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

Glacier Bay Cruises (25 Results)

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True Alaskan Family Cruise

Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $4,795

Scout for humpback whales and other marine mammals and admire the exceptional beauty of Alaska on this incredible 8-day sailing expedition. Hike along the beautiful secluded coastline of Saginaw Bay. Admire pristine waterfalls, towering icebergs, abundant harbor seals, and granite cliffs on this itinerary designed for families.

Alaska's Glacier Country

8 Days from $5,495

Make the most out of this 8-day cruise aboard SS Legacy as you explore the wilderness and encounter marine animals by kayaking, paddle boarding, and skiff remote inlets. Never miss the beautiful Blue glaciers that can capture your heart while looking at it.

Alaska wildlife tours and brown bear fishing for salmon

Alaska's Glacier Country

8 Days from $6,295

Make the most out of this 8-day cruise aboard Safari Endeavour as you explore the wilderness and encounter marine animals by kayaking, paddle boarding, and taking skiffs to remote inlets. Never miss the beautiful Blue glaciers that can capture your heart while looking at it.

Whales, Wildlife & Glaciers

8 Days from $6,295

Join the Safari Endeavour on this 8-day small ship cruise that offers well-rounded adventure activities such as biking and rafting in addition to kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, and skiff rides. Explore the magnificent landscapes and history of charming Alaska.

Exploring Alaska's Coastal Wilderness

8 Days from $7,100

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.

Northern Passages & Glacier Bay

8 Days from $3,795

Embark on the Wilderness Explorer for an 8-day cruise to Glacier Bay National Park, Chichagof Island, and Peril Strait as you cruise from Juneau to Sitka, Alaska. Explore this majestic region and its wildlife by skiff, kayak, and paddle board. Hike in Glacier Bay National Park and Chichagof Island’s waterfall coast.

Intricate detailing on an Alaskan totem pole

Alaska's Glacier Bay & Island Adventure

Sitka to Juneau
8 Days from $5,795

Board the Alaskan Dream for an 8-day small ship cruise through Glacier Bay, Southeast Alaska. Experience a different way to see Alaska visiting local towns, villages, communities, national parks, waterfalls, bays, and inlets. Discover Saginaw Bay, Petersburg, Tracy Arm Fjord, and Glacier Bay National Park.

Northern Passages & Glacier Bay

8 Days from $3,795

Embark on the Wilderness Discoverer for an 8-day cruise to Glacier Bay National Park, Chichagof Island, and Peril Strait as you voyage from Juneau to Sitka, Alaska. Explore this majestic region and its wildlife by skiff, kayak, and paddle board.

Glacier Bay National Park Adventure

8 Days from $3,195

Join the Wilderness Adventurer on this exceptional 8-day Alaskan Cruise where you'll discover Glacier Bay National Park, a 3,223,384 acre park located in Alaska's panhandle, Spend your days viewing wildlife like black and brown bears, eagles, sea otters, harbor seals, sea lions, sea birds and more as you sail from Sitka to Juneau.

Last Frontier Adventure

8 Days from $3,995

Join this 8-day voyage aboard Baranof Dream for an exciting and energetic experience from the activities included on this itinerary to be able to explore Alaska from Sitka to Juneau.

Glacier Bay National Park Travel Guide

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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.

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!

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.