom and enjoy the frontline views of Hubbard Glacier from the privacy of your balcony. Or set your alarm for just before sunrise, taking advantage of your ship’s secluded deck as the first signs of daylight illuminate the glacier in all its glory. 

Hubbard Glacier culture and history.

Hubbard Glacier is named after Gardiner Hubbard, the first President of The National Geographical Society, a tribute awarded in 1890. It straddles the US and Canadian borders in Southeast Alaska and is one of the few glaciers advancing rather than retreating, gaining an average of 80 feet each year at its current rate of growth.

While all glaciers retreat and expand in response to climate conditions, Hubbard Glacier’s rate of advancement is exceptional by contrast, not least because it advances during warmer climates, when glaciers typically retreat.

Its unique glacial cycle is prompted by excess precipitation cooling when it meets the St. Elias Mountains, turning the moisture into snow which subsequently feeds the glacier. Such is its force, that in 1986 and 2002, Hubbard Glacier blocked the entrance to Russell Fiord for several weeks, until ice calving reopened the channel.

While the advancement is so slow it’s impossible to see with the naked eye, you may yet witness a piece of the glacier breaking off to form a new iceberg; a magical reminder that this feat of nature is still very much a work in progress. 

Discover more - Alaska Cruises

Getty Images

Hubbard Glacier

Top choice in Southeast Alaska

Just 30 miles north of Yakutat is Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America . The 8-mile-wide frozen behemoth is easily Alaska’s most active. The riptides and currents that flow between Gilbert Point and the face of the glacier, a mere 1000ft away, are so strong that they cause Hubbard to calve almost continuously at peak tides. The entire area, part of the 545-sq-mile Russell Fjord Wilderness, is one of the most interesting places in Alaska and usually visited through flightseeing or boat tours .

Is the Hubbard Glacier still advancing?

The 76-mile-long glacier captured national attention by galloping across Russell Fiord in the mid-1980s, turning the long inlet into a lake. Eventually Hubbard receded, reopening the fjord, but in 2002 it again surged across Russell Fjord, and it came close to doing it a third time in 2011.

Suggest an edit to this attraction

Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising), Alaska

Description.

Nicknamed the "Galloping Glacier," this east Alaskan glacier is rapidly advancing toward the Gulf of Alaska into a pristine area known as Disenchantment Bay. In fact, its movement temporarily formed a natural dam that twice closed off nearby Russell Fjord from the bay, but the intense water pressure building within the fjord-turned-lake has thus far been enough to explode through the wall of ice. The largest tidewater glacier in North America, Hubbard Glacier measures 76 miles long and plunges 1,200 feet into the depths of the bay. Its immense beauty and phenomenal blue hues are enchanting, even from afar. But it's when your cruise ship draws closer that its towering surface really impresses, dwarfing even the uppermost deck on your ship at a whopping 40 stories high. There, with the snowcapped mountains serving as a glorious backdrop, you'll have a prime viewing spot from which to witness the glacier calving, as it often expels icebergs the size of 10-story buildings-imagine the splash! The area around Hubbard Glacier is also renowned for its wildlife, where whales, harbor seals and otters swim, brown bears, moose and black-tailed deer roam ashore, and a wide variety of seabirds soar gracefully across the sky.

Points of Interest

• Hubbard Glacier
• Wildlife Search

More about Hubbard Glacier (Scenic Cruising), Alaska Points of Interest

The largest tidewater glacier in North America and nicknamed the "Galloping Glacier," this east massive Ice Age remnant is rapidly advancing toward the Gulf of Alaska into a pristine area known as Disenchantment Bay.

The area around Hubbard Glacier is renowned for its wildlife, where whales, harbor seals and otters swim, brown bears, moose and black-tailed deer roam ashore, and a wide variety of seabirds soar gracefully across the sky.

1 Excursions

Hubbard glacier & wilderness exploration.

Easy Activity

From $ 359.95

Hubbard Glacier

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

HUBBARD GLACIER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• 00800-18731873
• My Account Hello Credits My Account Log out

Cruising Hubbard Glacier

An Alaska cruise toward Hubbard Glacier feels like you’re approaching another planet in a tiny space craft. It is that big and that otherworldly. Among all the vanishing Alaska glaciers, Hubbard has a rapidly advancing ice margin— up to seven feet in one day—earning it the nickname, “the Galloping Glacier.” 

Hubbard Glacier cruises are so popular because of the glacier’s three-story icebergs that cannon into crystal waters, a process called calving. It’s also colorful. On clear days, Hubbard turns a stunning deep blue and on cloudy ones, its many ripples and icebergs shimmer in soft light.

This glacier dwarfs the other glaciers in Alaska. It is the longest tidewater glacier in North America and starts 122 kilometers (76 miles) back, pouring down off the shoulder of Mt. Walsh. It has an impressive terminal face that is 11 kilometers (7 miles) long and 106 meters (350 feet) above the water line, making its regular audience of Alaska cruise ships look like toy boats.

It’s a giant, but it’s not sleeping. Hubbard Glacier is one of the few Alaska glaciers that’s advancing and not succumbing to climate change. It sounds uplifting, but many fear that the expanding glacier will block the entrance to the fjord.

Recommended For You

Hubbard Glacier

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Also popular with travellers

Hubbard Glacier - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Experience True Nature

Wilderness adventure tours beyond imagination, alaska travel guide - visit hubbard glacier.

Alaska Travel Guide

• College Fjords
• Denali Nat'l Park
• Glacier Bay Nat'l Park
• Homer | Halibut Cove
• Hubbard Glacier
• Icy Strait Point
• Kenai Fjords Nat'l Park
• Kenai Peninsula
• McCarthy | Kennicott
• FAQ: Alaska Cruises
• FAQ: Rail Tours
• FAQ: Aurora Viewing
• FAQ: Aurora Trip Info
• FAQ: Alaska Road Map
• FAQ: Outdoor Clothing

Go Alaska Tours | Secured Reservation Request Form

A secure transmission of your personal information is very important for the Alaska Travel Network Group LLC at these days and that's why we have taken steps to ensure that we have the most secure method of transmission on the Internet available. All online reservation request and contact forms are providing a SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) technology with a 128-bit encryption for transmission of data between your web browser and our web server which provides the highest level of protection from tampering and eavesdropping. 128-bit encryption is considered so secure that cryptographers consider it impossible to crack. There is no safer way for your personal information to be transmitted. In fact, both the Canadian and US Governments use 128-bit encryption for transmission of their sensitive data. The Go Alaska Tours Website (www.goalaskatours.com) uses GeoTrust for its SSL and 128-bit encryption.

Traveling Canucks

Canada Family Travel Blog

The Magnificent Hubbard Glacier in Alaska

05/20/2023 By Traveling Canucks 1 Comment Categories: Alaska British Columbia National Park North America Trip Ideas United States World Attractions

Hubbard Glacier in Alaska

When you think of Alaska , what images come to mind? For us, it’s icy glaciers, humpback whales and vast rugged wilderness. So, when planning our Alaska cruise , we decided to visit the mighty Hubbard Glacier in Alaska’s picturesque Disenchantment Bay.

The Hubbard Glacier is famous for being North America’s largest tidewater glacier . It’s over 120 kilometres long (75 miles), 11 km wide (7 miles) and flows directly into Disenchantment Bay, which feeds into the North Pacific Ocean. 

The Hubbard Glacier height is said to be 600 feet at its terminal face (350 feet exposed above the waterline and 250 feet below the waterline – source ). For perspective, this is the same height as the Space Needle in Seattle, Washington. It’s HUGE!

Related: Watch our video tour of the Celebrity Eclipse Cruise ship

Where is Hubbard Glacier located? 

The Hubbard Glacier location is at the tip of Disenchantment Bay. It connects to Yakutat Bay in the Gulf of Alaska. The actual location of the Hubbard Glacier is inside Wrangell-St Elias National Park and Preserve, which is north of Glacier Bay National Park. Here’s a Hubbard Glacier map .

You cannot reach the Hubbard Glacier by car. Unless you have a private boat, you will need to join an Alaska cruise to see the Hubbard Glacier. Or, you can take a scenic flight-seeing tour and witness the ancient glacier from the air.

The glacier is very impressive and definitely worth visiting.

Further perspective.  The huge cruise ship is dwarfed by the impressive Hubbard Glacier. 

The camera sensor had a hard time focusing on the glacier. Many of my photos captured the glacier as a turquoise blue. However, to the naked eye, the glacier appears more white than the photos illustrate.

View from our stateroom on the Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship

This stateroom is considered an obstructed view because of the orange life boat, however, as you can see, the ocean views are minimally impacted. It’s pretty incredible to witness a massive calving glacier from the private deck of your stateroom. 

The Alaska cruise departs from Vancouver and takes 4 days to reach the Hubbard Glacier in Alaska . 

The Celebrity Eclipse floats gently beside the glacier. It rotates 360 degrees so guests on either side of the ship can see the Hubbard Glacier. The cruise ship does not get too close to the calving glacier out of an abundance of caution. Waves and icebergs from glacier calving is dangerous. So is the depth and width of the glacier that is underwater.

The cruise ship spent about an hour inside Disenchantment Bay bay before returning south from the Hubbard Glacier to Juneau, Alaska. The ship sailed overnight from Juneau to Hubbard Glacier. We arrived at the glacier around 11:00 AM. 

Related –  Everything you need to know about an Alaska cruise

The obligatory family photo on the observation deck of the cruise ship.

Hubbard Glacier fun facts

• The ice you see at the terminal face originally fell as snow, as much as 500 years ago. [ source ]
• The glacier is over 2,000 feet thick at some locations.
• Hubbard Glacier starts at Mount Logan (2nd tallest mountain in North America at 19,850 feet) in the Yukon Territory in Canada.
• It ends at Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Alaska, over 120 kilometres later. 

Panoramic views of the Hubbard Glacier

We experienced heavy clouds and overcast skies during our visit to the Hubbard Glacier. Although we were a little bummed that we didn’t get the full mountain and glacier panorama – like this photo – we were told that it’s quite common for this type of weather.

A few hours before reaching Yakutat Bay , we overheard crew members say that our Alaskan cruise ship might not be able to make it inside the bay. Hubbard Glacier weather in August is unpredictable. Fortunately, the weather cooperated that morning. The ship was able to get up close to the glacier.

Guests marvel at the glacier from the viewing deck on the cruise ship.

Streams of glacial ice float past the ship in Disenchantment Bay. The colour of the water is an amazing turquoise blue. It’s hard to see in these photos, because of the overcast skies. The water looks similar to the glacier fed lakes in the Canadian Rockies (like Moraine Lake in Alberta ). 

Connor is mesmerized by the floating chunks of ice that pass the cruise ship. 

Views of the glaciers and mountains from the observation deck. A highlight from our Alaska cruise.

You can see the tip of the Hubbard Glacier far off in the distance. The surrounding mountain landscapes are quite remarkable. Alaska is nature at its finest!

Have you visited Alaska? 

If not, is an Alaska cruise on your travel wish list?

Read next – Our experience on the Celebrity Eclipse cruise ship

Related posts:.

07/09/2023 at 10:12 am

Visited a week ago WOW its fantastic the size, the calving it was awesome

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Yes - Subscribe me to your monthly newsletter!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Juneau Tours

Ketchikan Tours

Sitka Tours

Independent Tours

Explore with the Locals

On every excursion, we strive to deliver the same warm hospitality and family ambiance that was present on their first tours over 50 years ago (when the captain and crew were all Allen family members).

Allen Marine Tours operates over 30 vessels, the majority of which were constructed by the company in its Sitka shipyard. The family draws upon their extensive maritime experience to custom-design vessels for Southeast Alaska. Safety, premium comfort, unobstructed panoramic viewing, maneuverability, and speed are top priorities.

Today Allen Marine operates in Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka, Tracy Arm and Hubbard Glacier. We hope to see you onboard in any of our ports…come and explore with the locals!

Tour Information & Reservations

Experience southeast alaska.

• A Contract Creates Which Right

Glacier Park Boat Company

Scenic Boat Tours in Glacier National Park since 1938!

Lake McDonald

Boat Tours & Rentals

St. Mary Lake

Two Medicine Lake

Many Glacier

Apgar at Lake McDonald

Reservations

Reservation

2024 Reservations now open!

This service is operated by Glacier Park Boat Company, a Concessioner under contract with the U.S. Government and administered by the National Park Service. The Concessioner is responsible for conducting these operations in a satisfactory manner. Services and prices are approved by the National Park Service.

Please address comments to: Superintendent Glacier National Park PO Box 128 West Glacier, Montana 59936

Glacier Park Boat Company 282 Sunrise Creek Loop Columbia Falls, MT 59912 406-257-2426 888-611-0747

• Princess Cruises

Hubbard Glacier excursion

By beluga_baby , November 14, 2022 in Princess Cruises

Recommended Posts

beluga_baby

Does Princess do an excursion at Hubbard Glacier where passengers can get on a smaller boat and get closer to the glacier? I'm booked on an Alaska cruise to Hubbard but the excursion isn't listed. I'm hoping it will pop up closer to the sailing, as I'm sure Princess still has to arrange things with their local partners, but I would be really bummed if this excursion isn't offered. And if it is offered, has anyone done it before? What is the price like, and did you like the excursion? 

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

We did one called Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer (actually in Endicot since Tracy was still frozen over) in 2017.  It was only done on some itineraries from Seattle that have later arrival into Juneau where the tour boat returns you directly to the ship.   It was $377.92 for 2.  ETA: we loved it.

There was one this past summer but be aware they pack about 150 people on the boat and it is shoulder to shoulder with few if any masks

Very exciting excursion. Up close and personal. You see the Princess ship depart and catch up with her later in the day in port. Highly recommend. 

Thanks everyone. Our glacier day is just the glacier, we don't go off to Juneau or another port later in the day. I wonder if they don't offer it on those kind of days? Either way I'll keep an eye on our excursions page.

We did a canoe excursion that went up to Hubbard Glacier when the ship was docked in Juneau.  It also included a stop to taste beer at Alaska Brewing.  I believe it was a Discovery Channel excursion called Paddle & Pours.

We did the Hubbard Glacier excursion in May from the Grand Princess.  It was the highlight of our trip.  

We sailed with Princess in June and did the Hubbard Glacier & Wilderness Exploration tour that off loaded from the ship --- absolutely wonderful.  We were very fortunate and saw lots of calving.  Lots of space to move around on the tour boat and we were able to get lots of good photographs.  I have attached a couple of my favorite pictures.  We are sailing once again with Princess in July and will be taking the same excursion.  Pricing is $299.95 per person.  

2 hours ago, beluga_baby said: Does Princess do an excursion at Hubbard Glacier where passengers can get on a smaller boat and get closer to the glacier? I'm booked on an Alaska cruise to Hubbard but the excursion isn't listed. I'm hoping it will pop up closer to the sailing, as I'm sure Princess still has to arrange things with their local partners, but I would be really bummed if this excursion isn't offered. And if it is offered, has anyone done it before? What is the price like, and did you like the excursion? 

If this one doesn’t work out there is another option that may work for you if you’re going to be in Alaska for a few days before or after your cruise. Between Anchorage and Seward there is a glacier named Exit Glacier where you can walk right up to the glacier itself if you’re so inclined. It does require a rental car to get to from the city and a little walk that gets a little longer each year as the glacier recedes.  It is accessed from a nice little park with info on the history of the glacier and signs marking where the leading edge of the glacier was over each decade of the last century or two as I recall. Best of all access is free and there used to be a park ranger on the hiking trail or one other overlooks leading up to the glacier.  The last time or two we visited you could walk the upper trail to the top of the glacier or the lower to its base.   

Here is another shot.

2 hours ago, beluga_baby said: Thanks everyone. Our glacier day is just the glacier, we don't go off to Juneau or another port later in the day. I wonder if they don't offer it on those kind of days? Either way I'll keep an eye on our excursions page.

What ship and date are you sailing?

PurpleTraveller

I just booked the Hubbard Glacier and Wildlife Exploration excursion for $299.95 an adult for my June 2 Crown Princess cruise. This excursion did not become available until two weeks after the excursions for the other ports became available.

5 hours ago, Asquare said: We did a canoe excursion that went up to Hubbard Glacier when the ship was docked in Juneau. 

You must be talking about the tour to Mendenhall Glacier then. That's a whole other place, and it's not a tidewater glacier. Hubbard Glacier is more than 200 miles northwest of Juneau in Yakutat Bay / Disenchantment Bay.  

2 hours ago, PurpleTraveller said: I just booked the Hubbard Glacier and Wildlife Exploration excursion for $299.95 an adult for my June 2 Crown Princess cruise.

This excursion doesn't show up for the April 29 Alaska cruise on the Sapphire. Maybe it's too early in the season for that, as a local vessel is used for this tour.  

13 hours ago, EDVM96 said: You must be talking about the tour to Mendenhall Glacier then. That's a whole other place, and it's not a tidewater glacier. Hubbard Glacier is more than 200 miles northwest of Juneau in Yakutat Bay / Disenchantment Bay.     This excursion doesn't show up for the April 29 Alaska cruise on the Sapphire. Maybe it's too early in the season for that, as a local vessel is used for this tour.  

Arizona Wildcat

18 hours ago, Italy52 said: We sailed with Princess in June and did the Hubbard Glacier & Wilderness Exploration tour that off loaded from the ship --- absolutely wonderful.  We were very fortunate and saw lots of calving.  Lots of space to move around on the tour boat and we were able to get lots of good photographs.  I have attached a couple of my favorite pictures.  We are sailing once again with Princess in July and will be taking the same excursion.  Pricing is $299.95 per person.        

This is a great experience with two cautions.

The ship is very crowded and the weather can be anything from sunny and calm to very rough.  Rough weather will cancell the excursion.

To see a glacier close up suggest EXIT GLACIER.  It is about 10 miles north of Seward with a hike that is on a good trail.  Family friendly.

Also Kenai Fjords boat tour out of Seward is an all day tour leaving from Seward in the boat Basin.  A don't miss.  To do this spend a night in Seward before or after your cruise.

9 minutes ago, Arizona Wildcat said: This is a great experience with two cautions. The ship is very crowded and the weather can be anything from sunny and calm to very rough.  Rough weather will cancell the excursion. To see a glacier close up suggest EXIT GLACIER.  It is about 10 miles north of Seward with a hike that is on a good trail.  Family friendly. Also Kenai Fjords boat tour out of Seward is an all day tour leaving from Seward in the boat Basin.  A don't miss.  To do this spend a night in Seward before or after your cruise.  

We have taken the Hubbard excursion about three times and have never had issues with crowding or rough weather -- maybe we just got lucky.  We have also had two experiences where we had one vendor cancellation and one cancellation due to fog so we know it can sometimes have its drawbacks --- but, it is a chance we are willing to take.

We have also been to Seward quite a few times and taken the Kenai Fjords boat tour as well as a trip to Exit Glacier.  Our cruise does not go to Seward but I am sure others will find your post helpful.

For those of you that took a ships glacier excursion, were any of that type of excursion available for the Alaska cruises that are round trip out of San Francisco?  

Wishing on a star

Therese,  It depends on the ship's itineraries and port times.

I know that Hubbard Glacier is usually visited on Southbound itineraries from Anchorage/Whittier.

It is further North.

Not sure, from San Francisco, what itinerary or different back-to-back legs you might be booking.

But, there are several different ships and itineraries in Alaska now.

I have done the 27 Glacier tour from Whittier, on our own, not thru Princess, before boarding an Alaska cruise at Whittier.

There are also opportunities to do these smaller boat glacier tours in the fjords when visiting Tracy Arm Fjord or Endicott Arm.  There are a few itineraries that have an all-day port time at Juneau, and the tour of the Fjord can be done on your own from Juneau.

NOTE:  I just looked at the San F. itineraries.  If my search was right, it shows two round-trip from San Francisco.  And it looks like the only small boat glacier excursion possible might be on the itinerary that visits the Fjord, it lists Endicott Arm.

On 11/14/2022 at 2:10 PM, Italy52 said: We sailed with Princess in June and did the Hubbard Glacier & Wilderness Exploration tour that off loaded from the ship --- absolutely wonderful.  We were very fortunate and saw lots of calving.  Lots of space to move around on the tour boat and we were able to get lots of good photographs.  I have attached a couple of my favorite pictures.  We are sailing once again with Princess in July and will be taking the same excursion.  Pricing is $299.95 per person.        

Beautiful!  I'm planning to book this excursion for my Crown sailing in August 2023 and appreciate your comments!

4 hours ago, LEtue said: Beautiful!  I'm planning to book this excursion for my Crown sailing in August 2023 and appreciate your comments!

Your welcome.  I know this excursion is not everyone's cup of tea.  However, the excitement of being  close to the glacier, hearing the boom of the calving and watching the incredible ice falling from the glacier is so amazing.  Hope you have a wonderful experience.

13 hours ago, Wishing on a star said: Therese,  It depends on the ship's itineraries and port times. I know that Hubbard Glacier is usually visited on Southbound itineraries from Anchorage/Whittier. It is further North. Not sure, from San Francisco, what itinerary or different back-to-back legs you might be booking. But, there are several different ships and itineraries in Alaska now. I have done the 27 Glacier tour from Whittier, on our own, not thru Princess, before boarding an Alaska cruise at Whittier. There are also opportunities to do these smaller boat glacier tours in the fjords when visiting Tracy Arm Fjord or Endicott Arm.  There are a few itineraries that have an all-day port time at Juneau, and the tour of the Fjord can be done on your own from Juneau.   NOTE:  I just looked at the San F. itineraries.  If my search was right, it shows two round-trip from San Francisco.  And it looks like the only small boat glacier excursion possible might be on the itinerary that visits the Fjord, it lists Endicott Arm.  

Thank you so much for your research.  I will look more closely at the SF itineraries.  I didn’t see any excursions offered on the glacier viewing day but did see what I think you’re referring to on the Endicott Arm/Dawes glacier day.

On 11/14/2022 at 4:30 PM, EDVM96 said:  

On 11/14/2022 at 12:10 PM, Italy52 said: We sailed with Princess in June and did the Hubbard Glacier & Wilderness Exploration tour that off loaded from the ship --- absolutely wonderful.  We were very fortunate and saw lots of calving.  Lots of space to move around on the tour boat and we were able to get lots of good photographs.  I have attached a couple of my favorite pictures.  We are sailing once again with Princess in July and will be taking the same excursion.  Pricing is $299.95 per person.     My wife and I did this excursion from the Royal early in June this year. Have signed up for it again for next June, this time on the Sapphire. Full boat but didn't seem crowded. Had great weather.    

On 11/15/2022 at 5:06 AM, PurpleTraveller said: I just booked the Hubbard Glacier and Wildlife Exploration excursion for $299.95 an adult for my June 2 Crown Princess cruise. This excursion did not become available until two weeks after the excursions for the other ports became available.  

I am on your sailing June 2!   I am debating this excursion, almost daily I check to see how many tickets are still available.    Last time I went to Alaska we went to Glacier Bay and I felt my cabin was fine.  I also did a glacier tour to Tracy Arm/ Glacier viewing from Juneau that I do not see listed on the Princess website but on the NCL site, that got up close with a Glacier.   (My last cruise was out of Sydney!  I miss my annual trip to OZ, spending Christmas in Australia. I am glad to see that things are opening up more there now and that I may one day have the option to go back!  )

1 hour ago, Nelsj099 said: I am on your sailing June 2!   I am debating this excursion, almost daily I check to see how many tickets are still available.    Last time I went to Alaska we went to Glacier Bay and I felt my cabin was fine.  I also did a glacier tour to Tracy Arm/ Glacier viewing from Juneau that I do not see listed on the Princess website but on the NCL site, that got up close with a Glacier.   (My last cruise was out of Sydney!  I miss my annual trip to OZ, spending Christmas in Australia. I am glad to see that things are opening up more there now and that I may one day have the option to go back!  )

Good to see that you are also going to be on the June 2 sailing! I booked the excursion because even though I have cruised past glaciers before (Amalia Glacier and Glacier Alley in Chile) I haven't been up close to a glacier. This is our big splurge excursion for this cruise and didn't want to take the chance that I might miss out, so booked as soon as it became available. I am really looking forward to it and the cruise.

Australia is open for business and tourists again so maybe you could plan to come for Christmas 2023! We'd love to have you back again!

On 11/27/2022 at 12:14 PM, PurpleTraveller said: Australia is open for business and tourists again so maybe you could plan to come for Christmas 2023! We'd love to have you back again!

Ya, I know! But, I live in China.  Right now it is 8 days quarantine, down from the 21 days I did in 2021 and the 14 days I did in 2020 but it makes short holidays difficult.  🥲   I had great plans to fly to Sydney for a concert in 2020 just for the weekend to see some friends.  How times change. 

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in

• Welcome to Cruise Critic
• New Cruisers
• Cruise Lines “A – O”
• Cruise Lines “P – Z”
• River Cruising
• Cruise Critic News & Features
• Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
• Special Interest Cruising
• Cruise Discussion Topics
• UK Cruising
• Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
• Canadian Cruisers
• North American Homeports
• Ports of Call
• Cruise Conversations

Announcements

• New to Cruise Critic? Join our Community!

Write Your Own Amazing Review !

Click this gorgeous photo by member SUPERstar777 to share your review!

Features & News

LauraS · Started Friday at 01:11 PM

LauraS · Started May 1

LauraS · Started April 30

LauraS · Started April 26

• Existing user? Sign in OR Create an Account
• Find Your Roll Call
• Meet & Mingle
• Community Help Center
• All Activity
• Member Photo Albums
• Meet & Mingle Photos
• Favorite Cruise Memories
• Cruise Food Photos
• Cruise Ship Photos
• Ports of Call Photos
• Towel Animal Photos
• Amazing, Funny & Totally Awesome Cruise Photos
• Write a Review
• Live Cruise Reports
• Member Cruise Reviews
• Create New...

Hubbard Glacier, AK

To see discounted cruises that visit or depart from this port, use the Find a Bargain box on the left.

While most of the world's glaciers are receding, North America's largest tidewater glacier is advancing. At 76 miles long and 7 miles wide, Hubbard Glacier presents a majestic sight for passengers cruising across Yakutat Bay on the Alaskan panhandle. One of the behemoth's most impressive stunts is the same reason ships must keep a safe distance from the spot where it occupies Disenchantment Bay: The glacier calves frequently, meaning that large chunks of ice break off from its face and plunge into the water below, creating icebergs. In addition to witnessing this spectacle of nature, keen eyes also can catch glimpses of the area's wildlife, which includes harbor seals, orcas and humpback whales.