Monday, October 8, 2012

Cruising Glacier Bay

                                                                  

We boarded the Coral Princess around noon on Monday, July 2,2012, found our cabin, and ate lunch.  We spent most of the afternoon exploring the ship and watching trains and buses bring more passengers.  Our luggage was late arriving because we received a free cabin upgrade to a balcony.  We enjoyed the balcony but would probably use it more in a warmer climate.

      P1020673

We sailed toward Glacier Bay on Tuesday, July 3, expecting to see Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America, on Monday.  Unfortunately, between fog and icy waters, the ship was unable to continue to Hubbard. Both Hubbard’s size (76 miles long, 1200 deep, 40 stories high) and the fact that it calves (has huge chunks of ice the size of i10 story buildings breaking off) make it an outstanding sight.  It was a disappointment to miss Hubbard Glacier, but we still saw beautiful ice formations. 

      P1020693

      P1020697

      P1020699

          P1020704

     P1020718

      P1020723

Princess cruise’s Schorlarship@Sea program featured Alaskan naturalist Kathy Slamp who lived for many years in Alaska.  She gave several lectures about Alaska, growing up there, and the glaciers. She narrated as we passed through Glacier Bay.  Also, National Park Service rangers came aboard to speak about the glaciers and answer questions. 

      P1020728

      P1020737

      P1020748

No comments: