Description

We aim to spend 2 days in the extraordinary Glacier Bay, home to 8 tidewater glaciers and dozens of other mountain glaciers. We will have opportunities to walk, kayak and/or take a skiff safari, and there is also plenty of opportunity for spectacular wildlife viewing from our vessel as she can get close in to some of the wildlife hotspots. We will visit The South Marble Islands, a great place to see sea lions, puffins, sea otters and a variety of other sea birds. There are often bears and mountain goats to be seen, either fishing in the outlets of salmon rivers or clinging to the seemingly sheer face of sea cliffs.

While cruising around Admiralty Island we expect to see dozens, sometimes hundreds of Humpbacks, feeding, breathing, diving and breaching. We will go ashore at several points to walk in the forest or comb the beaches for marine wildlife, and there will be opportunities every day to kayak or take a skiff safari and we expect to see sea lions, harbour seals, bald eagles, sea otters and perhaps bears, orca and other whales.

We will also visit the vast Dawes Glacier at the end of Endicott Arm, and the skipper will select some prime spots depending on the conditions and time of year to spend the days exploring and searching for wildlife. And with a bit of luck in September there is a chance to see the Aurora Borealis.

While on board you will be royally looked after by the crew of around 38. The days starts with a pre-breakfast breakfast as 06.30 for the early risers, dawn watchers and those still with jetlag, and optional yoga on the aft deck at 06.45. Main breakfast is served at 07.30, you can choose from a variety of eggs, bacon, sausage, omelette, or other extravagant breakfast helpings (steak, smoke salmon etc) and the team will serve you at your table. Mornings and afternoons are usually for one of the days activities (kayak, walk, skiff tours or perhaps just cruising past glaciers, wildlife or whales), before you are back into the restaurant for a three course lunch, again with top restaurant style service. Tea and coffee or hot chocolate are available all day and a selection of cakes and biscuits will appear in the afternoon, and a 3 course dinner, meat, fish or vegetarian, is served at 19.30.

There will usually be a chat from the expedition leader in the (free) bar at about 17.30 to explain the following days programme and answer any questions, and often one of the crew or the National Park Ranger that joins us while we are in Glacier Bay will give a chat on some aspect of Alaska. And at sometime during the week you will be offered a free Swedish style massage, and usually towards the end of the week you will have the chance to take a Polar plunge – Not everyone’s cup of tea but very refreshing and even exhilarating for those that can bring themselves to leap into the icy waters!

Cloud failure or liquid sunshine, our Alaska small ship adventure cruises are perfect for exploration—paddling, hiking, hot tub under the stars, “polar bear plunges,” even playing in the mud with your expert expedition team. Glacier Bay National Park; breaching whales; soaring eagles; rainforests; northern lights. Do as much or as little as you like on an unforgettable journey.