Tracey Arm excursion in the afternoon?

[Megedy]

Has anyone done the Tracey Arm fjord small boat excursion later in the day?  I have heard many good things about the experience, but most reviews mention that they started in the morning and returned in the late afternoon.  We will be on the Eurodam in late May and we don't get into Juneau until 1pm.  Since the excursion is still being offered by Holland America, I would assume that it would need to leave around 1:30pm and we would be getting back about 9:00pm.  

What is it like to do this tour later in the day?  Are there any differences that we would need to be aware of vs the more popular earlier in the day?  Will it be darker or colder?  More/less wildlife? 

 

[don't-use-real-name]

Yes - noon time or later the Tracy Arm Sawyer glacier excursion would be better -

avoiding the chance of morning mist fog although that might not be so bad for

extraordinary photos.

Hope you have the opportunity like I did seeing both the larger primary south Sawyer

glacier and the bonus smaller north Sawyer glacier.

Crew snagged a chunk of glacier ice brought it on board -

felt the intense cold and observed the cool color hue - - -  

 

Took the 5+ hour excursion out of Juneau - l-o-n-g trip - would need more than a

few hours of port time at Juneau for this.  

[Megedy]

Good point that it might be even clearer later in the afternoon!  Did you book the trip through the cruise line or did you do an independent tour? 

[Crew News]

On 11/13/2022 at 7:15 PM, Megedy said:

Has anyone done the Tracey Arm fjord small boat excursion later in the day?  I have heard many good things about the experience, but most reviews mention that they started in the morning and returned in the late afternoon.  We will be on the Eurodam in late May and we don't get into Juneau until 1pm.  Since the excursion is still being offered by Holland America, I would assume that it would need to leave around 1:30pm and we would be getting back about 9:00pm.  

What is it like to do this tour later in the day?  Are there any differences that we would need to be aware of vs the more popular earlier in the day?  Will it be darker or colder?  More/less wildlife? 

 

In 2018, I took the noon - 5:00 PM excursion with HAL.  The turkey sandwich lunch and desserts were excellent.  Sunset will be after 9:00 PM so it will not be dark.  Amazing photos and house-sized icebergs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[don't-use-real-name]

2 hours ago, Megedy said:

Good point that it might be even clearer later in the afternoon!  Did you book the trip through the cruise line or did you do an independent tour? 

Circa September 2019 NCL JEWEL booked thru NCL - think the operator was Allan Marine

huge 200+ passenger catamaran ? - thought it was around $160 pp included box lunch and

the craft had wet bar beverages.

Boarded the excursion at the Juneau float plane dock.

 

Did the south primary Sawyer glacier and then a short

visit to the smaller north Sawyer glacier - got up very close and personal at both.

Rare that cruise ships venture past Sawyer island in the middle of the Tracy Arm fjord.

By any and all means don't miss this if presented with the opportunity.

This applies to all the glaciers - your next cruise visit may be only memories - - - - -

[Megedy]

Thank you both for the great information!  It looks like a fantastic excursion and I can't wait to see it all for myself! 🙂