Sailing through stunning landscapes in the name of science

Each year at this time thousands of tourists embark on cruises along Alaskas stunning coastal waters. If they are lucky, the tourists experience dry weather, relatively calm seas, and breathtaking vistas. In some places the ships can get up close and personal to dramatic scenes of glaciers “calving” ice that breaks off and falls into the ocean. Although I’ve hiked up to glaciers in the Rockies and walked across them, I’ve never seen them entering the sea. I’d like to do that and have the notion recorded on my “bucket list” of things left to do before I die.

The landscape visible to cruising to...