Hubbard Glacier

Today we sailed into Disenchantment Bay - named because the explorer didn’t find the northwest passage to the Orient. The highlight is the massive and majestic Hubbard Glacier which is the largest tidewater glacier in North America. It is 25% larger than the state of Rhode Island. It is 76 miles long, 7 miles wide and 600 feet tall at its terminal base (350 feet exposed above the waterline and 250 below). It is advancing 80 feet a year, and is expected to fill in a nearby valley with silt and form a new glacial lake. When it calves, the area below the sea also breaks off, so the ship is not able to get too close as sharp chunks of ice can damage the hull. 

It took about 500 years for the Glacier to form. The Glacier is part of the 13.2 million acre Wrangell St Elias park, the largest park in the US.

We were able to see the Glacier from the open air deck and from our staterooms. There is excellent commentary given by a member of the cruise staff. It is piped into the stateroom on the tv’s bow channel, a 24/7 view by camera from, you guessed it, the bow of the ship.

Later, some of us did a wine tasting that included a Frescobaldi from Italy - we had discovered this vineyard in Florence many years ago. We had dinner in the main dining room again ("dressy" night) and checked out the piano bar. We were not impressed. We caught a set in the crowded Rolling Stone Lounge and had a nightcap on the balcony. Tomorrow we sail to Glacier Bay.