Prince William Sound Day Cruises — The Best Whittier and Valdez Options

Key facts to know

• Day cruises in the Sound run from 3.5 hours on a small boat to 7.5 hours from Valdez.
• Whittier is the easy port from Anchorage: about 60 miles, roughly an hour and a quarter by road through a one-lane tunnel, or by train in summer.
• Valdez cruises reach Columbia and Meares glaciers, which no Whittier day cruise visits.
• A small-group boat from Whittier lands on a beach; the Phillips catamarans carry about 150 to 330 passengers and do not.
• Whittier’s Phillips cruises cancel free up to 24 hours before departure on GetYourGuide; the two Valdez cruises need three days.

Best day cruises

Ratings are close enough across the four established cruises that you should not choose on them; choose on port, length and the glaciers. The small-group trip has only two reviews so far, so its 5.0 tells you little yet.

Whittier options

All three Whittier cruises leave from the small harbour at the head of Passage Canal.

The 26 Glacier Cruise is the long one: out through Passage Canal and Esther Passage into College Fjord, past more tidewater and hanging glaciers than any other day trip in the Sound. Phillips runs it on the Klondike Express (137 feet, 332 passengers) or the Bravest. Our 26 Glacier Cruise guide follows the route.

Glacier Quest stays close to Whittier, turns into Blackstone Bay and spends a larger share of its 3¾ hours in front of two tidewater glaciers, on a 78-foot catamaran for about 148 passengers. It is the only Whittier cruise you can reach by train from Anchorage both ways. The 26 Glacier Cruise vs Glacier Quest guide compares the two Phillips sailings line by line.

The small-group cruise with Lazy Otter Charters goes to Blackstone Bay too, for 3.5 hours, and lands on a remote beach for a 15 to 20 minute walk. It includes a snack and a hot drink, not lunch, and no transport. Our Blackstone Bay cruise guide sets it against Glacier Quest.

Getting there takes up much of the day. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is the only road into Whittier, and traffic runs one way at a time on a fixed timetable, so a missed slot can cost you an hour. The Whittier tunnel guide has the timetable, the $13 toll and parking.

Valdez options

Valdez sits at the end of the Richardson Highway, five to six hours’ drive from Anchorage in good conditions, or a short flight. Stan Stephens runs both day cruises from the harbour.

The Columbia Glacier cruise leaves at about 10:30 am and spends much of its six hours among the floating ice in Columbia Bay. Columbia has retreated more than 20 kilometres since 1980, so the boat may stop well short of its face on days with heavy ice. Lunch is a soup with a bagel. Our Columbia Glacier guide explains what to expect.

The Meares Glacier cruise leaves in the morning and is back about 5:00 pm. The boat holds position in front of Meares, a glacier that has been advancing while most around it retreat, and waits for it to calve. The Meares Glacier guide covers the route.

Booking a Valdez day means fixing your Valdez dates first: on GetYourGuide both Valdez cruises cancel free only up to three days before departure.

Small boats

The Phillips catamarans are large, steady and well equipped: heated cabins, outside decks, a hot meal and a ranger or captain narrating. The small-group boat from Whittier has a handful of passengers, a crew you can talk to and the beach landing instead.

A smaller boat moves more in the same chop. If anyone in your group is prone to seasickness, the big catamarans on the sheltered Blackstone Bay route are the gentler choice; our seasickness guide explains why. The small-boat vs large-catamaran guide goes through the rest of the trade-off.

Duration

Count the whole day, not only the sailing.

From Anchorage, a Whittier cruise is a day trip either way. A Valdez cruise is not: with five to six hours of driving in each direction, plan at least one night in Valdez.

Price comparison

The fares are close, but the costs around them differ. Driving to Whittier adds the $13 tunnel toll and $15 to $20 for harbour parking on the Phillips cruises, while the coach and train packages cost more but save the drive. A Valdez cruise adds a night’s hotel and either a long drive or a flight, which makes the lowest fare the most expensive day for anyone starting in Anchorage.

Best for families

Glacier Quest is the easiest family day: under four hours on the water, a hot meal with a children’s option, the steadiest route, and the train if your children would rather ride the railway than sit in a car. It finishes before 5 pm.

The 26 Glacier Cruise suits families with older children who will enjoy five hours of glaciers. The Valdez cruises, at six and 7.5 hours, are long for young children. The small-group trip suits active families whose children can manage the step down onto an unimproved beach.

Best for wildlife

More hours on the water usually means more chances. The Meares cruise from Valdez has the most time and crosses open water where Stan Stephens’ crews watch for humpbacks, orcas, Steller sea lions and porpoise. From Whittier, the 26 Glacier Cruise goes furthest, and Phillips says its boats see whales on about 50 to 60 percent of sailings, most often in May, June and September.

Sea otters, harbour seals and bald eagles turn up on all five routes. Blackstone Bay is better for kittiwakes and seals on the ice than for whales. Our Prince William Sound wildlife guide covers what lives where.

Who this article is most useful for

• First-time Alaska visitors choosing one glacier day
• Travellers based in Anchorage planning a day trip
• Families comparing length, price and comfort
• Photographers deciding between the most glaciers and a small boat close to the water
• Cruise passengers adding an independent Prince William Sound day; the Whittier cruise port guide covers timing around a big-ship sailing

Practical planning checklist

• Confirm the sailing date and departure time before you book a hotel or transport. The Phillips season runs from 2 May to 5 October in 2026; Columbia runs from 15 May to 12 September in 2027.
• If you drive to Whittier, plan around the tunnel timetable and arrive early.
• Check what the fare includes: a meal on four of the five cruises, a snack only on the small boat.
• Bring a waterproof shell, a warm mid-layer, a hat, gloves and closed shoes.
• Treat whales, bears and calving as possible highlights, not promises.
• For mobility needs, ask about the exact boat; Valdez boarding ramps can be steep at low tide, and the small-group beach landing needs an uneven step.
• 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 Prince William Sound day cruise suitable for a first Alaska trip?

Yes. It is the main way to see the Sound’s tidewater glaciers, and from Whittier it fits in a day from Anchorage. Pick a route that spends several hours among the glaciers; the 26 Glacier Cruise and the Valdez cruises do.

Do I need to book in advance?

For July and August, yes, especially coach and rail packages, family groups and the small-group boat. On GetYourGuide the Whittier cruises cancel free up to 24 hours before departure, the Valdez cruises up to three days before.

What if the weather is rainy?

Rain is common in the Sound and does not stop the cruises. Low cloud can hide the upper glaciers, so waterproof clothing matters more than chasing a dry forecast. Strong wind can change a route or cancel a sailing.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?

No. Sea otters, seals and eagles are very likely, but whales and orcas depend on the season and the day, and no operator promises them.

What should I wear?

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

Is a longer tour always better?

No. The longer cruises pass more glaciers and give wildlife more time to appear, but Glacier Quest’s 3¾ hours suit families, motion-sensitive travellers and anyone who wants a lighter day.

Final take

From Anchorage, the choice is between the two Phillips cruises from Whittier: the 26 Glacier Cruise for the most glaciers, Glacier Quest for a shorter, calmer afternoon. The small-group boat is the pick if you want to stand on a beach in the Sound and you accept a listing with few reviews. Valdez is worth the drive only if you are staying there or have two days, and then Meares gives you the most time on the water and Columbia the lowest fare. Check your exact date on the booking page, because every operator’s season starts and ends at different times.

Related guides

• Whittier, Alaska guide
• Which Prince William Sound cruise is right for you?
• Best glacier tours from Anchorage
• Whittier vs Valdez glacier cruise
• Best glacier cruises in Alaska