Hubbard Glacier, Alaska … No Go

As scheduled we sailed up Yakutat Bay for our 4:30p slot to view Hubbard Glacier, which sits at the head of Disenchantment Bay.

Unlike so many glaciers around the world, Hubbard is advancing … at times at a very fast pace that has earned it the nickname of Galloping Glacier. It’s been known to dam up neighboring Russell Bay only to burst into smithereens.

We’ve seen many glaciers around the world. I especially enjoy tidewater glaciers like Hubbard that reach the edge of a body of water. Having never visited Hubbard before, we were looking forward to our time in front of this river of ice … one that extends 76 miles inland and has a 7-mile terminus that rises 350 feet above the waterline.

It wasn’t to be.

We arrived on station to find the glacier shrouded in fog with an ice belt that served as a barrier that Insignia was unable to ford since the hull is not ice strengthened. Seven miles … that is how close we got before we turned around and headed back out into the Gulf of Alaska.

We drowned our disappointment by wrapping up our day with a delightful dinner with Executive Concierge Chris and RTW2023 Concierge Millie. Laughter, wine, and good conversation … an excellent antidote for disappointment.

P. S. Our luggage has been delivered to the cabin. A sign that the voyage really is coming to an end soon. Packing shall commence between visits to ports that area still ahead of us.Read more