Columbia Glacier Cruise from Valdez: What to Expect

Why Columbia Glacier is special

Columbia Glacier flows down from an icefield about 3,050 metres (10,000 feet) up in the Chugach Mountains and ends in Columbia Bay, a narrow inlet off Prince William Sound. For most of its recorded history it barely moved. According to NASA, it was about 66 kilometres (41 miles) long and held its position, with only small advances and retreats, until 1980.

Then it began to retreat fast. Its front has since pulled back more than 20 kilometres (12 miles) up Columbia Bay, and the glacier has lost about half of its thickness and volume. Around 2011 it split into two branches, the West Branch, also called Post Glacier, and the Main Branch. NASA describes it as one of the most rapidly changing glaciers in the world.

That is what you are cruising to see. One of Stan Stephens’ captains puts it this way: it is the first time a retreat like this has been documented from start to finish. The ice that once filled the bay now floats in it, as bergs and smaller pieces, and the boat moves among it.

Cruise route

The trip has three parts:

1. Port Valdez. The first stretch crosses the long fjord in front of town, past waterfalls coming down the mountain walls. The crew talk about the area’s history: mining, earthquakes, oil shipping and commercial fishing.
2. The Valdez Narrows and the Sound. The boat passes through the Valdez Narrows into Prince William Sound proper. Out here the crew watch for whales, sea lions and porpoise, and lunch is served before the cold part of the trip.
3. Columbia Bay. The turnaround. The boat enters the bay among the floating ice and gets as close to the glacier as the ice allows, then heads back to Valdez.

The cruise normally leaves at 10:30 am and gets back about six hours later, which leaves time to eat in town. In 2027 Stan Stephens has moved the departure to 7:30 am on a few dates and to 2:30 pm on about thirty more, mostly in July and August, so check the time on your ticket.

Icebergs and glacier conditions

This is the section to read before you book. The ice is the attraction, and it is also the main thing that limits the trip.

Columbia Bay fills with ice that has broken off the glacier. On some days the captain can take the boat a long way up the bay; on others the ice is too dense to get far. Two GetYourGuide reviewers in summer 2026 described exactly this. One, in late July, wrote that the bay was “pretty much clogged up with ice” and the boat could not reach the glacier. Another, in late August, said Stan Stephens suggested they take the longer Meares Glacier cruise instead because of the ice at Columbia. Both still rated their day five stars, for the wildlife and the ice itself.

So set your expectations around the bay rather than the face. You will be surrounded by ice: bergs with blue in them, smaller pieces drifting past the hull, and often harbour seals resting on the floes. You may not see the glacier’s front up close, and you may not see it calve. If watching a glacier face break into the water is the main reason you are going, book the Meares cruise, where the boat holds position in front of an advancing, active face.

Wildlife

Stan Stephens lists seals, sea otters, Steller sea lions, humpback whales, orcas, Dall’s porpoise, bald eagles and puffins as the animals you can see on this route. Recent reviewers report long lists: humpbacks, orcas, sea lions, otters and seabirds on the same trip, with the captain pointing each one out.

Sea otters, harbour seals and bald eagles are the most dependable. Whales, orcas and puffins are more a matter of luck and season, and no operator can promise them.

Bring binoculars. The crew are good at finding animals, but many of them are seen at a distance.

Pricing structure

Stan Stephens publishes simple fares, and the same cruise costs slightly less when booked direct:

The fare includes the lunch, coffee, tea, lemonade and water, a narrating crew, and transfers from RV parks in central Valdez on request. Tips, snacks, soft drinks and hot chocolate from the galley, and anything from the gift shop are extra, and the boat takes cash only. Parking along North Harbor Drive is free for the day, and there is no tunnel toll on this side of the Sound.

Compared with the Whittier cruises, Columbia is the cheapest full day here. The real cost is getting to Valdez: about 300 miles by road from Anchorage, or a flight. Booked on GetYourGuide, it can be cancelled free of charge up to three days before departure, not 24 hours as with the Phillips cruises from Whittier, so fix your Valdez dates first.

What to wear

Stan Stephens says the temperature at the glaciers is about 48°F (8°C), and the crew tell passengers to add layers before entering Columbia Bay, where the ice cools the air noticeably. Dress for a cold, damp deck even if Valdez is sunny:

• a warm base layer and a fleece or insulated jacket
• a windproof and waterproof outer shell
• a hat and gloves
• closed shoes with grip, for the dock ramp and a wet deck
• sunglasses and sunscreen, because the glare off ice and water is strong

The cabin on the Glacier Spirit is heated, with large windows, and the boat has three restrooms, one of them wheelchair accessible. Its decks are accessible too, but at extreme low tides the ramp down to the boat can be steep, so tell the operator in advance if anyone in your group needs help boarding.

Who should book

The Columbia cruise suits:

• travellers already in Valdez, or driving the Richardson Highway or taking the ferry
• anyone who wants a full day on the Sound for the lowest fare on this site
• people who are as interested in wildlife and floating ice as in a glacier face
• families, who pay half price for children aged 3 to 12 and nothing for under-twos

It suits you less if you are based in Anchorage with one free day. The 26 Glacier Cruise leaves from Whittier, about 60 miles away instead of 300, and reaches the tidewater glaciers of College Fjord (our guide to that cruise covers the route). And if seeing a glacier calve is the priority, the Meares cruise is the better Valdez trip: 7.5 hours, from $201, and rated 4.8/5 from more than 75 reviews. Our Valdez glacier cruises page compares the two side by side.

Who this article is most useful for

• First-time Alaska visitors trying to choose one major glacier experience
• Travellers deciding whether Valdez is worth the trip from Anchorage
• Families comparing duration, price and comfort
• Photographers who want icebergs, seals on the floes and long hours on the water
• Road-trippers and ferry passengers adding a Prince William Sound day in Valdez

Practical planning checklist

• Confirm your date and departure time; in 2027 a few dates leave at 7:30 am or 2:30 pm.
• Book your travel to Valdez first: a 40-minute flight from Anchorage, or about 300 miles by road.
• Check in at the Stan Stephens office, behind the Best Western on North Harbor Drive, one hour before departure. Boarding starts 30 minutes before.
• Park free along North Harbor Drive, or ask for a transfer if you are staying at an RV park in town.
• Bring cash for tips and anything from the galley.
• Pack warm layers, a waterproof shell, a hat, gloves and binoculars.
• If you have dietary needs, bring your own food; the galley serves only the soup lunch and a vegetarian option, and has a microwave you can use.
• Treat whales, orcas and calving as possible highlights, not promises.
• For mobility needs, tell the operator in advance about boarding at low tide.
• If you are travelling with children, plan snacks and something to do on a six-hour day.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Columbia Glacier cruise suitable for a first Alaska trip?

Yes, if Valdez is on your route. It is a full day on the Sound with wildlife, floating ice and a well-reviewed crew, for the lowest fare on this site. If you are based in Anchorage with one free day, a Whittier cruise is closer and easier.

Do I need to book the Columbia Glacier cruise in advance?

For July and August, yes. The boat carries up to 149 passengers and there is one sailing a day. Booked on GetYourGuide, you can cancel free of charge up to three days before departure.

How close do you get to Columbia Glacier?

That depends on the ice. The glacier has retreated so far that the boat spends most of its time among the floating ice in Columbia Bay. On days with heavy ice it may stay a long way from the glacier’s face, and some recent passengers did not reach it at all.

What if the weather is rainy?

The cruise runs in any weather. The cabin is heated and enclosed, so you can watch from inside between stops. Good waterproof clothing matters more than the forecast.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?

No. Sea otters, harbour seals and bald eagles are the most likely sightings, and seals often rest on the ice in Columbia Bay. Humpbacks, orcas, sea lions and puffins are seen on many trips but never promised.

What should I wear on the Columbia Glacier cruise?

Layers: a base layer, a warm mid-layer, a waterproof and windproof shell, long trousers, closed shoes, a hat and gloves. The operator puts the temperature at the glaciers at about 48°F (8°C).

Is lunch included?

Yes. The fare includes a bowl of clam chowder, or a vegetarian soup, with a bagel, cream cheese and cookies, plus coffee, tea, lemonade and water. Snacks are sold on board for cash.

Is a longer tour always better?

No. The 7.5-hour Meares cruise gets you to an active calving face, but it is a longer day. The six-hour Columbia trip costs less, still gets back in time for dinner in Valdez, and is the easier day for families.

Final take

The Columbia Glacier cruise is a trip to see what a glacier’s retreat leaves behind: a bay full of ice, seals on the floes and the wildlife of Prince William Sound on the way there and back. It is the cheapest full day on the Sound, and the reviews are consistently strong. Book it if you are in Valdez and want the ice and the animals. Choose the Meares cruise if a calving face is the point of the day, and a Whittier cruise if you are starting from Anchorage.

Related reading:

• Our full breakdown of the Columbia Glacier cruise
• Valdez glacier cruises: Columbia and Meares compared
• Whittier vs Valdez glacier cruises
• 26 Glacier Cruise from Whittier
• Small-boat cruises in Alaska
• Seasickness on Prince William Sound
• Best glacier tours from Anchorage