Whittier Glacier Cruises

Cruises on this site start at $181 per person for the 6-hour Columbia Glacier sailing from Valdez, and run to $260 for the 5.5-hour 26 Glacier Cruise from Whittier. All five include a meal or a snack, and all five offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Budget separately for the Whittier tunnel toll (about $13) and parking ($15–20) if you drive yourself.

Whittier if you are based in Anchorage — it is about 60 miles away and reaches College Fjord and Blackstone Bay. Valdez if you want Columbia Glacier's ice-filled bay or the advancing face of Meares Glacier, and you are willing to travel roughly 300 road miles or fly. Our Whittier vs Valdez comparison works through the trade-offs in detail.

The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel is the only road into Whittier — 2.5 miles, the longest highway tunnel in North America, and a single lane shared with the Alaska Railroad. It runs one direction at a time on a fixed schedule: toward Whittier on the half-hour, back out on the hour. You cannot avoid it if you drive, but you can avoid driving by adding a coach or rail transfer from Anchorage. See getting to Prince William Sound from Anchorage.

It depends on the route. The 26 Glacier Cruise passes 26 named glaciers through Passage Canal, Esther Passage and College Fjord — not all tidewater; many are alpine or hanging glaciers on the slopes above. Blackstone Bay has two tidewater glaciers plus several alpine ones. The Valdez cruises each focus on a single major glacier, Columbia or Meares, and spend longer with it.

Sometimes, and no operator can promise it. Sea otters, harbour seals, bald eagles and kittiwakes are close to routine on every route. Orcas, humpback whales, Steller sea lions and black bears follow the salmon runs and are seasonal — most likely from midsummer onward. Treat wildlife as a bonus and glaciers as the reason you booked.

Roughly May to mid-September. The flagship 26 Glacier Cruise runs from early May to mid-September; the Valdez cruises follow a similar summer window. Shoulder weeks at either end are quieter and often cheaper, but more exposed to weather. See the best time for a Prince William Sound cruise for what changes month to month.

Prince William Sound is sheltered water rather than open ocean, and the large catamarans out of Whittier are notably stable — Phillips advertises a no-seasickness guarantee, and reviewers mention a smooth ride even in rain. The smaller boats move more. If you are prone to motion sickness, the big-catamaran routes are the safer choice.

Warm layers and a windproof, waterproof outer shell, whatever the forecast says ashore. Every cabin here is heated and enclosed, but the deck is where the glaciers are, and the air over ice is markedly colder than in town. Add a hat, gloves and closed-toe or waterproof shoes; bring binoculars if you have them. What to expect on the day covers the rest.

Yes. Every operator here states that sailings go ahead in any weather — the boats are enclosed and heated. Only genuinely unsafe conditions cause a cancellation, and the small-group operator will refund in full if they cancel for weather. GetYourGuide's own free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure regardless.

On four of the five, yes. The two Phillips cruises from Whittier include a hot meal chosen at checkout (salmon chowder, vegetarian chili or a kids' hot dog). The Valdez cruises include a soup or bagel lunch. The small-group Blackstone trip includes only a snack and a hot drink, so eat before you board.

The 3.5-hour Blackstone small-group cruise is the shortest on the site, and the only one that lands on a beach. The 4-hour Glacier Quest cruise is the shortest of the big-catamaran options and still includes a hot meal.

For July and August, as early as you can — these are the busiest weeks of a short season and sailings fill. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure means booking early costs you nothing in flexibility. Our which-cruise guide helps you commit to the right one first time.