Here are a couple photos taken from the Rhapsody Of The Seas on June 20, 2008. Captain Bjorn Johanson told us we were 600 feet away but it looked a lot closer than that. The Captain is in the second photo, standing on the port bridge wing. This was taken from our balcony which was immediately behind the bridge. I could carry on a conversation with the people on the bridge wing in a normal tone of voice.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dave Beers,
It does look closer than 600 feet. Alaska is just on a different scale, it really throws you off. Great photos. I don't know about you but we plan on do Alaska a few more times. It is just beautiful.
You can Kind of put the photos in proportion using the Bridge. I do not know how high the Bridge is, but the ice is higher..and it do not look that high.
This photo was on our approach at perhaps a mile out. It does show that while the face of the glacier appeared small there was a much larger mass behind it.
hi, wow, those pictures are great. Cant wait til i'm up there in sept, on serenade of the seas, but were going to hubbard glacier, and hope the captain will get that close.
Another thing that was surprising was the noise. The glacier was constantly crackling - it sounded like rifle shots in the distance - and a couple times it sounded like thunder. A glacier has a lot of laws of physics at play. It calved a couple small pieces while we were up close but it was too quick to photograph.
Dave, Thank you for the pictures. Those photos just push me to book a cruise to alaska. The wife and I enjoy the vacation photos. We are strange like that. Matt
I almost felt the chill in the air when I looked at them!
The water had a sheen of ice on it - right at the point of changing from liquid to solid. The air was so clean and crisp. When standing on the balcony we could definitely feel the chill from all that ice. It was like opening a freezer door at home and standing there.
Welcome Back, Dave! The pictures are beautiful! Like you mentioned, I was surprised, too, at the noises from the glacier. We didn't expect that and it was neat to hear.
The scenery in Alaska is just magnificent. Someone on this forum said it is like a religious experience, and I would have to agree. We were in awe when we were looking at the glaciers.
You take in the majesty of it all and it gives you a sense of being insignificant as compared to the whole of nature.
The quiet while gliding through the fjord was noticeable. People weren't saying much. Just looking at the beauty all around us. All I heard was cameras clicking and little else. It was like being in a cathedral and you are afraid to do anything but whisper, lest you interrupt someone's meditation or prayers.
Dave, great photos. I've been meaning to ask, did the White Pass rail line live up to the reviews? I hear nothing but praise as one of the best and most affordable excursions. I'd like your take on it.
The White Pass train was well worth the money. A great tour with fantastic scenery. The mountain photos were taken from my seat. You can also go out on the platforms at the front and back of the cars.
