Alaska Glacier Guide: Glacier Bay vs Tracy Arm, Hubbard, and College Fjord and How to Get Even Closer
Planning an Alaska cruise for that bucket-list glacier day? Not all itineraries deliver the same experience. Here’s how Glacier Bay, Tracy Arm (and Endicott Arm/Dawes), Hubbard, and College Fjord compare, plus the best shore excursions to get you off the ship and onto the ice. You can take a look at all of our glacier tours here.
How Ship-Based Glacier Days Differ
- Viewing distance and angles: Wide bays (Hubbard) can allow longer approaches; narrow fjords (Tracy/Endicott) deliver towering walls and waterfalls but may be more ice-dependent.
- Time on scene: Some itineraries linger for extended viewing; others include scenic cruising plus additional channels.
- Wildlife: Watch for humpbacks, porpoises, bald eagles, harbor seals on icebergs, and mountain goats on cliff faces.
Glacier-by-Glacier Overview
- Glacier Bay
- Big-scale day with multiple tidewater glaciers (e.g., Margerie, Johns Hopkins when conditions allow).
- National Park Rangers often board via pilot boat to narrate geology, wildlife, and history.
- Great odds for harbor seals, eagles, and occasional whales in the bay.
- Tracy Arm Fjord (and Endicott Arm/Dawes Glacier)
- Narrow, steep-walled granite fjord with waterfalls and floating ice. If Tracy is choked with ice, ships often pivot to Endicott Arm to view Dawes Glacier.
- Intimate scenery; ice conditions can affect how close you’ll get to the glacier face.
- Hubbard Glacier
- One of North America’s largest tidewater glaciers, famous for thunderous calving and a broad viewing amphitheater.
- Typically approached on Gulf of Alaska routes; swell/wind can influence time on scene.
- College Fjord (Prince William Sound)
- A constellation of named glaciers (Harvard, Yale, and more) framed by peaks.
- Common on northbound/southbound cruises that start or end near Anchorage/Whittier/Seward.
Booking Glacier Tours in Port
Get off the ship and onto the ice with these top-rated, small-group adventures.
Juneau
Skagway
Seward
Pro Tips for Choosing Your Glacier Day
- If you crave BIG calving action: Hubbard is your best bet.
- If you love dramatic, narrow fjords: Tracy/Endicott delivers towering walls and floating ice.
- If you want variety and ranger interpretation: Glacier Bay shines.
- If your cruise begins/ends near Anchorage: College Fjord pairs perfectly with pre/post-cruise day trips from Seward or Whittier.
- Always book port excursions with a 30-60 minute buffer before all-aboard.
Check Live Availability and Secure Your Glacier Experience:
Haley Mortenson is Director of Marketing at Alaska shore tours, and has been writing about Alaska for over seven years. With inside knowledge of the Alaska tourism industry, a background in creative writing and a love for the mountains and adventure sports of Alaska, she is well-equipped to help visitors to Alaska find the right tours and experiences. Haley describes herself as our resident marketing guru and mac n' cheese connoisseur. Growing up in the Big Sky Country down south, she developed her love of big mountains and epic adventures that drew her here to Alaska Shore Tours.
Kristina is our creative video editor with over 8 years of experience in filmmaking and post-production. After years spent working on video production & capture in the cruise industry in Alaska, she now shares her expertise with us here at Alaska Shore Tours.
All of our content at Alaska Shore Tours is written by experienced travel writers who have visited all of the locations we recommend. And our review board of local tourism experts ensure that all the information we provide is accurate, current and helpful
5h 30min
