Glacier Quest Cruise from Whittier: Blackstone Bay Guide

Quick answer

The Glacier Quest Cruise from Whittier with Onboard Lunch costs from $210 per person and is rated 4.8/5 from 171 reviews on GetYourGuide. You sail from Whittier’s harbour on a Phillips catamaran, spend a good share of the afternoon in front of the two glacier faces at the head of Blackstone Bay, and step back onto the dock before 5 pm. It is the only Phillips cruise you can do by train in both directions.

Key facts to know


Operator	Phillips Cruises & Tours
Departs	Cliffside Marina, Whittier; check in at the Phillips office one hour before
Sailing	About 3¾ hours, 1:00 to 4:45 pm
Route	Passage Canal and Blackstone Bay
Glaciers	Two tidewater glaciers at the head of the bay, plus several alpine glaciers
Meal	One hot meal, chosen at checkout
Commentary	A Chugach National Forest ranger aboard
Price	From $210 per person on GetYourGuide
Cancellation	Free up to 24 hours before (GetYourGuide booking)

Glacier Quest lasts about 3 hours 45 minutes on the water.
It travels through Passage Canal and Blackstone Bay, both close to Whittier.
Families pick it often: the day is short, and our seasickness guide rates it the gentlest of the Phillips sailings.
The Alaska Railroad’s summer train from Anchorage connects with its 1:00 pm departure.

Overview of the afternoon

You check in at the Phillips office at Cliffside Marina an hour before the boat leaves. If you drive, the single-lane Whittier tunnel sets your arrival time: take the 11:30 am opening from the Bear Valley side, and budget $13 for the toll and $15 to $20 for parking.

The boat leaves at 1:00 pm, runs out along Passage Canal and turns into Blackstone Bay. Most of the middle of the trip is spent near the ice. The meal is served on the way, and you are back in Whittier at about 4:45 pm. The captain can change the route for wind, ice or poor visibility. That is normal on the Sound, and the trip still runs.

Compare the whole day, not only the ticket. Driving adds the toll and parking. The coach and train packages cost more but save you the tunnel timing and the 60-mile drive from Anchorage.

The route through Passage Canal

Whittier sits at the head of Passage Canal, a long fjord with steep walls and waterfalls falling straight into the sea. Black-legged kittiwakes nest on the cliffs beside the falls, and the ranger usually points out the colonies on the way out. The water here is sheltered compared with the open Sound, which is one reason this route is the calmer of the two Phillips cruises.

From the canal the boat turns into Blackstone Bay. You do not cross a long stretch of open water to reach the ice, which is the main difference from the 26 Glacier route to College Fjord.

Blackstone Bay

Blackstone Bay is a deep-water fjord much closer to Whittier than College Fjord. Because the boat reaches it sooner, a larger share of your 3¾ hours goes on the glaciers and less on transit. For families this matters more than the glacier count: children see the ice while they are still interested, and the whole outing fits between lunch and dinner.

Blackstone is also the bay the small-group Blackstone Glacier Small-Group Cruise and Beach Walk visits, on a smaller boat with a beach landing. It is rated 5.0/5 from a single review on GetYourGuide, so there is little to judge it on yet. Glacier Quest is the established way into the bay.

Glaciers

Two tidewater glaciers end at the head of the bay, Blackstone and Beloit, and several alpine glaciers hang on the slopes above them. The captain picks a line through the floating ice and holds the boat off the faces so you can watch for calving. Ice breaks off these faces often, but you may not see it fall on your sailing.

You see fewer glaciers than on the 26 Glacier Cruise, which passes twenty-six named ones on the way to College Fjord. In return the two faces you do reach are close and active, and you spend longer looking at them.

Wildlife

Sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles and kittiwakes are the usual sightings in Passage Canal and Blackstone Bay. Seals can rest on the floating ice near the glaciers. Whales are possible in the Sound but are not the reason to book this route. If wildlife is your priority, the 7.5-hour Meares Glacier cruise from Valdez spends far longer on the water, and our Prince William Sound wildlife guide covers which animals turn up where.

Food and boat

One hot meal per fare is included, chosen at checkout: Alaska smoked salmon chowder, a vegetarian chili, or an all-beef hot dog as the children’s meal. Coffee, tea and water are on board, and the galley and bar sell snacks and drinks.

The boat is a 78-foot Phillips catamaran carrying about 148 passengers, with heated indoor seating, restrooms and outside deck space for photos. Strollers, large bags, coolers, umbrellas and tripods are not allowed aboard. Infants travel on a lap, and service animals are welcome. Anyone who cannot manage the harbour access ramp should call Phillips before booking.

Transport

You can reach the dock three ways:

Drive. About 60 miles from Anchorage, through the single-lane tunnel. Take the 11:30 am tunnel opening. Our Whittier Tunnel guide has the schedule.
Coach. Phillips’ coach leaves the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage at 9:15 am and gets back at about 7:30 pm. From Girdwood it leaves the Alyeska Resort at 10:30 am.
Train. Phillips sells Glacier Quest with Alaska Railroad service both ways: out of Anchorage at 9:45 am, back at 9:15 pm. From Girdwood the train leaves at 10:55 am and returns at 7:40 pm.

The train is the relaxed way to go: you watch Turnagain Arm from the carriage, eat lunch on the boat and leave the driving to someone else. Our guide to getting to Prince William Sound from Anchorage compares all three.

Glacier Quest vs 26 Glacier

Phillips runs both cruises from the same dock. The Prince William Sound 26 Glacier Cruise from Whittier sails noon to 5:15 pm to College Fjord, from $260 and rated 4.8/5 from 233 reviews. Glacier Quest is 1:00 to 4:45 pm to Blackstone Bay, from $210.

	Glacier Quest	26 Glacier Cruise
Destination	Blackstone Bay	College Fjord
Sailing	About 3¾ hours	About 5¼ hours
Glaciers	Two tidewater, several alpine	Twenty-six named
Round-trip train	Yes	No (coach out, train back)
Price on GetYourGuide	From $210	From $260
Our pick on GetYourGuide	Glacier Quest, $210	26 Glacier Cruise, $260

Book the 26 Glacier Cruise if this is your one big glacier day and you can give it the whole afternoon. Book Glacier Quest if you are on the train, travelling with young children, or prone to seasickness. Our 26 Glacier vs Glacier Quest comparison goes through the two side by side.

Who this guide is most useful for

First-time visitors who want one glacier cruise without giving up a whole day
Anchorage-based travellers planning a day trip by train or coach
Families with children who would struggle with five hours on a boat
Travellers prone to seasickness who want the more sheltered route
Cruise-ship passengers with an afternoon free in Whittier

Practical planning checklist

Confirm the sailing date and departure time before you book the train, coach or a hotel.
If you drive, plan around the 11:30 am tunnel opening and arrive early.
Check in at the Phillips office at Cliffside Marina one hour before departure.
Choose your meal at checkout; it is one hot meal per fare.
Bring a waterproof layer, a warm mid-layer, a hat, gloves and closed shoes.
Leave strollers, tripods, umbrellas and large bags behind.
Treat calving, whales and bears as possible highlights, not promises.
For mobility needs, ask Phillips about the ramp and the boat before you book.

Frequently asked questions

Is Glacier Quest suitable for a first Alaska trip?

Yes, if you want a shorter day. You reach two tidewater glaciers and spend a good part of the trip near them. If you can give the cruise a full afternoon and want the most glaciers, the 26 Glacier Cruise is the bigger first trip.

Do I need to book in advance?

Book ahead for July and August, and for any date you cannot move. GetYourGuide bookings cancel free up to 24 hours before.

What if the weather is rainy?

Rain is common in Whittier and does not stop the cruise. Low cloud can hide the alpine glaciers higher up, but the tidewater faces are at sea level and you still see them. Pack a good rain shell whatever the forecast says.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?

No. Sea otters, harbour seals, eagles and kittiwakes are seen on most sailings, but animals move with the food and the season. Whales are possible and not common on this route.

What should I wear?

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

Is a longer cruise always better?

No. The 26 Glacier Cruise covers more water and passes more glaciers. Glacier Quest gets you to the ice sooner and is easier on families and anyone who gets seasick, which can make it the better afternoon.

Final take

Glacier Quest is the short, sheltered way to see tidewater glaciers from Whittier, and the only Phillips cruise that works by train both ways. If you want the most ice and have the time, book the 26 Glacier Cruise instead. Either way, check the sailing time for your date before you book transport, because Phillips’ schedule changes at the start and end of the season.

Glacier Quest Cruise from Whittier — What You See in Blackstone Bay