Prince William Sound Wildlife & Whale Watching: What You Can See and When

On a Prince William Sound glacier cruise you will almost certainly see sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles and the kittiwakes nesting on the cliffs of Passage Canal. Humpback whales and orcas are possible on any sailing: Phillips Cruises, which runs the two big Whittier cruises, says its boats see whales on about 50 to 60 percent of trips. Steller sea lions, Dall’s porpoise, black bears and mountain goats turn up often enough to watch for, and puffins are more likely on the long Valdez routes than out of Whittier. These are glacier cruises with wildlife along the way, not whale-watching trips, and no operator can promise any one animal.

Quick answer

If wildlife matters as much as the ice, book a long route and bring binoculars. The 26 Glacier Cruise from Whittier covers the most water of the Whittier trips, about five hours through Passage Canal, Esther Passage and College Fjord, and is rated 4.8/5 from more than 220 reviews on GetYourGuide. From Valdez, the 7.5-hour Meares Glacier cruise goes furthest into the Sound and passes a Steller sea lion haulout on the way back. The shorter Glacier Quest still passes the kittiwake colony and the otters of Passage Canal, and suits families with less time.

Key facts to know


Almost every trip	Sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles, kittiwakes
Often seen	Dall’s porpoise, Steller sea lions, other seabirds
Possible, never promised	Humpback whales, orcas, black bears, mountain goats
Whale sightings	About 50 to 60 percent of Phillips sailings, by the operator’s own count
Best months for whales (on a cruise)	May, June and September, according to Phillips
Puffins	Rare out of Whittier; more likely on the Valdez routes
Season	Early May to late September or early October, depending on the cruise

Every cruise here is a glacier cruise first. Wildlife is the second half of the day.
The animals live along the fjord walls and in the open water the boats cross, so the longer the route, the more chances you get.
Federal rules keep boats at least 100 yards from humpback whales in Alaska, so whales are usually seen at a distance.

Whales

Humpbacks are the whale most visitors hope for. Stan Stephens Cruises in Valdez describes them as averaging 45 feet and 35 to 40 tons, migrating about 6,000 miles to feed in Alaska and eating nearly a ton of food a day. In the Sound you usually see them as a blow on the horizon, a dark back rolling at the surface and, if you are lucky, a raised tail as the whale dives.

Phillips Cruises answers the obvious question directly: its cruises are not whale-watching trips, whales are not guaranteed, and its boats see them on about 50 to 60 percent of sailings. It also says whales are more often seen in May, June and September, when they are on the move between Alaska and their winter grounds off Hawaii and California. Research backs the idea that humpbacks use the Sound outside high summer: a NOAA-funded study published in 2018 found humpback numbers in Prince William Sound stayed high through the autumn and peaked in December, as whales fed on herring before migrating. That is after the cruise boats stop for the year, but it explains why a September sailing can be as good as one in July. A 2026 study in Marine Mammal Science also recorded a decline in the Sound’s humpbacks after the 2014 to 2016 marine heatwave in the North Pacific, so recent counts are lower than they were a decade ago.

Fin whales and minke whales are seen in the Sound too, but much less often. Stan Stephens calls the minke a shy whale: when one is spotted, you usually see only one or two dives.

Orcas

Orcas are the sighting that makes a day. They are the largest member of the dolphin family, up to about 30 feet long and 4 to 6 tons, and they travel in family groups, so when one appears there are usually several. Phillips says it is “not uncommon” to see them on the 26 Glacier Cruise, and recent reviewers on both the Whittier and Valdez routes report seeing them, one of them two separate pods on the same August 2026 sailing.

There is no orca season you can book around. Phillips’ own summary is that when the salmon are in, the whales and bears follow, but orcas move fast and range widely, and a day with none is just as normal as a day with a pod alongside. If you see them, the captain will usually stop and turn the boat so both sides get a look.

Sea otters

Sea otters are the animal you are most likely to see, often within minutes of leaving the harbour. They float on their backs in Passage Canal and Port Valdez, grooming, eating or asleep in groups. Stan Stephens notes that they are the largest members of the weasel family in North America, that males can weigh up to 100 pounds, and that they eat nearly a quarter of their body weight every day to stay warm in cold water.

Phillips names Passage Canal, the fjord running out from Whittier, as a place where sea otters, Dall’s porpoise, whales and bald eagles are often spotted, which means every Whittier cruise gets a first look before the glaciers.

Harbour seals

Harbour seals are the other near-certain sighting, and the glaciers are the best place to see them. They haul out on floating ice in front of the tidewater glaciers, and Stan Stephens says females with pups are often seen on the ice chunks near the glacier faces. In Columbia Bay, where the boat moves through a field of floating ice, seals resting on the floes are one of the highlights of the Columbia Glacier cruise. In Blackstone Bay, on the Glacier Quest route, Phillips points out seals resting on bits of glacier ice in the same way.

They are shy on the water: a round head and two large eyes that watch the boat, then sink out of sight. They can dive to about 600 feet for food.

Sea lions and porpoises

Steller sea lions are much bigger than seals and much louder. Stan Stephens puts adult males at about 1,200 pounds and females at up to 650 pounds. They feed at night and spend the day resting on rocks, so a haulout is the place to see them. The Meares Glacier cruise from Valdez passes the Bull Head haulout on its way back, a colony made up mostly of young males that Stan Stephens describes as noisy. On the Whittier routes sea lions are seen in the water more often than ashore.

Dall’s porpoise are the fastest thing you will see. They are black with large white patches on their sides, and they like to ride the bow wave, so you often see them racing alongside the front of the boat. Stand at the bow if the captain announces them.

Birds

Prince William Sound is a very good place for seabirds, and you do not need to be a birder to enjoy them. Phillips says more than 200 species have been recorded on the Sound. The highlight on both Whittier cruises is the kittiwake colony in Passage Canal: more than 10,000 black-legged kittiwakes nesting on the rock cliffs, which the boats stop at on the way back to Whittier. You hear it before you reach it.

Bald eagles are common on every route, and Phillips puts the number in the Chugach National Forest at 3,000 to 5,000. Watch the tops of the spruce along the shore for their white heads. Other birds to look for include cormorants drying their wings on the rocks, common murres, pigeon guillemots with their bright red feet, marbled murrelets, black oystercatchers and Arctic terns.

Puffins are the bird people ask about most, and this is where the two ports differ. Phillips says that out of Whittier a puffin only rarely makes its way into the part of the Sound its boats cover. Stan Stephens, by contrast, lists puffins among the animals typically spotted on its Meares route, and its staff say the longer trip improves the chances of seeing them. If puffins are high on your list, the Meares cruise is the better bet.

Bears and mountain goats

Black bears and mountain goats live on land, so you see them from the water, usually at a distance. Black bears come down to beaches and salmon streams to feed, and Phillips links them to the salmon runs: five species of wild salmon spawn in the Sound, and when the fish are in, the bears follow. They are not always black: Stan Stephens notes that black bears can be brown, cinnamon or beige.

Mountain goats are the white dots on the cliffs above the fjords. They stay on slopes far too steep for their predators, so binoculars or a long camera lens help a lot. Both animals are listed by Phillips for the 26 Glacier and Glacier Quest routes, and by Stan Stephens for Valdez, but neither is seen on most trips.

Best season

The cruises run from early May to September, and a few sailings continue into early October. The 26 Glacier Cruise runs from 1 May to 10 October in 2027, the Glacier Quest from 15 May to 12 September, and the Stan Stephens Columbia cruise from 15 May to 12 September. Within that window:

When	What to expect
May and June	Phillips’ best months for whales, along with September. Snow still low on the peaks, fewer people on board. Kittiwakes and other seabirds arriving to nest.
July and August	The busiest weeks. Salmon running, so bears are more likely on the beaches, and seabird colonies are full. Whales and orcas still seen, though July and August are not among Phillips’ best whale months.
September	One of Phillips’ best months for whales, with fewer passengers and autumn colour. Some routes stop in mid-September.

The everyday animals (otters, seals, eagles) are there all season, so the month makes little difference to them. If whales are the main reason you are going and your dates are flexible, late May, June or September are good choices. Once your dates are fixed, what you still control is the route: a longer cruise gives you more hours of water to search. Our guide to the best time for a Prince William Sound cruise covers weather, prices and crowds month by month.

Wildlife expectations

The honest version: you will see animals on every cruise, you will see whales on many, and you will not see everything on this page in one day. Weather matters less than you might think, because otters, seals and kittiwakes are out in rain, but a low ceiling makes it harder to spot mountain goats and anything far away.

A few things make a real difference on the day:

Binoculars. Most wildlife is seen at a distance. Stan Stephens recommends them for every guest.
Time outside. The cabins are heated and enclosed. When the captain slows for an animal, go out on deck straight away; sightings can be over in a minute.
The crew. Captains and crew call out sightings and give the clock position (“orca at two o’clock”), and reviewers often praise how hard they work to find animals.
Patience. Whales dive for several minutes at a time. If one goes down, keep watching the same patch of water.

Glaciers are the reason to choose one of these cruises over a dedicated whale-watching trip, and wildlife is a real bonus. If seeing a whale is more important to you than seeing a tidewater glacier, our guide to the best glacier cruises in Alaska covers Kenai Fjords, where the cruises spend more time in open water.

Who this article is most useful for

First-time Alaska visitors trying to choose one major glacier experience
Anchorage-based travellers planning a day trip
Families comparing duration, price and comfort
Photographers deciding between broad route coverage and smaller-group access
Cruise passengers adding an independent Prince William Sound excursion

Practical planning checklist

Confirm the exact operating date and departure time before booking accommodation or transport.
If you are driving through the Whittier Tunnel, plan around the published traffic window and arrive early. Our Whittier tunnel guide has the times.
Check whether food, taxes and fees are included in the displayed fare.
Bring a waterproof outer layer, a warm mid-layer, a hat, gloves and closed shoes.
Pack binoculars, and a camera with a zoom lens if you have one.
Treat whales, bears and calving as possible highlights rather than guaranteed events.
For mobility needs, confirm accessibility on the exact vessel rather than assuming all boats are identical.
If travelling with children, compare total time away from the hotel, not only time on the boat.
Keep the evening after a long cruise flexible in case road, tunnel or marine conditions affect timing.

Frequently asked questions

Is a Prince William Sound wildlife cruise suitable for a first Alaska trip?

Yes. You will see sea otters, harbour seals, eagles and kittiwakes on almost any sailing, and tidewater glaciers on every one. Choose a long route, such as the 26 Glacier Cruise or the Meares cruise, if wildlife is a priority.

Will I see whales in Prince William Sound?

Possibly. Phillips Cruises says its Whittier boats see whales on about 50 to 60 percent of sailings, most often in May, June and September. Humpbacks and orcas are the usual species. No cruise can guarantee them.

When is the best time for whale watching in Prince William Sound?

On a cruise, May, June and September, according to Phillips. Research shows humpback numbers in the Sound peak later still, in autumn and early winter, when the cruise boats are no longer running.

Do I need to book in advance?

For July and August, yes, especially for small boats, rail packages, family groups and any itinerary with only one possible day. Booked on GetYourGuide, the Whittier cruises can be cancelled free of charge up to 24 hours before departure.

What if the weather is rainy?

The cruises run in rain, and the animals do not mind it. Rain and low cloud make distant wildlife harder to spot, so waterproof clothing and binoculars matter more than the forecast.

Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?

No. Sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles and kittiwakes are close to certain. Whales, orcas, sea lions, bears and mountain goats are seen on many sailings but not on all of them.

Can you see puffins in Prince William Sound?

Sometimes. Phillips says puffins only rarely reach the Whittier side of the Sound. Stan Stephens lists them among the birds typically seen on its 7.5-hour Meares Glacier cruise from Valdez, which is the better choice if puffins matter to you.

What should I wear?

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

Is a longer tour always better?

For wildlife, a longer route gives you more chances. But shorter tours can be better for families, motion-sensitive travellers or anyone who values a lighter day, and the Glacier Quest still passes the kittiwake colony and the otters of Passage Canal.

Final take

Go to Prince William Sound for the glaciers, and expect plenty of wildlife on the way: sea otters and seals within minutes of the dock, eagles in the trees, a cliff of 10,000 kittiwakes, and a good chance of humpbacks or orcas. If whales are your priority, choose May, June or September and a long route. If puffins are, go to Valdez. Then bring binoculars and spend as much of the day outside as you can.

Prince William Sound Wildlife: What You Can See and When