“The very thought of this, my first Alaskan garden, Glacier Bay is an exhilaration.” —

Welcome to Glacier Bay the sea. The bay boasts seven such National Park and Preserve tidewater , including famous Keep Glacier Bay Beautiful When Captain George Vancouver Margerie Glacier — one of ’s Please join us in first set eyes on the small five-mile most photographed features, and also our commitment inlet that was Glacier Bay in 1794, he one of the state’s most active glacial to keep Glacier described a “sheet of ice as far as the faces. And if you’re lucky, you may Bay pristine and eye could distinguish.” By the time be treated to one of nature’s grandest beautiful for naturalist John Muir visited in 1879 displays — the calving of a glacier. future visitors and with a group of the native Tlingit, generations. Untamed Nature who call the bay their ancestral To do your part, we ask that you: homeland, the ice had retreated You’re also certain to see some of the • Please do not throw anything enough to begin exposing one of the bay’s most celebrated residents — overboard. world’s most majestic wildernesses. abundantly present wildlife, ranging His poetic descriptions of the from bald eagles and puffins to • Take extra care that loose area have been inspiring visitors sea mammals like otters, seals and clothing, hats, napkins, maps to Glacier Bay National Park and humpback whales. Those training a and other items do not blow Preserve ever since. keen eye on the shores could even overboard. be treated to the rare sighting of a brown bear, moose or mountain goat. • Do not feed the wildlife or Towers of Ice birds. You are one of the fortunate We hope you enjoy your stay in the travelers to see this incredible place • Avoid disturbing wildlife. bay. A small team of Park Rangers for yourself. There’s no place quite will be onboard the entire time to • Please respect your fellow like it on earth — over 3.2 million offer narration and describe the guests’ experience of this acres of forest, inlet and shore, magnificent features of Glacier Bay majestic place. mountain peaks rising over 15,000 National Park. feet, and of course, the namesake glaciers. Great rivers of ice that stretch over and between mountain ridges until they meet the green tidewater, calving large chunks of ice with thunderous cracks into Princess Cruise Lines is an authorized concessioner of Glacier Bay National Park

108006_A_Glacier Bay Patter Insert_R2.indd 1 3/23/17 3:53 PM Glacier Bay rangers’ top ten questions

1. Why does the ice look blue? When light hits highly compacted glacier ice, long wavelength colors (reds) are absorbed, while short wavelength colors (blues) reflect back through the ice to your eyes.

2. Does the bay freeze in the winter? No, the combination of wind, tidal fluctuation, and moderate maritime temperatures keep the bay from freezing over.

3. Can anybody bring a ship in here? Any vessel is welcome to visit Glacier Bay. To protect park resources and enhance visitor experiences, the National Park Service limits the number of vessels during the summer months. Two cruise ships may enter each day. 8. What are the chances of seeing the glacier calve? 4. Where are the whales? Fairly good. These glaciers can move over five feet a day! Calving Humpback whales are most often seen in the lower portion of usually occurs a few times an hour from tidewater glaciers. Glacier Bay, frequently close to shore. Look for their “spouts” hanging in the air; and remember, even whales can look small 9. What’s the weather like here? from a distance. It rains a lot — 70 inches a year near park headquarters. May and June are the sunniest, and it is usually not as cloudy near 5. How high is the face of Margerie Glacier? the glaciers as in the lower portion of the bay. The constantly The Margerie Glacier is about one mile wide, with an ice face changing moods and quality of the light are part of Glacier Bay that is about 250 feet high above the waterline, and a base about National Park’s scenic splendor. 100 feet below sea level. 10. Is climate change affecting Glacier Bay’s glaciers? 6. Why is the Grand Pacific Glacier so dirty? Scientists who observe Earth’s climate have documented Avalanches, rock slides, tributary glaciers and the scouring of the warming temperatures in Alaska. Of the more than 100,000 valley have caused an accumulation of dirt and rock. glaciers in the state, 95% are currently thinning, stagnating, or 7. How deep is Glacier Bay? retreating, and Glacier Bay’s glaciers follow this trend. However, Very deep! It was carved out by a glacier and filled in with due to heavy snowfall in the soaring Fairweather Mountains, saltwater as the glacier retreated, creating a . Much of the Glacier Bay remains home to a few healthy and advancing bay is over 1,000 feet deep. glaciers, a rarity in today’s world. RANGER SUGGESTIONS FOR A SPECTACULAR DAY Here are some helpful hints for • Visit the onboard Ranger Station, • Watch the National Park Service maximizing your enjoyment of the check the latest itinerary, and plan videos, Welcome to Glacier Bay, pristine paradise of Glacier Bay to attend presentations. It’s your Beneath the Reflections, and Glacier opportunity to talk to a Park Ranger Bay for Kids on your stateroom TV National Park: and ask questions you may have before or after our visit to the bay. • Enjoy the beautiful Glacier Bay map about your national park. Read your • Encourage your youngsters to join the that was delivered to your stateroom Princess Patter for times and location. Junior Ranger program, and to pick last night. It includes excellent • Get outside on the open decks — up activity booklets available at the information on tidewater glaciers, especially during your visit at the youth center. whales, plants and animals in the bay. glacier. Nothing can compare to the • Take advantage of the extensive array sense of scale and magnificence of the of books on Glacier Bay and Alaska in massive ice wall, and the incredible our onboard Princess Library. sound when it calves.

CELEBRATE NATIONAL PARKS - AMERICA’S BEST IDEA! Join a park ranger to learn more, and visit www.nps.gov

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