Sailing aboard the Celebrity Summit offers more than just a luxurious cruise experience. It is a front-row ticket to some of Alaska’s most dramatic natural spectacles. We just had the incredible opportunity to experience this journey first-hand, thanks to a hosted 7 Day Alaska Southbound cruise by Celebrity Cruises armed with only the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
Among the most breathtaking highlights were our encounters with two of the state’s most iconic glaciers: Hubbard Glacier and Mendenhall Glacier.
How Glaciers Are Formed
Glaciers are massive, slow-moving rivers of ice that form over centuries from layers of compacted snow. When snow accumulates faster than it melts, typically in high mountain regions or polar climates, it compresses under its own weight, turning into dense ice. This ice slowly deforms and begins to flow downhill under the force of gravity, carving out valleys and shaping the landscape. Glaciers are incredibly dynamic, constantly shifting, cracking, and creaking as they respond to temperature, terrain, and time. Their movement can create dramatic features like crevasses, moraines, and towering ice cliffs. As both powerful sculptors of the Earth and sensitive indicators of climate change, glaciers are fascinating forces of nature.
Witness the Power of Nature at Hubbard Glacier
One of the highlights of cruising aboard the Celebrity Summit is the unforgettable approach to Hubbard Glacier, North America’s largest tidewater glacier. Stretching 122km from Canada’s Yukon into Alaska’s Disenchantment Bay, Hubbard Glacier (Lingít: Sít’Sít’ Tlein) is a rare natural marvel that’s growing rather than shrinking. This “Galloping Glacier” has been advancing since 1885, and during your sailing, you’ll come within half a mile of its towering 90-metre ice cliffs. Watch for dramatic calving events. Massive chunks of ice crash into the sea every 15 to 20 minutes in summer. The journey through Disenchantment Bay is equally breathtaking, flanked by glacier-carved fjords and snowcapped giants, including five of North America’s tallest peaks. Whether you’re on your stateroom balcony or the open deck, this is a raw, cinematic moment only Celebrity Summit can deliver in style.
Explore the Accessible Wonder of Mendenhall Glacier
Just 19km from downtown Juneau, Mendenhall Glacier, known as “Sit” in the Tlingit language, is one of the most accessible and iconic glaciers in Southeast Alaska. Flowing 21km from the massive Juneau Icefield to the icy waters of Mendenhall Lake, this glacier stuns with its shimmering blue crevasses and vast face, which spans over 800 metres at its widest point. Ranging from 90 to 550 metres deep, it offers dramatic views and a tangible reminder of our planet’s changing climate. Visitors can follow the interpretive Trail of Time, a short, family-friendly walk that reveals how far the glacier has receded. For the more adventurous, the West Glacier Trail hugs the lake’s edge and leads to incredible vantage points—and even the glacier itself. Whether you arrive by tour bus, rental car, or shuttle, Mendenhall is a must-see for guests cruising aboard Celebrity Summit and docking in Juneau.
On shore excursions arranged by Celebrity Summit, guests can join guided tours that include visits to the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Centre, wildlife spotting opportunities, and leisurely hikes around Mendenhall Lake. For those seeking a more adrenaline-pumping experience, helicopter and glacier trekking adventures are also available, offering a rare chance to walk directly on the ancient ice. Whether you’re after educational insight or dramatic views, Celebrity’s curated excursions make the most of your time near this iconic glacier.
Unfortunately, we didn’t go on a Mendenhall Glacier visit. Instead we went on a humpback whale and orca spotting excursion instead.
Together, Hubbard and Mendenhall Glaciers offer two very different but equally awe-inspiring perspectives on Alaska’s icy landscapes. One remote and thunderous, the other accessible and educational. It’s these unforgettable moments that make sailing with Celebrity Summit not just a cruise, but a true voyage into the wild heart of Alaska.
Do note that if you sail on the Celebrity Edge, you won’t be able to see Hubbard Glacier.
