April 29, 2026

Until our trip to Antarctica last year, I considered Prince William Sound to be the one of most beautiful places on earth. With that said, it still should be on any nature lovers bucket list. Seas like mirrors, reflecting the deep green of the forest and the stunning snow-covered mountains surrounding you are incredible to witness. As the gateway to the Glacier Bay National Park, it is one the one likeliest place to capture those elusive wildlife photos you hope to capture. Spoiler Alert: I did! But forewarning: my camera does not do justice to what can be seen by the naked eye.

With little wind this morning, the sea was as smooth as glass and reflects the scenes above. I’m challenged to describe this beauty.

Along the way we had an up-close look at the Valdez terminal, where the Trans-Alaska Pipeline brings crude oil here from Prudhoe Bay on Alaska’s North Slope. Tankers then take the oil to the U.S. west coast for refining. Of course, the most famous tanker was the Exxon Valdez, which went aground in 1989 on the nearby Bligh Reef. The resulting oil leak stretched as far as Kodiak (a distance equal to Cape Cod to the Chesapeake Bay on the U.S. east coast).

As I shared in my last post from Whittier, Alaska, this area is renowned for its wildlife, including harbor seals and sea otters. Look at these photos!

And look at this sea otter with her pup tucked under her belly. And lest I forget, a lone little tufted puffin.

Tomorrow we will sail into Yakutat Bay to view the Hubbard Glacier enroute to Glacier Bay National Park. The Alaskan ports are fun, but the highlight for me is the type of scenic cruising that we are doing now. Of course, cabins on cruise ships offer some of the most accessible views to these wonderous sights. A Travel Tip: Chongae and I have been to Alaska twice before but during the months of June and July. I would recommend travelling to Alaska in the Spring, if possible, where you are afforded less crowds and the serene scenery we have been blessed to encounter.

Thanks for traveling with us.