Glacier Bay
Apr 8, 2013, 1:48 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 9
Glacier Bay
Hello to you all.
We're planning a trip to Alaska this summer, and in the end of it we're planning on getting to Haines (2-3 days), and taking the ferry to Juneau (2-3 days). From Juneau we're flying out towards New- York.
We read and heard a lot about cruises in Glacier Bay, both whales- watching cruises, and glaciers cruises.
My questions are:
1. Where is the best departure point for these cruises? Haines or Juneau?
2. Is the whales watching and glaciers cruises are the same cruise, or we're talking about different cruises?
3. Is each one of the cruises worth spending a whole day on? How long will an average cruise take?
4. Can you recommend a favorite cruises company, to book from?
Thanks a lot for all of you who'll answer, we surely need some guideness...
Ziv.
We're planning a trip to Alaska this summer, and in the end of it we're planning on getting to Haines (2-3 days), and taking the ferry to Juneau (2-3 days). From Juneau we're flying out towards New- York.
We read and heard a lot about cruises in Glacier Bay, both whales- watching cruises, and glaciers cruises.
My questions are:
1. Where is the best departure point for these cruises? Haines or Juneau?
2. Is the whales watching and glaciers cruises are the same cruise, or we're talking about different cruises?
3. Is each one of the cruises worth spending a whole day on? How long will an average cruise take?
4. Can you recommend a favorite cruises company, to book from?
Thanks a lot for all of you who'll answer, we surely need some guideness...
Ziv.
Apr 8, 2013, 11:14 pm
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,989
Well, if you want to see Glacier Bay you're far better off getting yourself to Gustavus (which is served by AS in the summer; search for GST). Haines has no Glacier Bay cruises that I am aware of. From there, Glacier Bay National Park has a vendor that offers day cruises into the park, which combine wildlife and glaciers but definitely focus on glaciers. I've done it and really enjoyed the trip; Gustavus is a neat little community as well.
You'd be wise to google the NPS website for Glacier Bay National Park.
Alternatively, you could also do a separate whale watching cruise that departs from Juneau. Bottom line is that if you want to get to Glacier Bay, you need to go to Glacier Bay itself, not try and do it from Juneau in a day.
You'd be wise to google the NPS website for Glacier Bay National Park.
Alternatively, you could also do a separate whale watching cruise that departs from Juneau. Bottom line is that if you want to get to Glacier Bay, you need to go to Glacier Bay itself, not try and do it from Juneau in a day.
Apr 9, 2013, 12:36 pm
#3
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: JNU/SEA
Posts: 244
If you're already taking the ferry from Haines to Juneau, you may as well see if the ferry from Juneau to Gustavus fits into your schedule as well. You could then fly GST-JNU, and possibly spend a day there before heading back to New York.
Apr 10, 2013, 11:14 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: MN
Programs: Lots of programs, dirt on all of them!
Posts: 11,938
You can book a flight over Glacier Bay from Haines.
But as was said getting to Gustavus is best. The day cruises leave from Bartlett Cove near Gustsvus abd are well worth it. Whale watching from Gustavus with Taz is great but you can do the whale watching in Juneau too (Harv and Marvs is my favorite in Juneau).
But as was said getting to Gustavus is best. The day cruises leave from Bartlett Cove near Gustsvus abd are well worth it. Whale watching from Gustavus with Taz is great but you can do the whale watching in Juneau too (Harv and Marvs is my favorite in Juneau).