Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve - Glacier Bay by Boat (U.S. National Park Service)

Aerial view of lower Glacier Bay from Beardslee Islands

As its name implies, much of Glacier Bay National Park is water. Most of the land within the park is mountainous, covered with dense rain forest or alder thickets, and without roads or trails. While a few hardy travelers hike, raft, or climb the mountains, the vast majority of visitors travel by salt water. Glacier Bay is a natural waterway from Alaska's Inside Passage to the tidewater glaciers that are the park's main attraction. Its numerous branches, inlets, lagoons, islands, and passages offer virtually limitless opportunities for exploration.

visitors looking at glacier from cruise ship deck

Cruise Ships
Most visitors to Glacier Bay see the park from large cruise ships with thousands of passengers. These visitors do not go ashore in the park; instead National Park Service naturalists board the ship to share their knowledge about the park and its wildlife during a day-long cruise in the bay. Learn more about cruise ships in Glacier Bay.

Tour Vessels
The next most popular activity is to see the bay on a tour vessel. These boats have up to a few hundred passengers. There is one daily tour boat that departs from Bartlett Cove during the summer months, and additional tour boats include Glacier Bay as part of a longer itinerary. Like the cruise ships, tour vessels have National Park Service naturalists on board. Learn more about tour vessels in Glacier Bay.

Charter Boats
For a personalized trip in the bay, charter vessels can generally take up to six passengers and are rented to a single group, usually for custom multi-day trips. See Area Visitor Services for a list of charter operators permitted to operate in Glacier Bay.

Private Vessels
If you have your own boat, see our detailed boater information. If you want to travel by water under your own power, see kayaking in Glacier Bay.

See Also:

Cruising is one of several ways to see Glacier Bay.
See Plan Your Visit to get oriented.
The Area Visitor Services Directory is a listing of businesses that provide lodging, transportation, tours, and other useful services in and near Glacier Bay.