Kids in Nature: Glacier Bay Adventure Cruise

Begin the journey with a welcome aboard and take time to get settled. Share a toast with fellow travelers before the ship departs Juneau. As the voyage begins, take in the quiet surroundings of Alaska’s coastal wilderness and prepare for a week of exploration.

Start the day with yoga on deck and a cup of coffee. Paddle a kayak through the quiet bays of Icy Strait, passing large bullwhip kelp that can reach over 100 feet in length. Take a skiff to a rocky area to observe sea lions or put on boots for a forest hike with naturalist guides who share insights about Alaska’s wildlife, plants, and geology. Back on board, relax in the hot tub and unwind from the day’s activities.

This national park covers 3.3 million acres (that’s a tad smaller than the state of Connecticut). Let that sink in. Most visitors see the same sliver of the park as everyone else. Not you. Over the course of two days, you explore the remote wilderness of Glacier Bay National Park and the surrounding areas. Visit one of the park’s iconic glaciers: Margerie or John Hopkins. Glacier Bay is a wildlife-heavy area: keep your eyes peeled for stellar sea lions, sea otters, and whales. You also pass South Marble Island and Gloomy Knob, popular areas for spotting puffins and other seabirds. Small group excursions within the park may include skiff tours, kayaking, or hard-charger ridge hikes with epic views. The exact order of these excursions varies, but you’re guaranteed to explore parts of Glacier Bay National Park that 99% of visitors never see

Enjoy the top deck for a sunrise or morning stretch. Meander through glacier-carved fjords along the Chichagof coast. Then anchor. It’s a prime time to lower the kayaks and skiffs. Camera in hand, set off on land and sea explorations. Closer inspection by skiff, moss-dripping trees run right down to the water. Any bears in there? With one of the world’s largest populations of bears, it’s possible. Go searching for giant trees and tidal pools. Hiking in the Tongass, it won’t take long to find them. Your eagle-eyed guides lead the pack—and pull up the rear.

Hang out and enjoy the show. You may find yourself in 'whale soup' surrounded by feeding humpbacks swimming these abundant glacial waters. Based on wind and weather, your expedition team has the lineup of adventures all mapped out. Cruise past Five Fingers Lighthouse, Alaska’s oldest light station and The Brothers Islands, where sea lions nap on rocky nobs. Paddle into the deeps of Port Houghton or Windham Bay or head ashore for a hike. Tonight, toast another big day in Alaska.

Take an early peek out your window. Fjord cliffs reach skyward. Floating ice. And deep u-shaped valleys. There’s no abracadabra here. Mother Nature’s magic is real. Cruise past harbor seals and their pups lounging on chunks of ice. Tides permitting, your skiff driver knows the ropes and guides you along. It’s a mashup of towering walls, temperamental currents, and the Coastal Mountains. So many waterfalls. Mountain goats show off fancy footwork on the cliffs, so keep your eyes open. Finish your week with Captain's dinner and post-dinner cocktails watching the week's “photo journal” by your crew.

Linger over breakfast this morning cruising into Juneau. Wish your crew and new friends goodbye. Then it’s off to the airport or begin your UnCruise hotel stay or land tour.