During our cruise into Tracy Arm Fjord aboard the Carnival Legend, we booked the Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier Explorer excursion—and it was unforgettable.
You can view glaciers from the ship, but typically you remain a mile or more away. The Glacier Explorer, however, brings you much closer so you can experience the scale and sound of the ice up close.
TL;DR: Short on time? Highlights below:
🏨 Hotels and vacation rentals
📍 Glacier and fjord tours
We chose the second tour of the day, which worked well—our shore excursion desk mentioned the morning tour tends to be busier. The tour boat carries around 140 passengers; our afternoon run had roughly 70 people, so there was plenty of space.
One advantage of the afternoon departure is that you can enjoy the glacier after the cruise ship has pulled away, giving you quieter, less crowded views. In our case the excursion redirected up Endicott Arm rather than Tracy Arm due to icebergs in the water.
The guide explained that Tracy Arm has seen over a mile of glacier calve in the past ten months, leaving the channel full of icebergs. Because of that, the ship opted for Endicott Arm, which kept the outing safe and comfortable.
The Glacier Explorer departs directly from the cruise ship. We met in a designated lounge, walked down to the boarding area, and quickly embarked—an efficient process. Dress in layers and bring a hat, gloves, and a scarf; the wind off the glacier is shockingly cold.
Onboard, you can relax in comfortable indoor seating or step out onto the open viewing decks. I recommend spending time outside—being on deck lets you hear the glacier calve and increases your chance to spot wildlife such as porpoises, seals, and occasionally whales.
Our captain maneuvered near the glacier so both sides of the boat could get excellent views. People on board kept watch for the telltale small ice falls that often precede a larger calving event; we were fortunate to witness the glacier calf several times. Watching enormous chunks of ice crash into the water is a powerful, humbling experience.
The Dawes Glacier, which we viewed, is immense—roughly half a mile wide and 200–300 feet tall in places, extending many miles inland. I took hundreds of photos; its scale and patterns are difficult to fully capture.
After time at the glacier, we cruised along Tracy Arm Fjord to admire waterfalls and dramatic cliffs. As a bonus, we encountered a humpback whale; the captain brought us near enough to hear its exhale. Moments like that—close to whales and glaciers—are why this excursion is so memorable.
Overall, the Glacier Explorer was well worth the time and cost. While the cruise ship provides beautiful distant views, joining a smaller boat puts you within a few hundred yards of the ice and lets you feel the scale and sound of calving glaciers directly. It’s an experience that adds depth and drama to an Alaska cruise.
Tracy Arm Fjord Glacier Explorer Excursion Details:
- Board a deluxe, waterjet-powered catamaran that pulls alongside the Carnival Legend in the waters of Tracy Arm.
- Explore a serpentine fjord that stretches roughly 30 miles with twists and dramatic scenery around every bend.
- Listen to the onboard naturalist for commentary about geology, wildlife, and glacial behavior.
- Trace the bases of cliffs that rise thousands of feet above the jade-colored water.
- Enjoy close-up views of Sawyer and nearby glaciers, with frequent wildlife-spotting stops.
- Hear the “white thunder” as towering ice spires break free and crash into the sea.
Additional Alaska Cruise Resources
Cruising Glacier Bay
Alaska Cruise Packing List
Alaska Cruise Travel Tips
Things to do in Juneau on a Cruise
Things to do in Ketchikan on a Cruise
Check out our Alaska cruise travel guides for more planning tips and ideas.