Alaska Cruise - glacier calving

My husband and I are looking at taking an Alaska cruise. We want to go during the best glacier calving times. Any suggestions for what time of year these are? We are also looking at an informal cruise. We don't want to have to get all dressed up to go for dinner, any suggestions there?

Thank you

Goldencatlady

When we went on our Alaska cruise in 2002 it was the end of June and we saw lots of "glacier calving" It's really awesome and the sound is like a shot gun going off right beside you. The weather was great (shorts most of the time).

This cruise was also on NCL very laid back and one of our favorite lines as we love the freestyle. Some people will tell you they have to wait along time for the dining room, but we have never had more than a 10 min. wait--alot less than at a nice resturant. We will be taking our 7th cruise with NCL. in 58 days!!:D It's not a cruiseline for everyone, but if you want something for a very good price and alot of fun and relaxation try NCL.

What ever you decide have a great cruise!:D

By the way Welcome to CC Boards.

We went the first of June and saw a lot of calving. I think anytime you go will be a good time.

We have been in Alaska June, July and August, on different cruises, and each time we saw plenty of "glacier calving".

Keith

Been there twice and I think both times we were able to see the calving, but it seems a better time would be in June because of the spring thaw and things melting. As for the ships, Princess you can do either, dress or casual. And personally I enjoy Princess better than I did NCL

What's glacier calving? We're going to Alaska next July and if this is something not to be missed........well I'm not missing it!! ;)

What's glacier calving? We're going to Alaska next July and if this is something not to be missed........well I'm not missing it!! ;)

This where large portion of the glacier break off and crash (fall) into the water. In the case of the Hubbard Glaciers, they are advancing galaciers originating in Canada's Yukon and I am not sure that thier calving is seasonally influenced as they have been calving anytime that I have been there.

:D We went July 7th/07 for a week and we saw the glacier calving.

And the Bergie Bits

What is the Bergie Bits?

Goldencatlady

Bergey bits are pieces of floating ice that can be as big as an automobile or as small as a dinner plate. We've seen some really strange shapes. It's fun to watch the captain play "chicken" with them. I have a pictues that we took in Greenland's Prince Christian Sound, where the "bit" was to close to the ship pax could almost reach out and touch it.

GN

Welcome to Cruise Critic.

We have cruised Alaska all months.

We have found the end of June and July to be the best months to view lots of caving from the glaciers.

The sun is higher -- the temperatures for the most part are warmer -- thus making it warmer for the glaciers to melt -- move forward and calve.

I was there in June '07 and didn't get to see any calving. :( Can't recall the exact date we were at Hubbard, but the cruise was June 17-24.

To someone else who asked - bergy bits were defined by the naturalist on our cruise as being 1-5 meters above the water. Iceberg is 5+ meters above the water and growlers are smaller than bergy bits.

We've gone three times - once in May and twice in early September. We saw calving on all three trips, so I agree with those who say you might see it any time of the year.

One thing to note on our limited experience is that two of the cruises, one of the early September ones and the one in May, went up Tracy Arm. On the May cruise, we couldn't get nearly as close to the glacier as on the September cruise due to the amount of ice in the water. I don't know if this is always true or if that's luck of the draw as well as seeing any calving at all.

We just got back from a cruise that included a stop at Hubbards Glacier. Really something. We were told by experienced cruisers that AUgust was about the best month because the ship can usually get closest then. It sure happened on this cruise. First time I ever heard of ice worms. And was a bit stunned by the noise it makes. After a few hours of viewing the glacier the ship turned to leave and I walked thru the casino to go to my room and there were people in there playing slot machines.

I forgot to attach a picture I took.

We were in Alaska in July of 2007 and -- boo hoo -- did not see any glacier calving. Don't get me wrong, Alaska was spectacular, and I have no complaints. At one point in Glacier Bay, I was standing next to a woman looking at a glacier that looked like it had just calved. She told me that she'd been there the previous summer and the part that broke off (huge!) happened before her eyes.

This where large portion of the glacier break off and crash (fall) into the water. In the case of the Hubbard Glaciers, they are advancing galaciers originating in Canada's Yukon and I am not sure that thier calving is seasonally influenced as they have been calving anytime that I have been there.

Oh wow! This would be incredible to see it happen. I hope we get lucky and see it.

We were in Alaska in July of 2007 and -- boo hoo -- did not see any glacier calving.

hmmmm - either it must have been 2007 (if you saw my post above I was there in June 07), or it had something to do with our name (I'm Cindy, too!)... ;)

I went on HAL in July and saw lots of calving @ Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay. My coworker went to AK a month later on NCL and they went to Tracy Arm - Sawyer Glacier. She was extremely disappointed because she said they didn't even see the glacier - just lots of floating ice, and she showed me the photos to prove it!

We have done this cruise twice. Three years ago in July and got very close to the glacier ad saw alot of calving. We went this year in May and didn't get close enough to see much. We live in Vancouver and as you aren't going very far north, the inside passage is very 'West Coast' weather. Which means if we have a cool spring like we did this year, it is also cooler in the passage and glaciers and takes longer for ice to melt which reduces chance of getting close. Our spring and summers appear to be getting cooler so I think that the later you can go would be best. We had a terrible spring but are having an awesome September.

We had friend who did same cruise this year end of July and said they got really close and saw alot of activity.

Cheers