Columbia Glacier and Wildlife Cruise from Valdez
About This Experience
Columbia Glacier is the reason this cruise exists. It is one of the fastest-retreating glaciers in the world, and the retreat is the attraction — the ice has pulled so far back into the Chugach Mountains that its bay is now a field of floating bergs the boat threads through.
Stan Stephens runs the six-hour version out of Valdez. The first stretch crosses Port Valdez itself, past the oil terminal, the fishing fleet and waterfalls coming straight off the coastal wall, while the crew fill in the history — early explorers, the pipeline, the commercial fishery. Then the boat squeezes through the Valdez Narrows and out into Prince William Sound.
Columbia Bay is the turnaround. Where the glacier's face once stood there is now open water crowded with ice, and the boat works in among it. Warm layers matter here more than anywhere else on the trip: the temperature drops noticeably as you enter the bay, which is exactly why a hot soup lunch is served before you get there.
The wildlife list on this route is long — harbour seals hauled out on the bergs, sea otters, Steller sea lions, Dall's porpoise, orcas, humpbacks, puffins and bald eagles. Sightings vary with the season and the day.
At $181 this is the cheapest full-length glacier cruise on Prince William Sound, and it returns to Valdez early enough to eat in town. The catch is getting to Valdez: it is a 300-mile drive from Anchorage, or a short flight.
Highlights
- Columbia Glacier — one of the world's fastest-retreating tidewater glaciers
- Cruising among floating ice in Columbia Bay, where the face used to stand
- The Valdez Narrows and the waterfalls of Port Valdez on the way out
- Hot soup lunch served before the cold stretch of the trip
- Seals, otters, sea lions, porpoise, orcas, humpbacks, puffins and eagles
- The lowest-priced full-length cruise on the Sound
What's Included
- ✓ 6-hour glacier and wildlife cruise
- ✓ Light lunch — soup, bagel with cream cheese, and cookies
- ✓ Coffee, tea, lemonade and water
- ✓ Onboard guide, plus a map in English, Dutch, German and Korean
- ✓ Transfers to and from RV parks in central Valdez
- ✓ Snack bar and gift shop aboard
Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Anything bought from the snack bar or gift shop
What to Bring
- Warm clothing and a proper jacket — Columbia Bay is markedly colder
- Rain gear; departures go ahead in any weather
- Closed-toe shoes for the dock ramp and deck
- Binoculars and a camera
- Sunglasses and sunscreen — glare off ice and water is strong
- Cash, if you plan to use the snack bar or tip the crew
Good to Know & Caveats
- Departures take place in any weather. The boat is enclosed and heated, but the outside deck is where the viewing happens.
- The dock is reached by a ramp that can be steep at low tide; crew help anyone who needs it.
- You may bring your own snacks and drinks aboard, but no alcohol.
- Travellers with particular dietary needs should bring their own food — the galley's options are limited.
- Valdez is about 300 road miles from Anchorage, or a short scheduled flight. Plan the journey before you book the cruise.
Not Suitable For
- Travellers who cannot walk down a steep boarding ramp unaided
Meeting Point
Stan Stephens Cruises' office in Valdez, behind the Best Western hotel on North Harbor Drive. Check in one hour before departure; boarding opens thirty minutes before.
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.8/5 by 197 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
A real highlight of our trip. Everything was well organized, and the crew was great throughout. We were able to observe an incredible number of animals and were out and about all day. We highly recommend it and would do it again. Thank you for the great day
— Ronald, Septemb
One of the most spectacular experiences I've had in Alaska. Beautiful cruise, incredible views, very friendly staff, super comfortable boat. I would have gone back the next day! Absolutely affordable price (even cheap, if you compare it to the costs of activities here in Alaska). Go, you won't regret it!
— Jessica, August
We took the 7.5-hour cruise to the Meares Glacier because the Columbia Glacier had calved too much, as suggested by the Sten Stevens organization. It was fantastic: beautiful nature and we saw a lot of animals: otters, orcas, bears, sea lions, seals, sea eagles, whales, puffins, and jumping salmon!
— Ann, August
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you get close to Columbia Glacier?
You reach Columbia Bay rather than the calving face. The glacier has retreated so far that its terminus now sits behind a shoal of grounded ice; the boat works in among the floating bergs, which is the view this cruise is known for.
How is this different from the Meares Glacier cruise?
Same operator and same departure dock. This is the six-hour trip to Columbia Bay, where the story is a retreating glacier and a bay full of ice. The 7.5-hour Meares cruise goes north into Unakwik Inlet to a glacier that is still advancing, and gets you close to an active calving face.
Is lunch included?
Yes — a light lunch of soup, a bagel with cream cheese and cookies, plus coffee, tea, lemonade and water. It is served before the boat enters the cold part of the route.
How cold does it get?
Cold enough that the crew tell you to add layers before Columbia Bay. Ice cools the air over the water noticeably, even on a warm day ashore. The cabin is heated, but the deck is where you will want to be.
How do I get to Valdez?
By road it is roughly 300 miles from Anchorage via the Glenn and Richardson highways — a long but scenic drive. There are also short scheduled flights. If you would rather not travel that far, the Whittier cruises are 60 miles from Anchorage instead.
