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Beautiful Glacier Bay, Alaska

Glacier Bay National Park Small Ship Cruises

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Glacier Bay National Park is the highlight of many cruises that explore the northern reaches of Alaska's Inside Passage. As its name implies, this is home to some of the world's most awe-inspiring glaciers that you can hike across with the special permit that accompanies your cruise. The highlight for many is the Margerie Glacier, known for its dramatic calving displays. Keep your eye on the frigid waters, for it's easy to miss the impressive sights of a majestic humpback whale breaching the glassy surface or the cute puffins diving gracefully through the icy tides. You also might see bears, eagles, goats, and other well-adapted animals. Below are some of our favorite cruises that visit Glacier Bay. Contact one of our Alaska cruise specialists to customize your cruise to Glacier Bay today!

10 Best Glacier Bay Small Ship Cruises for  2021

All Glacier Bay Cruises
All Glacier Bay Cruises
Look for whales in Alaska
Ultimate Glacier Bay, Wilderness, & Wildlife
Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $8,250
The Kruzof Explorer’s Alaska’s Ultimate Glacier Bay, Wilderness, & Wildlife. This expedition is ideal for travelers seeking a higher level of activity, with more time spent in remote areas.
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Admire beautiful Alaskan landscapes
Glacier Bay & Outer Coast Expedition
Sitka to Hubbard Glacier
6 Days from $5,895
The Kruzof Explorer’s Alaska’s Islands, Glacier Bay & Outer Coast expedition is ideal for travelers seeking a higher level of activity, with more time spent in remote areas.
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Marvel at the striking icebergs
North to True Alaska Expedition
Sitka to Juneau
6 Days from $3,295
Experience Alaska’s famous wildlife, pristine wilderness bays and rainforest, kayak and skiff adventures, stunning Glacier Bay National Park, and three of the Inside Passage’s most historical and charming towns—Sitka, Skagway, and Juneau on this 6-day cruise aboard Alaskan Dream.
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Kayaking near the Glacier
Alaska’s Islands, Whales, & Glaciers
Sitka to Juneau
6 Days from $3,695
The Misty Fjord’s Alaska’s Islands, Whales, and Glaciers expedition is ideal for travelers seeking a higher level of activity, with more time spent in remote areas. The exploration starts from Sitka and ends in Juneau where opportunities for high-level activities and discovery of Alaska Native and Russian history are available in between.
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Margerie Glacier in Alaska
Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness
8 Days from $7,200
Explore Southeast Alaska aboard National Geographic Venture on its 8-day Alaska cruise from Juneau to Sitka. Hike over the spongy earth and float past massive icebergs, glaciers, and, with some luck, bears , humpback wales, wolves, moose, sea otters, orcas, sea lions, and mountain goats.
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Margerie Glacier in Alaska
Alaska's Glacier Bay & Island Adventure
Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $5,195
Experience the serenity of raw wilderness in this 8-day cruise through Southeast Alaska, visiting places like Kuiu, charming Petroglyph Beach, glacial Tracy Arm Fjord, and Glacier Bay National Park. Enjoy DIB (shallow water expedition craft) excursions, kayaking, and hiking and a relaxing evening at Orca Point Lodge.
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Bald eagles resting
Last Frontier Adventure 2021
Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $3,995
This Last Frontier Adventure aboard Chichagof Dream is an 8-day sailing expedition that gives more time in wilderness areas and a higher level of activity.
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Exploring Endicott Arm, Alaska
Last Frontier Adventure 2021
Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $3,795
This Last Frontier Adventure aboard Admiralty Dream is an 8-day small ship cruise that gives more time in wilderness areas and a higher level of activity as you explore Alaska from Sitka to Juneau. The dynamic itinerary features hiking rainforest trails, kayaking in a glacial fjord, and scouting marine animals in Frederick Sound.
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Mendenhall Glacier with field of Fireweed in Juneau, Alaska
Eastern Fjords & Glacier Bay Cruise—Ultimate Expedition
Juneau to Ketchikan
15 Days from $8,545
Experience 15-days of glaciers, whale watching, Native culture, and Glacier Bay National Park aboard the Wilderness Explorer. Along the way, you will make stops in Behm Canal, Chatham Strait, Endicott Arm, Glacier Bay National Park, Haines, Icy Strait, Juneau, Ketchikan, Misty Fjords National Monument, Stephen's Passage, Thomas Bay, and Wrangell.
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Brown bears fishing in the rivers of Alaska
Remote Alaska Adventure
Sitka to Ketchikan
10 Days from $8,600
The Kruzof Explorer hosts this relaxed active 10-day cruise to Alaska’s most remote destinations. Hiking, kayaking, whale watching, and village visits highlight this itinerary, which features stops in Chichagof Island, Prince of Wales, and Admiralty Island.
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Best Luxury Glacier Bay Small Ship Cruises for  2021

Look for whales in Alaska
Ultimate Glacier Bay, Wilderness, & Wildlife
Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $8,250
The Kruzof Explorer’s Alaska’s Ultimate Glacier Bay, Wilderness, & Wildlife. This expedition is ideal for travelers seeking a higher level of activity, with more time spent in remote areas.
0
Admire beautiful Alaskan landscapes
Glacier Bay & Outer Coast Expedition
Sitka to Hubbard Glacier
6 Days from $5,895
The Kruzof Explorer’s Alaska’s Islands, Glacier Bay & Outer Coast expedition is ideal for travelers seeking a higher level of activity, with more time spent in remote areas.
0
Marvel at the striking icebergs
North to True Alaska Expedition
Sitka to Juneau
6 Days from $3,295
Experience Alaska’s famous wildlife, pristine wilderness bays and rainforest, kayak and skiff adventures, stunning Glacier Bay National Park, and three of the Inside Passage’s most historical and charming towns—Sitka, Skagway, and Juneau on this 6-day cruise aboard Alaskan Dream.
0
Kayaking near the Glacier
Alaska’s Islands, Whales, & Glaciers
Sitka to Juneau
6 Days from $3,695
The Misty Fjord’s Alaska’s Islands, Whales, and Glaciers expedition is ideal for travelers seeking a higher level of activity, with more time spent in remote areas. The exploration starts from Sitka and ends in Juneau where opportunities for high-level activities and discovery of Alaska Native and Russian history are available in between.
0
Margerie Glacier in Alaska
Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness
8 Days from $7,200
Explore Southeast Alaska aboard National Geographic Venture on its 8-day Alaska cruise from Juneau to Sitka. Hike over the spongy earth and float past massive icebergs, glaciers, and, with some luck, bears , humpback wales, wolves, moose, sea otters, orcas, sea lions, and mountain goats.
0
Margerie Glacier in Alaska
Alaska's Glacier Bay & Island Adventure
Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $5,195
Experience the serenity of raw wilderness in this 8-day cruise through Southeast Alaska, visiting places like Kuiu, charming Petroglyph Beach, glacial Tracy Arm Fjord, and Glacier Bay National Park. Enjoy DIB (shallow water expedition craft) excursions, kayaking, and hiking and a relaxing evening at Orca Point Lodge.
0
Bald eagles resting
Last Frontier Adventure 2021
Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $3,995
This Last Frontier Adventure aboard Chichagof Dream is an 8-day sailing expedition that gives more time in wilderness areas and a higher level of activity.
0
Exploring Endicott Arm, Alaska
Last Frontier Adventure 2021
Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $3,795
This Last Frontier Adventure aboard Admiralty Dream is an 8-day small ship cruise that gives more time in wilderness areas and a higher level of activity as you explore Alaska from Sitka to Juneau. The dynamic itinerary features hiking rainforest trails, kayaking in a glacial fjord, and scouting marine animals in Frederick Sound.
0
Mendenhall Glacier with field of Fireweed in Juneau, Alaska
Eastern Fjords & Glacier Bay Cruise—Ultimate Expedition
Juneau to Ketchikan
15 Days from $8,545
Experience 15-days of glaciers, whale watching, Native culture, and Glacier Bay National Park aboard the Wilderness Explorer. Along the way, you will make stops in Behm Canal, Chatham Strait, Endicott Arm, Glacier Bay National Park, Haines, Icy Strait, Juneau, Ketchikan, Misty Fjords National Monument, Stephen's Passage, Thomas Bay, and Wrangell.
0
Brown bears fishing in the rivers of Alaska
Remote Alaska Adventure
Sitka to Ketchikan
10 Days from $8,600
The Kruzof Explorer hosts this relaxed active 10-day cruise to Alaska’s most remote destinations. Hiking, kayaking, whale watching, and village visits highlight this itinerary, which features stops in Chichagof Island, Prince of Wales, and Admiralty Island.
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Glacier Bay National Park Travel Guide

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Kodiak bears in Alaska
Alaska Cruise: When to Go?
Is it best to go on an Alaskan cruise in the highest season, warmest months of July and August? Or do the shoulder months of June and September have advantages? The time that you choose to travel depends on your personal interests & desires. Our Alaska cruise experts reveal their recommendations.
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Bear sighting in Alaska
Alaskan Wildlife Guide
Alaska's animals will be the stars of the show during your visit! Several species of bears and moose dominate the landscape, while seals and seabirds inhabit the coastlines. Whale watching is a major attraction, and you may even get a lucky glimpse of playful sea otters. Prepare yourself for a WILD experience!
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Glacier National Park Highlights

Here are some of the sites you shouldn't miss:

The Grand Pacific Glacier is a massive 25-mile long, 2-mile wide glacier that starts in the National Park and extends across the Canadian border into British Columbia. 

Neighboring Margerie Glacier, is known for its dramatic calving with iceburgs crashing into the sea below. 

Johns Hopkins Glacier is massive and approached frequently by sea kayak. 

Icy Strait at the entrance of Glacier Bay is excellent for Humpback whale watching. Bring your binoculars! 

Bartlett Cove is the trailhead for hikes into the forest along the Bartlett River. Wildlife here includes humpback whales and puffins.

 
What to Expect on a Cruise of Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve, is surrounded by high mountain peaks, including Mount Fairweather, and 8 massive tidewater glaciers that calve ice into the bay dotted with icebergs.

As you enter Glacier Bay through Icy Strait and near the town of Gustavus, a National Park Ranger joins us to uncover coves and corners of the bay that most visitors, especially those on a large cruise ship, will miss.  

Listen as the quiet stillness is broken by the thunder of tons of ice calving into the sea. A native Tlingit interpreter joins you to share local lore and legends.

Hundreds of miles of glacially formed fjords are here for you to explore by kayak, zodiac, on foot, and by small ship cruise.

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Glacier Bay Travel Reviews & Stories

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Curious harbor seals in Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay National Park
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on deck ready to view glacier
Glacier Bay
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