glacier bay vs tracy arm

A friend is trying to decide between a few roundtrip from Seattle cruises; one is the Grand Princess that visits Tracy Arm, another is the Golden Princess that visits Glacier Bay and the last is Norwegian Pear that visits Glacier Bay.

Any thoughts on Glacier Bay vs Tracy Arm, or on Norwegian as opposed to Princess? Thanks so much.

A friend is trying to decide between a few roundtrip from Seattle cruises; one is the Grand Princess that visits Tracy Arm, another is the Golden Princess that visits Glacier Bay and the last is Norwegian Pear that visits Glacier Bay.

 

Any thoughts on Glacier Bay vs Tracy Arm, or on Norwegian as opposed to Princess? Thanks so much.

Depending on the ice ships quite often don't get close to the glacier . In Glacier Bay your actually cruising in an area that about 100 years ago was covered with ice. The park rangers come on board and discribe every that you see a cruise thru. Glacier bay is an all day cruise.

This is a much discussed topic here - Both are great to see but for different reasons - Tracy Arm/Sawyer Glacier is a 40mi fjord that twists and turns into the mountains and ends at a tidewater glacier. The narrow channel and steep walls dwarf even the cruise ship - the view however is quite stunning when viewed from one of the small boat excursions that most lines offer as an add on. The problems with Tracy Arm are two fold - in the early season it can be full of ice and either impassable, or the passage takes too much of the scheduled time and the ship turns around before the glacier. Even in the prime season the area directly in front of the glacier is filled with ice and ships often turn around just outside this area - you still get a reasonable view of the glacier - but the small boats usually enter the basin area and sit within 1/2mi of the glacier's face.

Glacier Bay is just that a large bay-like expanse of water that was once completely filled with one glacier - now they have all receded and formed many different glaciers - some are still touching the water some are hanging above it while others are totally landlocked - you get to see them all as you travel along one side of the bay to the end of the bay - there you will sit and do slow 360's for quite awhile - hopefully you will be able to see and hear the glacier calve (it didn't for us in 12).

As for Princess vs NCL - I like NCL - but would be willing to try Princess. I would look more at ports and time spent in them. BTW NCL has the Jewel that also visits Tracy Arm - so you have two lines and 4 ships to choose from. I think that you will find that the cruise is less about the ship and more about Alaska.

When the cruise ships can safely enter Tracy Arm, there is not much snow and mostly rocky walls.

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/?page_id=452

When the cruise ship enters Glacier Bay, it has lots of snow and a lot more than one glacier.

http://www.rogerjett-photography.com/?page_id=415

Glacier Bay is the only choice to be sure of seeing glaciers. In our experience large ships rarely get close to Sawyer Glacier in Tracy Arm, but turn around half way there.

A friend is trying to decide between a few roundtrip from Seattle cruises; one is the Grand Princess that visits Tracy Arm, another is the Golden Princess that visits Glacier Bay and the last is Norwegian Pear that visits Glacier Bay.

 

Any thoughts on Glacier Bay vs Tracy Arm, or on Norwegian as opposed to Princess? Thanks so much.

Better to sail on one that goes to Glacier Bay and maybe take excursion to Tracy Arm. I think young crowd will like Ncl more than Princess. Loved Pearl. Spinnaker Louge is awesome place to sit inside on a bad weather day to watch scenery go by.

Glacier Bay = National Park

Tracy Arm not even close, as pretty as it is.

Glacier Bay if you are only going once!

Glacier Bay = National Park

Tracy Arm not even close, as pretty as it is.

 

Glacier Bay if you are only going once!

This is short, sweet and accurate!

glacier bay = national park

tracy arm not even close, as pretty as it is.

 

Glacier bay if you are only going once!

+1!

Glacier Bay = National Park

Tracy Arm not even close, as pretty as it is.

 

Glacier Bay if you are only going once!

Exactly. I've stated this on many posts on this topic over the years. Glacier Bay is a national park and a designated United Nations World Heritage Site. As beautiful as it is, Tracy Arm is part of the Tongass National Forest run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.