​When it comes to breathtaking landscapes, few places rival Alaska’s stunning glaciers.  Here is a closer look at Alaska’s most iconic glaciers, from North to South, and the wildlife to watch for along the way.

​Glaciers of Prince William Sound – Ice and Wildlife Abound 
Just east of Whittier, Prince William Sound hosts dozens of glaciers pouring into sea inlets, providing a diverse glacial experience. In the northwestern part of Princess William Sound is College Fjord – often listed on cruise itineraries – which is home to picturesque Harvard and Yale Glaciers. College Fjord offers dramatic vistas and is renowned for its calm waters perfect for serene glacier viewing.  Keep watch for mountain goats and Dall sheep on the fjord’s rugged cliffs.

​Hubbard Glacier – The Giant That Keeps Growing
Hubbard Glacier is the largest tidewater glacier in North America, stretching an impressive 76 miles long and up to 7 miles wide at its terminus. Unlike many glaciers worldwide that are retreating, Hubbard is actually advancing, slowly pushing forward about 80 feet per day!  For travelers, encounters with Hubbard means witnessing a powerful force of nature with towering ice cliffs often calving massive icebergs into the ocean.

Hubbard Glacier is best viewed from a cruise ship since they can navigate right in to Disenchantment Bay.  You’ll see Bald Eagles and a large variety of seabirds.  Brown bears and Sitka Black-tailed deer are often spotted along the shoreline and common marine life includes humpback whales, harbor seals, sea lions and sea otters.  

​The Glaciers of Glacier Bay National Park
Glacier Bay National Park, a UNESACO World Heritage site, is a 3.3 million-acre wilderness with over a dozen tidewater glaciers actively sculpting the land.  Margerie Glacier is renowned for its striking blue ice cliffs that soar up to 250 feet,

Glacier National Park is a living laboratory of climate and geological activity. Some glaciers here are retreating, while others advance, creating evolving landscapes.  Cruise ships generally spend a full day cruising through Glacier National Park allowing ample time stop and admire the many tidewater glaciers flowing into the Bay.

​Mendenhall Glacier – America’s Backyard Ice Marvel
Situated just 12 miles from downtown Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier is a favorite stop for travelers seeking close-up views. This 13-mile-long, massive glacier flows from the Juneau Icefield and offers scenic hiking trails and stunning waterfalls. 
Mendenhall Glacier is retreating.  It ends in growing Mendenhall Lake – a lake of its own creation over the past 100 years as the glacier melted. It is absolutely worthwhile to see Mendenhall soon and witness the changing landscape.
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If travelling by cruise ship, Mendenhall Glacier is accessible during your port of call at Juneau.  Take a tour or taxi to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitors Center, an informative and a good place to view the glacier.  Watch for mountain goats and black bears in the surrounding Tongass National Forest.

​Sawyer Glacier at Tracy Arm – Twin Ice Giants 
Continuing south from Juneau is Holkham Bay, the entrance to Tracy Arm fjord.  Cruise ships will navigate the narrow 27-mile long fjord, passing through tall granite cliffs and waterfalls.  Spend the day spotting wildlife along the banks given the ships close proximity to shore.  Watch for black bears fishing for salmon, mountain goats, Sitka black-tailed deer, harbor seals, eagles and more.  Get out your binoculars!

​Dawes Glacier at Endicott Arm – A Fjord Experience 
Holkham Bay is also the entrance to Endicott Arm but heads south (Tracy Arm heads north).  A day of cruising the 30-mile

​spectacular vertical ice face, cascading blue ice, and often quieter, more intimate viewing than more crowded sites. This glacier climbs down steep slopes into a narrow fjord, a perfect setting to see seals basking on ice floes and harbor porpoises darting through the water.
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Weather conditions occasionally require cruise lines to substitute one arm for the other.  Fortunately, the experience will be equally good so you won’t miss out.

​Living Monuments
Alaska’s glaciers are not just frozen ice—they are living monuments to Earth’s climate history and natural artistry. Whether you seek adventure, inspiration, or tranquility, these glaciers provide unforgettable encounters with raw nature and abundant wildlife.

Written by Ignacio Maza

This past summer, I boarded Silversea’s new Silver Nova for a seven-night voyage from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seward, Alaska. While there are more than 50 different ships that sail to Alaska, here’s why Silver Nova stands out.

1. The unique, innovative design.
My first impression: There’s light everywhere. Why? Silver Nova’s asymmetrical design. Because of its unique deck layouts, the public spaces are larger, the ceilings are higher, and the expansive windows bring the destination and ocean views within. The smokestack is on one side of the ship, rather than centered, and the swimming pool, public spaces, jacuzzi, elevators, and restaurants all face outward.

2. Spacious accommodations.
Silver Nova is an all-suite, all-veranda ship. The starting category is the Classic Veranda, offering a generous 350-square-foot layout (with a sofa bed for a third guest). I loved the bathrooms with two sinks and plenty of closet and drawer space. If you want even more space, Silver Nova features 12 other categories, including suites facing the back of the ship all the way up to the Otivm suite, with 1,300 square feet of space and a large terrace. All suites come with a dedicated butler, which is a welcome touch.

3. Great dining & drinks.
There are nine venues on the ship, including Kaiseki (Japanese), Silver Note (Silversea’s jazz supper club), La Dame (gourmet dining), La Terrazza (Italian), Chef’s Table, S.A.L.T. Kitchen (destination-focused menus), Marquee/Grill/Spaccanapoli (rooftop casual grill and pizzas), Atlantide (all-day dining), and room service. Food and wine enthusiasts should consider the cooking classes at the S.A.L.T. Lab test kitchen. There are also nine bars throughout the ship, from casual to elegant, indoor to alfresco.

4. Authentic Alaska experiences.
Silversea’s itineraries provide a wide range of activities ashore, which allow you to have richer, deeper experiences in Alaska. There are shore excursions included with every port, plus additional activities offered at a fair price (compared to what you would pay shoreside). A number of private luxury experiences can also be booked ahead of time at an additional cost. When the ship called at Juneau, for instance, there were 30-plus activities to consider (from easy to challenging), such as hiking, kayaking, biking, glacier trekking, helicopter sightseeing, fishing, whale watching, cultural experiences, and more. Silversea also offers pre/post packages for guests who want to extend their journey in either British Columbia or Alaska—including Denali National Park.

5. Extensive facilities & entertainment.
With Silver Nova, you get the best of both worlds: all the facilities of larger ships, yet on a small luxury vessel. Silver Nova has an expansive and popular spa, Otivm, as well as shops, a fitness center, casino, library, test kitchen, and observation lounge. There is plenty of entertainment throughout the day and night, from destination lectures to bingo, jazz and blues to classical music, shows to trivia to late-night disco. Traveling solo? Silversea hosts a special nightly gathering in the Panorama Lounge, which is a wonderful way to meet other guests traveling by themselves.

6. More value.
Silversea is an all-inclusive luxury cruise brand. Your fare includes drinks, tipping, butler service, many excursions, entertainment, dining at most restaurants (some, like Kaiseki, have a surcharge), and more. Silversea features two main pricing formulas on Alaska itineraries: Door to Door, which, as the name suggests, includes the cruise, airport transfers, airfare, in-destination transfers, and included shore excursions; and Port to Port, which includes the cruise and featured excursions in your destinations.

7. Service, from the heart.
With a staff to guest ratio of nearly 1:1, you’ll experience a higher level of service as soon as you board Silver Nova. Everyone—from the captain to the suite steward—makes certain that each guest is well looked after. Long after you return home, it is the warmth of the Silversea staff that you will remember.

8. The Silver Nova advantage.
Because the ship is designed for up to 728 guests, embarking and disembarking is easy and quick. This is a splendid feature, as you have more time ashore to enjoy the wonders of Alaska. And rest assured that you are sailing with the environment top of mind: Silver Nova, and its sister ship Silver Ray, are the most sustainable luxury ships at sea today.

For Alaska-bound travelers seeking adventure, authentic discoveries, and all-inclusive luxury, think Silversea and Silver Nova.

Silversea’s cruises are simply phenomenal.