Keep it cool with the best Alaska Glaciers vacation.
As you explore the best Alaska glaciers, brace yourself for stunning views and shivers of excitement. From zip-lining through the Tongass National Forest to playing with sled dog puppies in Denali National Park to witnessing the majesty of the rugged mountains surrounding Endicott Arm, adventures abound in Alaska. You can view the cascading ice levels of Mendenhall and Hubbard Glacier from a boat, kayak or flightseeing aircraft, while watching whales mingle among brilliant icebergs drifting away from a calved wall of ice. No matter what you do during your vacation, the best Alaska glaciers cruises will show you magical contrasts: A newborn seal's fur against ancient blue ice, wildflowers growing next to soaring cliffs, and dogsleds pulling mushers underneath low-flying helicopters. It's all part of the rugged beauty of the last frontier.
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VIEWS OF GLACIAL PROPORTIONS
With its winding fjords and gigantic glaciers, the best Alaska glaciers cruises offer unforgettable views. Spot silly seals playing on bobbing icebergs, or simply take in the vibrancy of the turquoise waters. These memories are sure to last a lifetime.
LIVE THE WILD LIFE
Endicott Arm Fjord Glacier is less frequently visited than its sister Tracy Arm, but its secluded nature only adds to its appeal. Catch a glimpse of imposing Dawes Glacier: It's actually formed by two glaciers meeting, one of which features an impressive icefall, a crevasse that looks like a frozen waterfall, into the fjord below. You're sure to see roaming wildlife here: Watch the waters for seals and sea otters, or look to the skies for a glimpse of soaring bald eagles.
FJORD THE TURQUOISE WATERS
As glaciers move, they grind the earth to flour that turns the waters that wind through the fjords a gorgeous opaque turquoise color. Take an excursion or tour through the water-filled valleys of Mendenhall Glacier to bathe in the light that reflects off of the compressed ice. You can kayak through Mendenhall Lake, which is actually created by the melting waters of the 3,000-year-old glacier.
ICE, ICE, BABY!
Age-old glaciers like Dawes or Mendenhall give way to meandering fjords all throughout Alaska. Kayak through the icy waters and catch a glimpse of the grazing caribou and the leaping mountain goats who frequent the massive mountains of ice.
ICY EXPEDITIONS
Sometimes, you want to relax and take in the views. Other times, you might prefer to take advantage of the thrilling adventures an area has to offer. With an Alaska glaciers vacation, you can do both at the same time.
TAKE A PAWS
A thrilling helicopter ride tour can transport you to the Norris Glacier on the Juneau Icefield. Meet with professional mushers and their spirited dogs for an unforgettable dog-sledding adventure of ancient proportions: Archaeological evidence suggests the Inuit have been getting around via dog sled since around 1,000 A.D.
GLACIER SIGHT-SOARING
Generally, Alaska glaciers are viewed from one angle, so you can see that they are massive, but flightseeing — taking a small, low-flying plane over the landscape for a true bird's-eye view — allows you to see just how vast these rivers of ice can be. Take up an excursion out of Misty Fjord in Ketchikan, or soar above the tallest mountain in North America in Denali National Park with a Talkeetna adventure tour group. You may even get the chance to climb one of these icy giants.
THE CAVERNS ARE CALLING
There's nothing quite like experiencing a glacier from the inside. Venture into Mendenhall Ice Caves or Matanuska Glacier Cave to see stunning views of intensely compressed ice — it's an otherworldly experience of actually standing underneath the glacial ice, which forms surreal landscapes like you've never seen before.
Best Alaska Glacier Cruises
Check off Alaska’s must-see destinations from your adventure bucket list. From towering glaciers to thrilling wildlife encounters, the untamed beauty of the Last Frontier awaits with exciting weeklong itineraries onboard the best Royal Caribbean cruise ships.
KICK OFF FROM CANADA
Before you embark on an epic Alaska glacier cruise, spend some time exploring Vancouver. Go whale watching along the city’s coast, stroll through Stanley Park and go shopping for souvenirs in Vancouver’s luxe downtown shops.
SOMETHING TO DO FOR EVERY CREW
Head to the Last Frontier on Radiance of the Seas®. Begin your day by sipping mimosas at the Bottomless Galley Brunch, or slip away to an adults-only pool day at the Solarium. And if you’re craving adrenaline, scale the Rock Climbing Wall onboard.
WHAT TO KNOW
BEFORE YOU GO
Alaska Cruises Insider
Hubbard Glacier — the largest tidewater glacier in North America — is 76 miles long, 7 miles wide and towers at 600 feet tall at its highest point, with icebergs that are 3 or 4 stories high.
Endicott Arm Fjord is home to impressive Dawes Glacier — as well as one of the world's largest breeding grounds for harbor seals.
Royal Caribbean cruises to Alaska's glaciers in the summer months: With long daylight hours, you'll get plenty of time each day to take in the scenery, and the temperatures will be warm enough that you'll be comfortable glacier-viewing from the deck. There is no better way to experience Alaska.
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On northbound cruises, you'll get the best views of the glaciers on the starboard side of the ship; when you're sailing southward, the port side is the way to go.
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Many of our Alaska glacier cruises depart from Vancouver or Seattle, so you can get in your dose of urban exploration before you explore the icy wilderness.
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Alaska might not seem like a sun-soaked state, but make no mistake: Sunglasses are essential for glacier-viewing, as the glare off the ice can be intense.
RELATED PORTS
Whether you're interested in hiking through a forest, trekking to the best Alaska glaciers or a shopping spree downtown, all the towns provide a variety of adventurous activities. Ports such as Juneau and Ketchikan are each small cities with their own personalities. Anchorage is the state's largest city and a gateway to the rest of the state. Denali National Park takes you out of the city altogether, into a wilderness full of spruce forests and snow-capped mountain peaks.
