Monthly Archives: July 2016

July 29, 2016 · 5:35 am

The Norwegian Sun Cruises Glacier Bay

Lamplugh Glacier

Margerie Glacier is just one of the glaciers you’ll visit here in Glacier Bay, but it’s also the closest you’ll come to one. After leaving Tarr Inlet the Norwegian Sun turned up the John Hopkins Inlet. Along the way you’ll coast past the Lamplugh Glacier depicted above. We didn’t get very close, but I was able to make good use of my 400mm (35mm equivalent) telephoto to capture some good shots of it.

Lamplugh Glacier

Unfortunately you won’t get very close to John Hopkins Glacier as it’s an important wildlife area this time of the year. Here’s a view of John Hopkins Glacier from a distance:

John Hopkins Glacier

And, yes, you’ll still get great views from the comfort of your balcony, so going up on deck and fighting for railing space is not necessary.

Ursula Enjoying the Balcony View

This area of Glacier Bay is great for seeing the geology of the area, including some very colorful granite. Waterfalls are also abundant here.

Glacier Bay Granite

Waterfall cascading into Glacier Bay

Below is today’s slide show of scenes mostly from the John Hopkins Inlet:

Glacier Bay

Lamplugh Glacier

Glacier Bay

Lamplugh Glacier

Glacier Bay

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Tagged as Alaska, Alaska cruise, Glacier bay, Norwegian Sun, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation

July 27, 2016 · 5:35 am

The Norwegian Sun Explores Margerie Glacier

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

The Norwegian Sun spent well over an hour very close to the face of the Margerie Glacier, slowly rotating to give viewers stunning views from both sides of the ship.

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

This means that if you have a balcony cabin then there is no need to go above decks to get marvelous views. Just hang out on your balcony and click away.

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

Make sure you stand ready to catch ice falling into the waters. This makes for some dramatic photos, and very dramatic video as you’ll see later in this glacier series.

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

Another nifty feature to catch is melting water tunneling through the glacier and pouring into the bay.

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

Click on any image below for today’s gallery slide show:

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

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Filed under Photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, vacation

Tagged as Alaska, Alaska cruise, Glacier bay, Margerie Glacier, Norwegian Sun, photography, R. Doug Wicker, travel, travel photography, vacation

July 25, 2016 · 5:35 am

Norwegian Sun Enters Glacier Bay

Glacier Bay — Approaching Margerie Glacier

The glaciers of Alaska are incredible sights. And the glacier you’ll get closest to on any cruise is Margerie Glacier in Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. As you approach Margerie Glacier you’ll be greeted by myriad waterfalls cascading into the bay.

Waterfalls in Glacier Bay

Early in the season you’ll also see unmelted snowfields flowing down vegetation-covered bedrock and exposed granite. These photos were taken very early in the cruise season, on June 4 of this year.

Glacier Bay — Approaching Margerie Glacier

Early in the morning the Norwegian Sun picked up several National Park Rangers at the Glacier Bay Lodge Visitor Center and proceeded for several hours up the Tarr Inlet to arrive at Margerie Glacier.

Glacier Bay — Margerie Glacier

Marjorie Glacier is 21 miles/34 kilometers long, 350 feet/110 meters thick, and 1 mile/1.6 kilometers wide. It’s also a very active glacier if you want to see ice calving from its face into the water. Have your camera ready, because you’ll see the ice breaking off several seconds before the cracking sound reaches your ears. You’ll have to be quick!

Ice crashing off Margerie Glacier

Looking at the layers of ancient ice is looking back millennia in time. And remember, there’s still 100 feet/30 meters of ice below the surface of the water.