Glacier Bay or Tracy Arm?

[CMar00]

For those of you that have been to been to both Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm, which did you prefer and why?

If you could only go to one, which would you choose?

[frugaltravel]

Glacier Bay is a national park for a reason. Enough said?

[Budget Queen]

They both are very enjoyable for me, but that is from a "repeater" visitor. Glacier Bay, is spectacular and offers a sure thing with wildlife and at least 4 glaciers.

 

Tracy Arm- is "necessary" for the add on ship tour, in my opinion. It is grossly superior to the cruise ship sailing. On average only about 25% of the cruise ships get a glacier view, the averages are much higher with the add on tour.

[shrimpboat123]

Both have their benefits. I did both in July this year. In Glacier Bay we saw quite a few whales on the way in. Margerie Glacier really put on a show by calving three times. Beautiful scenery.

 

I took the small boat excursion out of Juneau to Tracey Arm. On the way we saw lots of very playful whales. Tracey Arm had much different scenery in the way of steep cliffs and plenty of water falls. Lots of Seals on the ice flows with their pups. Plenty of icebergs in the channel that we didn't see in Glacier Bay.

 

I liked both and was glad I chose to do both.

[Coral]

Go with Glacier Bay!

 

I have tried 4x to get to Tracy Arm. 2x via ship and 2x via small boat and have missed it all 4x.

[Budget Queen]

Go with Glacier Bay!

 

I have tried 4x to get to Tracy Arm. 2x via ship and 2x via small boat and have missed it all 4x.

 

You really are the "winner" for bad luck with Tracy Arm. :(

 

Are you trying again next year? I think I recall you sailing Alaska frequently. :) You have to have at least one successful sailing.

[Coral]

You really are the "winner" for bad luck with Tracy Arm. :(

 

Are you trying again next year? I think I recall you sailing Alaska frequently. :) You have to have at least one successful sailing.

 

Yea - I know - and 2 of those were in July. At least I finally got to Hubbard Glacier last year! That was my other bad luck location.

 

To be fair, I did enter Tracy Arm once (via small boat) but never made it in view of the glacier. Too much ice, too little time and had to turn around. It was pretty cool to be amongst all that ice.

 

Right now, it doesn't look like a go for 2014 to Alaska. I think I have done 10 cruises to Alaska.

Edited November 7, 2013 by Coral

[moonlightshivers]

We went on Celebrity Infinity in June. On the cruise ship they took us right up to the glacier in Tracey Arm- while *on* the cruise ship. Absolutely breathtaking. Seals were everywhere. The Ice in the water was throwing rainbows everywhere. It was magnificent. They have a wildlife specialist on board who would give on board announcements during the trek in. There were certain areas of the fjord where they would not be able to talk over the loudspeaker. Then engines would slow; it was amazing. The fact that this is the second most pristine fjord in the world next to Norway cannot be ignored.

[Glaciers]

On the cruise ship they took us right up to the glacier in Tracey Arm- while *on* the cruise ship.

.

 

How close did you get?

[moonlightshivers]

We got really close. I'm on my cell, and just copied this from my fb album with my phone, so if it's too blurry, that's why. This was one of my pictures. Hard to estimate the distance. Captain said it was not the closest he had ever been but it made us all happy. The ice was too bad to get closer.

[Chenega]

I'm a college geography teacher up here and as much as I love Tracy Arm, Glacier Bay is a national park and one of the real gems of Alaska. Cruise ships are limited to help preserve the pristine environment. It's a very special place.

[Keith1010]

I also think they are both terrific.

 

If this is a first time or if you've been to both then in both these cases Glacier Bay is what I would recommend but again both are great.

 

Keith

[Budget Queen]

We went on Celebrity Infinity in June. On the cruise ship they took us right up to the glacier in Tracey Arm- while *on* the cruise ship. Absolutely breathtaking. Seals were everywhere. The Ice in the water was throwing rainbows everywhere. It was magnificent. They have a wildlife specialist on board who would give on board announcements during the trek in. There were certain areas of the fjord where they would not be able to talk over the loudspeaker. Then engines would slow; it was amazing. The fact that this is the second most pristine fjord in the world next to Norway cannot be ignored.

 

A general comment, IF those photos are from the closest you got, you weren't "close". The boat tours, can get right up in front of the glaciers with a full view, which you do not have in these photos.

 

Certainly it may be just random photos you are posting, but if you have some from in front of the glacier, they would show the distance much better.

[shrimpboat123]

On the small boat tour you get much closer.

 

 

I think we were within 1/2 mile.

[Budget Queen]

On the small boat tour you get much closer.

 

 

I think we were within 1/2 mile.

 

Great photo, and it shows a big difference, which is hard to describe. In my opinion- the boat tours- are FAR superior to any cruise ship transit. I can't "find" my photos, I'm not very good finding stuff on my computer. :)

[epixx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Budget Queen

Sorry, your worry about "announcements" are important? Your "5 min" comment isn't reality and all lines make an occasional announcement.

 

Wow, you NYers sure are rude!

 

Quote:

Is the ship your only priority?

Yes, see my OP.

 

 

 

Wait! Does this mean that the ship is not your only priority?

 

 

[Glaciers]

This is one of the Sawyer Glaciers in Tracy Arm. The vessel in the photo is one Allen Marine’s that does the day trips and is an add on ship tour. They get much closer than the larger ships.

 

Edited November 8, 2013 by Glaciers

[bus man]

I've done both and I loved them both. They are somewhat different from each other, so if you can do both, that would be ideal. But if you can only do one . . . I would probably lean toward Tracy Arm. Glacier Bay is wide open and expansive, whereas Tracy Arm is a much narrower passage. You get so close to those magnificent cliffs with their many, many plunging waterfall.

 

I will say, though, IMO the key to Tracy Arm is to go there on a small boat, not a ship. On the small boats, you get so close to the waterfall that you can feel the spray. And you can get very close to the glacier in the back. I was lucky enough to see it calve when I was there, and the sight and sounds took my breath away.

 

In any case, they're both amazing, so you can't go wrong either way. Have a great trip!

[Coral]

 

In any case, they're both amazing, so you can't go wrong either way. Have a great trip!

 

Unfortunately - Tracy Arm is often missed, even in small boats.

 

On my first cruise to Alaska, we missed Hubbard Glacier and it was the only glacier on the cruise. It was extremely disappointed. With the amount of cruises that miss Tracy Arm, I strongly encourage Glacier Bay which seems never to be missed. This is why I think one could go wrong with Tracy Arm, if they miss it! For the first and possibly only cruise - I recommend GB.

Edited November 8, 2013 by Coral

[bus man]

Unfortunately - Tracy Arm is often missed, even in small boats.

 

I didn't realize that. I guess I got lucky, because on my first (and, to date, only) trip to Alaska, I did a boat out of Juneau, and we got all the way through Tracy Arm without any problem.

[Budget Queen]

Unfortunately - Tracy Arm is often missed, even in small boats.

 

On my first cruise to Alaska, we missed Hubbard Glacier and it was the only glacier on the cruise. It was extremely disappointed. With the amount of cruises that miss Tracy Arm, I strongly encourage Glacier Bay which seems never to be missed. This is why I think one could go wrong with Tracy Arm, if they miss it! For the first and possibly only cruise - I recommend GB.

 

I don't agree on the "often" for small boats. Many times the "miss" with those is early season, and the cruise ship going to Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier instead of Tracy Arm due to the cruise ship decision. Seeing Sawyer Glacier is far more successful with a small boat tour compared to a cruise ship. Add to the mix- these cruise ships would have no problem getting further- if they allowed more time. There are cruise ships- who do allow more, and their sighting stats confirm this. It always sounds "good" for safety, too much ice etc etc etc. Really???? Does anybody really think this is true? Sorry no. When was the last time, anyone heard of ships sinking, grave danger, risks? Not an issue in the least. It's all about time.

[Coral]

I didn't realize that. I guess I got lucky, because on my first (and, to date, only) trip to Alaska, I did a boat out of Juneau, and we got all the way through Tracy Arm without any problem.

 

I did Adventure Bound 2x and missed it both times. Not for lack of trying!

[Chenega]

I don't agree on the "often" for small boats. Many times the "miss" with those is early season, and the cruise ship going to Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier instead of Tracy Arm due to the cruise ship decision. Seeing Sawyer Glacier is far more successful with a small boat tour compared to a cruise ship. Add to the mix- these cruise ships would have no problem getting further- if they allowed more time. There are cruise ships- who do allow more, and their sighting stats confirm this. It always sounds "good" for safety, too much ice etc etc etc. Really???? Does anybody really think this is true? Sorry no. When was the last time, anyone heard of ships sinking, grave danger, risks? Not an issue in the least. It's all about time.

 

You are right on the mark and I can second your comment about cruise ships turning around with personal experience. My wife and I were naturalists on the Seven Seas Mariner (now Regent Cruise) about ten years ago and I was doing the narration from the bridge. We had gone into Tracy Arm about 2/3rds of the way when the captain approached me and said to announce that we were turning around due to ice conditions. I asked if this was common and he said (to paraphrase) "no, we're turning around due to lack of time but tell the passengers it is ice and they'll buy it". My wife and I both laughed and shook our heads. To say the least, we no longer are cruise ship naturalists.

 

The only reason many cruise lines go into Tracy Arm is that the company does not have permits for Glacier Bay. Tracy Arm is a beautiful area but it is a runner-up to those ships that visit Glacier Bay or even Hubbard Glacier.

 

Totally agree that the small boat trip with Adventure Bound is the only way to do justice to Tracy Arm. It's a long day but an excellent trip.

Edited November 8, 2013 by Chenega

[bus man]

I did Adventure Bound 2x and missed it both times. Not for lack of trying!

 

Adventure Bound is who I did it with. Their boat was small, cramped, and uncomfortable; nowhere near as nice as the National Park Service boat to Glacier Bay. But the captain and crew were friendly and competent and went out of their way to maximize our sightseeing enjoyment. It was totally worth doing, but now that I've done it, I'm not sure I'd want to spend another 8 hours on that boat again.

[Coral]

Adventure Bound is who I did it with. Their boat was small, cramped, and uncomfortable; nowhere near as nice as the National Park Service boat to Glacier Bay. But the captain and crew were friendly and competent and went out of their way to maximize our sightseeing enjoyment. It was totally worth doing, but now that I've done it, I'm not sure I'd want to spend another 8 hours on that boat again.

 

I think very highly of Adventure Bound and enjoyed both trips with them, even thought we didn't make it to the Glaciers in Tracy Arm. First time, too much ice and we had to turn around due to time, specifically because 2 of us had a cruise ship to get to. Second time, went to Endicott Arm and saw Fords Terror. Both times, excellent tour but didn't get to see the 2 Sawyer Glaciers. I would go again - I enjoyed the tour that much.

 

I am sure the National Park Service boat was fabulous.