Hubbard Glacier - Day 7, August 18, 2026

Happy Birthday, Becky

Today was an “at sea” day, with the ship pulling in near the terminus of Hubbard Glacier — the biggest tidewater glacier in North America. Under a solid ceiling of gray cloud, fog, and gray seas, we felt lucky to get any view of it at all, even a distant one; the ship can only get so close before the floating ice in the water says otherwise.

We learned that all that floating ice comes in sizes, each with its own name, and that most of any given piece is hiding below the surface:

• Growlers — less than 1 meter (3 feet) above the water, covering an area of about 20 square meters (roughly the size of a grand piano, or a truck)
• Bergy Bits — 1 to 5 meters (3 to 16 feet) above the water, with a surface area of roughly 100 to 300 square meters
• Icebergs — greater than 5 meters (16 feet) above the waterline, with a total length of more than 15 meters

Of course, the terminus is the only exciting-to-look-at part. It’s a tiny sliver of a glacier that’s 76 miles long, carving its way through the mountains and deepening its own canyon as it goes. We were told the ice finally reaching the terminus is 400 years old — a new layer of snow gets added on top every year, further compacting everything beneath it. And no matter how compressed it gets, ice is always lighter than water. That’s why it floats, no exceptions.

Being an “at sea” day, we mostly just relaxed and enjoyed cruise ship life. And since it was Becky’s birthday — she finally turned 29! — we celebrated in style at the Prime 7 steakhouse, one of three specialty restaurants onboard (all meals are included, even the specialty ones). We both ordered the filet mignon, seasoned and cooked perfectly.

Then, back in our cabin for the night, we got a very pleasant surprise.

Whittier, and Hubbard Glacier Again - Days 8-9, August 19-20, 2026

Day 8 was debarkation and embarkation day in Whittier, Alaska (not Whittier, California) — some guests said their goodbyes and headed home, while a fresh batch came aboard for the second half. We stayed put.

Day 9 brought us back for a second look at Hubbard Glacier — same drill as before, though the view was, if anything, even less clear than the first time. Not that the first time was particularly clear either.

Life Aboard the Explorer

So, how is cruise life? On Regent Seven Seas Explorer, it’s rather luxurious. It’s a large ship, but not a mega-large ship — not like the newer vessels from other cruise lines that carry 2,000 to 4,000 guests, complete with water slides, indoor malls, and other attractions. The Explorer carries 746 guests with 548 crew, spread across 13 decks numbered up to deck 14 (there’s no deck 13). The crew is trained to be very accommodating — too accommodating, at times.

Our stewardess and steward, Lucia and Reindel — from Indonesia and the Philippines respectively — have been fantastic and pleasant. Lucia has picked up the impressive talent of folding towels into animals, purely for our enjoyment.

Restaurants

The cuisine is excellent across every venue, and meals and gratuities are included everywhere — so you’re free to choose whatever tickles your fancy, and it is fancy.

Three specialty restaurants (one reservation can be made in each prior to each cruise — ours counted as two cruises, so we got two):

• Chartreuse — modern French menu and attention to detail you’ll notice in its Parisian décor.
• Pacific Rim — be prepared for an evening of culinary perfection with an array of Pan-Asian flavors and dishes. An elegantly exotic eatery.
• Prime 7 — from perfectly aged New York strip and porterhouse to succulent filet mignon and smoked salmon. Prime 7 elevates classic American fare to lofty heights.

Non-specialty:

• La Veranda — stunning ocean views while enjoying elegant breakfast and lunch buffets (our go-to breakfast buffet).
• Sette Mari at La Veranda — authentic antipasti and Italian specialties served à la carte and paired with fine Italian wines. All dishes are prepared with the freshest gourmet ingredients and served by our attentive waiters.
• Compass Rose — the main dining room for breakfast and dinner; service is formal. We ate dinner there once.
• Pool Grill — the place for grilled-to-order burgers, seafood, handcrafted pizzas, sandwiches, even hand-dipped ice cream sprinkled with tasty toppings. This became our go-to dinner spot. It’s still table service but feels more casual.
• Coffee Connection — a casual coffee bar with all kinds of coffees and drinks (like Irish coffee, etc.) — and this is no Starbucks, since servers come to your table, and there’s a food bar with light fare too. This is often our go-to for lunch when we’re on the ship.

Activities

There are plenty of activities on the ship. We found plenty to do and didn’t avail ourselves of most of it: Bocce Court, Card Room, Culinary Arts Kitchen (for a fee), Golf Net, Spa and Fitness Center, plus several others. Oh — and of course, the Boutiques, how could I forget.

The Constellation Theater hosts evening shows and enrichment programs during the day. For our cruise, Dr. David Plourd (Dr. Dave) gave a series of genuinely interesting talks — glaciers, animals (bears, eagles, and the like), and more. We also had a guest speaker, Andrew Nadon, in the Explorer Lounge, who shared stories and a bit of stage magic about the Klondike Gold Rush.

There’s always something going on if you want to find it — you could even join Bingo and see if you win it big.

Becky and I didn’t take advantage of many of the available activities. We mostly just enjoyed relaxing and, when the weather cooperated, sitting out on our balcony.

So — life on a cruise ship: exciting, fun, relaxing, and different.