Glacier Bay National Park Cruise: Royal Princess
Why We Chose a Glacier Bay Cruise
When I started planning our Alaska cruise, one thing was non-negotiable: we had to experience Glacier Bay National Park. This breathtaking destination had been on my travel list for years, and it absolutely lived up to the hype for our family. We recently sailed aboard the Royal Princess, and the day spent cruising Glacier Bay was the highlight of our trip.
One of the main reasons I chose Princess Cruises—and specifically the Royal Princess—was because of its access to Glacier Bay. Only three cruise lines are permitted to sail through this protected national park: Princess, Holland America, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Not all Princess itineraries include Glacier Bay, so if this is a bucket-list experience for you too, be sure to double-check the itinerary before booking.
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What to Expect on a Glacier Bay Boat Tour
Our boat tour of Glacier Bay National Park was from the ship. This ended up being perfect. It was much easier to stay warm this way. The night before we arrived in Glacier Bay National Park, we were left a map of Glacier Bay from the National Park Service.
Not only was the day events in the app. There were signs were up all over the ship explaining the time of the day events.
Arrival of National Park Rangers
As you can see from the events above, the arrival of the National Park Rangers is early in the morning. We got up early and had a nice sit-down breakfast. We then went up to the 16th deck to start observing. My mom is not an early riser, so she skipped the morning exploring from the upper deck. It was windy and cool this morning, so we checked out blankets on the pool deck. You can see us wearing them below:
Wildlife Spotting from the Deck
We ended up finding a spot next to the ship where we avoided the wind. We were in the middle, so when the National Park Ranger would say Sea Otter port side. We could quickly make our way over. We saw so many sea otters on this trip! We also saw whales and more just from the Royal Princess. The Park Rangers did an amazing job explaining what they were seeing without talking nonstop. Their commentary was perfect and non-distracting. When we reached Marguerite Glacier, they turned off the radio and gave us an hour of silence. They came out to the decks to answer questions.
Marguerite Glacier Rotation & Silence Hour
At Marguerite Glacier, stop and rotate the ship 360 degrees so everyone gets a view, and then we head out. We enjoyed the view from the port side of the ship, and when the ship started rotating, we made it quickly to our cabin on the Starboard side of the ship. This is when my mom joined us!
tip from Julie
Once we got to our room, I ordered us all coffee and hot chocolate to enjoy while we enjoyed our day in Glacier Bay. I guess everyone had this idea. It did take over an hour to get our drinks, but we didn’t mind. We were enjoying the beauty. I also thought ahead and ordered lunch to our room around 10:20. This arrived a little after 11. So basically, I had a Glacier Bay party in my cabin. My family was so thankful I thought ahead.
Balcony vs. Interior Cabin: What We Learned
We spent most of the morning and early afternoon taking turns on our balcony. The starboard side is definitely where it is at on the way back through Glacier Bay. We were able to see the two other glaciers without leaving our room. With our balcony door open, we could hear the rangers talking from the Bridge over the intercom. It was perfect!
💡I originally purchased an interior cabin for this cruise. I am so glad my bid for the obstructed balcony was accepted. I don’t mind an interior room. I sleep amazingly, but this balcony for Glacier Bay National Park made our trip even more amazing. Sometimes I try to be too frugal. We would have enjoyed the decks if this had not been an option, so if you cannot afford the extra for the balcony, don’t worry! However, if you can afford the extra, I think it is 100% worth it.
Tips for Enjoying Glacier Bay from Your Cruise Ship
I’ll be honest, the pictures and video I took do not truly reflect the beauty we saw this day. I’ll post a few more so you can see what we experienced. We all truly enjoyed it. It was the highlight of our trip. I called my husband that night and said I was ready to come home. Nothing else could top this! He told me I had to stay on the ship until it returned to Seattle. I am the one who books these cruises, and I have to finish my journey on the ship as planned.
Final Thoughts on Glacier Bay
Glacier Bay National Park was everything I hoped it would be—and more. From the moment the park rangers boarded the Royal Princess to the silent rotation at Marguerite Glacier, the entire day felt magical. Watching sea otters float by and glaciers calve from our balcony was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you're planning an Alaska cruise, make sure Glacier Bay is on your itinerary. It’s a rare privilege to sail through this protected wilderness, and for our family, it was the highlight of the entire trip.
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