Hubbard Glacier
There’s a great reason to visit Hubbard Glacier, and that is to see it before it melts away. Yes, sadly when you visit such an incredible place, it really hits home that you are indeed lucky to see it. Who knows how many more will see it before it disappears or diminishes? The evidence of the melting is right there in the ocean, with chunks of ice all around.
This is Day 7 of the Vancouver to Alaska seven day cruise (Thursday, May 17, 2012), and sadly the last day of the cruise. Most people think that a seven day cruise finishes on the 7th day, but in reality it actually finishes on the 8th day in the early hours of the morning. We will be disembarking tomorrow morning at around 8am.
So today is a Day At Sea – this is a day to enjoy the ship, and it is as necessary to have these days as it is to have port visits. You don’t just want to be rushing around visiting ports all the time, because when will you find the time to enjoy the ship? The ship itself is a very important factor in your cruise enjoyment, and believe it or not, some people enjoy this part of the experience so much more – that they don’t want to get out at the ports to walk around.
Today is the very important viewing from the ship of Hubbard Glacier. This was to be my second experience of seeing glaciers – the first one was of course, Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. As I was eating breakfast in the Park Cafe, I couldn’t help but be struck in awe at what I saw through the windows of the Solarium, where the Park Cafe was. I saw lots of ice, pieces of ice all over the ocean floor – it was just as though we were floating on ice. It was an amazing sight, and I wish I had taken more pictures of the ice at it’s thickest – but my camera was charging, so this is the picture that I got through the window, and it was taken with my Iphone at approximately 8am. The other pictures were taken with my camcorder, and not my regular camera, so may not be as nice and clear as they should have been.
Icy Ocean – Hubbard Glacier from the Radiance Of The Seas
Then after breakfast, I went outside at approximately 9am, and took pictures from the side of the ship.
Hubbard Glacier vicinity, Alaska – on Radiance Of The Seas
Hubbard Glacier vicinity – Alaska
Hubbard Glacier from Radiance Of The Seas
Wow, we are surrounded by ice!
Hubbard Glacier from Radiance Of The Seas
Now for a view of Hubbard Glacier itself. It was hard getting a good spot to take pictures, as there were so many people out braving the cold to see the awesome and breathtaking Hubbard Glacier.
Hubbard Glacier from Radiance Of The Seas
Hubbard Glacier from Radiance Of The Seas
We got really close to the Glacier!
Hubbard Glacier from Radiance Of The Seas
Hubbard Glacier from Radiance Of The Seas
More people looking at the Glacier:
Hubbard Glacier from Radiance Of The Seas
Hubbard Glacier from Radiance Of The Seas
Enjoying a nice hot cup of coffee, and trying to stay warm
Hubbard Glacier, Alaska – Radiance Of The Seas
The Radiance Of The Seas against the backdrop of Alaska, near Hubbard Glacier
Radiance Of The Seas near Hubbard Glacier
Bye Hubbard Glacier, I hope you will be around for many more years to come! Don’t melt away.
We left Hubbard Glacier at around 10:30 am, and the rest of the day was spent taking pictures, attending a brief CruiseOne seminar, and enjoying the ship (as well as packing). Next, I’ll tell you about the four day post cruise tour that I took once I disembarked the cruise ship. The cruise tour was hosted by Royal Caribbean, and involved going on a bus around Alaska – deep into the wilds of this very mysterious place. Thank you for reading.
luchanik 
Fantastic post. Even to me, who is living in a country of snow and ice, Your great photos are incredible. So, it was May, when this happened. I checked from internet to latitudes:
Hubbard glacier 61°00′N and Helsinki 60°10′15″N. So the difference is minimal.
When I started in the beginning last year my long lasting series (14 + 3) presenting life, wooden art and landscapes beyond the Arctic Circle, many of my readers were astonished to see green landscape even in the most Northern part of Finland (Nuorgam) They expected to see Tundra. I have many times explained why Finland is warmer than those places across the Atlantic. The secret is Gulf Steam staring from the Mexican Golf, passing across the Atlantic Ocean and then reaching Norway. Its influence is so big that we also benefit it.
If You do not mind, then I give a nice proof about temperatures. We passed by our car alongside the Varangerfjord which is situated in 70° 0 min 0 sec. Look at my small video, then You understand it concretely:
My photos from the same place are:
From Nuorgam (Finland) to Kirkenes (Norway
So, I think that to me that kind of cruise would be a great experience. Thank You for this post.
It is indeed nice of you to like my pictures since as you say, you come from somewhere with plenty of snow and ice. I found it very interesting as to what you said about it being warmer and greener in certain parts that are north and closer to the Arctic Circle. As you can see from my pictures, there was plenty of snow and ice in various places, but when we got to Fairbanks at the end of our journey, it was warmer there and greener.
I enjoyed seeing your video, and your post. I think it is nice to contrast these two beautiful places that have so much natural beauty. Thank you for providing information on latitudes, so that it could be contrasted easily to your home town – Hubbard Glacier and Helsinki have amazing similarities!
I hope you are having a wonderful weekend, and thank you for commenting.
Regards,
Davinder