Glacier Bay From The Crystal Serenity

[Keith1010]

I was going through photos from our recently completed World Cruise and thought I would post a set of photos from the day we sailed Glacier Bay.

From time to time I talk about us making memories that will last a lifetime and for this was one of those days that will last a lifetime. I suspect others from Cruise Critic who enjoyed that special day would say the same thing.

One thing that only hit me today was the irony that we sailed Glacier Bay on Friday the 13th. Well, looks like that turned out to be one special and lucky day. In all our prior sailings of Glacier Bay none of them compared to what we saw on that very special day.

Keith

Glacier Bay from the Crystal Serenity
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[Texas Tillie]

Thanks, Keith, I needed those pictures since my air conditioning is running flat out and it hasn't gotten the house below 79 degrees!

Patty

[Sunbubble]

This is a dumb question, probably, but does anyone know how these compare to Antarctica? Thanks.

[Keith1010]

Originally Posted by Sunbubble

This is a dumb question, probably, but does anyone know how these compare to Antarctica? Thanks.

It's not a dumb question.

They are both very unique experiences.

This past April was our sixth sailing of Glacier Bay. Prior to this last sailing I would have said that sailing off Antarctica was more memorable and interesting of the two but this sailing was so unique because of the beautiful weather. The weather allowed us to see much more of Glacier Bay then we normally do and because we sailed so early in the season and it was prior to May 1 we were able to get much closer to the Glacier than we had before and because of the sunlight it allows for those unique reflections that you could see in many of the photos.

At the same time Antarctica is massive and you don’t just sail it for part of one day but rather on multiple days. You will see a lot of sea life (at one pint we saw eight whales concurrently which I’ve never seen at once) that you don’t see when you sail Glacier Bay and you will see many unique shaped and very large icebergs.

Bottom line, I think these are both wonders of the worlds in their own ways and I recommend seeing both first hand.

Trying to compare the two would be almost like asking how to compare the art at the Vatican Museum with say the art at the Louvre. You really need to see both.

I hope this makes sense.

These are some photos from our 2007 sailing of Antarctica on the Crystal Serenity.

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Keith

[rafinmd]

Wow, those pictures are awesome. I may not be as lucky but they really make me happy to be booked on 3209.

Originally Posted by Sunbubble

This is a dumb question, probably, but does anyone know how these compare to Antarctica? Thanks.

Everyone's experience may differ but I was in Antarctica in 1997 (on an expedition ship). There is a combination of islands and the actual continent. There was heavy snow and ice coverage on the continent, probably largely glacier, and the islands were pretty devoid of snow. Most of the areas where we spent time showed some traces of present or past habitation, not the pristine wilderness in Keith's pictures.

Roy

[Sunbubble]

Thanks Keith, I had been reconsidering going on 3232, but those pictures convinced me!

Janet

[Liv4cruzin]

I agree with Keith. It's unfair to compare the two. BUT, I think because 2306 put us in Glacier Bay so early in the season, the conditions might have been more comparable than any of us have seen before. I know what I saw in all of Alaska was quite different from what I saw when I was there in June of '92. I think because of the snow/ice cover in April, the scenery & wildlife encounters reminded me more of Antarctica than it did Alaska at the peak of their season. IMHO.

[atlantic cruiser]

Your photos are outstanding Keith. I could not however sadly, contrast the deterioration in snow and ice compared to our first trip in 1985,We have been back several times and each time see such an erosion in the glacier base. It is still very beautiful but has certainly changed in the past 20 years or so. I think global warming is hard to dispute here.

[Keith1010]

Janet, you are very welcome. It is a wonderful itinerary and I highly recommend it.

Becky, this is a reminder that weather plays a significant role in ones experience in port and at sea. Of my six cruises of Glacier Bay this was by far the most spectacular and as those Park Rangers noted it doesn't happen very often. It was a day that all of us will remember for the rest of our lives.

Two of the Park Rangers on-board the Crystal Serenity as we cruise Glacier Bay.


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Keith

[PennyAgain]

Keith, your photos are excellent. In fact I'm running out of adjectives for them.

Thank you!

[Keith1010]

Thank you so very much Penny.

We were very fortunate to have such good weather which helps with the quality of the photos.

Thank you again.

Keith