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Currently, the rate of melt at the face of the glaciers exceeds the rate of their downhill flow, causing glacial retreat. For 10,000 years the icefield has experienced a general retreat with periodic stages of advancement. Travel by deluxe jetboat to explore the best of the Tracy Arm Wilderness Area, including exciting close-up views of the majestic Sawyer Glaciers. In our view, when cruising to Alaska, it’s best to decide on the itinerary you want FIRST and then pick the cruise line.
Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier Cruise
You’ll also have the best chance to see the glaciers up close and witness the stunning blue ice. Along the shorelines, keep your eyes peeled for black and brown bears foraging for food. High up on the cliffs by the icefield, the pale-colored mountain goats are easy to spot, testing their agility skills on the vertical landscape. Sea lions sometimes bark up a storm on the rocks, and their noisy chatter echoes off the sheer rock walls.
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So, it can be 55F in Juneau and 35F in Tracy Arm on the same day. Since Juneau is a popular port and provides the most activities, having a full day might be preferred. So, consider choosing an itinerary with Juneau and Tracy Arm on different days.
Cruises to Tracy Arm Fjords & Glacier
The top seven Alaskan shore excursions - Vancouver Sun
The top seven Alaskan shore excursions.
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Alaska, often referred to as the Last frontier, is a marvel of natural beauty and untamed wilderness. Remember to pack a camera (with a telephoto lens) to capture the stunning scenery and wildlife you’ll encounter on your journey. Although, if you have one of the latest smartphones, their built-in cameras meet the needs of most travelers. These passengers would have prepurchased the Tracy Arm Fjord & Glacier Explorer tour through their cruise line. There are a few key things to consider when planning a Tracy Arm Fjord cruise to ensure the best experience possible.
The vessel is equipped with deluxe seating, a galley and a restroom. There will also be frequent stops for you to view and photograph wildlife, such as pigeon guillemots, bald eagles, harbor seals, mountain goats and bears. The most common tour boat and cruise ship access to the fjord system is via Stephens Passage and Holkham Bay. While Tracy Arm is often included as tour destination in larger cruise liners' Alaskan itineraries, Endicott Arm is visited mainly by smaller ships. One of the best ways to explore Tracy Arm Fjord is by taking a glacier explorer tour on a high-speed catamaran.
Tracy Arm Fjord tours, shore excursions,
Nearby, the South Sawyer Glacier is losing more than 300 feet (91 meters) a year. The sheltered bay is an ideal breeding ground to keep their pups safe from hungry Orca in Stephen’s Passage. The cascades vary from torrents of icy white water to gentle strings of angel hair. Some breathtaking examples plummet 1000 feet into the emerald waters below. With deep valleys and snowpack in winter, the landscape produces rushing waterfalls as the snow melts.
Ask the Alaska Experts
Jump onboard a Bahamas cruise to stroll along the waterfront of capital city Nassau and see its distinctive pastel-coloured buildings. Or explore waterfalls and botanic gardens on Grand Bahama Island. Fill your days on a short escape with Oasis Class thrills – onboard Allure of the Seas®. All while sailing to the picture-perfect shores of The Bahamas and our private destination Perfect Day at CocoCay. A respite for sun and sand seekers, the Bahamas is home to light blue beaches, translucent underwater caves, a rich royal heritage and exclusive private isles.
Take a nature walk or a Jeep adventure through the pine forests, or stretch your legs at the Rand Nature Center, which offers bird-watching and installations by local artists. Tracy Arm Fjord will impress you and is a must-see adventure on an Alaskan cruise. My favorite Alaskan glaciers will always be the Hubbard Glacier and Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park. They offer contrasting encounters, and it’s like comparing apples to oranges. The slow approach to Sawyer Glacier is more scenic, and the misty fjord creates a sense of mystery.
Cascading Waterfalls
Its towering face has stunning blue hues, and capturing a lousy photo is hard. So, larger ships like the Quantum of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, and Norwegian Bliss must visit Endicott Arm Fjord instead. Both Tracy Arm and Endicott Arm are part of the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness.
Since ships going to Tracy Arm must negotiate turns in the fjord, generally smaller and mid-sized vessels go there. Allen Marine operates the tour, which typically lasts six hours and includes stunning views of the fjord, waterfalls, and wildlife. In July, the warmest month, expect daytime highs in the low 60s and lows in the shoulder season around 30s.
The fjord is also home to numerous glaciers, including the Sawyer Glacier, one of Alaska’s most impressive sights. If Tracy Arm is on your Alaska cruise itinerary and it's not blocked with ice, you may cruise past its glacier-carved cliffs and icebergs. However, it is a narrow inlet and cruise ships are too large to get close to the Sawyer Glacier faces. John Muir called it "one of the most dramatically stunning fjords of Southeast Alaska." And that’s no exaggeration, the drama is everywhere. Portly seal pups who haul out on the frozen chunks and pose for a barrage of camera snaps. Renowned for its Alaska cruising, Holland America Line provides extensive glacier experiences, including Glacier Day.
Sometimes, ships don’t enter Tracy Arm Fjord in the shoulder season due to too much fog or ice. As with all tidewater glaciers, the amount of ice in the water will determine how close a ship can get. Obviously, getting really close provides a more thrilling experience. During the early season, ice in the fjord blocks a cruise ship’s passage and prevents the vessel from reaching Sawyer Glacier. This happened to us on a cruise we took in early May, and our cruise ship only made it halfway up the fjord.
Tracy Arm offered one of the best Alaska cruise itineraries if you prefer a fjord experience. Sawyer Glacier is an active tidewater glacier, which means it “calves” or breaks off. Pieces of ice anywhere from the size of a small car to a cruise ship fall off the face of the glacier and hit the water with a thunderous roar. No matter how many times you visit Sawyer Glacier, it is always a thrill to see a calving event. The skipper will make many detours and stops, allowing you to view and photograph cobalt-blue icebergs, spectacular cliffs, thousand-foot waterfalls and abundant wildlife. Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm Fjord are two popular glacier-viewing experiences in Alaska.
Look for the 'Bahamahost' sticker when getting a taxi – the label identifies those belonging to a programme that promotes excellent service to tourists. Saunter the lively streets of Nassau, chill by a freshwater pool in Perfect Day at CocoCay or get a history lesson at the Heritage Museum during your cruise to the Bahamas. The debut coincides with the start of the 2024 season, commencing on April 27th from Vancouver (BC Canada) and May 4th from Seattle (WA USA). Enjoy a picnic-style lunch and a variety of snacks and beverages served by your friendly Alaskan crew as you trace the rugged shores of Stephens Passage on the cruise north to Juneau. We are Brian and Karen, and like to call Alaska our second home.
Because you are booking directly through your ship, your tickets will be ready ahead of time, and often hand-delivered to your stateroom. You are also guaranteed to make it back to your ship before it departs – the ship will stay in port if your shore excursion runs late. If there are any changes to your ship’s schedule, your shore excursions team will ensure that we are contacted on your behalf, and any necessary changes in itinerary will be made. The value you receive by booking through your cruise line is truly outstanding.
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