26 Glacier Cruise vs Glacier Quest — Which Whittier Cruise Should You Book?

Quick comparison

The two ratings are the same once rounded, so reviews will not settle this for you. Choose on the route and the length of the day.

The 26 Glacier route

The 26 Glacier Cruise leaves Whittier along Passage Canal, where waterfalls and hanging glaciers start within minutes of the dock. It turns north through Esther Passage, a narrow channel with steep walls on both sides, then runs up College Fjord. The glaciers there were named by the 1899 Harriman Expedition after East Coast colleges, and they stand close together down both sides of the fjord. At the tidewater faces the captain holds the boat in position and waits for ice to calve.

You see the most glaciers on this route, and the scenery changes more over the afternoon: open water, a tight passage, then a fjord lined with ice. The cost is time. A good part of the 5¼ hours goes on getting to College Fjord and back. On a low-cloud day some of the higher glaciers stay hidden, so the count you actually see can fall well short of 26.

Our 26 Glacier Cruise guide covers the route stop by stop, the meal, and what reviewers say about it.

The Glacier Quest route

Glacier Quest runs out of Passage Canal and into Blackstone Bay, a deep fjord with two tidewater glaciers at its head and several alpine glaciers on the slopes above. The bay is much closer to the harbour than College Fjord, so the boat reaches the ice sooner and spends a larger share of the trip there. A Chugach National Forest ranger travels aboard and talks you through what the glaciers are doing and what lives on the cliffs, including the kittiwake colonies on the waterfall walls.

You see fewer glaciers than on the long route. In return you get a shorter, gentler day, and the two tidewater faces you do reach are close and active. For details on the boat and the listing, see our Glacier Quest breakdown.

Duration and prices

Glacier Quest costs $50 less per person. The 26 Glacier Cruise gives you about an hour and a half more on the water for that $50, which works out cheaper per hour. For a couple, the difference is $100 on the GetYourGuide prices. Phillips’ own rate card lists the 26 Glacier Cruise at $219 plus taxes and fees for an adult and $137 for a child, so compare the final checkout totals on both sites before you book.

If you drive, add the tunnel toll and parking to either fare. If you take the coach or train, the cruise length stays the same and the transfer adds roughly five hours to the day.

Families

Glacier Quest suits most families better. Under four hours on the water is easier on young children, the ranger commentary gives them something to listen to, and the boat is back at the dock by 4:45 pm. Children who love boats and can sit still through a long afternoon will manage the 26 Glacier Cruise, and the deck time at College Fjord is a good payoff.

Rules that apply to both cruises:

• Strollers are not allowed aboard, nor are large bags, coolers, umbrellas or tripods. Bring a carrier for small children.
• Infants travel on a lap. Service animals are welcome.
• The hot meal includes a children’s option, an all-beef hot dog, alongside salmon chowder and vegetarian chili. You choose it at checkout.
• The harbour ramp can be steep at low tide, which matters if anyone in your group has limited mobility.

With a transfer from Anchorage, both trips become a full day of nine to eleven hours away from your hotel. Count that whole day when you weigh the two.

Rail connections

Many visitors choose on the train alone. The Alaska Railroad’s Glacier Discovery train runs from Anchorage to Whittier in summer, and only one of these cruises fits it in both directions.

• Glacier Quest is the train cruise. Phillips sells it with rail both ways: the train leaves Anchorage at 9:45 am and gets back at 9:15 pm. From Girdwood it leaves at 10:55 am and returns at 7:40 pm.
• The 26 Glacier Cruise has no round-trip rail option, because the train does not reach Whittier in time for a noon sailing. Its rail package is the coach out at 9:00 am and the 6:45 pm train back.

Both cruises also sell a coach transfer from the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage and from the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood (10:30 am). Our Anchorage to Whittier guide covers the tunnel timetable, tolls and parking if you would rather drive. Check the Alaska Railroad timetable for your exact date, because the train runs only in summer.

Seasickness

Neither cruise leaves the shelter of Prince William Sound, and both are covered by Phillips' no-seasickness guarantee: a trip without seasickness or your money back. Glacier Quest is the gentler of the two. Its boat is smaller than the 26 Glacier Cruise’s main catamaran, but the route is shorter and stays in more sheltered water. The 26 Glacier Cruise crosses a more open stretch of the Sound before Esther Passage, then runs in narrow, protected water again.

If you are prone to motion sickness, choose Glacier Quest, sit low and near the middle of the boat, and take your usual remedy before boarding. Our Prince William Sound seasickness guide explains how the guarantee works and which seats move least.

Which to choose

Book the 26 Glacier Cruise if this is your main glacier day in Alaska, you are driving or taking the coach, you want the largest number of glaciers, and you are happy to spend the whole afternoon on the water.

Book Glacier Quest if you are travelling by train, you have children or anyone prone to seasickness in the group, you want to be back in Whittier before 5 pm, or you would rather spend less time in transit and more time at two glaciers.

If neither suits you because both boats are large, the Blackstone Glacier Small-Group Cruise and Beach Walk ($208) also works Blackstone Bay, on a small boat that lands on a beach. It has only one review on GetYourGuide so far (5/5), so read the listing carefully before you book. Our small-boat cruise guide compares the two boat sizes.

Who this comparison helps most

• First-time Alaska visitors choosing one major glacier day
• Anchorage-based travellers planning a day trip to Whittier
• Families weighing the length of the day, the price and the comfort of the boat
• Photographers deciding between a long route with many glaciers and a short one with more time at the ice
• Cruise-ship passengers adding a Prince William Sound day before or after their sailing

Practical planning checklist

• Confirm the sailing date and departure time before you book a hotel or transfer.
• If you are driving through the Whittier tunnel, plan around its published timetable and arrive early.
• Check whether taxes and fees are included in the price you see at checkout.
• Bring a waterproof outer layer, a warm mid-layer, a hat, gloves and closed shoes.
• Count whales, bears and calving ice as possible highlights, not certainties.
• If anyone has mobility needs, ask Phillips about access on the vessel you are booked on.
• If you are travelling with children, compare the total time away from your hotel, not only the time on the boat.
• Keep the evening after the cruise free in case the tunnel, the road or the train runs late.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 26 Glacier Cruise or Glacier Quest better for a first Alaska trip?

The 26 Glacier Cruise, if you can give it the afternoon. It covers more of Prince William Sound and passes many more glaciers. Choose Glacier Quest if you are on the train, have young children, or want a shorter day.

Do I need to book in advance?

For July and August dates, yes, and also for coach or rail packages, family groups and any trip where you have only one possible day. Both cruises allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure on GetYourGuide.

What if the weather is rainy?

Both cruises sail rain or shine, and rain is common on the Sound. The cabins are heated and enclosed, and a waterproof shell lets you go out on deck at the glaciers. Low cloud can hide the higher alpine glaciers on either route, but the tidewater faces sit at sea level and usually stay in view.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?

No. Sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles and kittiwakes are seen on most sailings of both cruises. Phillips says its boats see whales on about half to sixty percent of trips, most often in May, June and September. Orcas, humpbacks and black bears are possible but never certain.

What should I wear?

Layers: a base layer, a fleece or insulated mid-layer, a windproof and waterproof shell, long trousers, closed waterproof shoes, a hat and light gloves. It is colder on deck near the ice than in Whittier.

Is the longer cruise always better?

No. The 26 Glacier Cruise shows you more glaciers, but Glacier Quest spends a larger share of its time at the ice. For families, motion-sensitive travellers and anyone who wants a lighter day, the shorter cruise is often the better choice.

Final take

Choose by how much of your day you want to spend on the boat. The glacier count matters less. The 26 Glacier Cruise is the bigger trip and costs less per hour; Glacier Quest is the easier one, and the only one that works by train both ways. Either way, pick the cruise you would still enjoy in cloud or rain, then check sailing times for your date, because Phillips’ schedule changes at the start and end of the season.

Related reading:

• 26 Glacier Cruise from Whittier: route, highlights and reviews
• Which Prince William Sound cruise is right for you?
• Whittier vs Valdez glacier cruises
• Prince William Sound seasickness guide
• Small boat cruises in Alaska
• Best glacier tours from Anchorage
• Columbia Glacier cruise from Valdez
• Best glacier cruises in Alaska