What time in Glacier Bay?

[dogandcatlover]

We will be in Glacier Bay on May 10 on NCL Pearl. (the day before, May 9 will be in Skagway) Does anyone know if this time in Glacier Bay would be in the morning, afternoon, early evening? I thought I read somewhere that the ship only stays 4 hours in the bay.

[TallinnGirl]

We will be in Glacier Bay on May 10 on NCL Pearl. (the day before, May 9 will be in Skagway) Does anyone know if this time in Glacier Bay would be in the morning, afternoon, early evening? I thought I read somewhere that the ship only stays 4 hours in the bay.

 

Does the ship itinerary now show the hours?

 

For instance our cruise shows GB from 6 am to 3 pm

[dogandcatlover]

Not seeing any times so far. May have to call them.

[Budget Queen]

the ship will head in between 6-7am. It takes 3 hours to get to the Grand Pacific/Margerie Glacier, you are a couple hours at the glaciers, then three hours to sail out. It is of great benefit, if interested in wildlife to be up at dawn and stay out on deck. I am out the entire day.

[burky12]

I just went to look on their website and was very surprised it's not listed in the itinerary. They do have several ways to contact them though through their website and I would recommend you do that. It's the only line I've seen not to list their times.

[PennyAgain]

I also stay out on deck all the time in Glacier Bay and move around from side to side. Some ships are better than others for this. There will be a mob when viewing is peak, but quite often you will be alone or with only a few people, especially very early.

 

Be prepared to dress warmly. Some ships have heavy blanklets that they put out for passengers to use.

 

I don't sit down for formal meals, preferring to snack and grab hot coffee/ hot chocolate or a mix of both. Have your own oversized thermal mug helps with this.

[Budget Queen]

Not seeing any times so far. May have to call them.

 

This is a waste of time. You won't be calling anyone in Alaska, and would be lucky to even talk to someone who has been there.

 

I've given you the accurate information.

 

The ship will be "parked" at the entrance near Bartlett Cove, awaiting boarding of the Park Rangers who escort the ship in. From Skagway, it is usually closer to 6am they start in.

[InternetAgeTraveler]

You enter the bay early in the morning. We did the Pearl twice and both times, we were well into the Bay before breakfast. When we were there in May 2010, the sun was up before 5am and we were just at the entrance of the bay. We picked up the naturalists by 6am and seeing the glaciers not too long after. We were at the Marjorie Glacier which is the highlight of the tour by late morning and then on to Hopkins glacier to finish off the morning and then start the trip out of the Bay which you will finally exit by mid afternoon. It is a full day in the Bay area, although the Glaciers dominate the morning.

 

Our review from 2010 is here.

 

Photos from both cruises can be found here.

 

I also captured time lapse videos of all of the Pearl Cruise for the last 2 years at my you tube channel here. You use these to get a general idea of the day....

[InternetAgeTraveler]

Here is a 30 second time lapse video that answers the question directly, it has both a time line from the Pearl's web cam and a map that I superimposed to show the approximate location (see attachment for an example).

 

Compiled from May 22nd, 2011 (although all sailings are very similar in time)

 

NCL Pearl Glacier Bay Timeline

[dogandcatlover]

Thanks so much InternetAge for the link to your review and the timeline. Between the two, you pretty much touched on all of my concerns.