Hubbard Glacier is North America’s largest tidewater glacier — 76 miles long, 7 miles wide, and 2,000 feet deep at its maximum. It flows from the St. Elias Mountains in the Yukon all the way to the sea at Yakutat Bay and Disenchantment Bay, and unlike most Alaskan glaciers, Hubbard is advancing — one of the few glaciers in the world that is currently growing rather than retreating. Sailing to Hubbard Glacier on the longer VV Alaska itineraries delivers one of the most extraordinary scale-defying natural experiences in all of Alaskan cruising.
The Scale
No description of Hubbard Glacier prepares first-time visitors for its actual scale. The glacier face visible from the ship is approximately 6 miles wide and 300 feet tall above the waterline — but extends another 800+ feet below the surface. When a section of the face calves — releasing into the water with a sound like distant artillery — the iceberg that splashes down may be the size of a house. The ship’s position in Disenchantment Bay gives a perspective on the glacier that makes ordinary human scale references meaningless.
Calving and Ice
Hubbard Glacier calves continuously and dramatically — far more actively than the smaller glaciers at Tracy Arm. The noise is constant: a background cracking and groaning from the ice face punctuated by the occasional thunderous collapse. The approach to the glacier through Disenchantment Bay navigates ice floes of increasing density, with small bergs and bergy bits giving way to larger floating ice as the ship approaches the face. VV positions the ship for extended viewing time and the crew provides regular announcements when calving events appear imminent.
The Bay Wildlife
Disenchantment Bay and the waters around Hubbard Glacier are exceptional wildlife habitat. Sea otters float among the ice floes in large rafts. Harbor seals haul out on the ice. Orcas are occasionally spotted in the bay. The combination of glacier, ice, wildlife, and mountain backdrop at Hubbard Glacier is the most concentrated natural spectacle in the VV Alaska network.
Which Itineraries Include Hubbard
Hubbard Glacier is included on the longer VV Alaska itineraries — the 10-night Vancouver to Seattle routing and the 12-night Alaska: Glaciers and More round-trip from Seattle both include it. The 7-night itineraries visit Tracy Arm Fjord instead. Both glacier experiences are extraordinary; Hubbard is larger and more active but Tracy Arm offers the additional drama of the narrow fjord walls.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- The 12-night Alaska: Glaciers and More itinerary includes both Hubbard AND Tracy Arm. This is the only sailing that delivers both of VV’s primary glacier experiences in a single voyage. Book this itinerary if the glaciers are your primary motivation.
- Position yourself on the forward decks for approach. The glacier becomes visible well before the ship arrives at viewing position. Being on the forward decks during the approach gives you the full progressive reveal of the glacier face.
- The calving can happen any time. Stay on deck during the full Hubbard viewing period. The major calving events are unpredictable and you want to be outside when they happen.
Ready to Face the Ice?
Joel and Erin are certified First Mates. Hubbard Glacier is one of the most extraordinary natural experiences in the VV fleet. Book the longer Alaska itinerary to include it.
Related Reading
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