jce2 Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 The National Parks Department awarded the next set of 10-year licenses for Glacier bay.....And RC got one! It is believed the leases take effect this October. It will be interesting how RC uses this. I am on Radiance next June and won't be surprised if our itinerary changes to include it (probably at the cost of losing Icy Strait Point ;( ) https://www.nps.gov/glba/learn/news/glacier-bay-issues-new-contracts-for-cruise-ship-services.htm SpeedNoodles and The Cruise Junkie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGTLH Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 53 minutes ago, jce2 said: The National Parks Department awarded the next set of 10-year licenses for Glacier bay.....And RC got one! It is believed the leases take effect this October. It will be interesting how RC uses this. I am on Radiance next June and won't be surprised if our itinerary changes to include it (probably at the cost of losing Icy Strait Point ;( ) https://www.nps.gov/glba/learn/news/glacier-bay-issues-new-contracts-for-cruise-ship-services.htm Contact was awarded to Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Keep in mind Royal Caribbean International is a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Celebrity along with Azamara are also subsidiaries of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. Furthermore, I recall awhile back some huge fault that a Royal Caribbean International ship did that essentially got them kicked out of Glacier Bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jce2 Posted March 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 I am kind of hoping this doesn't affect Radiance. Currently our plan is a whale excursion in Icy Strait and do no excursion in Juneau and head out to Mendenhall and the Salmon bake on our own. If Icy Strait were replaced with GB we would need to cram a Whale Excursion into our day at Juneau Baked Alaska 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CGTLH Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 I'm sure if Radiance was to visit GB it would replace the Hubbard Glacier visit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ltw Posted March 28, 2019 Report Share Posted March 28, 2019 Does anyone know the size restrictions for Glacier Bay? Could Ovation sail there instead of Endicott Arm? And I agree with the above poster- if it was to impact Radiance, I think you'd lose Hubbard Glacier, not Icy Strait Point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 Perhaps Celebrity will gain GB and there will be no or few visits for RCI. Only time will tell. No matter how it plays out it’s nice to see some new itinerary potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 So is this the first time RC has gotten permission to go to Glacier Bay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 1 minute ago, Matt said: So is this the first time RC has gotten permission to go to Glacier Bay? Not the first time. They had permission back in the late 90s/early 2000s I believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 If I recall correctly, I think they ran a foul of emissions restrictions and lost their appetite for GB due to the fines. Other lines have as well but paid them and stayed. AshleyDillo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 More info here: https://www.juneauempire.com/news/glacier-bay-cruise-ship-permits-get-redo/ "In coming years, each of the five cruise ship companies awarded contracts will be allowed 153 “use days” in the park each summer and 92 in the shoulder season (May and September combined). That pencils out to two or fewer ships per day will be allowed in park, a number capped by a science advisory board." "Holland America and Princess Cruises have 71 use days already tied up. NPS grandfathered those companies in, as they have claims to historical use going back previous to the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act. ANILCA requires NPS to respect their historical use of the park." The latter most likely accounts for why Carnival doesn't apply as the parent company but specifically as HAL and Princess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 Thanks @AshleyDillo & @twangster. It does sound like this is blog-worthy. AshleyDillo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AshleyDillo Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 When you try to research why Royal hasn't been doing Glacier Bay in nearly two decades it certainly pulls up some stuff doesn't paint them in a good light. Wasn't able to find anything official about permits being denied or revoked, but did learn a lot about EPA regulations in Alaska. Glad to see that they've cleaned up their act! Matt 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted March 29, 2019 Report Share Posted March 29, 2019 37 minutes ago, AshleyDillo said: When you try to research why Royal hasn't been doing Glacier Bay in nearly two decades it certainly pulls up some stuff doesn't paint them in a good light. Wasn't able to find anything official about permits being denied or revoked, but did learn a lot about EPA regulations in Alaska. Glad to see that they've cleaned up their act! The cruise industry in general has some skeletons in the closet and many cruise lines left room for improvements. AshleyDillo 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hubick Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 Quote Dear Guest, Before we set sail on our May 22, 2020 Ovation of the Seas cruise, we have a change to share with you. Earlier this year, we were excited to add Glacier Bay National Park, Alaska to our itinerary. However, sometimes things don’t go as planned and we’ve changed back to the original itinerary. So, we’ll visit Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier as originally planned, instead of Glacier Bay National Park. We are sorry for any disappointment, but we’re confident you’ll have a wonderful time as we provide you with plenty of opportunities to explore everything Alaska has to offer – including glaciers! CFL and Baked Alaska 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAAAYTOOO Posted October 30, 2019 Report Share Posted October 30, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BD1157 Posted November 3, 2019 Report Share Posted November 3, 2019 I saw where one of the cruises I was checking out the swapped Skagway for Glacier Bay. I thought read that Carnival Purchased the White Pass Railway and docks in Skagway. I wonder if that is why they swapped out Skagway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted November 3, 2019 Report Share Posted November 3, 2019 17 minutes ago, BD1157 said: I saw where one of the cruises I was checking out the swapped Skagway for Glacier Bay. I thought read that Carnival Purchased the White Pass Railway and docks in Skagway. I wonder if that is why they swapped out Skagway. I believe it's a matter of logistics. Skagway is further up the inlet past Juneau and Skagway is at the end of the inlet - only one way to get there. In order to introduce Glacial Bay something else had to go and the logical port to drop is the one furthest away. JLMoran 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zambia-Zaire Posted November 3, 2019 Report Share Posted November 3, 2019 @twangster you don't think Royal's logistics team would have known that before publicly announcing the addition of Glacial Bay to the itinerary? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BD1157 Posted November 3, 2019 Report Share Posted November 3, 2019 When we went Skagway the Train Ride was our favorite excursion. If your cruise doesn't go there I would recommend riding the train from Anchorage to Seward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twangster Posted November 3, 2019 Report Share Posted November 3, 2019 1 hour ago, Zambia-Zaire said: @twangster you don't think Royal's logistics team would have known that before publicly announcing the addition of Glacial Bay to the itinerary? I'm not sure I follow. In choosing to add Glacial Bay to the itinerary something had to change, some port had to be dropped. They couldn't simply add Glacial Bay to the itinerary and leave the itinerary as it was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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