The Coral Princess Northbound Cruise and Land Tour
Cruising in Glacier Bay National Park, AK
From what I read on other CruiseCritic reviews from cruisers who sailed through the Glacier Bay National Park, one theme remained consistent, everybody experiences it differently. You may be fortunate enough to enjoy the views from your cozy stateroom balcony, or passively enjoying it from inside one of the ship's lounges while sipping away on cocktail, or you're like me and you spent the majority of the time huddled with the masses on the outer decks trying to stay warm and dry going snap happy with your camera. Regardless, Glacier Bay National Park is an amazing experience.
While it may be becoming an ephemeral park as all but one of the glaciers are receding, it is a national park and with that you are reminded by the park rangers, who board the ship early in the morning, to please be respectful by not feeding the wildlife and and no littering. Once the Coral Princess entered the inlet and approached our first glacier of the day, Reid Glacier, a National Park Service ranger began her narration on the history and geology of the glaciers that surrounded us.
We never managed to see the sun throughout our sailing but that was alright as bowls of hot broth and hot cocoa, coffee and tea were wheeled through all the outer viewing decks to passengers, many of whom wrapped themselves tightly in plaid blankets in an effort to stay warm.
We cruised by Lamplugh "the blue" Glacier and then the inlet to Johns Hopkins glacier followed, however we couldn't get close due to the mating season for an endangered seal species who call the inlet to the glacier home, and after that we sailed through fog so thick you couldn't see land. Eventually though, as we arrived to Margerie Glacier, the fog parted, almost making the glacier look like The Wall out of Game of Thrones. It was here at Margerie that we were able to experience several large calving events, which produce a sound called "white thunder," which was so aptly named by park rangers.
So if you find yourself sailing through Glacier Bay National Park remember this: it's probably going to be cold, so bundle up, find a good viewing spot that blocks wind and stay there, as the second you move someone will take your place. Also, the ship turns around at each glacier so both sides of the ship have ample viewing opportunity which gives you plenty of time to not only snap photos of a fading natural feature but to perhaps also capture some of the details of that day. And lastly, if you're a Game of Thrones fan, totally nerd out and imagine that there are wildlings on the other side of Margerie Glacier (aka The Wall), because, well, it's fun.
Enjoy!
While it may be becoming an ephemeral park as all but one of the glaciers are receding, it is a national park and with that you are reminded by the park rangers, who board the ship early in the morning, to please be respectful by not feeding the wildlife and and no littering. Once the Coral Princess entered the inlet and approached our first glacier of the day, Reid Glacier, a National Park Service ranger began her narration on the history and geology of the glaciers that surrounded us.
We never managed to see the sun throughout our sailing but that was alright as bowls of hot broth and hot cocoa, coffee and tea were wheeled through all the outer viewing decks to passengers, many of whom wrapped themselves tightly in plaid blankets in an effort to stay warm.
We cruised by Lamplugh "the blue" Glacier and then the inlet to Johns Hopkins glacier followed, however we couldn't get close due to the mating season for an endangered seal species who call the inlet to the glacier home, and after that we sailed through fog so thick you couldn't see land. Eventually though, as we arrived to Margerie Glacier, the fog parted, almost making the glacier look like The Wall out of Game of Thrones. It was here at Margerie that we were able to experience several large calving events, which produce a sound called "white thunder," which was so aptly named by park rangers.
So if you find yourself sailing through Glacier Bay National Park remember this: it's probably going to be cold, so bundle up, find a good viewing spot that blocks wind and stay there, as the second you move someone will take your place. Also, the ship turns around at each glacier so both sides of the ship have ample viewing opportunity which gives you plenty of time to not only snap photos of a fading natural feature but to perhaps also capture some of the details of that day. And lastly, if you're a Game of Thrones fan, totally nerd out and imagine that there are wildlings on the other side of Margerie Glacier (aka The Wall), because, well, it's fun.
Enjoy!
Reid Glacier
Lamplugh Glacier
Lamplugh Glacier
Lamplugh Glacier
Johns Hopkins Glacier
Johns Hopkins Glacier
The Norwegian Jewel, looking more like a ghost ship through the thick fog, as we passed.
Margerie Glacier
Margerie Glacier
Margerie Glacier
Margerie Glacier
Margerie Glacier
Margerie Glacier
As we sailed away from the ever impressive white thunder show that Margerie Glacier had put on, it was time to warm up and prepare for our second and last formal night of the cruise.
And here's a quick video highlight of my day cruising through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.
Unfortunately I can't figure out to make this bigger and to display it in the full 1080p on command, so make sure to enlarge and select 1080p!
Next will be another cruising day, this time through College Fjord in Alaska.
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