During my first trip to Alaska in 2023, I was overwhelmed by the beauty and massive expanse of this special land. I was able to be a part of a Land and Sea trip that allowed for amazing experiences in both areas. One of the most exciting excursions from our cruise ship was a Small Boat Excursion for Glacier viewing.

If this adventure sounds interesting, be sure to book this excursion early once you have finalized your tour. As the name implies, this is a much smaller boat than the cruise ship so space is limited. This excursion fills up quickly, but you can sign up for the waiting list, as I needed to do. I was notified of an open space after I boarded the ship.

The transfer from the cruise ship to the smaller vessel was simple. Once on board, there were both inside and outside viewing areas and multiple levels. We were able to travel much closer to the large glacier than the cruise ship. The vastness, depth and beauty of the glacier was hard to grasp and even harder to put into words. We were close enough to hear the creaking and cracking of the glacier. The definition of a glacier states slow, constant movement as one of the requirements to be classified as a glacier. About 2% of the earth’s water is frozen in glaciers per the USGS (United States Geological Survey).

Our boat also experienced an ice calving “shooter” where a long, narrow piece of the glacier breaks from under the water instead of near the top or side and it shoots up out of the water with significant force! That was a huge surprise and is not often viewed.

This up close and personal view of nature and its power was indescribable. Pictures taken did not provide justice for the beauty of this area in Alaska that can only be seen by boat or plane. Safe travels!
Lisa Wright is a travel advisor with Tailored Travel and lives in Kentucky. She can help you with all your travel needs and can be reached at 502.807.9203 or lisa@tailoredtravel.vacations.