Panorama of Glacier Bay National Park

Our cruise continues in Alaska from Skagway yesterday, check out our awesome Glacier Bay National Park photos that we took while on board the MS Oosterdam cruising through Glacier Bay National Park Preserve.

Cruise Day 6 – Glacier Bay

Day 89 – May 30th.

After sailing 171 nautical miles at an average speed of 11.8 knots, we enter the Glacier Bay National Park Preserve at 6.37am.

Cruising up towards Glacier Bay

I woke early this morning to see the famous Glacier Bay as I didn’t want to miss a single thing as we cruised in the Glacier Bay National Park.

Glacier Bay National Park Photos from the front of MS Oosterdam

At 7am near to Cape Spencer Island the Oosterdam took onboard a group of national park rangers from the Glacier Bay National Park & Preserve Alaska and also naturalists that spent the day explaining details of the area.

A large area is protected by the national parks and we proceed slowly up the bay towards Margerie Glacier.

Easing our way through Glacier Bay National Park Preserve

The Captain has allowed for the bow of the ship to be open and used as a viewing area. It’s raining so we wrap up warm and head to the bow for our very first time. It is very cold and wet, also many people and we don’t stay long, rather we go up to deck seven and head out the front.

Getting closer to the Glacier

Here we have a little shelter and a great view, after an hour or so we arrive at the Margerie Glacier on the left and Reid Glacier on the right.

Reid Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park

The Margerie Glacier is huge and some parts of it very dirty looking. This is because over the thousands of years as it formed, the ice has broken rock and sediment away and collected it as it has frozen. Check out some awesome Glacier Bay National Park photos here.

Margerie Glacier Bay Icebergs

We stay here for about one hour and the captain turns the ship slowly to allow everyone the possibility to get a good view of this amazing natural ice front.

Close to the Glacier to view the calving

Suddenly there is a cracking sound and creaking sound as the ice moves. The ice is constantly on the move, and big chunks are regularly falling off which is called “calving”.

Calving ice from Margerie Glacier at Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve

Next there is a loud cheer as a piece of ice cracks away and hits the water with a loud thunder. I manage to capture it on video.

Insert video

This happens a few more times and which is great for us to hear and see.

Next we move away from this Glacier and head to another Glacier. Feeling hungry and it being midday we decide to have lunch.

Lunch menu at Glacier Bay

After lunch we head back out, but with the weather not playing nice we don’t stay as long here but still it’s a nice experience especially being alone at the bow.

The front of MS Oosterdam

It is cold and wet and after a few fun photos we are happy to get back inside and warm up.

All alone at the front of the ship in Glacier Bay National Park

At 4.05pm the park rangers and naturalists disembark the ship via a rope ladder off the side and onto their research vessel as it manoeuvred itself alongside known as a controlled collision.

The Glacier Bay National parks marine leaving

After the rangers successfully transferred all their belongings and waved goodbye the Oosterdam exited the National Park at 6.15pm and set a course for Seward.

An organised meeting for all Australians on board was arranged by the crew, and Moni & I took a look in our outdoor clothes, not expecting to be allowed in as it was formal dress code for this evening however only a few Aussies were there at first and they also had no formal attire on so we joined them and consumed some XXXX golds with nibbles.

Drinking XXXX golds in Alaska Glacier Bay National Park with fellow Aussies

By the end, there was about 30 Australians in the Piano Bar all chatting away.

Up to the room to change for dinner then back down to enjoy our formal evening and our last at this dining table.

Dinner at table 9 with

The dinner was once again very enjoyable and we exchanged contact details with the folks. After dinner we went back to the room and found an animal hanging around.

Towel art some monkey business

Glacier Bay certainly lived up to its reputation. It was a fantastic feeling being there, and so close to the receding glacier. An amazing piece of the globe and one that you should move up you bucket list of things to do.