Alaska Glacier Day

[cburnett11]

From what I understand, the Disney Wonder can either go to Dawes or Sawyer, depending on weather and maybe other things. I believe they used to go to Hubbard sometimes, or maybe they still do? Is there any place online where I could see prior cruises and what glacier they ended up going to? We are doing the excursion that day, and was curious if we could see recent actual itineraries. Our cruise is DCL’s last Alaskan this season. Thanks

 

[holula]

They can’t go to Hubbard instead of Dawes/Sawyer on a whim as it’s much further north, I think you’d need to be on the 9 night and I don’t think they offered that this year.

With Dawes vs Sawyer is also be interested to know how often they visit each.

 

[happycamper47]

They can’t go to Hubbard instead of Dawes/Sawyer on a whim as it’s much further north, I think you’d need to be on the 9 night and I don’t think they offered that this year.

With Dawes vs Sawyer is also be interested to know how often they visit each.

They no longer do Tracy Arm and the Sawyer glacier as of 2019. Endicott is the Stikine Ice Cap.

In 2019, Disney Cruise Line announced that it would no longer visit Tracy Arm Fjord on its Alaskan cruises and instead would visit Endicott Arm, which it referred to as Dawes Glacier. This was due to Tracy Arm Fjord being inaccessible for a number of seasons.

 

[cburnett11]

They no longer do Tracy Arm and the Sawyer glacier as of 2019. Endicott is the Stikine Ice Cap.

That’s interesting that they stopped, but I’m wondering if that was temporary. I have seen some information recently showing the Wonder doing either of these depending on conditions.

 

[auntlynne]

Found this thread in the Trip Reports

First trip to the final frontier - 8 night Alaska - 9/11/23 - completed​

Here’s the photo from their Glacier Day with ship location.


From the post : “I got onto the internet briefly to try and figure out where we were exactly as the captain had said we would be going to Endicott Arm.”

When I read that, it sounds as though there are options. I guess one option is not to even see a glacier.

Further digging, I think that going up the Endicott Arm to see the Dawes Glacier is the intention. But they have opted to refer to the day as simply Glacier Viewing in case they can’t get a good look at Dawes Glacier.

There are other cruise lines that were scheduled to be in Tracy Arm on various days this summer. Looks like Carnival Spirit was in Tracy Arm today. There itinerary was Tracy Arm/ Endicott today. Leaves them the option to pick the more favorable experience, just like Disney calling it Stikine Icefield/cap.

Another report from 2023:

Wonder-filled first-time cruise to Alaska! (2023 6/12-19; Completed 9/26)​

They went up Tracy Arm. It’s possible that reaching Sawyer is more difficult due to seals.

Sometime between 2019 and 2023, there’s been a return to Tracy Arm on some DCL cruises.

I found this one in a search on this forum, using Tracy Arm.

And both referenced reports were in the Trip Reports section.

 

[Aby]

They no longer do Tracy Arm and the Sawyer glacier as of 2019. Endicott is the Stikine Ice Cap.

In 2019, Disney Cruise Line announced that it would no longer visit Tracy Arm Fjord on its Alaskan cruises and instead would visit Endicott Arm, which it referred to as Dawes Glacier. This was due to Tracy Arm Fjord being inaccessible for a number of seasons.

No longer true. In May of 2022, 2023 and 2024 we went down Tracy Arm Fjord with DCL. The decision is often made in the morning based on current conditions and with the input of the Alaskan pilots on board.

 

[Geomom]

Tracy and Endicott arms are right next to each other (south of Juneau), left fork is Tracy, right is Endicott. I believe it's based on current conditions as to which they'll go down. Hubbard is farther North and would only be on a longer than 7 day itinerary, and it would be listed on the itinerary...I think it's been a while since they did it.

 

[happycamper47]

No longer true. In May of 2022, 2023 and 2024 we went down Tracy Arm Fjord with DCL. The decision is often made in the morning based on current conditions and with the input of the Alaskan pilots on board.

Glad to hear. That's how it was on our first 2 AK, then they changed to only doing Endicott in 2019. We go back in May.

 

[serrem2]

We went to Dawes on our 2019 trip and to Sawyer last September. Of the two, Sawyer was far more worth it, and the captain was able to get the ship much closer.

 

[cburnett11]

Of the two, Sawyer was far more worth it, and the captain was able to get the ship much closer.

Thanks! This was going to be my next question. Maybe it’s somewhat subjective as to the preferred route. From what I’ve read Dawes is larger, but maybe Tracy Arm is more scenic with Sawyer being bluer?? I’m sure we will be impressed either way we go.

 

[serrem2]

From what I’ve read Dawes is larger, but maybe Tracy Arm is more scenic with Sawyer being bluer?? I’m sure we will be impressed either way we go.

From what I've seen on YouTube, the ships never get very close to Dawes (maybe 3/4 mile). When we went to Sawyer (see below) we got really close. So while it may not be as large, you get a much more spectacular view.

 

[wendlle]

we def went up tracy arm and got so close to the glacier on glacier day, we were as close as the excursion was and even saw a huge calving

so glad I never spent the money on the excursion. I think it was better on the ship.
This was the last sailing for the season in 2023