Blackstone Glacier Cruise from Whittier — Blackstone Bay Tours and What to Expect

Key facts to know

• Blackstone Bay is close to Whittier, so you spend more of each trip at the glaciers and less on getting there.
• Two tidewater glaciers end in the sea at the head of the bay, Blackstone and Beloit. Northland Glacier is a hanging glacier: it stops on a cliff above the water and drops a waterfall instead of calving into the bay.
• Only the small-group trip lands on a shore.
• Both trips fit in half a day, which leaves the morning or the evening for the drive or train from Anchorage.

Blackstone Bay overview

Whittier sits at the head of Passage Canal, and both trips run out along the canal before turning south into Blackstone Bay. The canal walls are steep, waterfalls fall straight into the sea, and black-legged kittiwakes nest on the cliffs beside them. The water is sheltered compared with the open Sound; NOAA’s sailing directions note that ice in Blackstone Bay stays inside the bay, which tells you how enclosed it is.

Because the bay is close, you do not cross a long stretch of open water. That is why Blackstone suits families, first-time boaters and anyone with an afternoon rather than a full day. The longer Whittier cruise reaches more glaciers, and the Valdez cruises reach bigger ones, but neither fits between lunch and dinner the way Blackstone does.

Weather changes the day more than the route does. Coastal Alaska turns from sun to drizzle quickly, and either operator may hold the boat further off the ice, or change the plan, for wind, ice or poor visibility. Dress for cold near the glaciers whatever the forecast in town.

Blackstone Glacier

Blackstone Glacier is the larger of the two faces at the head of the bay, and the one the trips are named after. Its ice reaches the water, so pieces break off into the bay, and the floating ice in front of it shows how active it is. The captain picks a line through the ice and holds the boat off the face so you can watch for calving. Ice falls here often, but you may not see a piece drop on your sailing.

On Lazy Otter’s trip, the run from the harbour to Blackstone Glacier takes about an hour, and the naturalist talks through what you are seeing on the way. The rock walls on the approach carry deep grooves and striations scraped by the ice when it filled the whole fjord.

Beloit Glacier

Beloit is the second tidewater glacier, beside Blackstone at the head of the bay. Seeing two faces close together is the main reason to choose Blackstone over a single-glacier stop: you compare their colour and their ice in one view.

Above them, several alpine glaciers hang on the slopes. Northland Glacier is the one guides usually point out, a hanging glacier with a waterfall pouring from its edge. These upper glaciers do not calve into the sea, but on a clear day they add to the count of ice you see from one spot.

Small-boat tour

Lazy Otter Charters is a Whittier operator that also runs water taxis and kayak trips into the Sound. Its largest boat is a 46-foot landing-craft catamaran for 27 passengers, with smaller 40-foot and 31-foot vessels. A smaller boat gives you an easier view from the rail and a crew you can talk to: captains and deckhands who live and work on the Sound, plus a naturalist. The cabin is heated and there is one marine toilet aboard, so use the restrooms at the tunnel staging area before you cross.

The trade-off is motion. A lighter boat moves more in the same chop, and you feel it more than on a catamaran. Blackstone Bay is sheltered, which helps, but if seasickness is your main concern the seasickness guide explains why the big catamaran is the safer bet.

The 3.5-hour trip sold on GetYourGuide matches what Lazy Otter’s own listings describe as its spring and autumn Blackstone cruise, with a longer 4.5-hour version sold directly in summer. Check which dates the listing offers before you plan your week around it. Free cancellation runs to 24 hours before departure, and if the operator cancels for weather you can take a full refund. Parking in Whittier is free while you are on the water, which saves the $15 to $20 you would pay at the harbour lots for the Phillips cruises.

Glacier Quest alternative

Glacier Quest is the Blackstone Bay trip with the long review record: 4.8/5 from 171 reviews. Phillips runs a 78-foot catamaran with heated indoor seating and outside decks, and a Chugach National Forest ranger narrates. One hot meal comes with the fare, chosen at checkout: smoked salmon chowder, vegetarian chili, or a hot dog for children.

It also has the easiest logistics from Anchorage. Phillips sells it with the Alaska Railroad both ways, with the train leaving Anchorage at 9:45 am, or with a coach from the Hotel Captain Cook at 9:15 am, back about 7:30 pm. Neither small-boat option comes with transport.

What you give up is the landing. You watch the glaciers from the deck with around 150 other passengers, and the boat cannot go ashore. Our Glacier Quest guide covers the route, the meal and the timetable in detail.

Beach landing

The landing is the reason to book the small boat. Lazy Otter’s landing-craft boats are built to run onto a beach, and at some point in the trip the captain runs the boat onto a remote beach for a 15 to 20 minute walk on the shore of Prince William Sound. You stand on the outwash of a glacier-carved fjord rather than looking at it from a rail, and you can pick up the stones the ice brought down.

The beach is unimproved. You step from the boat onto gravel or wet rock, so the trip does not suit anyone who cannot manage an uneven step down. Wear sturdy, warm shoes with grip, and expect wet ground. On days with surf or strong wind the captain may skip the landing.

Photography

Blackstone Bay is a good half day for photographs because the boat spends a long time close to the glacier faces. On the catamaran, the outside decks are high and give a clear view over the ice; on the small boat you are lower, closer to the water and the floating ice, and you can usually move from side to side more freely.

Bring a lens with some reach for kittiwakes on the cliffs, seals on the floating ice and sea otters, and keep a cloth for spray and drizzle. Overcast light is common and works well on blue ice. A waterproof cover for the camera matters more than a perfect forecast.

Who should choose it

Book Glacier Quest if you are travelling by train or coach from Anchorage, you have children who will not last five hours on a boat, anyone in your group is prone to seasickness, or you want the reassurance of many reviews.

Book the small-group cruise if you want to step ashore, you prefer a small group and a crew you can talk to, and you will drive to Whittier yourself.

Look at a longer trip if this is your one glacier day in Alaska and you want the most ice. Our Prince William Sound day cruises guide sets every Whittier and Valdez sailing side by side.

Who this article is most useful for

• First-time Alaska visitors choosing one glacier trip
• Travellers based in Anchorage planning a day trip to Whittier
• Families comparing a half day on the water with a five-hour cruise
• Photographers deciding between a high deck and a low, small boat
• Cruise passengers adding an independent Prince William Sound trip before or after their sailing

Practical planning checklist

• Confirm the sailing date and departure time before you book a hotel or transport.
• If you drive, the Whittier tunnel opens toward Whittier once an hour, on the half-hour; for a 1:00 pm departure take the 12:30 tunnel at the latest. The toll is $13. Our Whittier tunnel guide has the timetable.
• Check what the fare includes: Glacier Quest includes a meal; the small-group trip includes a snack and a hot drink only, so eat before you board.
• Bring a waterproof shell, a warm mid-layer, a hat, gloves and closed shoes. Lazy Otter rents some rain gear.
• Treat whales, bears and calving as possible highlights, not promises.
• For mobility needs, ask the operator about the exact boat; the beach landing involves an uneven step down.
• With children, count the whole day from your hotel, not only the hours on the boat.
• Keep the evening free in case the tunnel, the road or the train runs late.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Blackstone Bay cruise suitable for a first Alaska trip?

Yes. You reach two tidewater glaciers in half a day, on sheltered water, and spend a good share of the trip near the ice. If you want to see as many glaciers as possible, the 26 Glacier Cruise covers more ground in a longer day.

Do I need to book in advance?

For July and August, yes, especially the small-group trip, which carries far fewer passengers, and the Glacier Quest rail packages. Both listings offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

What if the weather is rainy?

Rain is common in Whittier and does not stop the trip, although low cloud can hide the hanging glaciers higher up. Waterproof clothing matters more than the forecast. Strong wind can cancel a sailing; on the small-group listing you can then take a full refund.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?

No. Sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles and kittiwakes are the usual sightings in Passage Canal and Blackstone Bay. Whales are possible but not common on this route. Our wildlife guide covers what turns up where.

What should I wear?

Layers: a base layer, a fleece or insulated mid-layer, a windproof and waterproof shell, long trousers, closed shoes with grip for the beach landing, a hat and light gloves. It is colder near the ice than on the dock.

Is a longer tour always better?

No. A longer cruise passes more glaciers, but a half day in Blackstone Bay suits families, motion-sensitive travellers and anyone who wants the afternoon on the water and the evening free.

Final take

In Blackstone Bay you see two tidewater glaciers in half a day, close to Whittier, on calm water. Choose by what you want from the boat. Glacier Quest is the dependable choice, with a meal, a ranger, train connections and 171 reviews. The small boat is the one that puts you on a beach, with a crew you can talk to, but book it knowing its listing is new. If Blackstone is your only glacier day, check both on your date, because the small-group trip may run on fewer days.

Related guides

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