cruising alaska... thursday

on our first cruise to Alaska with Royal Caribbean we visited the mendenhall glacier which we viewed from the visitor center.  the mendenhall did not favor us with any calving activity while we were there though we could see results of previous "calvings" in the water at its base.  as awesome as the mendenhall is the absence of "calving" was a bit disappointing.

this time around we cruised into glacier bay.  our first stop was the margerie glacier where we spent about and hour.   margerie was in a giving mood.  a "calving" is often signaled by a "thunder-like" clap  milliseconds before the "calf" plunges into the water below.  it's a real trick to recognize the sound, locate its proximity and get your camera on it before all the action is over and done with.

I managed to capture-- at least a part of-- 4 "calvings".

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyONzCPAsoc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbHwOdBW6pw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwoKxVUgyTo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMl74Mk0dd4

Again with the spinning watercraft!  not unlike Joe maneuvering our inflatable on the Chilkat the day before, the pilot of the Pearl took us for a little spin as well.  WOW!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWoMsieAQo0

After we left the Margerie, the Pearl visited another of the glaciers in the bay, the Lamplugh glacier.  No calving action was to be seen this time round.  There was much smaller cruise ship positioned nearer the base of the glacier that had apparently allowed some if its passengers to exit the ship in kayaks to explore the glacier more up close and personal.  that would be so cool unless a "calving" crushed your kayak, but exploring by kayak wasn't an option offered by NCL's Pearl.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKEJon-Jn0A

Glacier bay is graced by not only the many glaciers but vistas that must be seen to be believed. The National Park rangers who came on board for our visit to the bay were a bonus, providing us with historical and anecdotal perspective. Enjoying Alaska's splendor has a way of making time as ethereal as the mists on its mountains.
                                                                           

                                                                                  

                                                                                 
                                                                              

It was a beautiful day in Glacier Bay.

aio