Ice Age Glaciers

Alaska’s ice-age glacial formations, thought of as static and motionless, are very much alive, active and powerful. Winding down from mountains and fjords, these massive rivers of ice are often on the move, some dropping their bounty into the sea. The process is known as "calving," and some tidewater glaciers shed enormous chunks of ice several times an hour.

In most cases, the cascading wall of ice you see is several hundred years old. While these newly formed icebergs rapidly melt in the relatively warm water, some are large enough to support seals and other wildlife looking for a free, albeit temporary, ride.

From the upper reaches of College Fjord and the splendor of Glacier Bay to massive Hubbard Glacier and the steep granite walls of Tracy Arm Fjord, leave it to Princess Cruises to offer you a front-row seat to one of the most magnificent views on Earth.

Of course, the only thing better than seeing glaciers is actually touching them. That's why we offer optional combination helicopter/hiking tours that put you square on the surface of these massive ice beds. You can also take a “flightseeing” (sightseeing by air) tour over glaciers, kayak around them, and even ride a dogsled across.