The Best Time for a Prince William Sound Cruise
When the season runs, what changes month to month, and which weeks trade cheaper fares and thinner crowds for more weather. Month-by-month for Whittier and Valdez.
Prince William Sound has a short season and a long argument about the best week of it. The sailings run from May into September, and the flagship continues into early October. Every month inside that window trades something — light against crowds, wildlife against price, calm water against a clear view of the peaks.
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The season in one paragraph
The flagship 26 Glacier Cruise runs from early May to early October, sailing daily from late May to mid-September, and the other sailings track a shorter summer window, roughly mid-May to mid-September. July and August are the peak: warmest, busiest and most expensive. Late May, June and early September are the value weeks — fewer people, lower fares, more weather — and, according to Phillips Cruises, the months when its boats see whales most often. Outside that window these boats are not sailing at all.
Month by month
May. The season opens in the first days of the month. The Sound is quiet, fares are at their lowest, and the mountains still hold deep snow, which is genuinely the most photogenic version of this landscape. The trade is temperature and daylight quality — it is cold on deck and the weather is less settled. Phillips Cruises counts May among its best months for whales, as humpbacks arrive from their winter grounds.
June. Arguably the sweet spot. Daylight is enormous, the snowline is still high on the peaks, and the crowds have not fully arrived. Salmon runs are beginning, which starts pulling in the animals that follow them. Fares sit below the July peak.
July. The busiest and warmest month. Sailings fill, the tunnel queue into Whittier is at its longest, and prices are at their highest. In exchange you get the warmest weather of the season and every operator running a full schedule. Orcas and humpbacks are still seen, but Phillips does not rank July among its best whale months.
August. Very close to July — the salmon are in, so bears are more likely on the beaches — with slightly softer light and slightly more rain as the month goes on. The common question is whether glaciers are still worth seeing in August. They are: tidewater glaciers do not have a season, and calving carries on through August.
September. The season winds down and closes in the middle of the month for the flagship route. Early September is one of the best value windows of the year — thin crowds, lower fares, autumn colour on the lower slopes — with a real chance of a grey, low-ceiling day that hides the peaks above the fjord walls.
What actually changes, and what does not
Glaciers do not change much. Tidewater glaciers calve all season. If your reason for booking is ice, any month in the window delivers, and the shoulder weeks may deliver it with fewer people on the rail.
Wildlife changes less than you might expect. Sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles and kittiwakes are close to routine from May onward. Phillips Cruises says its boats see whales on about 50 to 60 percent of sailings, most often in May, June and September, while black bears are likelier when the salmon are running in midsummer. If whales are the point, late May, June or September is a good choice, and they are still a bonus. Our Prince William Sound wildlife guide covers each animal.
Weather changes the view, not the sailing. Every operator here runs rain or shine, and the cabins are heated and enclosed. What rain actually costs you is the skyline: a low ceiling hides the peaks above the fjord, though the ice at the waterline is unaffected. Reviewers on the flagship repeatedly describe good days in steady rain.
Price and availability change most of all. July and August sell out. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure means an early booking in peak season costs you nothing in flexibility.
Choosing a time of day
Most sailings depart late morning or around midday, which is when the light is flattest. If your operator offers more than one departure and you have a choice, the later one generally gives better light on the ice as the afternoon angles over.
Whittier departures also interact with the tunnel schedule — traffic runs in on the half-hour and out on the hour — so an early sailing means an early start from Anchorage, and a late one means checking the last outbound slot before you book dinner back in town.
If you only have one week
Aim for the last week of June or the first week of September if you want the best balance of price, crowds and conditions; both weeks also fall in the months Phillips reports the most whale sightings. Aim for mid-July to mid-August if you want the warmest weather and the full schedule, and you are willing to pay peak fares and book early.
And in any month, book the cruise before the accommodation. There are only five of these sailings, they run a short season, and in peak weeks they fill before Whittier runs out of parking spaces. Our which-cruise guide will help you commit to the right one first time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Prince William Sound cruise season run?
Roughly May to September. The 26 Glacier Cruise from Whittier runs from early May to early October, daily from late May to mid-September, and the Valdez sailings and the Glacier Quest run from mid-May to mid-September. Outside that window these boats are not operating.
Can you see glaciers in Alaska in August?
Yes. Tidewater glaciers calve throughout the season and are unaffected by the month. August is busy and the salmon runs make bears likelier on the shore; whales are possible, though Phillips sees them most often in May, June and September.
What is the best month for a Prince William Sound cruise?
July for the most reliable weather; June and early September for the best balance of price, crowds and conditions, and for whales; May for the deepest snow on the peaks and the lowest fares.
Will bad weather cancel my cruise?
Rarely. Every operator here sails rain or shine with enclosed, heated cabins, and only genuinely unsafe conditions cause a cancellation. The small-group operator refunds in full if they cancel for weather, and GetYourGuide’s free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure in any case.
When are you most likely to see whales?
Phillips Cruises says May, June and September, and that its boats see whales on about 50 to 60 percent of sailings. Research shows humpback numbers in the Sound peak later still, in autumn, after the cruise season. No operator can guarantee sightings on open water at any time of year.
How far ahead should I book for July or August?
As early as you reasonably can. These are the busiest weeks of a short season on a small number of boats. Since cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, booking early does not lock you in.
See 26 Glaciers in One Day
Phillips' catamaran runs Whittier to College Fjord and back through Esther Passage, with a no-seasickness guarantee and free cancellation. Rated 4.8/5 by 195 guests.
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