Norsk129 Posted December 9, 2019 #1 Share Posted December 9, 2019 Which ones better for first time cruisers and why? If you can't get in tracy arm what do they do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 1025cruise Posted December 9, 2019 #2 Share Posted December 9, 2019 Glacier Bay. Usually if you can't get into Tracey arm, they go up another channel. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Essiesmom Posted December 9, 2019 #3 Share Posted December 9, 2019 If they can't get into Tracey Arm, they go up Endicott Arm to Dawes Glacier. Still not as good as Glacier Bay. EM 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rugerdog Posted December 9, 2019 #4 Share Posted December 9, 2019 I agree that Glacier Bay is better than Tracy Arm. Much longer time spent in Glacier Bay, many more Glaciers to see. Enjoy your cruise! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shmoo here Posted December 9, 2019 #5 Share Posted December 9, 2019 6 hours ago, Norsk129 said: Which ones better for first time cruisers and why? If you can't get in tracy arm what do they do? I was quite happy I found a cruise that did both Glacier Bay and Tracy Arm. I was quite convinced that I was only ever going to Alaska once (I don't do cold well), so this was an important question for me, also, on our first Alaska trip. Yes, "first", it only took about 3 days to realize that I'd be returning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norsk129 Posted December 9, 2019 Author #6 Share Posted December 9, 2019 Which did you like best? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzaholic41 Posted December 9, 2019 #7 Share Posted December 9, 2019 Been to both more than once. Tracy Arm is stunning and usually offers boat excursions to get closer to the glacier, but the whole day spent in Glacier Bay is much better in my opinion. You see more glaciers and more wildlife. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vmom Posted December 10, 2019 #8 Share Posted December 10, 2019 I've been to Glacier Bay twice and Edicott Arm once. We were supposed to go to Tracy Arm but couldn't get through due to ice as it was early in the season. They are really quite different. When cruising down Endicott Arm, I loved cruising down the arm seeing all the seals with the baby seals on the icebergs. I found the scenery as we were sailing down the arm in a narrow channel with land close by on each side to be stunning. We saw different wildlife including seals, sea otters and birds and even a bear on the shore. Glacier Bay was beautiful but vast. You are not as close to the land but the overall landscapes are beautiful. Several glaciers are in the area. I didn't see any wild life cruising around Glacier Bay as compared to Endicott Arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquahound Posted December 10, 2019 #9 Share Posted December 10, 2019 I cruised Glacier Bay in September. Maybe it was just our Captain but on the way in, we sailed very close to land on the starboard side before going to Margerie Glacier. We saw 4 brown bears up on their hind legs wrestling. We were told it was a mother and 3 grown cubs. We also saw sea otters, seals, and sea lions. When exiting, we sailed past Marble Island, which is loaded with hundreds of sea lions. We got very close to Marjerie Glacier. The calving was very active and it was awesome. I too recommend Glacier Bay over Tracy Arm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skrufy Posted December 10, 2019 #10 Share Posted December 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Aquahound said: I cruised Glacier Bay in September. Maybe it was just our Captain but on the way in, we sailed very close to land on the starboard side before going to Margerie Glacier. We saw 4 brown bears up on their hind legs wrestling. We were told it was a mother and 3 grown cubs. We also saw sea otters, seals, and sea lions. When exiting, we sailed past Marble Island, which is loaded with hundreds of sea lions. We got very close to Marjerie Glacier. The calving was very active and it was awesome. I too recommend Glacier Bay over Tracy Arm. 1 hour ago, Aquahound said: I cruised Glacier Bay in September. Maybe it was just our Captain but on the way in, we sailed very close to land on the starboard side before going to Margerie Glacier. We saw 4 brown bears up on their hind legs wrestling. We were told it was a mother and 3 grown cubs. We also saw sea otters, seals, and sea lions. When exiting, we sailed past Marble Island, which is loaded with hundreds of sea lions. We got very close to Marjerie Glacier. The calving was very active and it was awesome. I too recommend Glacier Bay over Tracy Arm. I would choose Glacier Bay also. Been there twice and will defiantly go again. Ice blocks the cruise ships from getting into Tracy Arm on many occasions. If you want a good chance to get into Tracy Arm and close up do an excursion out of Juneau. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi13 Posted December 10, 2019 #11 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Been to Glacier Bay well over 20 times and never failed to enter and see glaciers. Some times the weather was dreadful, but we always experienced the Ranger talks and saw the glaciers. For Tracy Arm, only ever made it to the end once, but note it is spectacular. Sadly ships often can't enter due to ice and if they can enter, rarely make it up to the end. While Tracy Arm is spectacular, if I was on my first and possibly only Alaska Cruise, I would recommend Glacier Bay, especially for the Ranger talks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Host Kat Posted December 10, 2019 #12 Share Posted December 10, 2019 16 hours ago, Norsk129 said: Which ones better for first time cruisers and why? If you can't get in tracy arm what do they do? Howdy Norsk129 and welcome to Cruise Critic! Thank you for your post on the Ask a Cruise Question forum! 👍 However since your inquiry concerns Alaska, I have moved your thread to the Ports of Call - Alaska forum where it will be on-topic. Now that you are on this new forum, please browse through the other thread titles here looking for those related to your inquiry. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers regarding the same topic. Cruise Critic is a great resource and we are so glad you found us! Please feel free to browse the Cruise Critic Community list. Read a few threads in various forums to get a feel for what each forum is about. Make sure you read any pinned threads on the top of the first page of threads in a forum. You will find very important instructions or information there. Please remember the following stated in the Guidelines we all agreed to follow when registering for our free memberships: Browse Before You Post Browse a topic first to see if your question has already been asked or answered by someone else. Also, many of the major cruise lines forums have a FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) topic that has been created by our members. Give that a try first. Browsing is your #1 best resource! Please post your messages in an appropriate topic so that you'll receive the best possible response. It is very time consuming to move misplaced messages that are in the wrong topics. Anytime you want to start a new thread on any forum, make sure you are on the correct forum for your topic. Word your new thread title in a way to help the members know exactly the information you seek. This greatly helps the members that know the information so they will reply to you. It is best to limit each inquiry to only one topic or concerning one cruise line, ship, port of call, etc. and of course, on the correct forum. You will get more replies that way. Be sure to mention your cruise line, ship, port or sail date in your inquiry if it will help the members to be able to help you. For finding fellow Cruise Critic members sailing with you on your cruise, please read What is a Roll Call? Everything you Need to Know and How To: Create A New Roll Call . Please note tour share requests may only be posted on the Roll Call thread for your cruise sail date and in no other forum. And don't forget, after your cruise be sure to go to our Member Cruise Reviews section and submit your review for publication! I sincerely hope this will be helpful and glad to have you aboard Cruise Critic! Happy sails, Host Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted December 10, 2019 #13 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Choose Glacier Bay. Tracy Arm is often skipped and you end up at Endicott Arm which is less scenic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted December 10, 2019 #14 Share Posted December 10, 2019 Glacier Bay is a National Park. Tracy Arm is not a National Park. That is a bit of a simplistic answer but think about that. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbinMich Posted December 11, 2019 #15 Share Posted December 11, 2019 We've been to both and IMHO Tracy Arm scenery is more spectacular because you're in a fjord and one of its arms to approach the glacier. We did it in Sept. and there were still a lot of small pieces of ice in the after. I imagine the trip up the glacier is spring and into the summer would be difficult as there would be more ice floating around. Finally, we were on a HAL ship (one of the older ones, all of which are smaller than Princess ships) so that may have been the "key" to our success. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Coral Posted December 11, 2019 #16 Share Posted December 11, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, BarbinMich said: We've been to both and IMHO Tracy Arm scenery is more spectacular because you're in a fjord and one of its arms to approach the glacier. We did it in Sept. and there were still a lot of small pieces of ice in the after. I imagine the trip up the glacier is spring and into the summer would be difficult as there would be more ice floating around. Finally, we were on a HAL ship (one of the older ones, all of which are smaller than Princess ships) so that may have been the "key" to our success. A small ship doesn't always mean success. I was on a small boat and missed it 2x. He probably could have gotten us in but it would have taken 3 plus more hours and we had to get back to the port to get back on our ship. Edited December 11, 2019 by Coral Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shock1998 Posted July 21, 2020 #17 Share Posted July 21, 2020 First time on Alaskan Cruise. One day in Tracy Arm Fjord- i always before cruising choose the port side, but considering this particular day should I choose the starboard side? Or does it matter at all? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted July 21, 2020 #18 Share Posted July 21, 2020 OK= I'm going to disagree. 🙂 For me- I totally dismiss the "best" claims. Every trip is different, and in Alaska, there is never any "best", for me. The closeness of Tracy and Endicott Arms, is spectacular. I've been in both multiple times, and don't agree- you get closer to Margerie in Glacier Bay- which over the years, has resided significantly and doesn't have the calving it used to. Ok I'm jaded- but, I also think it could be a mistake giving a single day out of a 7++ day cruise, as much priority as the "must do", claims. EVERY day of an Alaska cruise is important. and it isn't sloppy seconds- IF you go to Hubbard, Endicott, Sawyer or College Fjords on your trip. I certainly haven't been on ships- with a non Glacier Bay- sailing- ending with - a boatload of disappointed passengers, claiming- any of the other glacier experiences- was a huge disappointment. NO- there are raves, and an air of- how wonderful the day was. 🙂 (I feel, I'm entitled to make this claim based on my experience of over 80 Alaska cruises). But- perhaps- best advice- make your own choices, you'll absolutely enjoy your Alaska visit. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted July 21, 2020 #19 Share Posted July 21, 2020 4 hours ago, Shock1998 said: First time on Alaskan Cruise. One day in Tracy Arm Fjord- i always before cruising choose the port side, but considering this particular day should I choose the starboard side? Or does it matter at all? thanks Your asking about cabin? Both sides are equally scenic, but again, just my suggestion, in the Arm, being on the move is essential for me. IF you do get a view of the South Sawyer- it is only going to be partial and a significant distance away. Sawyer Island can be the turn around- you're getting a gift if the ship sails further- views will mostly be forward of the glacier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CruiserBruce Posted July 21, 2020 #20 Share Posted July 21, 2020 4 hours ago, Shock1998 said: First time on Alaskan Cruise. One day in Tracy Arm Fjord- i always before cruising choose the port side, but considering this particular day should I choose the starboard side? Or does it matter at all? thanks Side of the ship (for your cabin) doesn't matter. You will be out of your cabin and wondering around during scenic cruising. Tracy Arm is a fjord....you will see one side going in, and the other side coming out, if you chose (not recommended) to lock yourself in your cabin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budget Queen Posted July 21, 2020 #21 Share Posted July 21, 2020 I now see this is a very old post. 🤩 Shock would have been better to have started a new post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now