Tracey Arm Fjord and Glacier Adventure

[Viviene Anthony]

Some friends that are currently on an Alaskan cruise (not DCL) posted some photos from their sail down "Tracy Arm", but looks like the glacier was a photo of the Dawes glacier in Endicott Arm. Either way, I agree...

Whether or not it is worth the high cost depends on your situation. If you'll never see a glacier again and don't plan to do any glacier excursions, it could be nice.

We decided not to do it for cost reasons, and now the excursion is sold out for our sailing, but I know our trip won't be any less exciting and DH and I will return to Alaska again. Thanks for the report @cruisehopeful!

 

[hamilton23]

I will be watching on Wednesday of next week to see where the Wonder ends up. When folks get off the wonder on Monday hopefully they will post some reports about their experience in zen divot arm and this excursion.

 

[Snowwhyt]

I will be watching on Wednesday of next week to see where the Wonder ends up. When folks get off the wonder on Monday hopefully they will post some reports about their experience in zen divot arm and this excursion.

I've been watching the Internet page that shows in-the-moment travels of the ships in Alaska. You can see future or past plans on larger ships. Although they are not actually where they go it can be helpful if you know the itinerary. Currently there are small ships sailing Tracy arm. But very few. Must be a dangerous adventure with that larger ice loose out there.

 

[psac]

their experience in zen divot arm and this excursion.

Autocorrect can be funny at times.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Autocorrect can be funny at times.

I noticed that too. I get the craziest auto-corrects.

 

[hamilton23]

Must be a dangerous adventure with that larger ice loose out there.

When has an iceberg ever been a problem for a cruise ship?

 

[xlxo]

Wasn't the Titanic a cruise ship?

 

[anricat]

Wasn't the Titanic a cruise ship?

http://imgur.com/U7Ghu2s

 

[Adelle Dazeem]

We just got off of the Wonder this morning and we did this excursion. Ended up in Endicott Arm and going to see the Dawes Glacier. It didn't disappoint. This is a video taken by my husband...

 

[Viviene Anthony]

My friends who just returned from their cruise to Alasaka on a different cruise line confirmed they also went down Endicott Arm.

Great video, but all the people yelling kinda ruined it for me. I would've liked to enjoy nature as intended.

 

[xavier2001]

Just got off the Wonder, we did Endicott. I was at first a little disappointed but it was AMAZING. Truly a serene, undescriable, experience. We got to see/hear the glacier calve several times which was awesome. I highly recommend a balcony, we were there most of the afternoon then headed to the top dock late afternoon when the ship turned after the masses had gotten bored and retreated inside. The excursion boat did get closer but the Wonder was pretty darn close on its own. We had a room port side and got a longer view of the glacier than the starboard side did.

 

[hamilton23]

Wasn't the Titanic a cruise ship?

That was the joke. Sorry. Sarcasm doesn't come across well in text.

 

[hamilton23]

Anyone have any photos from the ship showing the excursion boat and its proximity to the glaciers? Still trying to figure out how much closer it gets and where else it goes? Does anyone know where you were in endicott when folks got off onto the excursion boat? Were you far from he glacier and then resumed traveling down the arm to reach the glacier or did people transfer right near the glacier?

 

[cruisehopeful]

We just got off of the Wonder this morning and we did this excursion. Ended up in Endicott Arm and going to see the Dawes Glacier. It didn't disappoint. This is a video taken by my husband...

That's a nice angle. From the Wonder, we seem to be looking down at the glacier and from the excursion, it seems like you are looking up at it. Very cool!

 

[Texas 'Ohana]

We just got off of the Wonder this morning and we did this excursion. Ended up in Endicott Arm and going to see the Dawes Glacier. It didn't disappoint. This is a video taken by my husband...

Adelle Dazeem---Did y'all encounter any wildlife?

 

[tankin]

Just got off the ship yesterday and we did this excursion (Endicott not Tracy)...

Short version...
1. You either get on the boat at the top of the Fjord and sail down its length to the glacier or board at the glacier and sail up the length of the glacier.
2. The adults thought it was more than worth the money... We would all do it again
3. Boat is about the size of the tenders they use at Grand Caymen
4. Ours got significantly closer to the glacier than the ship
5. We had a naturalist on board who pointed out calving while we were at the glacier and then wildlife as we sailed back up.
6. We made small side trips into off shots as we sailed back up the fjord

Oh and we were told Tracey is probably closed for the foreseeable future. The entire fjord is full of ice and no small boats have been able to make it up the fjord in weeks (much less large ships).

 

[franandaj]

Just got off the ship yesterday and we did this excursion (Endicott not Tracy)...

Short version...

Thank you so much for this report tankin! This is great information! We leave on the July 4 cruise so I will not get my hopes up that we will go to Tracy Arm anymore. If it happens it will be a pleasant surprise. Nice to know about the boarding and where. We are on the 3PM version so we will start with the glacier and then see the wildlife on the way back up!

Single digits now until the trip begins!

 

[Texas 'Ohana]

Just got off the ship yesterday and we did this excursion (Endicott not Tracy)...

Short version...
1. You either get on the boat at the top of the Fjord and sail down its length to the glacier or board at the glacier and sail up the length of the glacier.
2. The adults thought it was more than worth the money... We would all do it again
3. Boat is about the size of the tenders they use at Grand Caymen
4. Ours got significantly closer to the glacier than the ship
5. We had a naturalist on board who pointed out calving while we were at the glacier and then wildlife as we sailed back up.
6. We made small side trips into off shots as we sailed back up the fjord

Oh and we were told Tracey is probably closed for the foreseeable future. The entire fjord is full of ice and no small boats have been able to make it up the fjord in weeks (much less large ships).

What types of wildlife did you get to see? The topography of Endicott doesn't seem to have as many trees...

 

[tankin]

What types of wildlife did you get to see? The topography of Endicott doesn't seem to have as many trees...

Endicott is forested up until you get close to the glacier with the exception of where there are cliffs and where landslides or avalanches have taken them out... Lots of cascades and waterfalls.

We saw seals (a few times) & bald eagles mainly. Some local relative of the piper. Our naturalist was annoyed that we didn't see any bears. Apparently there are insane number of bears in the area. Occasionally they'll spot wolves. Very rarely they'll see a whale.

According to our naturalist, Endicott is the better of the two for wildlife...

 

[krissy2803]

Did you actually venture away from the main Fjord? I was on the first cruise of the season and we never ventured off the main Fjord. We boarded at the glacier, stayed a while, and then went full speed to the end and waited for the ship. The view of the glacier was awesome, but the rest of the trip seemed rushed.

I left a comment form about how I felt the trip was very rushed. I really hope they have changed it for the better.