Disenchantment Bay
A MISNAMED
MARVEL OF NATURE
The sun is peeking through the curtains,
tempting me to get out of bed. It's only half
past six, but the light spilling through the
edges of the curtain is bright. I turn over
slightly, as it is far too comfortable in bed to
get out just yet, blissfully unaware of what's
about to unfold.
Today is a scenic sailing day on the Viking
Orion, and we're scheduled to first sail into
Disenchantment Bay in Southeast Alaska.
Named by the French explorer Jean-François
de Galaup, comte de La Pérouse, who led
the ill-fated voyage of 1786, when they
sailed into the bay and became trapped by
ice. Other historians believe that Spanish
explorer Alejandro Malaspina, in 1792,
named the bay when he encountered an ice
barrier at what is now known as the
Northwest Passage, leading to the Atlantic
Ocean. I would soon learn there was nothing
disappointing about this bay today.
I pull open the curtains and gasp in awe
at the massive wonder of the natural world
shining through the glass. The sight of
towering blue ice is both intimidating and
inviting as I open the veranda door to get
closer to the Hubbard Glacier. A burst of
crisp, clean Alaskan air hits my face with
gusto, reminding me that I am alive today.
I keenly head to the Explorers' Lounge,
where I join the live commentary from
Viking's Guest Lecturer, Tom Hedekar, along
with guests who are also keen to admire and
learn about this mighty glacier. I became
obsessed with glaciers the previous evening
when I joined Tom's lecture in the Star
Kirsty Hill discovers the awe-inspiring beauty
and scientific wonder of Alaska's Hubbard Glacier.
Alaska & the Inside Passage
63 | Viking Explorer Society News
