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Scenic cruising

Time when the ship sails slowly past scenery, such as a glacier, without docking.

Scenic cruising is time spent sailing slowly through a place worth seeing rather than stopping at it. In Alaska, that usually means a glacier fjord such as Glacier Bay, Hubbard Glacier, College Fjord, Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm, where the ship may stay near the ice for an hour or more. The Panama Canal and Norway's fjords are other examples. Scenic cruising depends on conditions: ice, fog or weather can force the captain to change plans on the day. A balcony, or a good spot on deck, makes a real difference.

Example

The ship spent the afternoon in Glacier Bay with a park ranger on board.

Floreo tip

On an Alaska cruise, a balcony matters more than on almost any other route. Ask us which glacier day your itinerary includes before you choose a cabin.

Related terms

Balcony cabin Inside Passage

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