Hubbard Glacier - not to be missed

Holland American Lines Oosterdam at Hubbard Glacier

By Carol Watts Alaska Expert

We were privileged to see Hubbard Glacier, the largest tidewater glacier in North America, on our first cruise to Alaska. Since not all cruise itineraries include Hubbard, pick your cruise carefully is you want to see it. And this summer may be your last chance. More on that later.

Hubbard Glacier is an advancing tidewater glacier, just one of several in Alaska. Its sheer size boggles the mind. Its source is Mt. Logan in the Yukon Territory, the highest mountain in Canada. From there it travels 76 miles to Disenchantment Bay. The snout or face of the glacier is 7.5 miles wide, and over 400 ft. from water level to the top. That’s as tall as a 40 story building. Beneath the water level there extends another 300 feet of ice. That makes Hubbard Glacier a total of 1,350 square miles of ice!

The blue color of the face indicates that it is an actively calving glacier. This breaking off of icebergs the size of a 10 story building was called “white thunder” by the native Tlingit people. It’s hard to comprehend the size of Hubbard, since cruise ships must stay a few miles away because of safety reasons. By the way, it takes 400 years for the ice at the source of the glacier to reach the water. That means the ice you may see calving off its face is 400 years old!

Nicknamed the “galloping glacier”, Hubbard is advancing at a rate of approximately 7 feet per day. But in the past it has been known to advance as much as 100 feet per day. Even at the lower rate of travel, Hubbard may close off the entrance to Russell Fjord from Disenchantment Bay soon, turning the fjord into a glacial lake. It did so in August 2002 and before that in May 1986. When the ice dam finally gave way in August, 1986, 1.3 cubic miles of water rushed through the gap into the bay. This second largest glacial lake outburst flood in history was the equivalent flow of 35 Niagra Falls. Needless to say, no cruise ship could withstand that force of water.

But there is another threat to viewing Hubbard Glacier, and that is because of the ALLEGED effect cruise ships have on the seal population in the bay. Scientists from the National Marine Mammal Laboratory, a part of NOAA, are seeking to severely restrict or even ban cruise ships from visiting Hubbard Glacier. They theorize that cruise ships “flush” seals from the icebergs in the bay. Pups born in late spring are nursing from May through August. If a seal pup is scared from it’s mother and dives into the cold water, it will not be able to store up enough fat to survive the coming winter. Calories are burned evading cruise ships, as opposed to calories being stored as fat in the baby seals. (Cruise ships are not allowed to approach seals on icebergs closer than 500 feet.) Since seals are an important source of food for the native subsistence hunters of Yakutat, population 833, the death of this years pups over the winter would limit their food resources next year.

As of Jan 24, 2011, officials at NOAA have not drafted recommendations to close the bay to cruise ships, but they stress that it is a “high priority.” So between the government involvement and the advancing face of Hubbard Glacier, this summer may be the last chance to see this magnificent sight.

Hubbard Glacier is one stop on the 14 day Holland America cruise itinerary that sails round trip from Seattle. In addition to the usual inside Passage ports of call of Ketchikan and Juneau, this itinerary has some unique ports of call not available on any other cruise. Anchorage, Kodiak, and Homer are visited in addition to Sitka and Victoria, B.C. Cruise Port Travel has blocked space on the June 10 - 24, 2011 sailing. This group space means a reduction in cabin price of up to $360 per person off the regular ocean view cabin rate. In addition, there are amenities of $100 per cabin on-board credit and a specialty restaurant dining experience. We had our first meal in Holland’s Pinnacle Grill in October, and it truly is an culinary experience not to be missed.

Golden Princess to Hawaii

Golden Princess Movies Under The Stars

By Carol Watts Travel Planner

We recently completed our 4th sailing from the west coast round trip to Hawaii, this time on the Golden Princess. We had been on the Golden 2 years ago, and were anxious to see all the enhancements that Princess made to the ship.

You might think that 4 sailings to Hawaii is a bit excessive, but for us it’s a win-win. You get to see a beautiful destination and you get a total of 8 sea days to totally relax and unwind. It’s hard for us to decide which aspect of the cruise we like best, the Islands or the sea days.

Maybe you are thinking that you couldn’t find enough to do for 8 sea days. Well, with Princess, and any cruise line for that matter, the lack of something to do is never a consideration. On this last cruise, we often had to choose between 2 or 3 activities that overlapped on the daily schedule.

Every cruise line has an enrichment series, culinary demonstrations, wine tastings, dance classes, and cultural programs and port talks on the destination. On this cruise Princess offered even more with guest lectures and performers.

The naturalist onboard gave a presentation on each sea day on such topics as Hawaiian ecology, flora and fauna, marine biology, and volcano creation. Additionally there was an enrichment lecturer who gave a presentation each sea day on the history of Pearl Harbor, Midway, the Pacific fleet in WWII, Route 66,and the migration to California. There was also bridge director who taught and organized games. On this cruise there was a wonderful husband and wife duo; she is a native Hawaiian and he is an accomplished steel guitar musician. In addition to performing in the atrium, they gave hula, ukulele, lei making, sarong tying, and Hawaiian language lessons.

Additionally, in each port of call, princess brought local entertainment onto the ship. In Hilo there was a presentation by a ukulele master. In Lahaina a native from Maui shared his teachings and thoughts on the native Hawaiian culture and value system. In Nawiliwili, Kauai lei makers from island of Ni’ihau gave a shell making demonstration and shared stories of the “forbidden Isle” where they live. And in Honolulu we were treated to the wonderful Halau Hula Oiana Show with music and hula performed by award winning troop of children from 6 - 13 years old. I took several videos that I need to upload to You Tube. These kids were just amazing.

Of course there are the usual activities that you can find on any cruise, such as scavenger hunts, boat building, ice and vegetable carving, line and ballroom dancing, trivia games several times a day, art auctions, golf instruction, bingo, casino tournaments, salon and spa treatments, yoga and aerobics classes, and of course movies. Or maybe you just want to get a book from the library and curl up in the sun.

This brings me to the enhancements to the Golden. Like many other ships in the Princess line, the Golden now has “movies under the stars”, or MUTS. From early morning til late at night, you can enjoy many different movies around the pool, with free soft ice cream and popcorn. Blankets are issued on chillier evenings. Enhancements to the atrium include a wine and tapas bar, a chocolate bar and shop, with occasional free samples, and the International Café, where you could get fabulous deserts, soup, salads and sandwiches (the name can not convey the delicious concoctions served) throughout the day. So you have another alternative to the buffet, formal dining rooms, pizza and hot dog/hamburger stations, and 2 specialty restaurants. Three times on this cruise an English pub lunch was offered, with traditional English dishes. You can never go hungry with Princess.

Holland America is the only other cruise line with regular round trip sailings from the west coast to Hawaii. They sail from October through March from San Diego. Princess sails October through April from Los Angeles. In addition both lines have longer sailings round trip from the west coast that go to Hawaii, Tahiti and Polynesia.

Next to Alaska, Hawaii is out favorite destination. There is so much to see, both scenic and cultural attractions, there is no language barrier, no foreign currency to decipher, no gangs and drug violence to worry about. Having been to Hawaii many times, we can help you decide which shore excursions would match your interests. Having been on Holland’s Oosterdam and the Golden Princess, we can guide you with cabin choices and ship amenities. All this information is free from an accredited travel agent. Bring us your online price, and we will try to match it.