# Hubbard Glacier, Alaska Scenic Cruising *By James Hills, cruisewestcoast.com — Updated March 2024* Written by: [James Hills](https://cruisewestcoast.com/james-hills.html) Published: 12 March 2024 Last Updated: 12 March 2024 TrendingHits: 1427Reading time: 01:12 While most of Alaska's glaciers retreat in our warming world, Hubbard Glacier defies global trends by steadily advancing—a 76-mile river of ice surging forward at three feet per day. Where other tidewater glaciers might impress with their beauty, Hubbard overwhelms with sheer scale—its towering 600-foot face stretches six miles across Disenchantment Bay, dwarfing the ships that approach it. When Hubbard calves, it doesn't merely drop ice chunks but unleashes building-sized monoliths that crash into the sea with explosive force, a reminder that Alaska's ice age continues here despite climate change. - **Glacier Bay National Park** - Visitors awed by Hubbard's size will appreciate this park's collection of tidewater glaciers, including the renowned Margerie Glacier, offering similar calving displays in a protected wilderness setting with the added benefit of National Park ranger interpretation. - **College Fjord** - Those fascinated by Hubbard's single massive glacier will be equally impressed by College Fjord's unique panorama of multiple tidewater glaciers visible simultaneously, offering a different but equally spectacular glacial experience. - **Tracy Arm Fjord** - Adventure seekers drawn to Hubbard's active ice will enjoy navigating through this narrow, iceberg-filled passage to the twin Sawyer Glaciers, providing a more intimate glacier viewing experience in a dramatically enclosed setting. - **Endicott Arm** - Travelers seeking alternatives to busier glacial areas will appreciate this less-visited fjord featuring the impressive Dawes Glacier, offering active calving in a setting similar to neighboring Tracy Arm but typically with fewer vessels. - **Columbia Glacier** - Located in Prince William Sound near Valdez, this rapidly retreating glacier offers visitors interested in Hubbard's massive ice movement a contrasting example of dramatic glacial recession, presenting a different chapter in Alaska's ongoing glacial story. 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Expert cruise reviews, port guides, and personalized trip planning. *Source: [Hubbard Glacier, Alaska Scenic Cruising ](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ports/hubbard-glacier-alaska.html) — cruisewestcoast.com* **Related content you may find useful:** - [Cruise ship reviews and comparisons](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ships/) - [West Coast cruise port guides](https://cruisewestcoast.com/cruise-ports/) - [Plan your trip with our cruise specialist](https://cruisewestcoast.com/book-with-heather?ref=agent)