What to Wear and Pack for a Prince William Sound Glacier Cruise
A packing list for Whittier and Valdez glacier cruises: what to wear in May, high summer and September, shoes for a beach landing, what children need, and binoculars and camera kit.
Pack for the outside deck in front of a glacier, not for the town you sail from. The air over the ice is colder than in Whittier or Valdez, it is often raining, and the boat makes its own wind. A warm mid-layer, a waterproof shell with a hood, a hat, gloves and shoes with grip cover most days from May to September. Add waterproof shoes if your boat lands on a beach, and binoculars if you want to see wildlife.
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Quick answer
Every boat on our list has a heated, enclosed cabin, so you will not be cold sitting down. The best part of the cruise happens outside, though. When the captain holds the boat in front of a glacier face, you will want to stand on the deck for 20 or 30 minutes, and that is when people in a cotton hoodie retreat indoors.
Stan Stephens Cruises in Valdez puts the temperature at the glaciers at about 48°F (8°C), and Lazy Otter Charters in Whittier tells guests that time on the water runs 10 to 20 degrees cooler than on shore. Whittier gets roughly 196 inches of precipitation a year. So pack for a cold, wet, windy deck even on a sunny morning in town, and you can always take a layer off.
The core list for one day on the water:
- A base layer that is not cotton (merino or synthetic)
- A fleece or light insulated jacket
- A waterproof, windproof shell with a hood
- Long trousers, with rain trousers if you have them
- A warm hat that covers your ears, and gloves
- Closed shoes with a grippy sole, waterproof for a beach landing
- Sunglasses and sunscreen, because the glare off ice and water is strong on grey days too
- Binoculars, a phone or camera with a spare battery, and a small dry bag or zip bag
Key facts to know
- Dress for the outside deck; the heated cabin is only for the ride out and back.
- A waterproof shell over a warm mid-layer is the combination that matters most.
- Small-boat and shore-landing tours need water-resistant footwear.
- Bring binoculars if wildlife is part of the reason you booked.
- May, September and the early-October sailings need a warmer layer than July.
Packing list by season
The season runs from early May to early October on the 26 Glacier Cruise, and from mid-May to mid-September on most other sailings. What you pack changes more with the month than with the boat. The best time to cruise guide covers how the months compare.
| When | On deck it feels | Add to the core list |
|---|---|---|
| May | Cold, with snow still on the peaks | An insulated jacket instead of a fleece, warm gloves, thick socks |
| June to August | Cool and often damp | The core list as it is; a buff or neck gaiter for wind |
| September | Cool, wetter, shorter days | An insulated mid-layer, rain trousers |
| Early October (26 Glacier Cruise only) | Colder than September | Winter hat, insulated gloves, warm waterproof boots |
Layering
You will move between a warm cabin and a cold deck several times, so layers suit the day. Start with a thin base layer that dries fast. Cotton holds rain and spray, then stays cold against your skin for the rest of the afternoon.
Over that, wear a fleece or a light down or synthetic jacket. Down is warm and packs small, but it loses most of its warmth when wet, so keep it under the shell. In July a fleece is enough for most people; in May, September and October bring the warmer jacket.
On the way out you will probably sit inside with the shell off. Put everything back on before the boat reaches the glacier bay, since the temperature drops as you come close to the ice. On the Valdez boats the crew tell passengers to add layers before entering Columbia Bay. If you are short of space, leave the second sweater at home and bring the hat and gloves instead.
Waterproof outerwear
A waterproof shell is the single most useful thing you can pack. It blocks wind on a dry day as well as rain on a wet one, and on a fast boat the wind is constant. Lazy Otter puts it simply: even if it is not raining, the waterproof coat acts as a windbreaker.
Choose a jacket with a hood you can tighten, so it stays on when the boat turns into the wind. A cheap plastic poncho is better than nothing, but it flaps on deck and tears on the rail.
Rain trousers are optional on the big catamarans, where you can step inside when a shower passes. On a small open boat, or on a landing where you sit on wet rocks or a damp bench, they keep you comfortable for the whole trip. Light hiking trousers that dry quickly are the next best thing. Avoid jeans: once they are wet they stay wet and cold until you are back in the car.
Shoes
Most of the time you stand on a deck that is wet with rain and spray. Wear closed shoes with a sole that grips on wet metal and fibreglass: trail shoes, hiking shoes or rubber-soled boots. Leave sandals and smooth leather soles at home.
The shore landing on the Blackstone Glacier Small-Group Cruise and Beach Walk is where footwear matters most. The landing craft runs onto a beach in Blackstone Bay for a 15 to 20 minute walk over gravel and wet rock, and you may step down into shallow water. The operator strongly recommends closed-toe waterproof shoes for the landing. Waterproof hiking boots or short rubber boots are ideal. The listing has only two reviews on GetYourGuide so far (5.0/5), so check the details with the operator before you book.
For the March and April sailings Lazy Otter runs outside the main season, it recommends snow boots. The big day cruises do not run then.
Hat and gloves
You lose a lot of warmth through your head and hands, and at the rail you have both exposed to the wind for half an hour at a time. A fleece or wool hat that covers your ears is warmer than a baseball cap, which blows off. In summer a light hat and thin gloves are enough; in May, September and October bring proper insulated gloves.
If you plan to take photos, thin gloves you can work a phone screen in, or fingerless gloves under mittens, let you keep shooting without numb fingers. Keep a second pair of gloves in a pocket if it is raining hard, since wet gloves are worse than none.
Binoculars and camera
Most of the wildlife you see from a Prince William Sound boat is at some distance: sea otters floating on their backs, harbour seals hauled out on the ice, sea lions on the rocks and kittiwakes at their nesting cliffs. Whales are a bonus. Phillips Cruises says its boats see whales on about 50 to 60 percent of sailings. A pair of 8x or 10x binoculars turns a dark shape into an otter with a pup, and you will not have to wait for someone else’s pair when something surfaces. Our wildlife guide covers what you are likely to see and when.
For photos:
- A zoom of 200 mm or more helps for wildlife; a phone does well on glaciers and fjords.
- Cold drains batteries quickly. Carry a spare and keep it in an inside pocket.
- Bring more memory than you think you need, because calving happens without warning.
- A lens cloth or microfibre cloth for rain and spray, and a zip bag or small dry bag for the camera between shots.
- A wrist strap or neck strap for your phone at the rail.
Small boats
The small boats sit lower in the water than the big catamarans, so you are closer to the spray. The cabin is smaller, and the boat stops more often for landings and wildlife, which means more time outside. Dress the way you would for a short hike in the rain: full waterproofs, a warm mid-layer, waterproof footwear and a hat.
The big catamarans on the 26 Glacier Cruise and Glacier Quest have large heated cabins with tables, so you can keep a bag at your seat and go outside in the shell only. On a small boat, carry less and bring a waterproof daypack or dry bag. Our small-boat cruise guide compares the two formats.
Children
Children get cold faster than adults on deck, and they are usually the first to run outside when someone shouts “whale”. Pack for them the way you pack for yourself, with one extra layer:
- A waterproof jacket with a hood, and rain trousers for younger children
- A fleece or insulated jacket, plus a spare base layer and socks in the bag
- A hat that ties on or stays on in wind, and mittens, which keep small hands warmer than gloves
- Waterproof boots with a good grip, especially for a beach landing
- Their own small binoculars, which keep them busy for the slow stretches
- Snacks, even on cruises that include a meal
On the longer sailings the day is long for small children: the 26 Glacier Cruise is on the water for about 5¼ hours, the Columbia Glacier cruise from Valdez for 6 hours and the Meares Glacier cruise for 7.5. A dry change of clothes in the car means nobody spends the drive back to Anchorage in wet trousers.
Shoulder season
In May and September the Sound is quieter, fares are often lower and the weather is less settled. On deck it feels noticeably colder than in July, and in May the mountains are still white down to the water. Pack the warmer version of everything: an insulated jacket rather than a fleece, a winter hat, insulated gloves, and warm socks inside waterproof shoes.
The 26 Glacier Cruise runs into early October, after the other day cruises have stopped. If you sail then, dress as for a cold, wet winter day: it is colder on deck than in September and the days are shorter. From 1 October the Whittier tunnel switches to its winter timetable, so keep warm clothes in the car as well in case you wait at the portal. The Anchorage to Whittier guide has the tunnel details.
Who this article is most useful for
- First-time Alaska visitors who have not been on a boat in front of a tidewater glacier
- Anchorage-based travellers packing a day bag for Whittier
- Families with children on the longer sailings
- Photographers and wildlife watchers deciding which kit to carry
- Cruise passengers adding a day in the Sound with only their cruise wardrobe
Practical planning checklist
- Check the forecast for Whittier or Valdez, then pack for colder and wetter weather than it shows.
- Put the waterproof shell, hat and gloves in the bag you take on board.
- Wear closed shoes with a grippy sole; waterproof ones if the boat lands on a beach.
- Charge your phone and camera, and pack a spare battery in an inside pocket.
- Bring binoculars, sunglasses and sunscreen.
- Pack seasickness remedies before you leave if you are prone to it; our seasickness guide covers which routes are calmer.
- Leave a dry change of clothes in the car for the drive or train back.
- Check what your cruise includes to eat and drink, and bring snacks for children.
Frequently asked questions
Is this packing list suitable for a first Alaska trip?
Yes. A day cruise in Prince William Sound needs the same clothes as a wet, windy autumn hike: layers, a waterproof shell, a hat, gloves and good shoes. You do not need specialist gear, and most of it doubles for the rest of an Alaska trip.
Do I need to buy special clothing before the trip?
Usually not. A fleece, a rain jacket and walking shoes from home cover most summer sailings. If you have no waterproof jacket, buy one before you fly; it is the item that matters most. Rain trousers and waterproof boots are useful extras for small boats and beach landings.
What if the weather is rainy?
Rain is normal here, and the cruises sail in it. With a hooded shell and rain trousers you can still stand on deck in front of the glacier. The heated cabin is there between viewpoints. The captain may change the route for wind or ice, but rain on its own rarely cancels a sailing.
Are wildlife sightings guaranteed?
No. Sea otters, seals and seabirds are seen on many sailings, and whales on about half of Phillips’ trips. Binoculars make the difference between seeing an animal and only hearing someone say it is there.
What should I wear?
A base layer that is not cotton, a fleece or insulated mid-layer, a waterproof and windproof shell with a hood, long trousers, closed shoes with grip, a warm hat and gloves. Add sunglasses, and waterproof shoes for a beach landing.
Are shorts or jeans fine in July?
Shorts are too cold on deck at the glaciers, even on a warm day in town. Jeans are warm while they are dry, but once rain or spray soaks them they stay cold for the rest of the trip. Quick-drying trousers are the better choice.
Final take
Pack for the 20 or 30 minutes you will spend at the rail in front of a glacier. If you bring a waterproof shell, a warm layer, a hat, gloves and shoes that grip on a wet deck, you will be comfortable from May to September. Add waterproof shoes for a beach landing, an extra layer for children, and binoculars for the wildlife. To see what the day will cost in total, read our Prince William Sound cruise prices guide.
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