Prince William Sound - Glacier & Wildlife Cruise

Our wish come true!! Not right away, but when we got up this morning, even though there was a thick layer of fog over the RV park, we could see blue sky above and the forecast was for a sunny day. It couldn't have happened on a better day because this morning the Caravan loaded onto a cruise ship (there was a promise that we would be in the calm waters of Prince William Sound and I took two dramamine) for a seven hour journey.

To get the full benefit of the pictures, remember to click on the picture to enlarge it!

Boarding the Valdez Spirit, a catamaran. See the blue sky??!!

This commercial boat struck a cord.

The oil tanks on the side of the hill in Valdez harbor. You can still see some of the fog right above the water.

Glaciers abound on the tops of the mountains that surround Valdez. They produce these beautiful waterfalls that line the Valdez Arm of Prince William Sound. 

Looking back at the Port of Valdez and the magnificent mountains that surround the city.

Another waterfall and a wisp of fog.

A bald eagle enjoying the sun, too.

Along the Valdez Arm.

This waterfall was named for someone but I don't remember who.

Approaching the end of Valdez Arm and getting ready to...

turn the corner around Heather Island and...

enter Columbia Bay, a fjord.

Columbia Bay is home to...

Columbia Glacier, the largest tide-water glacier in Prince William Sound.

The mountains that give birth to Columbia Glacier.

Columbia Bay is filled with ice bergs that are home to Harbor Seals and...

sea otters.

Harbor seal entering the water as we pass by.

Mountains and Columbia Glacier with ice bergs in the foreground.

Remember, only one tenth of an iceberg is above water.

Columbia Glacier has been in 'catastrophic retreat,' in recent years. Notice the scoured face of the surrounding cliffs that were covered by the glacier until recently.

Columbia Glacier has been filling its fjord with millions of tons of ice a day in recent years.

A mile wide and rising 300 ft from the waterline at its face.

As we traveled from one lobe of the glacier to another we passed many more Harbor Seals enjoying the sun.

Another lobe of Columbia Glacier that we could approach more closely because there were fewer ice bergs in the water.

But, there were still enough to give these Harbor Seals a home.

More lobes of the Columbia Glacier.

The face of this lobe is only 200 ft and we are half-a-mile away at this point.

Folks on the boat observing the glacier.

Close-up of the glacial lobe on the left.

Ice bergs at the base of the glacier.

On the trip back up the Valdez Arm we passed a colony of Steller Sea Lions on a beach. That's the bull on the rock surrounded by his harem.

We could hear them vocalizing and understand why they are called sea lions.

If you have clicked on the picture to make it larger, you might notice that there is a Harbor Seal to the right of the herd of sea lions - right at the water line. Quite a difference in size!

Steller Sea Lions enjoying the sunny day.

We were also fortunate to see a whale cavorting in the water.

And his tail. (Be sure to click on the picture to get the "full picture")

It was a beautiful day with unforgettable scenery.

When we got off the boat, this bunny was enjoying his dinner. Valdez appears to be over-run with bunnies of all colors.

The Valdez Spirit. She was a good ship!